Yesterday Was A Great Day!

Yesterday was a great day...even the doctor said so! Mom was awake enough yesterday morning for the respirator to be removed. Later in the day, the feeding tube that was giving her what I can only assume was one delicious "milkshake" full of good stuff was also removed. With that, Mom started trying to talk to us. My girlfriend Amy came up from Dover, DE to offer some support for us, so her and I spent the morning getting things done around the house and then went and enjoyed lunch. Dad called to let me know the respirator was out and said that Mom instantly became more aware.

By the time I got to the hospital just after lunch yesterday, Mom was a little tired out from talking to Aunt Nancy and Dad through the morning, but she was very responsive and was answering questions and trying to talk. Although it's a little hard to understand her, we're getting the basic idea...and really just enjoying her being awake. Sometimes we ask her to repeat what she said and if we don't get it after a few times she just shrugs her shoulders and looks at us like we're insane! It's nice to see her getting back to herself!

After dinner, Dad, Aunt Nancy, Marc, and I went back to the hospital to see Mom and say goodnight. After spending a few minutes with her, she told me she needed to get out of bed and when I asked why, her answer was simply because she had things to do at the house. Ha! I then told her not to worry, she was going to hang out there for a while, let the nurses and doctors get her better - in the meantime, I was staying at the house and it was clean, everyone had clean towels, and good meals. Then she rolled her eyes at me! I couldn't believe it! (Guess I'll never do it all as well as she does, but that was the best eye roll I ever received from my mother!)

Aunt Nancy has been so amazing while she's been here this last week and we are very grateful for her coming out to be with us during this time; we are really going to miss her when she leaves today (we're also going to miss her broccoli which always seems to be perfect!). She and Ruckus became fast friends and I'm sure he's going to miss their daily walks through the neighborhood. Thank you Aunt Nancy for everything...the support you've provided, both emotionally, and in the household. Let's get you out to Jersey on better terms next time. Love you!

Today also finds us welcoming Dad's sister Sara and her husband Tony. I haven't seen them in quite some time, so I'm pretty excited to have them staying with us. I think Dad is excited to have Tony here so that he, Brian, and Marc have an extra set of hands in all of the mini-projects going on around the house (imagine what the four of them can accomplish!). Since Mom has been at the hospital, the new patio area out back has been completely finished and the new driveway and walkway have been poured out front (forgot to mention to you all that the house has been a construction zone all week!). The flower beds are all coming around and are ready for flowers. Lucky for Mom she'll just get to enjoy it all!

Keep the prayers, good vibes, and positive thoughts coming our way! Hugs and kisses to you all...