Nausea. Bleh.

I didn't even realize that I hadn't updated since we left the ICU yesterday. Sorry about that!
Ryan got into his room around 1pm yesterday and was finally able to get some good rest, so I just tried to keep things quiet around here. He ate a little bit of lunch and seemed to be feeling ok-just very tired. We had some afternoon visitors then Ryan started getting nauseous and it hasn't really gone away since. He's been able to sleep on and off, which helps him to not think about the nausea, but it has been constant and miserable for him. The doctor wants him to be up and walking around, but he doesn't want to throw up, so he hasn't even really sat up yet. PLEASE pray that this goes away quickly and is just a distant memory very soon. They think that because that was his main symptom before the surgery it is just exacerbated now.

On a happy note...my brother Mike drove up from base last night and will be hanging out with us through the weekend. We were hoping to be spending the 4th out on the boat at the lake, but as long as we're together with family, we'll come up with something fun. We'll probably catch the Metro into DC to watch the fireworks there. It seems very strange, though, to think about being one of the tens of thousands of people in one place out there on such a big holiday. Maybe we'll just see if there is anything going on in downtown Bethesda...?

Another little side note...Gabe is having a blast here! He has been helping my mom take care of all of the flowers at the family lodge where we stay. They've been walking all around the grounds dead-heading the marigolds that have suffered since their watering system went out. He has become very proficient with scissors (thanks, Grandma Jane!) and they go in and out filling up pitchers of water to dump on the poor flowers. Our friend Christie was thoroughly enjoyed by Gabe yesterday, as well. She threw the ball and blew bubbles with him for a long time. We were walking over to the hospital to say good night to Ryan last night, when Gabe spied a little girl his size walking with her dad. His eyes lit up and he got very excited. He grabbed me and asked if we 'could go see that man's girl?' Next thing you know, he had caught up with her, asked her her name, and she was sharing her walnuts with him. Talk about being able to handle any environment...The nurses here are all very impressed with how good he is, too. He invited one down to the playground yesterday. She declined, but gave him her flashlight so that he could check Daddy's pupils. Gabe has been great with Ryan, too. I'll figure out a way to post a picture I got of him and Ryan snuggling in bed. Maybe I'll get to that one later...
Ok, please keep praying--Ryan hates feeling so gross and we hate to see him feeling so that way. Hopefully we'll have a better update later!