"The Weather Outside is Frightful . . ."

Hi all,

We are in Chicago again (I think there's a song with that title, or at least there should be). The weather cooperated all the way up. It had snowed, but we didn't have to travel in any. Now tonight is an entirely different story. We got a hotel because my sister-in-law had told us it was supposed to snow ten inches. And we thought a hotel reservation was a good idea, just in case. I really didn't want to have to fight traffic and weather and, thank God, we did. It is snowing huge snowflakes and blowing about 20 miles an hour and "we're living it up in the Hotel Holiday Inn Express." Not quite the same words as the Eagles song, but close.

John his vocal cord procedure done today and we believe it was a huge success. The doctor said it wasn't a perfect procedure in his eyes, but he thought he got enough of the substance into the deep tissue of the vocal cord to make a difference. He isn't sure whether the raspiness of John's voice will be satisfactory to John or not and if it isn't, he can do a surgery and change things. John and I both believe it will be fine. It is already much stronger and not so breathy and his choking is much improved and that is only in the first five hours. His granuola (polyp-like thing) has also improved and is about half the size it was last time he was here. We are so pleased. As we were leaving the office John shouted, "Bye Doc." And the doctor yelled back, "Show-off." John continues to have a positive attitude and is really quite funny. We have to return again in four weeks for a follow-up visit. Now if the eye appointment goes as well tomorrow with the eye doctor, we will be thrilled. We are thrilled anyway. God has been so good to us and we can't praise Him or give Him glory enough. Thank you all again for continuing to pray for us.

We will try to update you tomorrow about the eye appointment.

We hope and pray Van's doctor's appointment goes well tomorrow and they know more what to do.

Love to all,

John and Cathy