Tim is sitting straight up in bed sleeping. That seems to be the most comfortable position. His pain seems to be a bit better. Last night his head hurt so bad he started throwing up. Not easy to do with the Halo and traction. They feel his skull might have cracked. They are just going to keep on eye on it. Today... Hopefully some school time. (Yep, mean old mom!!) More x-rays. They have 5 pounds on the traction but hope to get up to half his body weight. That means we have to get to about 60 pounds!!! They will add some weight twice a day if his skull can tolerate it. I am amazed at God's mercies every morning. Tim and I start the day with prayer. We end that way too. God is good all the time. All the time God is soooo good :) Smiles and hugs to all our sweet friends and family back home!!!!

First surgery is done! Tim just had the Halo placed this morning. The surgery took about an hour. They started the traction right away. They originally told us that the traction would not start until tomorrow. Tim is sore. Really bad headache. Go figure :( He has 6 screw placed in his skull. He has had morphine IV and some oral pain medications too. For my medical friends out there they will be doing neuro checks around the clock for at least the first 24 hours and maybe longer. Every hour we are told at first. Got our first chance to talk with Dr. Oulette since being back in Montreal. He is Tim's back surgeon. He placed the Halo this morning. He said the x-rays and CT scan that we had done earlier this week look good. "I am more encouraged than disappointed." He sees several weak vertibrae but some that look promising too (places to put the screws). He is planning on "all day" for the big surgery. At least 3 hours just to get all the lines placed (central, arterial, neuro...) before he can even start his part. My eyes are leaking again. Tears of relief that the first surgery is done and tears of "wow, he has to live in this thing for 2 weeks!!" They promise me that it will get better. Once I have Tim's permission I will post a pic of Tim in the Halo. Thanks for the prayers!! We have peace :) The staff here love Tim!

To be honest, Monday was very overwhelming. Montreal received 10 inches of snow during the day. The schools were all closed. Public bussing stopped. The roads where a mess. For those that have been here with Tim and me Atwater, the road going up Mt. Royal was a parking lot! Cars where getting stuck trying to make in up the Mt. We got the car stuck in the parking lot right behind the hotel. I had to carry Tim up to the front because the snow was too deep to use the wheelchair. We got an all wheel drive cab and made it up to the hospital only to find half the staff unable to make it in (including the doctors who we needed to see and needed to write the orders!!!) We did finally get everything in. A day without food, 4 frightening cab ride between two hospitals and a lot of scary info about the surgery. Tim just smiled at me halfway through and said, "Have a good day???" We both got the giggles and cried a little (the crying was me of course!) hugged and pressed on. Today we will be admitted. We hope to catch a fun breakfast at La Bell Provience and then face the music again at the hospital. The Halo and the traction start tomorrow. Surgery is at 745. Tim will have to be flat or sitting at a 90 degree angle after the Halo and the traction start. They say it will be an hour for surgery. Love everyone!!! God is good in Montreal too! I can not lie, our jar has a few more holes that do not feel real good but God's power and grace and peace are hopefully shining through!!!!

Unbelievable!!! We got up early this morning and Montreal is in the middle of a snow storm. 12-18 inches of snow today. I could not get out of the hotel parking lot. We got stuck in the back of the hotel!!! We could hardly move Tim in his chair! The snow was already several inches deep! We called a cab that barely made it up the Mount Royal hills. Half of the hospital staff did not make it in this morning. We are behind in the tests already and we will have a hard time making it between the two hospitals for the different tests. The staff here is awesome. Hugs and kisses from all we meet. Happy to see us and then disappointed to hear how long we will need to be here and why.

Here and safe!!! The trip went well. More clear roads then snowy so that was a real blessing. We will be up early with tests starting at 700!

Sunday morning. A little nervous :) Tim and I are packed and ready for the 12 hour road trip! We are so very blessed! Thank you for all the cards, gifts, prayers.....amazing! We shaved Tim's head last night (his idea!) He looks good! Like a young man ready for battle. Pray for a safe trip. Pray for patience with several really busy days ahead of us. God is good! We are in his care! In Christ, Deb and Tim

Sunday Night

WOW! Sunday was amazing! God showed up! His mercy, His grace, His power! Thanks for sharing His story with us. We as a family just want to honor God. He has been with us every step of the way. The way has not been an easy path but His grace has been there constantly! We have heard of several people that gave their lives to Christ that night :) That is what all of our journeys should be about! Yeah God!