August 23 (Thursday) - midnight

We had the quite stable day we all wanted, and things went well for both Jeannette and Rich.  At one point in the afternoon Sully and Sam were chatting with Jeannette, talking up a storm, and they had her rolling her eyes as they cracked each other up.  Later, Sully brought our dog, Griff, to the big hospital window outside, and "waved the dog's paw" at Jeannette through the glass.   It's hard to find levity in an ICU room, but somehow they all managed.    

The important news for Jeannette is that things are stable and improving, her all important numbers today solid and where the doctors want them.  In addition her pain was much better today and with a little help from the "good stuff" she was able to get some real rest.  But in the ICU rest is relative, and even when you are wanting to sleep occasionally the staff has other ideas.   Today the hospital staff kept things hopping, and they took a new X-ray series to check out her bones and joints and how the healing is going.   She's been cleared by the doctors for "physical therapy" for her arms and one of her legs, and so those specialists were there working on what they can, including her arms and the repaired leg.  

Her other leg is still in need of surgical repair, and yet it will have to wait for a little while longer.   But for her other three limbs its "therapy time" and while I'm sure that the "range of motion" exercises are't all that much fun, nevertheless surprisingly Jeannette seems eager to get on with it, at one point helping to work her own arm.    Another small thing perhaps, but a highlight to me,  was that she wanted to sit up again, and is clearly working hard to get well and get out of there.   Her drive, commitment, and overall tenacity is an inspiration for everyone!  

As for Rich, if all goes as planned then operation "Bald Eagle Escape" will take place tomorrow, and by the time I update this again he may be in his own house in Willow!   The plan as it stands tonight is if they do let him out, then he wants to go by and see Jeannette before he gets driven anywhere else.  After that, he wants a stop at Starbucks for a mocha latte, and some bagels at the bagel shop.  Umm.   We'll see.    His ideas and the reality check are not always exactly one and the same.     As for how he is doing, if you look at the photo albums, you will see a new picture of Rich that I took with his permission.    To me, it alone says all that needs to be said.  - John