Off the ventilator!

I was so hoping (praying) today would be the day that Daddy was able to get off the ventilator and breathe on his own. And, he did! I wasn't there when they took the tubes and stuff out of his throat but Mom was, of course. I went over at my lunch break to see him for myself. I just couldn't wait to kiss his cheek and remind him how much I love him.

He was sitting up and responding to my silly questions and stories about Eli's latest antics. Yeah for Dad! I hated seeing him sedated like that for the past couple of days but I knew it was necessary since he still had the tubes in his throat. Just doesn't make it easy to see.

Dad's getting breathing treatments from the respiratory therapists to help his lungs expand - before surgery it was every 8 hours. Those were stopped on Friday night in preparation for the surgery but they started those same treatments today after the ventilator came off.

I'm thinking Dad will be in ICU until the weekend, at least, since the doc said it would probably be 7 days or so before he went into a regular room. Every day further away from a ventilator is that much closer to coming home!

For the past week when I've picked Eli up from preschool, he asks if we're going to see Grandad and Grandma. That's been so much of our routine for the summer that it's something Eli expects each day to include. (Who can blame him, right?) Since Dad's been in ICU, they haven't seen each other since Saturday morning before surgery. Mom saw Eli on Sunday when we coaxed her to our house for a home-cooked meal! I know they are all going into withdrawal, of sorts, since Mom and Dad have been the main caretakers for Eli while I've been teaching for the past couple of years. So now that school has started they would be spending much more time with him - without me - while I was at work. Eli's been doing great at school and I know he'll have a great year but it's really different.

Thanks for the visits, calls, prayers, emails, cards, and hugs. We need them and appreciate them all - and all of you, too!

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Blessings to you!
Tena