Who knew?

These pics aren't new but are a couple of my favorites of Mom and Dad with Eli. The update is at the bottom of the pics.

I know Mom didn't let us blow bubbles in the house when we were younger. Wait a minute, were there bubbles in abundance when we were younger? In any case, here she is caught in the act of blowing bubbles with Eli - inside the house!

Here's Daddy with his 'little buddy.' Eli wasn't yet a year old but he knew he could get Grandad to do anything for him! Did you know that Dad can't stand it when Eli cries? (Really, who does?) If Eli cried when it was naptime, Daddy would pick him up and let Eli nap in his arms. It was the sweetest thing. Now, of course, that would never happen.


After being so 'pumped up' that Dad was off the respirator on Tuesday, it's hard to say that he's back on it today. Yes, you read that right, Dad's back on the respirator. Who knew he'd need it ever again let alone about 48 hours later!?!?!!?

He had been struggling to breathe some so the docs had put him on a Bi-Pap machine and also given him a couple of new meds to help. But even with all of that, this morning, the respiratory therapist and the pulmonary doctor decided it was in his best interest to put him back on the respirator. I can attest to the fact that Dad was having some pain from his incision site and that he was having a hard time getting a deep breath. He wouldn't tell my mom and I that he had any pain but he wasn't shy about telling the nurses. Just yesterday, I asked him if he was hurting very much and he said, 'Not right now.' A few minutes later, the nurse came in and Dad asked for pain meds...

Because of the tube in his throat, the docs have him sedated a bit so he won't pull out the tube, he gets adequate rest for his body to heal a bit better and he can't talk to us at all. He is responding to our questions and he opens his eyes when we talk directly to him.

My brother and Kit came up from Houston tonight so we'll get to spend some 'quality time' in the ICU. We want to make sure Daddy gets his rest but we also want him to know that they came back up to check on him.

Every day, Eli has been asking for Grandma and Grandad. (Yes, he even says at the 'hosipital' when he's asking! The little smarty!) I was really hoping to take him to the hospital to see Daddy this weekend. But, as long as he's in ICU, Eli can't visit him.

Hint for today: I learned this morning that Dad didn't have his thyroid checked at his regular physical in April. It isn't something that is automatically checked and Dad had no history of thyroid problems in his family, so it wasn't done. Please, please, please when you have your annual exams, have your thyroid checked. It's a simple test and it would be worth the time.