Dad Still Improving

Mom, Beryl, and I spent a couple of hours with Dad today. He continues to improve - now he is trying to walk around in his room to build up some strength. He continues to use a nasal cannula (tube with nose prongs that is connected to the wall and delivers oxygen). The flow is at 1½ liter per minute.

Dad was hoping to get discharged over the weekend. He is so ready to go home, but apparently the doctors want him to recover even more. Dad’s IV site was changed again today. The nurses change it every three days to lessen the risk of infection. This is a difficult process because Dad’s veins are difficult to find and easily blown. His arms have so many red marks/scabs where the pokes were unsuccessful. Also, Dad is allergic to the plastic tape that is used to keep the IV in place. The plastic ‘burns’ his skin – it really makes his skin raw. Even though he has asked each nurse to use paper tape, several of them have insisted on using the standard plastic tape. So in addition to many poke marks on his arms, he has reddish/purplish ‘burn’ marks. We’re thankful though, that the IV medications being given are helping him to recover.

The boys: The boys are still enjoying their home away from home. It is amazing that with six adults and four children, we’re pretty comfortable in this two bedroom apartment. Yesterday and today the boys watched a new video (new to them) – Milo The Mantis Who Wouldn’t Pray. They enjoy the videos in the Hermie series (by Max Lucado). I enjoy the lessons taught in the videos - definitely positive for kids.

The boys (and Auntie Berber and I) have downloaded a computer game called Super Collapse! 3. You click on groups of different colored blocks to get rid of them. Each level gives you more lines of blocks. There are special pieces called bombs which help you blow up the blocks. Kevin is the best at this game, and Justin is almost on my level. Brian even gets into it yelling, ‘Bomb, Bomb’ whenever he sees one appear. Another game the kids really enjoy is called Feeding Frenzy. You are a fish that eats other fish. You grow as you eat and move up the food chain eating larger fish. You also can get eaten by fish larger than you. It is so funny to hear them squeal every time a larger fish (shark or barracuda) comes by.