August 12 (Sunday) - 1030pm

Oh....a quiet day, but still, some good news to report.   I had a very short pass-through at the hospital today, and due to circumstances (i.e. relatives in town) I could not linger.   But when I was talking to Maryann some things came out that I had not realized.   It turns out that Jeannette's broken arm was "fixed" during the surgery the other day, and her other arm isn't broken after all!  It is no longer all casted up, and hearing that was a nice surprise!   Likewise, her leg repairs were completed for the present time several days ago, and that I had not realized either.   So, that was more good news.    And while she will need a knee replacement at some point in time, its not something they are worried about right now.   So that too is some great news!   And finally, her neck fracture is in "perfect alignment" with no apparent spinal chord involvement which is of course fantastic news.  I also liked the term changes too when they were discussing her neck, i.e. talking about a "fracture" instead of "broken".     Another small thing, but big to me.    So that too was all some really great news!   I like the news when it is good, and it was good today.    Jeannette had a quiet day, with less pain, and lots of rest and there were no surprises.     

I did see Rich today, at dinner time, and I hope that my visit didn't disturb his eating too much.  We shared some fun stories about catching crabs with the chicken fleet, and we did some serious laughing.   He was in good spirits, doing better and his cough too seemed to me to be much improved.  Since yesterday his right leg was bandaged foot to thigh, which was locking his painful knee in one position.   That had alleviated the pain and allowed him to walk again working his way down the hall a couple of times to build up some strength.    He said it was strange; almost like learning to walk all over again, and he was dizzy at times but he kept at it and its "all coming back."   Again, more good news.   He shaved himself today too, and brushed his own teeth without assistance and while he was there he talked on the telephone with Sam too.     Again, small things perhaps, but really big things when you think of where he was a couple of weeks ago. - John