Sept 4 (Tuesday) - 1045pm

As I'm writing this there is a major windstorm going on, with rain blowing sideways out my window.   On top of that, the lights are flickering and my computer's standby power supply is working overtime.   But still, on I write, as there are things to say and good news to report.    Today marks yet another day of forward progress for Jeannette, with lots of good "little things" to share and nothing on the negative side to report.  It's one of the message nights when the keyboard can sing, because good news is great news when we are in the ICU.

First, the nausea is gone!  Yeah, that's the report from Sam, and in the scheme of things for Jeannette its a huge improvement.  And she didn't waste any time in getting to the eating chore either!  I use the word chore, because unlike Rich who LOVES food, Jeannette is taking this more as a task, i.e. "Lets get my body some nutrition here, so what have I got to eat and lets get it eaten."    I don't think she's all that hungry still, but she's putting down food none-the-less.    What's she eating you ask?   OK, you didn't ask, but hey, it's real food and that's news!    She started her day with Cream of Wheat, with yogurt too,  and a side plate of fruit on top of it all.  Yum!   Lunch was a noodle plate of some kind, which isn't too discriptive but then again I didn't see it.   But apparently it tasted ok because it got eaten, and it was served with more fruit.   Dinner tonight was mashed potatoes and gravy and a bowl of pears for dessert!    (BIG SMILE)

Because she's doing so well, they have cut the stomach tube drip down by 50%; so she is only getting fed via the tube now for 12 out of any 24 hour period.   And since the TPN (I think that's the right term for the IV feeding line) was removed last night, this too marks another milestone in my way of thinking.   Clearly, that all important "gut" is working, and she is building strength and getting real nutrition.

Speaking of strength building, today they added a little addition to her physical therapy routine by giving her a real weight.  Yeap, she now has a 1 pound weight which she is using to do arm "reps."     And she is into the reps!   She's pushing herself to get her strength back, and she has improved now to the point that she can brush her own teeth, and feed herself her own food!     

Yesterday was shampoo day, as I mentioned in my yesterday update,  and today was hair styling time.   One of her nurses took the time to "French Braid" her hair, and Jeannette made the comment that it might be time to "change her hairstyle".       There were also a couple of phone calls with Rich using the iPad's "FaceTime" feature, so the two of them could see each other and converse, even though Rich was in Willow and Jeannette was in the ICU.   

Speaking of Rich, Sully is picking him up in the morning, and driving him into Anchorage to see his "Honeybears", and Rich is all excited and so is Jeannette.  

So, that's the news.   In summary, it was a very "good news" day, in every single way it could be.   There was no roller coaster ride today--it was a quite day where things went right and Jeannette moved forward.   For now, I'm going to end the note, and uplink this before the internet goes down or my power goes out. -John