Saturday

Kind of a tough day today.

So apparently dad pulled out his feeding tube at some point last night. I'm not sure if he's totally aware that he did it. (So it WAS him that dislodged it yesterday! Sneaky little dad.) So after much waiting, doctor checks, x-rays, etc., the tube was reinserted. He has not yet passed the "swallow test" so they're not yet allowing him to eat on his own. Too much of a risk for aspiration, and with his fever and possible pneumonia it's not a chance worth taking. Long story short, he had to wait all day for them to deliver any nourishment and liquids through the tube. Needless to say, dad is cranky - to say the least. He's still in the ICU. The pulmonary docs are still concerned about his lung situation so they're not ready to release him to a regular room. Plus he's REAL puffy and swollen all over so they've got to get that under control. Most of you know that my dad's always been kind of a bean pole, so to see him a little plump around the edges is a little strange. Payback for all the fat comments I would presume, dad. But his excuse for his missing "edit button" has always been "that they took that part out!"

I think at this point he is very frustrated and it was a very tough day on him, mom and Jen. The downside of him being neurologically a bit better is that he is totally aware of everything that is going on and it is very stressful and uncomfortable. But when mom and Jen left him this evening, he was enjoying his dose of morphine and an old John Wayne Flick. Very fitting. Dad can watch AMC for hours, even all night!

Mom said again that the long term memory seems to be good, but he seems to not be totally registering the short term. I think they're having to re-explain things a lot, which is adding to his frustration level. Mom said his tremors were improving a bit. It's my opinion that these issues will decrease the farther into recovery he gets. If I remember right, these were more like side affects from the last surgery so they're bound to be an issue (maybe even a greater issue) after this most recent surgery. The nurse did mention that each additional time someone has this surgery the harder it is to recover from it. But dad is a trooper and with a lot of prayer, love, support and encouragement from all of us, he can get back to were he was, if not real close.

This morning mom sent me a pic on my cell phone of dad. With the glowing oxygen sensor on his finger, he was pointing to the camera, as if to say "Phone Home." It was very nice to see him again, even if only on the tiny screen of my cell phone.

Our love and thanks to everyone for all your continued prayers and support.