5 Aug (Sunday) - 6pm

After laboring for an hour to create an update worthy of John, who is in another time zone, the iPad burped and it all went away.  Too bad, as it was much funnier than this version and humor is a good thing.  Sam was last seen massaging the hand on Rich's broken arm. Jeannette was resting.  A pretty calm, good day.  Do not be alarmed if there is no further update today.  No news is good.

Jeannette had some surgery today to take a look at the abdominal area and make sure all was well.  Sam reported "OPS CHK GOOD" and the doctor was talking about doing a more permanent closure of the area if things are holding steady on Tuesday.  Sam said very good news.  Prior to Jeannette being wheeled away, I was able to talk with her and Sam for a bit.  Her face was very animated and her lips were moving  in response to the conversation.  I wish we could read lips, because she was trying to talk to us. There were also some major eye brow lifts, as well as some finger and toe wiggling.  It was a treat to see, but maybe she didn't think the story of the time on the sandbar when her chair collapsed with her in it was all that funny....  Isn't laughter the best medicine? I am looking forward to the day when we can rig up some of those old Chicken fleet videos for her entertainment. 

Rich was awake most of the day and doing quite a bit of talking.  He has mastered the frappin contraption and is able to pilot the bed controls with precision.  He kept maneuvering the bed to try to find a comfortable position and asked the Dr if he could not get out and get into a chair or sit more upright.  It appears that he may be able to come off antibiotics in a few days, too.

The major mission for the day was consumption of munchies. While Rich stated that he would rather have salmon, steak, Guiness and some of Krista's potato salad, he sampled cranberry and apple nectar, some water product we dubbed "heavy" water because you eat it with a spoon, vanilla yogurt and pudding, and some thick chicken broth.  The winner was the cranberry nectar which, consumed about a half tsp at a time, was almost gone by the time I left.  Rich would say "Give me some more red slime".  And I would. 

He enjoyed listening to Sam read some cards to him and is aware that there is a website with posts,  prayers, and pictures from relatives and friends.  He had a rosary around his arm when I went in and, after a good cough to clear his lungs, he would say "prayer, patience and small steps".  I read the posts and know that there are hundreds of prayers and many masses being said for Rich's and Jeannette's recoveries.  Keep it up!   

As John mentioned in the last post, the conversations are very "careful".  Rich knows the basics of what happened to him but does not yet want the details.  But he is so much stronger than when I saw him on Friday it is amazing. And speaking of amazing, there is Super Sam who practically lives at the hospital.  Between Sam and Maryann (who will be back this week), you can be assured that the doctors and nurses are on task and on target.  Sully out.