August 25 (Saturday) - 1145pm

Sully drove into Anchorage and visited Jeannette, and together with Joyce and Sam the four of them had a good visit.   Jeannette was sitting up today, and practicing deep breathing, an important chore that helps to keep the lungs clear.  She was in good spirits; and they managed a few jokes among themselves and they had Jeannette rolling her eyes, and trying hard not to laugh.   Jeannette was also practicing her speech, which is a difficult chore with the trac tube still in place.   But she had it in for a couple of hours, and she was talking much better, although still pretty much in a whisper.   But hey, another small things again, but big too.    

Later, Sam reports her mom slept for three solid hours straight--a pretty hard thing to do in an ICU ward.   The machines, dancing graphs and near constant beeps don't help, and if you can get past that then there are the nurses and medical staff that come by to "check on things" almost constantly.   Nevertheless, Sam reports she got some real sleep, and she was very happy about it too when she woke up!

One thing I forgot to report yesterday was that Krista was in seeing Jeannette with Sam, and they were telling her about Rich and the plans to take him home.  Krista is a neighbor in Willow, and an RN too, and she has graciously volunteered to stay with Rich at night and help in his recovery.   There are others lined up to stay with him during the day, and it is that combination of help that has made it possible for him to leave the hospital.   Well, at one point after they had explained the plan to Jeannette,  Krista leaned over and said that she hoped it was OK for her to "shack up with Rich" for a while.  When she said that Jeannette (and everyone else) started laughing so hard it hurt.    I'm truly  amazed when I get these reports at how Jeannette's visitors can somehow find something funny out of a place and a room that is oh-so-serious.  But they can and they do, and it makes a huge difference.  Laughter is good medicine, even when it hurts!  

I will mention that I went flying today, cranking up the supercub and taking advantage of a windless afternoon and the great visibility and dead calm waters.   Sully and I dropped in and landed on Rich's lake, taxiing up to his dock where we stopped to say "hello."   While I was there yesterday, today the house was cozy warm, and there was fresh baked muffins on the table, along with a home made peach pie and spaghetti dinner all cooked and ready to be eaten.   Again I am stunned by the support and well wishes of so many people, all coming together with a common hope.  

Rich was looking really good, and he was going on about how much better sleeping in your own bed is.   He was thrilled to be home, and as I left Rich he had already chowed down with dinner, and was planning to do another round of his doctor ordered exercises......but his first priority was to grab another piece of homemade peach pie and some ice cream to go with it.   First things first you know. - John