YES---NO---MAYBE SO???????????

I have not been very good about keeping you updated lately. Seems like anytime I can get to the computer there is not any energy to try and find the words to convey what is going on. Even now I am struggling. Last night I was thinking about the blog entry I did back in March entitled TIME TABLE. Three weeks had gone by then -- A little more than three months now!! I definitely don't have the brain power to try and break it all down like I did then.

Ken has not been at our home in Tennessee since the morning of January 2nd when he was taken by ambulance to Baptist hospital. Yesterday, marked five months in Baltimore. By the time we go back, half of 2008 will be over. I guess that is what made the events of the last couple of weeks so hard. "Yes we're going - No we're not going - Maybe we're going - NO WE'RE NOT GOING"!

June 2nd was the target day for us to return to Nashville when Ken was moved from CSICU to Telemetry. I am still not sure where all of the communication break down happened, but there were definitely different agendas trying to be worked out at the same time. Although each party had Ken's best interest in mind, unfortunately we were the ones being pulled emotionaly in different directions. When we were already so physically and mentally exhausted it didn't take much tugging to cause extreme pain. I know all of the intentions were good on every one's part but ........................ We still do not know specifically what is going on, so we just do what we need to each day to get Ken stronger so we can go home, and.....................

THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN - Ken is getting stronger every day. His trach was downsized again today and that means the next step will be to remove it completely. That will be a great day - just like when the feeding tube came out -those 'outward extras' that are reminders of how sick he was and how far he has come. Physical and occupational therapy went very well today. He sat up on the edge of the bed longer than before, and actually was balancing himself for a very brief time (LOOK - NO HANDS). After laying him back down he was transferred to the chair where therapy was continued. His hands, especially the right, are getting more flexible, but the fine motor skills still have a ways to go. Whichever skill is required, he has figured out how to work the TV remote (just like a man). I took some pictures and short videos of Ken's therapy session today, and when he asked what I was doing, my reply was, just documenting this so at a future day you will see how far you have come. He still does not know the half of it.

Dialysis is still being done at least three times a week and we are still hoping his kidneys will start functioning again. Several weeks ago, I shaved Ken's head - yes, that's right he only has fuzz on top. Anyway, when he has dialysis he gets really cold so I took him a stocking cap to wear. Seems to do the trick. He is eating good and so his skin is starting to look better. He continues to have several places that are not healing very fast but they are staying on top of it with the wound care nurse. His blood pressure has been pretty low the last couple of days but he is not feeling any effects from it. One of the NPs told him today to eat some salt with his food- he hasn't heard that one in a long time.

As you can see, we are just taking one day at a time, and looking forward to the day when everyone involved will say - YES it's time to go home !!! I wish I could think of another word to say besides THANKS -but -THANKS, as always from the bottom of our hearts. God has truly blessed us through you all.