So glad to see you posting now! I wonder if you will be a curly haired girl again when you go back on the medications? ;) love you- Laura

Natalie-
I am so happy to hear that you are recovering so quickly. The sooner you are back home, the better!

As for the treatments, I know it isn't what you want to do, but you are a strong woman and will make it through. You handled the treatment in college with such grace and beauty (both mentally AND physically) I am sure you will do the same this time around.

Love you!

Lindsey

Been thinking about you. Happy to hear your out of the hospital and beginning your recovery road home. Soooo happy to hear about your progress thus far! Sending prayers your way for continued steps towards home.
Lisa, Mike, Peter, Sam and Ben :-)

Hi Nat & Rhonda,
Glad to hear you guys had a "somewhat" good night last night. And Nat, your progress has just been amazing. I bet it was just so good to see Jack & Leah albeit on skype. Keep up the great work and all of us look so forward to seeing you soon. Sending you lots and lots of love.
Vickie & Jim

Nat & Rhonda - Love you both and think of you both often. I am so happy that Natalie is out of the hospital, but I'm sure it's a little scary too. (don't push it NAT!!!) Annie is wearing one of Leah's little fall outfits today, one of the little gap leggins with the skirt attached (pretty stinkin' cute)
I hope you have a relaxing day for healing and rest.
Love - Lib

HI, Natalie-We are so pleased to hear about your progress. This journal is wonderful. You keep up the good work and we'll keep up the prayers. Looks like you will be home soon. God bless you (& your mom).
~lee & bill

Good Morning "Back" from Lawrence....
Rhonda and Natalie,
It was so good to hear from you and hear about all the amazing progress Natalie has made..how blessed she is to have you, Rhonda, by her side, with your always "calm, soft, loving and caring nature"..this has been quite a "journey" for all of you. Natalie, you are in our thoughts and prayers daily and you truly give me that extra "zip" when I start feeling lazy or think I don't want to finish something...I think "Natalie"...you are our "all star" and "overachiever" and will motivate us all to be better people!!!...Love you dearly, Carol, Bob, and Lois XO

Good morning Natalie and Rhonda.
Thanks for all the updates it's good to hear how it's going. We are glad your out and able to have some time to try to sleep. The nurses are doing there job but when they wake you up for a sleeping pill grrrr. I'm sure you enjoyed talking to the kids no doubt they miss you as much as you do them. Take care of each other and remember what a blessing god has given you both. Love to you both. Beckie and Kirby

Keep up the good work Natalie!!! You are doing wonderful. Can't wait to see you back home. Have something yummy for lunch!

Gina

Way to go Natalie! So glad to read about all of your improvements! And you're right... they are big accomplishments! Keep up the good work/positive attitude. You're awesome!
Nikki

Dear Rhonda & Natalie,

I'll bet that really feels good to sleep in a regular bed. I'm so happy you were able to go to the hotel. It seems as though you're doing much better than last time, even though the surgery was more difficult. Can't wait to see you. Love, Ma & Grandad

Hey Natalie...
Wow, I am impressed! you are "rockin" this
open heart surgery! Be sure to pace yourself though...slow & steady will win the race..
So happy for Rhonda too! Those CC "pullouts" are a challenge on the back!
Thinking of you,
Connie T

Glad you got to your room and had a good dinner...keep up the good work. Butch & Martha

Yeah, Natalie!!! Home Sweet Holiday Inn!! Never thought you would be so excited to sleep in a hotel, huh? You are one step closer to the "real" Home Sweet Home!! Keep up the good work!!
XOXO!
Tora

Hi Nat: Glad to hear you are healing so well and are at the hotel now. Hopefully it will be a better night sleep for both you and Rhonda. Keep up the good work, relax and watch a good movie. Thinking of you often. Love, Gretchen

Hi Natalie.
So glad you are able to post on your own now. No worries with being an overachiever....you are the dream patient for doctors and nurses. You should be proud of yourself for being so strong. I have worked in healthcare for a number of years and patients with a good attitude usually do the best after major surgery. I get to see Leah and Jack tomorrow, I am so excited. We are going to go to the park and maybe do some finger painting. We will have fun!!!! Love to hear that you are getting out of the hospital soon. Yeah!!!

