Brihogan.com: Surgery

7/23/2007

Surgery

We just found out today that Rob will be having another surgery on an aneurysm on his left side of his shoulder. This is scheduled for tomorrow sometime. We've known about this aneurysm for about two years now, but the doctors want to operate to make sure nothing happens with it. Rob seems ok with it. He is sleeping right now. The throat surgery thing will now be waiting a couple days since they don't want to do it and then have a respirator down his throat right after. Rob has recovered so well, we're praying the same will happen after this one tomorrow. Thank you for all your prayers and comments. They have been a huge help down here.

9 comments:

Bob said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10:00 AM
Anonymous said...: We'll keep those prayers coming---it's so good to know you are where you are and the doctors are taking the time to make sure they are taking the best care of you.
Love to all,
Melissa & Family
P.S. Sophie is now practicing daily to show you her walking expertise when you all get home.; 10:08 AM
Brian Hogan said...: It'll be good to get that done with. Plus, what's a few more days in Texas? Especially when I'm doing all the work back here. :) Just kidding, you should see Rob & Marla's house and Dad & Mom's place. It looks like planet of the apes. Everything is grown over. It's crazy! The cats now rule the Mason Ave neighborhood, you can't get too close before they start throwing used litter at you. Ouuuccch... My eye. That really hurt! Seriously, who throws used litter?!?; 10:24 AM
Anonymous said...: Hello to all of you,

We are praying that this next surgery goes as well as the last one. I guess it is better to do it now when the doctors can calmly plan the surgery.

We will be glued to the computer tomorrow to hear how things are going.

Tom asked us to send his love and prayers to you, Rob. He admires you so much for the example you have been to him and all of us. He actually had written a letter to you, but hadn't yet mailed it.

May you all be blessed. We are all thinking of you.

Love to all of you,

Auntie Mary and Uncle Gordon; 10:30 AM
Anonymous said...: Great to see you up and about Rob, you look pretty good in your pics. Love the pole dance but I thought you could of shown more leg..... I hope yall are eating lots of good junk food. Tell Denise I said hello. I hope the surgery goes well tomorrow, we keep praying for you. Take care.
Laura; 10:33 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, at least the doctors are looking at you from every angle...making sure that everything is in or out....now...They really sound like great doctors. Just amazing. I'm sure that whole hospital is so in love with Rob....they are all looking out for his wellbeing. Rob and Marla are such a cute couple......that they bring a smile to your face. I love the picture of them walking hand and hand. So in love. It is great.
We'll be glues to the computer tomorrow. Rob looks so strong...so keep doing your laps around the halls.
We love you.
Auntie Becky and family; 12:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Prayers, Prayers, and more Prayers! They work!!! We'll be saying them!!!! Absolutely!! Positively!!; 1:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Just a note to say that Brian is pretty cute on the lawn mower. Contrary to Bri downplaying his lawn care activities, he has displayed his abilities both outside and inside at the office.

He is one helpful son and brother. Hey, Bri, our lawn needs to be done, too.

So relax and know that Bri is the "go to" guy.

Love, Auntie Mary

P.S. I know you all knew he was joking, but I had to add my two cents in case someone out there reading this might be single, and available. . . .Bri is the guy.; 1:52 PM
Anonymous said...: So how many pints of Ben & Jerry's will it take to bribe the nurses into giving you that private room?
I know some people who know some people who have connections down there. I've never known a hospital nurse that didn't just cave at the site of a pint of Chubby Hubby.

Hopefully you'll be up and dancing again like in that really bizarre video I came across on youtube.
Man what was up with that? Marla did you teach him those moves?; 3:55 PM

Photo Contest Rules (boring)

Timing
Photos should be submitted to Brian's email by Sunday @ 8:00pm. Posting will go live ASAP. Voting will close Thursday at 3:00pm. Winner will fill out "interview" and deliver to Brian's email by Friday night.

Photo Delivery
Try to keep your photos under 1,500 pixels wide (or tall). You can use the "Large (Higher Quality)" setting through iPhoto. Your photograph should be titled; 1 to 5 words for a title.

Scoring
First place 3 points. Second place 2 points. Third place 1 point.

Handicaps / 1:321 Rule
The idea behind handicapping is to keep the competition close. It is also there so that we can practice photography with limits - since limits might make us more creative. Lastly, it is there to keep players with more resources from having too much advantage.

Since the winner will not be determined until Thursday night, the handicap will be for the following week's assignment. So, basically, the handicapping will always be a week behind.

When a photographer gets first place he will receive one handicap. Handicap is decided on by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place photographers (majority rules). Handicaps for a win must be of the "basic type". If a photographer is winning over the last place person by 3, 5, or 6 wins then he will get +1, +2, or +3 handicaps of the "extreme type".

The 321 part of the rule comes from a photographer winning 3 times, then an additional 2 times, then an additional 1 time. These wins translate to having a score of 9, 15, and 18 above the last place player.

For example, if "Player A" just won a round and has a score of 18 and "Player B" has a score of 0. Then "Player A" Would have 1 basic handicap and 3 extreme handicaps. If a player is more than 18 points over the lowest player than he will get +1 basic handicaps for every single point over 18.

Basic Type Handicaps
For practice! Basic handicaps are assigned to the photographer that has just won a round. And also assigned to photographers that are more than 18 points above the last place player. Basic handicaps reset each round. The handicap is decided on by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place players (majority rules). Basic handicaps would be anything that are not fundamental photographing "rights". These handicaps should be fun & challenging, but not stress inducing. For example, "no flash", "No post production (other than CC)", "Must use S priority mode", "No stabilization (i.e. tripods)", "Must use manual focus", "Must shot in landscape/portrait orientation", etc.

Extreme Type Handicaps
Ouch! Extreme handicaps are assigned to any photographer that are 9, 15, or 18 points above the last place player. Extreme handicaps are reset each round. The handicap is decided on by the bottom 3 players - but not including the player being handicapped (majority rules). Extreme handicaps can include limiting fundamental photographing "rights". For example, "full manual mode (M mode and manual focus)", "No post production at all (not even CC)", "Shots only between 8 & 10pm", "No looking through viewfinder or monitor", etc.

Voting Rules
Photographers are not allowed to solicit for votes. They can link to the voting. Or, even have their own voting on their own blog/site. But, they cannot suggest which photo should be voted for. Photographers can vote once - but not for their own photo.

Ties
If there is a tie for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Then all the players (other than the players involved in the tie) vote on the favorite (majority rules). If there are an equal number of votes, then the lowest scored individual is dropped from voting. The score for the "lowest scored individual" is the score before the round in which the tie is involved.

Assignments
Next week's assignment will be posted at the bottom of the "contest photos" post, which should be posted no later than Monday. Assignment will be pulled from several standard websites that produce "word of the day" or "assignment of the week" etc. For now, Brian will pick an assignment on a rotational bases.

Winner's Interview
These are the questions the winner should email to Brian so that he can post your victory.

What was your thought process in coming up with your photo?
What settings did you use (shutter/aperture, ISO, etc)?
Did you do any Post Production? If so, what did you do?
What tools did you use (flash, lens, meter, etc)?
What have you learned from this assignment?
What would you have done differently now that it's over?