LOOK AT YOU!!!! - OH!-YOU'RE TALKING

Let me count how many times I have heard those two statements the last couple of days -- On second thought, I lost count. I don't know what Chris, the physical therapist did or said to Ken Tuesday afternoon, but the man I found here in room 12 that afternoon HAS STAYED!!!!!!! Let's do a quick recap: Sunday - went on first outing to atrium and made a contract after being extremely agitated; Monday - fever caused by blood infection and so very sick; Tuesday AM - asleep so hard would hardly open eyes; Tuesday PM - NEW MAN!!!!! sitting up in bed with glasses on and talking. NOW..............!!!!

WEDNESDAY, when I left you, I was trying to take care of my wobbly legs by resting at the apartment. I never did go back to sleep but it was nice to enjoy my cup of morning tea sitting in the recliner. I did a little cleaning and straighting and then I got ready to head over to the hospital when the phone rang. I answered and heard Ken's nurse saying someone wants to talk to you. Yes, it was Ken and he began telling me about being outside - YES, OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE, with the breeze blowing in his face, and how good the sun felt and how much fun it was to watch the people. His nurse, Dan, and one of the techs took him out and the three of them were enjoying the heck out of it. They only went back inside, when they did, because the oxygen was running low; and I just missed it by minutes. What a glow!!! What a smile!!! What excitement in the voice!!! when I got to his room. Everyone I talked to was so excited about his turn around and how he was all of a sudden "Mr. Chatty".

The weekends are very quiet around here, so on Sunday we had a minimal number of staff in the halls. Weekdays, you can hardly get down the hall, at times, for all of the doctors and other hospital staff coming and going. Ken said he really had a parade Wednesday with everyone clapping and cheering him on. All of the nurses work both day and night shifts, and with schedules and days off changing weekly as well as working on the other side of the unit it can be a week or more before some of the staff will see you again. That is why there is always someone coming in saying I heard you were talking, or I heard you went outside, or................ In the beginning when Ken was on the heart/lung machine, there had to be a perfusionist taking care of that machine as long as he was on it. Two of the ones who watched Ken were back in the unit yesterday, and both came by when they heard he was still here. They were so thrilled with how great he was doing. Both said this was such a rare treat since they are not around to see this end of the recovery, and so it was nice to see what had happened after their services were no longer needed for Ken.

Yesterday, was cloudy and gloomy, and holding a chance for showers all day. I got over to the hospital early and was ready to see what this day had in store. Ken was in the bed but waiting for the troops to gather so he could get into his chair. He was still on the trach collar and looking good!! Shortly after he was in the chair I was puttering around getting him situated with my back to the door. When I raised up and turned around -SURPRISE!!! - I knew those people coming towards the door. I could hardly believe my eyes and asked Ken if he knew who that was coming in. Sure, it was Roland and Pauline (Ken's cousin and his wife from Texas). I pulled up some chairs around Ken's throne and we had a great visit. Six months ago they had planned a vacation, not to Baltimore, but to the surrounding states. They changed up their route in going between two of their locations so they could include a stop here. WOW!! Ken was getting tired and ready to go back to bed so Roland and Pauline took me to lunch and then we took the "scenic route" to Wal-Mart. What a great time and blessing they provided us.

While we were in the car Ken's nurse called to tell me he wanted her to let me know that he had passed his swallowing evaluation. When I got back up to the hospital, the first thing I heard was 'I ate supper'. His food does not have to be pureed this time around, but it does have to be small and soft enough to chew and easy to swallow. He also is getting, for the first time to drink water and coffee. Talk about feeling ALIVE! So far there are two nurses that have promised to bring him something homemade to eat. I say so far because you can count on there being more. I stayed up there until 10:30 getting him situated for the night. He was really tired and had been coughing quite a bit, so they put him back on the vent to let him rest overnight. WHAT A GREAT DAY - WHAT A GREAT TWO AND HALF DAYS IT HAD BEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend and Mother's Day!! I am pretty sure you will find no new entries until Tuesday - my hands are going to be busy playing with that grandson of ours. I would ask that you pray for both Ken and Jack to be healthy enough to see each other. Jack has had the croup and Ken has to be able to go off the unit to see him. Please pray that Josh, Mel and Jack have a safe flight tonight. Can you hear the excitement in my fingers! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!

What a blessing you are to us!!! I hope you can give your mother a hug this Sunday. If you cannot hug your own mother just hug someone. You never know, that act may just make their day. We love you all -- God bless you!