Cindy

Being an overachiever IS a good thing, you are right! I am just thrilled to hear that you are making such great strides with each new day, and you're also right; you will feel exhausted from them, too! Keep it up! Give your Mom a hug for me! Kelly R.

Natalie - so happy to hear you are doing so wonderfully! In no time you will be home! It has been great to keep up with your progress on this site. We have been thinking about and praying for you everyday. The Nelson family

Such great news, Natalie! We look so forward to reading your updates and are thrilled with your progress. We're so proud of you!

Bob and Debbie

Hi Natalie..
Sounds like things are going really well for you!! Thats just wonderful!
My AVR was on 7.17.12 @ CC and believe me...I think your list of accomplishments are HUGE! You just keep that slow and steady progress going! You will win the race!
Still praying for you!
Connie T

Natalie, you are a wonder!! We are so proud of you. I thought it would be days before you could post. I told everyone at church about your amazing progress. Keep up the good work.

See you soon,
Love, Ma & Grandad

Good to hear from you Natalie! I am so glad that you are recovering so quickly. We had a great time with the kids on Thursday. They were so good. I hope they are being good for Jason! I bet you can't wait to see them, but the stronger you are the better it will be. I hope you get to go to the hotel tomorrow. I am sure you will sleep better there than in the hospital. And then you will be home before you know it! Hang in there!!
Love, Elizabeth

Natalie,
Great to read a post from you directly! Keep being the overachiever that you are - just means you are fighting that much harder to get better and get home! SO proud of you!! By the way, the O'Neal family has been praying for you and rooting you on. Just about everyday I get a request for an update.
Melanie

Dear Natalie,
Just read "your update"...you make me feel like "dancing" and "anything" is possible...we have said it before.."You are truly our role model"..Have a wonderful day, but don't be doing any 'cartwheels" just yet!!!...Love you bunches!!...Carol, Bob (he is out on the golfcourse, but with you in spirit) and our "furry child" Lois !...XO

Everything sounds good...keep up the progress..Butch & Martha

Glad to hear that the chest tube has been removed and you are getting around...help with the kids yesterday had a good time...
Butch & Martha

Rhonda and Natalie,

Thanks for the new update..hopefully Natalie will get that last tube removed and can take her "long awaited shower"..you are both in our thoughts and love the "positive updates", we need it right now, KU is not playing so well today!!!.."Small potatoes" when you think of what Natalie has gone thru this week and her dear family as well!!...Take care of each other...Much Love..Bob, Carol & Lois XO

Hey Natalie...you are doing great. We are so proud of your strength and determination. As for Super J...what can we say that the name "Super J" doesn't? He has been AMAZING!! I know this has been hard on both of you (to say the least) but if anyone can conquer mountains, it's y'all. Nat, you've been the perfect patient and fighter for not only yourself but your husband & babies. Jason, you have juggled being supporter, nurse, provider, rock to lean on and most important...loving husband and daddy! Your lives are the perfect model of the miracles God blesses each one of us with each day! Stay strong and get better. Jack & Leah can't wait to see their mommy!! Rhonda, thanks for taking over. We love ya!!!
Gina & Tony!!!

