July 15th

Today I woke up to the sun shining and a smile on my face. I thought, once again, of my Dad saying "look at this beautiful day that God has given us". My mom came over and we went up to the hospital together.

We arrived to find my Dad sleeping but he soon woke up and opened those beautiful blue eyes for us. When I say opened his eyes--think newborn baby. They are only 1/2 open and not for long periods of time. You can tell the light bothers him and he is not moving his eyeballs around. Just opening them and blinking. I do believe he sees us and recognizes us though (probably through a vaseline induced haze)---we'll say, for example, "dad you know mom is here right? blink your eyes if you do...." and he does and he'll hold his hand out for her. Today he kept bringing his hand to his head and using his fingers to "trace" the staples. It's a big cut and he knows it's there. I can only imagine what it feels like to him. He seemed confused and definitely afraid. so I spent a lot of time giving him an abbreviated version of what happened and reassuring him that he was okay and that there were things he couldn't do right now that were to be expected for where he is in his recovery. We talked to him, I read to him and eventually he dozed off. It's so hard to leave him when he keeps holding his hand out to you.

This morning they clamped the drain in his brain........he did great all day w/ it clamped. In the past when they did this his blood pressure would go really high but today it remained low. Tonight they completely removed the drain! The more things they get out of him the better, they said.

He's moving his right side so well. You can see him testing things out. My Dad is an engineer and you can just see his mind at work. Move the foot at the ankle, wiggle the toes, spread the toes, bend the knee, lift the leg......move on to the arm....so far the only thing he hasn't moved is his left arm (although I've seen his left shoulder move and he is trying to move that arm---I say he does it eventually). YES--- he moved his left leg today all on his own.

Another day of progress. We'll take it. I'll say it again, God is good and he hears every single one of your prayers!! My entire family thanks you for all your love, prayers, thoughts and comments.