July 14th

Today started out as a bad day for all us. Just feeling lost and sad. Trying to hang on to that last bit of hope. My mom was with my dad all day today and he was pretty mellow, no movement or anything, just deep sleep. Deep sleep and a fever. They drew blood, did a chest x ray and an urinalysis. Pneumonia? Kidney infection? Staff infection? Nothing? Only time will tell.

I didn't get to go to the hospital earlier today b/c I didn't have anyone to stay w/ the kids. So I went up later in the evening. I got there around 6:15 and was discouraged. I sat and cried. Pulled it together and read to him from his bible. Closed the bible and started talking to him---about everything, the kids, the weather, his brother who is coming to see him Friday from Texas and all of a sudden up goes his right arm and it's heading right towards his staples on his head. So I grab his hand and hold it. Then I look at his face and I can see blue from his left eye (he has the prettiest blue eyes). "Dad are you trying to open your eyes?" my heart was pounding. And sure enough, little by little he opened that eye about 1/2 way and his right eye a bit too. This went on for 20 minutes. He was trying to talk too but I told him "you can't talk right now so don't try". He was moving that right side all around. When I asked him to move his toes he would. I told him that he had vaseline on his eyes so if things were blurry that was why. He kept bringing that hand up to his head and it never dawned on me that he might be in pain. The nurse said "Kraig, blink your eyes if you are in pain" and blink he did. So she gave him something and out he went. God love him.

My mother and sister went up later and rounded the corner to see him lying there scratching his head w/ his eyes 1/2 open again. He appeared to know who they were and did much of the same things w/ them as he had w/ me earlier. When the nurse asked him if they were being loud he shook his head no. He keeps touching his head, he seems confused so my mom and the nurse were trying to give him an abbreviated version of what happened. Obviously he's still very out of it and still coming around.

There really are no words to express our happiness right now. We're taking it day by day and today, was a good day. Today, God sent us a reminder to not lose faith.

Praise God and you all you wonderful people who are praying for my Dad!