I'll pass on everyone's recent good wishes as soon as Tom's ready to hear them. I think yesterday was probably his most uncomfortable day because they were really making him work -- off the vent but still plenty of tubes, having to lie more or less still for quite a while to keep things from bleeding, then into a chair, breathing exercises, "the cough" -- very painful but very necessary. Lots of drugs, I suppose, but he was still very very uncomfortable. Don't know how much of yesterday he was actually taking in or would remember. But he moaned a lot. They enlisted me, too, as combination cheerleader and drill sergeant. (As well as just being there, giving him ice chips when he wanted them, snagging a nurse, etc.) He got a nice Reiki massage right when he really needed to be distracted; she'd been trying to find him more or less without company for several days, but her timing yesterday was perfect.

He'll probably be moved from the ICU to the step down unit this morning.

Since they didn't want me there getting in the way until noon or later, I finally had a chance to do all (well, not ALL) the stuff that still has to be done even if parts of your life is on hold -- picking up jobs at the printer for a client, laundry, post office. Didn't get the litter box changed; maybe this morning. Laundry's drying right now.

After I saw Tom yesterday afternoon, I had to head back into Portsmouth to pick up mail from the post office across the street from The Press Room. Friends had insisted I stop there before going home so they could feed me -- and make sure I ate! (And poured a black and tan and a Jamieson's down my gullet -- for medicinal relaxation purposes only.) Boy is my brain fried -- I even flubbed words in "Aunt Clara"! Took me longer to extricate myself and finally reach the ol' homestead cuz more people kept needing to be updated.

Well, I got five hours of sleep last night -- I really wish the body & brain would let me sleep past 5 a.m.

Linn