Saturday

I worked this morning, so the following will be a compilation of reports from Mom, Nancy, Cindy (sis from Conway), her husband Mike, Charlotte and our youngest Hannah.
(Some of you have asked for a program of who is who, maybe I will lay out the family tree at some point for those interested.)

Mike and Cindy arrived in town mid morning and joined Mom in the palacial suite. Dad had a good morning, probably because there were some new faces and new conversations to break up the mundane. "Dr. Jones" made him show off his respiratory skills on the hour. Dad ate a so so lunch because of all the Ensure shakes they are bringing him.

Apparently, the battle of wills ensued over Ensure for the remainder of the day. I have never had one before, but according to Dad, they are pure protein and fiber and sugary sweet and very filling. Every meal and in between someone was delivering another bottle. He told me that at one point during the day there were 6 shakes on his tray. This evening when Charlotte and Hannah were visiting, Dad had had enough of Ensure and the talk about how he needed to drink another one. Hannah told me she had never seen Pawpaw that grumpy.

I wasn't at all "ensure" whether I wanted to go see him tonight if he was in a combative mood. I did go see him about 8 p.m. and found him not only in good spirits, but looking more like himself since entering the hospital. We had a great conversation and laughed about several events of the day. He told me about the visitors he had and we talked about rehab. He was vigilant and awake during the entire visit. Normally he doses off or keeps his eyes closed when he talks. I really enjoyed my time with him tonight. I came home thinking how blessed I have been. He was Barnabas to me tonight, a "son of encouragement".

Medical reports.
His lungs are slowly getting back to "normal", although he still has some fluid in them. That means another dose of Lasex tonight. The edema in his legs and ankles is subsiding as well. He was able to "walk" into the hall of the wing and back with assistance. He was proud of that, and is still keeping his goals operative. His white cell count is falling so we hope that the blood infection is responding to the antibiotics. (We did find out that one of the antibiotics is a derivative of penicillin which he is allergic to, so far no reaction). All other vitals are looking good. He has started on coumadin which will take a couple of days to regulate.

As you pray tonight and tomorrow, please remember one of Dad's nurses, Shayla and her husband. They are expecting their first child in June and her husband is in Afghanistan. I also met a young man on the elevator who was visiting his 104 year old great grandfather. He has some circulatory problems. I bet there are some holy moments happening the room next door as well.

God is great! God is good!