Long Road Ahead

Well, Pop's doing great.

We did have a little 'event' last night.

He got up to use the portable 'throne' and while he was sitting there he started getting short of breath. When he got back up to climb back into the bed he got really light headed. So they ran and got a machine to measure his stats and his oxygen levels had dropped into the low 80's. They're supposed to be 90 or higher.

The short of it is, he's been in a hospital for just over 3 weeks and had very little exercise, if any. So, he's gotten kinda weak and his lungs are struggling to heal and the exertion was a bit much. Physical and Occupational Therapy are going to be here to day and give him an assessment and then tomorrow he'll begin a routine to helpfully strengthen his lungs and get mobile again.

The Dr just came by and said they'd read all the pathology reports and what they've decided he has is Acute Interstitial Lung Disease. Basically a swelling of the aeroli and a filling up of the empty spaces with 'gunk,' - the technical medical term. Hope we can find the background reason for why this stuff got introduced into his lungs!

Both of us slept well last night. They let him get some good sleep and hence got some good sleep myself! :) The guest bed in this room is MUCH more comfy than the one in the ICU. Almost wish I was sticking around a little longer now! :)

Gonna spend the last day here in Colorado with Pop and Mom, Aunt Evie & Judy and head to the airport about 4:30 to get ready to head home.

Today's Joelle's 8th birthday. Got up early and gave her a call. I sang "Happy Birthday" to her and could tell she got a huge grin on her face. I talked her for a min, then talked with Doreen for a sec as she was getting ready to go and hung up. A sec later my phone rang and it was the cute voice of Natalie saying, "Hi Daddy." Awwww - just made my heart melt. Can't wait to get home!

The room my Pop's now in has a nice window with a beautiful view of part of Denver and the mountains with snow on them. I like just sitting here looking out at the snow on them.

A nice view to have in my minds eye as I fly home on Frontier Airlines tonight!