Thursday, May 22, 2008

David Update

The feeling is coming back in David's fingers and arm. This is such a blessing! Thank you so much for your prayers.

The skin is healing very well and there are only two or three truly worrisome spots left! It looks like he may have more scarring than originally thought, but we have NO problem with that!!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Made Up Recipe

What do you do when you are bored? I like to cook or draw. As drawing requires quiet and uninterrupted concentration, I usually cook. An almost two-year old does not allow for much uninterrupted personal time!

The following is a recipe I made up on Sunday evening. David enjoyed it and even said he would like to have it again sometime!

Laura's Pork Skillet

4 cubed boneless center-cut pork chops
3 large red potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 finely chopped bell pepper
1 finely chopped onion (or lots of dried onion flakes!)
Rosemary
Black Pepper
Salt
Garlic Powder

Pour 2-3 T of olive oil in a large skillet. Toss in potatoes and pork chops. Season with Rosemary, pepper, salt and garlic to taste. Add onion. Cook until done, stirring occasionally (20-30 minutes on medium heat).

Healing Nicely

Several friends and family have been asking to "see" the burns. Well, I am not much for the pictures below, but these are for you guys who keep asking. It is healing quite nicely! Anything that is red is healing. The pink is new. The brown is old and will continue to peel. He is having a reaction to the medicine (last photo) that is making him itch like crazy. Of course, he cannot scratch because it is too painful! Apart from that, David is doing great!



Other David Update

I thought I would let everyone know that David Best is home from the hospital. The grafts on his legs and hands were successful. I will update more after David talks to him.

Monday, May 19, 2008

New Photos

David and Austin Kieff before surgery

Another picture of Austin Kieff enjoying his floor


Austin Kieff on the way to Dr. McQueen's office

on the day of surgery


Uncle John Wayne

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Photo Update

Austin Kieff "driving" Papa's tractor

Baby Lily, isn't she beautiful?


Jacob and Austin Kieff jumping on the bed in

"Jacob's room" at Grandmama and Papa's house

Austin Kieff and David

Austin Kieff playing on his new floor

that his daddy put down in his room

Austin Kieff Update

I thought while I was updating that I would let everyone know how AKJ is doing. He is still having problems with his ears. He has been crying most of the weekend and has not slept well.

On a happy note, we have one of the best nurses and friends who has called to check on him. Mrs. Paula is a nurse at Dr. McQueen's office. She is also part of our "ball family" at Zion Chapel. She has been so good to us. We are very thankful for all that she has done and continues to do.

Unless he goes sooner, AKJ has an appointment on 5/22 with Dr. McQueen.

Trip to B'ham

Sorry I have not updated since our trip to Birmingham. We have been rather busy. Austin Kieff has been sick and not sleeping which means I have not been sleeping :).

David is doing well. The doctor in Birmingham questioned why he was not sent there to start with. We thought this was interesting since the nurse said the same thing. All in all Dr. Cross said that David's arm is healing well. Dr. Cross changed the medicine we had been using. He also told David that the nerve damage will probably go away on its own. He will reevaluate it in a couple of months. David goes back to see him on June 5. He will find out at this appointment when he can go back to work. The only negative comment involved David's range of motion. As he has burns across two joints (wrist and elbow) the skin has to be worked and stretched so that it does not heal too tightly. David has exercises to do to help prevent any further damage.

We owe a special thank you to David's parents for coming to the appointment with us. They watched Austin Kieff which was a tremendous help.

We are praying that David's arm continues to heal and that he does not get an infection.

We are so thankful for all of you and for your prayers.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Austin Kieff Update

Austin Kieff had tubes put in a week ago today. Guess what...he has an ear infection. The ENT prescribed him another antibiotic (he is still on the antibiotic prescribed after his surgery) that will fight the ear infection and a potential infection where the adenoids were removed. Some luck, huh?

Monday, May 12, 2008

David Update

David has an appointment in B'ham on Thursday at 1:30. He is eating and actually has a little color to him today. Thank you all for your prayers.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Austin Kieff and David Update

Austin Kieff is recovering quite nicely. He continues to have a fever and is just a little clingy. He is also pulling on his left ear and crying. I am hoping this is just a stress reaction like twirling one's hair. His home has definitely been turned upside down this past week.



David had his bandages changed today. The burns on his hand are 3rd degree burns. The burns on his forearm are 2nd degree and the burns up to his shoulder are a combination of 1st degree and 2nd degree burns according to Dr. Potter. His case manager called today and is going to meet us at Dr. Potter's office on Monday. She wants to see the burns for herself before giving us the information on the appointment in B'ham. I signed the medical release today so that the clinic could receive David's medical records.



I am a little nervous as I will change David's bandages tomorrow. I am going to have my mom help, but it is still a little scary for me!



On a positive note, David and I are so thankful to all of our friends and family for their prayers these past few days. The cards and calls are greatly appreciated. I would like to especially thank my mom for her help with Austin Kieff and John Wayne for taking on some of David's Water System responsibilities. We would also like to thank our new church family for their calls, emails and willingness to serve. We have not officially joined the church yet, but we already feel like part of the family.



I will try to post more tomorrow or Monday...

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Austin Kieff and David Update

Austin Kieff did very well today. He even received a t-shirt! He is still a little out of it. He hates the saline drops for his nose and says "no ear drops please momma" when I put the drops in his ears.

We are still waiting on David's appointment. Hopefully we will find out about it in the morning. He has been in quite a bit of pain today. He has also been nauseous most of the day. I am hoping this is all a part of the healing process.

Thank you for your prayers.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

David Update

For those of you concerned about David not having seen a burn specialist, we received a call today from his nurse. She is going to call me tomorrow with details regarding an appointment.

As for David Best, my David was told that he may only need skin grafts on his hand. His burns are very serious, but he is doing well.

Thank you gain for your emails and prayers. We are ever thankful.

David Update

We have returned home from the doctor. David is very lucky...and very stubborn! The doctor is going to change his bandages daily for the next several days. He is even going to meet us at the surgical center in Enterprise tomorrow at 6:15 a.m. to change his bandages. That is when Austin Kieff is scheduled to be there. We will continue the dressing changes and if Dr. Potter believes that the burns are not healing as they should, David will see a specialist in B'ham.

Thank you for your emails and your prayers.

love,

david, laura and austin kieff

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

David

My husband David was in a small explosion at work today. He has suffered severe burns on his right side including his hand, forearm, shoulder, face, temple and ear. Thankfully he is doing much better than his co-worker who was air-lifted to UAB this afternoon. He has severe burns on the upper 25% of his body. His name is David Best.

My David has an appointment with an orthopedic doctor tomorrow and PT afterwards. He will have the debris and skin removed from his burns at this time. We may be looking at a two-three week period of him being out of work. He is not a very good patient…a little stubborn and not much on taking it easy. Please remember him and David Best in your prayers.

Austin's surgery is still scheduled for Thursday morning. The procedures should not take more than an hour.

Thank you in advance for keeping our family in your prayers. We will be posting praises soon, I am sure of it!