Thursday June 3, 2010

Hello Family & Friends,

Oh how a difference one day makes. Today has been a busy one! First Hank's kidney doctor came in and made the decision that even though his toxin levels have gone up a bit he still wants to hold off on putting another line in him and doing dialysis. They in turn are giving him more liquids to increase his output. They will watch the numbers and plan accordingly though.

Physical therapy came in and had him stand 3 different times for about 2 minutes each. He was able to use his legs much better today to stand up and sit back down. Then they had him take about 6 steps over to a chair and then he sat there for about an hour. The girls were very pleased with him today compared to yesterday and so was I!

They came in and stuck a camera tube down his nose to watch his swallowing of pudding and milk (which they put blue dye in to see it better) via a computer. I was able to watch without to much nausea and it was obvious even to me that his throat still isn't strong enough yet to close up properly to keep the fluids from going down into his lungs. So we are still on a ice cube only diet for a couple more days and then they will test him again. They are suppose to give him some exercises to strengthen and make his brain remember how to close up the tube to the lungs. Amazing to watch and who made us with two critical tubes so close together!

We did make progress today in our living arrangements! We got off the trauma floor 5 and moved up to floor #11, now his room is #1124. It's got a real bathroom with a door (great for wife) and a couch. He can have little visitors in here as well. The couch thing Hank is real excited for because he wants me to spend the nights here even though I have a perfectly nice hotel room with 2 bedrooms! Oh, well I can still visit it in the mornings while they do their daily bathing and exercising with him! I'll try it tonight and see how it goes.

On Monday they are planning on moving him up one more floor to #12 to start rehab. They feel we need at least a week and half for rehab. That way our insurance will still be in effect. Good thing for that, I don't want to cut into my shoe budget with hospital bills. I kinda think my shoe buying days will be limited anyway because insurance will only cover part of this place anyway and I'm so grateful we have good insurance!

Hank had me take another picture of him showing his hands and had me send them to our grandson Delton and then he wanted to call him. So we got Delton on the phone and Hank told him that when he was riding his bike a deer ran out in front of him and he got in a wreck. Delton asked "How come?". Angie said he looked at the picture of Papa but just for a little while I guess. I'm hoping once Hank gets up to rehab and a little later next week the kids can all come back for a visit. He's still talking about wanting to hold little Alivia!

So that's about it for today. Hank's resting comfortable again and we'll just hang here the rest of the day! He can have flowers now and I won't need to take them to the hotel and thanks for the cards you've sent, so nice. We send our love, prayers, and thankfulness to all of you! We miss you all and can't wait to come home!