211 Steps Forward

My Hope is back! She's awake a lot more this morning basically for the first time in 3 days getting mad at me, talking a bit, communicating otherwise by note pad, not in too much discomfort (morphine helps with that too). I think we've regained 211 of our lost 212 steps, although we're still hanging in ICU at Tampa General Hospital. I just keep imagining we're really at General Hospital and any minute Felicia (on my list) will come through our giant creeky wood doors to proclaim her love for me. Unfortunately each time it's Matt, our RN, but I haven't given up hope yet on Felicia. Sorry Matt, no Rocky fetish for you (you're probably relieved actually).

No word back on the culture yet, so we don't know what the infection is but her swelling is reducing so they think it's dissipating from the 48 gallons of antibiotics they've poured through her veins. They are still packing her mouth and neck every 6 to 8 hours where the infection is (her neck) and where her tongue flap came loose (her tongue of course). It's cool to watch them pull out the bloody gauze each time they do it, kind of reminds me of the movie Hostel when the chinese ladies eyeball is sticking out from them burning her face off with a blow torch and her friend has to cut it off with scissors. I'd be furious though if after I did all that you just go and jump in front of a train, not cool for future reference with friends that read this. By the way, I don't recommend that movie to Hope's grandmama who I know is now reading my blogs. I do apologize also for the language in the first couple, in hindsight. Every once in a while I slip up use words Kurt taught me growing up.

We still have no idea when we will get out of ICU, but I cannot really see the purpose of us hanging here much longer. It would be great to get into a real room, they are so much more comfortable, the risk of infection or other disease is much less, and it's just depressing here. So many folks don't ever leave ICU, we're just lucky enough to be frequent visitors. Although right now it feels to us like the hotel California from the classic Eagles tune, you can check out any time you want but you can never leave.

The boys are doing great, Nathan at zoo camp each day this week starting today since he was sick on Monday with his buddy Mark. Reese was feeling bad yesterday too but is feeling much better today. He got to hear Mommy's voice for the first time this morning since we ran out Sunday, and he was thrilled. We wish we could be home or at least know when we can go home but hopefully more answers later today or tomorrow. The most important thing is while we can go insane short term we hang here for Hope's long term health and recovery.

Erwin (actually Erin who was recently married and took the name Kolin so her e-mail is now Ekolin so we call her Ecoli and I'm pissed at her friend salmonella that is taking my favorite tomatoes away from me --- wow that was an unrelated rant bad for even me) at my office had a dream Sunday night that she was at a party and Hope was talking just like always and chasing our kids around. That's our dream too, soon to be a reality. The party was probably one of my infamouse scriptures and calculus refresher parties that I'm always throwing to keep up our skills just in case you need to use calculus or differential equations in your every day life. You just can't brush up on them enough I always say. I'm going to work on my food on a stick menu right now, gotta run but it's great to have my Hope back.