Mr. Fantastic update

This past Tuesday Popeye and I gathered our royal family into our royal carriage and made the trip to Omaha, NE for Mr. Fantastic's pre-operation appointment with the surgeon.
We were staying in Lincoln with a friend and on Wednesday we were planning on spending the day together doing something fun.
On our way there, Popeye got a call from work wanting him to come in. Little did we know that our little town was on a tornado alert and the winds were so bad that it blew a train off of its tracks!   Luckily for us, we were almost to Lincoln and didn't have to turn around.

Wednesday met us with gloomy skies (the aftermath of our storm) and the waterpark trip was deemed out.  The royal children were very disappointed.  We decided to head to the Omaha zoo and that seemed to perk up most of the kids since they've never been to a zoo that took longer than 45 minutes to see everything.  Thor still was not happy.
Needless to say, we got rained on and there was thunder and lightning - but it was still warm.  We had been debating on still going to the waterpark even though rain was in the forecast.  Luckily, we didn't.  With the lightning we would've gotten kicked out and no refund.  Phew.
So we spent the day in Omaha.  Had dinner.  Did a little shoe shopping for Popeye.  Bought souvies for the kiddos.  I want those Sketcher Shape-ups badly, but couldn't muster paying $110 for them.
Went back to Lincoln and cleaned my friend's house for her.  She's trying to sell her house, too, and was leaving for vacay in the morning so I got my groove on and busted it out.  Dusted her light fixtures and cleaned her kitchen.  She had been busy all day, I just finished it off for her.
The next morning we all got out the door by 8:30 as planned - mopping our way out of the house.
We left for Omaha and went up to the Winter Quarters Temple Visitor's Center. We toured that and watched a short video about the Mormon Pioneers.  The kids enjoyed dressing up like pioneers and trying their hand at pulling a handcart.  We then went to meet with the doctor.
He looked younger than I remember.  I remember watching his hands as he typed on his computer and thought of how skilled he must be.  He told me he's performed over 600 CI surgeries.  All of which have never had the facial paralysis or loss of tastebuds side-effect.  (Knock on wood.)  He reminded me that with the bone growth inside Mr. Fantastic's cochlea, a "full insertion" will be rare.  What that means is: the CI has 16 electrodes that attach to the auditory nerve.  A full insertion will be all 16 of those electrodes getting attached.  He knows he can get a partial insertion - but won't know how much until he gets in there.
As we were chatting, I told him that Mr. Fantastic hosted a family fast this past week.  That we all were fasting and praying for a successful surgery.
He looked me in the eye and told me, "I believe in God.  I wouldn't be as successful as I am without Him."  His eyes were misty, as were mine.  In that moment, I knew that Heavenly Father would deliver.
We finished the meeting and left.
15 minutes.
We drove 12+ hours to meet for 15 minutes.  And while there was bickering and fighting and teasing all the way home, it really was worth it.
I realized I needed to talk with the doctor and have the Spirit testify to me that he is in Good Hands.  That both he and Mr. Fantastic are in good hands.  I left Omaha peaceful with Mr. Fantastic's decision.

We arrived home to a house that was still standing and the roof still intact.  No flooding in the basement.  No destroyed flowerbeds.  Granted, Popeye's nemesis is back - the dreaded kitchen sink - but it could be so much more worse.
Tomorrow is Sunday and I'll be fasting once again.  This time, instead of fasting and praying for Mr. Fantastic to be able to hear completely, I'll be fasting for a full insertion.  I desperately want the doctor to go in there and say, "Oh my Goodness.  His cochlea is clear.  Let's do this!"  I want to be one of those stories.  You know the ones: 'My so & so had cancer.  We had a family fast and the next day it was gone...'  I want that.  An x-ray that says there's bone growth and then it's gone.  Miracle.
But this whole process in and of itself is a miracle.  And I am blessed.
Monday we leave for Omaha again.  A new friend is staying with the 4 younger munchkins. I love her.
We check in at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday for surgery.  I'll let you know how it goes.