Momentum, Cards, and Productivity

another good day for my mom.  she got to get rid of the dialysis this morning and is one step closer to being mobile.  her chest x-ray this afternoon was read as "improving" pneumonia which, i told me dad, is a lot better than "declining" or "worsening" pneumonia.  she has been on oxygen for the past few days and they are weaning her from that as well.  we're taking all the good news we can right now.  it feels like positive momentum.

my dad finally figured out the alarm clock in his room at our house and got an early start today.  as is his routine, he had some god-awful looking vegetable juice and headed to the hospital early.  i think he has been encouraged by her progress and is eager to see what each day brings.  

she looks a lot better and with the machines and gizmos slowly going away, her attitude is improving.  my dad, chris and i read her the letters, cards and blog posts that she has been receiving.  after each card, she reminded my dad to update them on her progress.  it went something like this, "now jim, you need to call and give them an update.  you should really call them."  it was very nice to listen, out loud, to the kind things people say and all of the prayers and thoughts that are ongoing.  if any of you are going for the "most frequent" card writer....relax.  my sister-in-law, angie, has an insurmountable lead (yes, there is another angie philpott).  i would put the card/note reading as a highlight of her (my) day.  she is in room #3304 at Jewish Hospital, 4777 e. galbraith road, cincinnati, ohio 45236.

we are slowly seeing her personality come back when it comes to the nursing staff. today, she was "sermonizing" (as i call it) to the nurse about how everyone needs to "do their best" whatever their job is and that "hard work", in any profession, is noble (or something).  i may have failed to mention that her current room has a full glass wall facing the nursing station where all of the staff congregates.  i guess she has been "studying" the productivity of the staff over the last couple of days. more to come on that, i'm sure.

oh, the hat ideas are pouring in.  some of you may know that, for many years, my mom dressed up as a witch for halloween.  (some of us think it was more often than halloween).  there has been a request for that hat/wig combination.  it does suit her.  keep the ideas coming.

well, my dad is in bed and my aunt irma has been called.  all is as it should be here in madeira, ohio.  

a couple personal housekeeping notes (because i have gotten some emails):

-  comments now work easier on the blog.  sorry.  that was my fault.  i had the settings wrong.  see the comment on yesterday's post for specific instructions if it doesn't work for you now.

- i added the ability for everyone to email the post to people they know by clicking on the little envelope below.  feel free.

- yes, the shift key on my computer works fine.  thank you very much.

many blessings and thanks for the continued prayers,

tim