Bad day yesterday. He hadn't been able to sleep overnight and they would not give anything to help as he was still expectorating copiously through the tracheal tube and they were concerned that he could choke in his sleep.

Following the jello episode it was decided that Kendall had to have a barium swallow test, which didn't happen until 1.00pm. a couple of hours later Dr Z and his resident were here and put in a nasal feeding tube - a very unpleasant experience for Kendall. He then had to have an x-ray to make sure that it was in place, but the first one, taken sitting in a chair, didn't give a definitive answer, and we had to wait until 8.00pm for them to put him into bed to take another x-ray. In the meantime he was getting more and more frustrated at being connected to so may wires and tubes, the nasal feeding tube was painful, until they anchored it more securely, and he was so tired but could not get any meaningful rest, with all the noise and action going on in ICU.

I phoned at about 10.00pm and was told that the tube was in place and that they were just administering his sleep medicine.   

When I got here this morning he looked much better, more rested and brighter. He had slept until 3.30am, when someone came into the room, but had got some good sleep.

He's on the feeding tube - about 100 calories an hour, which they will be increasing. They are also putting pain meds through there, which means one less attachment to bother about. We went for a walk around the unit, unaccompanied, and did four laps of the area, much to the amusement of the staff, who rarely see their patients quite so animated!

He is now able to deal with the trach tube himself, which is a real move forward.

We are told that there may be a bed available today - he resident is really pushing for Kendall to get on to the ward, where it will be quieter and where he will only be attached to the breathing tube and the feeding tube. Right now, even just to pee, he needs to have all the tubes removed and then replaced.

He's still feeling rather down about the whole thing. His favourite nurse isn't in today, which hasn't helped and he really just wants to be home.

Right now he's dozing while I write this - I think that the pain meds may be helping with that.

Once we get onto a ward I'll give an address for cards. Right now we think we know where we are going to be but I'd rather make sure.