Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that Delcy has already been here for 8 days...they've flown by!  He's gotten pretty comfortable with all of us, and he's settling into our routine fairly well.  I do apologize for not updating sooner, but life is so very busy with a new 20 year old in the house, especially one who is so eager to learn everything.  Delcy's English has improved dramatically since last weekend...just like he predicted last month! He is picking things up really well and we aren't using the Google translator app near as often now.

Delcy likes to joke and have a good time, and when he thinks something is funny he says "you very big joke!"  Unfortunately,  Delcy is having a particularly hard time pronouncing that word and it sounds more like "you very big jerk!" We've had to explain that to several confused people, but once they understand we all have a good laugh.  Val has suggested that he start saying "you very big joker" instead, and that's working out better.  

Some more new experiences...Delcy likes the store "The Buckle".  He said the music is good and many beautiful girls work there :-)  He's learning how to use an iPod touch and he likes American music, particularly Beyonce.  He absolutely loves BBQ ribs (I'll try to get some pictures posted soon), Mac and cheese, cinnamon toast and sweet and salty granola bars.  He wanted a haircut, so I found a barber shop that has a mostly African American clientele, and they took very good care of Delcy.  He got the tight lines he wanted and is thinking he looks pretty snazzy (which of course he does).  They also hooked him up with some products to keep his hair from getting terribly dry while he's here.  He enjoyed that appointment quite a bit...we'll definitely go back before he heads home.

On a more somber note, Delcy has had at least one episode per day since he's been here.  We've tried to be very diligent about keeping any physical activity to a minimum. He sometimes starts feeling badly (hot, and his heart beating way too fast) when we're simply driving in the car, or while he's having a conversation with someone.  It's so hard to imagine that his life has been like this for so long.  We spent 6 1/2 hours at the hospital on Thursday for all of his pre-surgical tests and procedures (the snow was lighter than originally expected and didn't really start until we were on our way home).  He was so glad to finally meet the wonderful doctors that are going to make him well, but it was a really long day for him.  The nurse (radiologist?) that performed his ultrasound told me that he has a very sick heart, and that his case is quite severe.  So now we all need to be praying that Dr. Langdon is able to repair Delcy's valve and that he doesn't have to replace it.  He's prepared to do that if it's necessary, but we're hoping that it's not.  Delcy is glad that we're going to church tomorrow, as he said that he will be praying very hard.  We'll have Delcy call his family tomorrow night (he's spoken to them several times already) and then again on Monday to let them know he's okay.  If he's not able to talk by then due to the tubes in his throat and so on, Nick will call them to make sure they know Delcy's okay.  I know he misses his family, and is feeling a little more anxious by the day, and I'm sure they're feeling the same at their end.

After church tomorrow, Delcy is going to Nick's house to meet his father (he already met his mother), and join them for an early dinner.  Then it's back home to us and early to bed...we have to have him at the hospital at 5:45 on Monday morning! Monday is a very big day! I promise to keep you all updated as the day goes along, but for now, please join Delcy and all of us as we "pray very hard" that he has a successful surgery and a good recovery.

Blessings,

Margie