Natalie:: I know you are missing Jason, but you and your Mom are a great team! Keep healing and getting stronger! Lots of love from Lawrence! The Randall's

Dear Natalie and Rhonda,

Good morning to you also. Glad Natalie is still progressing. This is so great to be able to get daily reports. Hang in there, You'll be home soon.
Kisses @ hugs

Ma

Hi Nat & Rhonda,

Glad to hear you had a "decent" night's sleep. And we're pretty sure Rhonda you will do a great job filling in for Jason. We know Nat is very happy you're still there. We are continuing to pray for Nat's incredible progress and hope the tube comes out today. We are in San Diego and it was 102 here yesterday!!!! We had to make a camp on the living room floor to stay cool last night. This is crazy. Oh well, we're still having fun. Much love to you both.
Vickie & Jim

Hi Rhonda and Natalie!!!
We know you will be just as good of a nurse as Jason!! Jack and Leah will probably be sad though, much more fun being spoiled by Grandma. Poor Jason is going to have to go home and crack the whip! I just LOVE reading these every day and keeping track of our Natalie!!
God Bless All of You!!
Love,
Tora

Rhonda,
Enjoyed your update and hearing about Natalie's amazing progress. We have had her in our thoughts and prayers and you as well. We missed you at work today and many friends have asked about all of you!.I'm sure those "beautiful babies" can't wait to see their Mommy....hope you can feel the love and hugs coming your way!.
Bob, Carol and Lois XO

Natalie,
I,m so glad you are feeling better. We are so looking forward to seeing you.
Love, Ma and Grandad

Very glad to hear the procedure and recovery have/is going well. We commend you both for your strength. Best of luck as you continue to recuperate!

Jason and Bethany

Greetings Nat & Jason from San Diego, we left yesterday to come and visit Lexi. Sounds like you are being quite the trooper and each day is better for you. Keep up the good work. We're so glad everything is going well. We'll pray for the chest tube removal today.

Much love,
Vickie & Jim

Hey y'all. I've been following you're updates from day one. Nat...you are doing GREAT and you too, Super J!!! Keep up the good work. Natalie, you have been a super trooper! I can't believe how strong one person can be. I can't wait to watch your babies tomorrow night. It's been 3 years (on Sept. 20th!!!) since I was able to stay with them for the evening! Tony & I are really looking forward to it!...And seeing you Super J! We love you!!! Keep up the good work and we'll keep up the prayers! :)

Looking forward to seeing you when you are able to come to Lawrence with Jason and your darling twins. Keep on getting stronger.

hugs

Heide

YEA NATALIE!!!! Keep going girl. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Mick, Molly, Mike and Sara

Still thinking of you both! Natalie, I knew you were strong and you keep getting stronger each day. Keep it up we can't wait to have you home so we all can take care of you. Will continue to pray for your recovery.
Taylors
Kelly,Karen,Trace and Evan

You go girl! You are such a fighter and I am so proud of my baby friend Natalie!! Enjoy the pain meds and hope your walks get longer and easier. Love from TX- Laura

Jason Just to let you know New e-mail address sondrs6761@att.net Keep up the good work. Love, Ma

Lookin' good Nat!
I hope you are feeling a little better today and that you get to start watching Sons of Anarchy soon. Let me know what you think if you start it. (If not you will love Friday Night Lights...)

Libby

Way to go, Natalie!! You are a great patient and it sounds like you have a great nurse! Keep on walking and we will keep on praying!
XOXO!
The Cobbs

It sounds like Natalie is making wonderful progress! The important question is...when can she eat cheeseburgers and fries again? I know that is what I would want! Thinking of all of you and sending lots of prayers, too!

The Randall's

Way to go Natalie you are doing so good. You have such a good nurse "Jason". Keeping you guys in our prayers. Butch & Martha

We are happy to hear everything is going well. We'll be thinking of you guys as Natalie recovers.
Kurt, Carrie, Miles and Quinn

Dear Natalie--We are so grateful you are doing so well!! We will be praying for a swift and complete recovery!! Love, Carolyn and Mike Fleming

Natalie & Jason,
Keep up the good work. So glad to hear your are doing well. Everyone from the host office at the Isle send their love!!!

Cathy, Mike, Anthony & Cynthia

Dear Nat & Jason,
Glad to hear the pain has gotten somewhat better. And we hope the walk was uneventful. You are doing so great Nat, we are so proud of you. Each day brings new promises of hope for a great and speedy recovery. Hang in there!
Love you all,
Vickie & Jim