Friday - Monday, September 25 - 28, 2009

Daddy is holding his own and fortunately (or unfortunately for him at this time) he understands and hears EVERYTHING we say and do. (which he reminded Nelda and Hattie of this afternoon!)

But he sometimes can't communicate...I know the words are there in his head and coming out of his mouth, we just can't always understand. BUT then there are times we understand very clearly.

We know he gets a little disoriented at times and doesn't remember where he is, because he has asked...

• "who are we waiting for?"
• "where did this bed come from?"
• "what are we waiting for?" (which is what we are wanting to ask)

We also know he is getting better and agitated all at the same time, because he is ready to get out of bed...in fact, he has made numerous attempts...which scares us because he still can't move his right leg.

Five days on his back...he's a little tired of this and rightly so.

We know he's frustrated, especially when we've had to ask him, for the fifth time, to repeat what he's said. That's usually when he blurts it out.

• Like last night, when I knew he was hungry, but I wasn't sure what he was asking for and he blurted out "SANDWICH".
• Sorry, Daddy, the chocolate pudding was as good as it was going to get!

But, we also know his sense of humor is very much intact...

Yesterday, he was trying to get Nelda to understand that he wanted out of bed and she told him that he couldn't. His response...

• "Hide and watch"

And his stubborn streak...very much alive and well...

• The nurse was trying to get him to squeeze with his right hand and he wouldn't budge.
• Then I walked in a little bit later and asked him to squeeze my hand like he was gripping a golf club (sorry, nurse, you have to know your audience) and I thought he was trying to break my fingers.
• Then the added bonus...he lifted my hand halfway to his face from the bed. (It's the little things that mean so much now - I believe this has changed all our lives.)

For the most part his memory is also good...

• He remembered I had told him, last week, that James had gotten a promotion and raise.
• He said..."James...raise?" "WHEN?"
• He asked if Brett had left and when...and we think he may have been asking when he was coming back instead of when did he leave.

He enjoyed hearing from his grandchildren and great grandchildren...

• when Melissa placed the phone next to his ear for the kids to say "We love you, PaPa" - he smiled real big!
• and when Brayden told him he was praying for him...we KNOW that thrilled his soul.

He has so many friends and I think most of them have come by the hospital at least once...and he enjoys every visit (whether he's snoring or not).

His blood pressure had been elevated both yesterday and today, but they are trying to control that with meds. He has developed a cough and when you can't sit up more than 30% your chances of getting pneumonia increase. Those are two prayer requests...as we prepare for tomorrow.

The plan remains to insert the pacemaker tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29th) so we can start really working the physical therapist...please pray that both of these issues will have subsided and he can really start recovering.

We know he has a long road ahead of him, but our prayer remains for a full recovery. God hears the prayers of His people and we believe He is still in the miracle and healing business.

Thank you so much for continuing to keep Daddy in your prayers.