Hey there friends & family,

I actually sat down yesterday morning and wrote a nice, detailed update on all things "Wexelberg," only to have Facebook eat it! The nerve! By the time that happened, my "spare time" was spent, so I closed the ol' laptop and started the day. So, I'm going to try again tonight, hoping Facebook isn't hungry again. :)

It's been a wild ride this last 10 days, since Mark came home from the hospital! I shared with you the story of his first day home - the crazy lift not working, the Sponge Bob bedding, and the Nurse Bob visit. I continue to stand amazed at God's gracious hand in all of this, and I want to share a little bit about how Mark's been doing this last week or so.

First, after 3 days home, Mark was able to wean himself off of the lift - finally feeling like his scapula and flailed chest were coming around enough to do the transfers with the slide board instead. Can we say "hallelujah?" Yes, this victory which seems so small actually saves us about 15 minutes per transfer and enables Mark much more independence while he waits for permission to use his legs again! BIG, HUGE BLESSING!

That same day Mark got to take his very first REAL shower in a month. I'm certain he must've felt like a brand new man! My Mom, whose home is handicapped accessible, has a wheel-in shower, and it worked perfectly! So, hooray for showers! It's the little things that mean a lot.

Then, this last Monday Mark had his first trip in the car. We didn't intend on taking the car, but we soon discovered that finding handicapped accessible transportation is not as easy as calling a shuttle to the airport. So, in a last ditch effort to make Mark's appointment with the surgeon, we decided to give it a try. Whallah! Mark was able to transfer with the slide board from his wheelchair into our car. It wasn't easy, but another victory!

His appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rusnak, went great that day. It lasted almost three hours, which was a bit much for Mark. But he got his cast off the leg with the dislocated and fractured ankle, and they put a removable boot on it instead. He also got a whole new set of x-rays done - not a fun process, but necessary to keep tabs on his progress. And then we had a really good meeting with his surgeon, who was very patient, detailed and informative. He said the healing process seems to be going perfectly. He's keeping a careful watch on the knee and the ankle yet. (the femurs and pelvis usually heal, no problem) He said we should be past the point of being concerned about infection in the knee, where the open fracture was. But he said he's keeping an eye on it for shifting bone, which he noted a bit. Very minute (two millimeters), but something to watch. He said the ankle is looking good and healthy, but we'll continue to watch that over the course of the next 6 to 9 months, in order to keep an eye on the health of the tissue surrounding the area that was dislocated. Definitely something to continue to pray about, if you would!

Dr. Rusnak was amazed at how well Mark is doing. He was stunned at how little pain meds Mark is taking. And Mark isn't trying to be a tough guy, trying to get by on fewer drugs. His pain has truly been managed by a third of the pain medication the Dr. prescribed. The surgeon said that many people with lesser injuries than Mark often take much more medication than Mark is taking even at the four month mark. And Mark's only a month into this. So, we consider this a GREAT answer to prayer, because there is no other explanation. We have another post-op appointment in 2 weeks and pray for more great reports.

Mark and I have had some great times of connection since he's come home. We're able to chat in the evenings once I put Christian down to bed, and it's been a sweet time. He's doing a lot of reflection now, a lot of thanking God, and a lot of praying about what God has next. He has shared with me that he remembers the accident - remembers the girl's truck running right in front of him, when she ran the stop sign, remembers the impact and landing on the ground knowing his legs were really mangled. He remembers people above him telling him not to move, and the young girl who ran the stop sign sobbing and crying nearby. (she was uninjured, thankfully)

Tonight he shared with me that he remembers the immense feeling of vulnerability in the hospital and how he kept apologizing to all the nurses in the ICU for all the duties they had to perform for him. He felt like he was imposing on them and kept saying how sorry he was. Finally, one nurse told him..."Mark, you need to stop saying you're sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. We know your condition, we see your brokenness and that is why we are here. Please, don't feel ashamed that you are in great need. Just let us help you."

Mark said that at the moment the nurse spoke those words, he was able to rest and release his sense of shame and receive the care that he so needed. God showed him that this is the same posture with which we so often approach the Lord. We don't want to feel vulnerable. We don't want to admit our brokenness or our utter desperation. We apologize for coming to Him mangled and so messed up, with a whole litany of needs, or we don't come at all. We feel ashamed and pitiful. But God says and wants us to hear, "Child, I know Your condition. I see Your brokenness and I'm fully aware of your sinful state. I know you are in desperate need of me and that is why I am here. That is why I died. Please do not feel ashamed in my presence or embarrassed by what I must accomplish on your behalf. Rest. And just let me help you..."

I love that. Don't we so often come to the Lord with our Sunday best on? No stains on our clothes, freshly repented, prayed up, great attitude and our shoes shined. Somehow we feel worthy of His love in that moment - as if we have it all together. But all we can really show for ourselves are filthy rags - the rest is an illusion. And He says to us..."Just let me help you..."

"O, great God. How we do need you...every day, every hour, every moment. Sweet Savior, I will not be ashamed and try to conceal my lowly state....for that is why You came. So, I spread out my brokenness before You, knowing You alone can bring healing and make sense of the pieces of my life. I love You, my Savior..."

-Shannon