3/17/08 Monday 5:48 am Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, it's been over three weeks now with the new lungs. Happy Anniversary. Sorry I didn't get back to you all but I slept until 10 last night. Had a good 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep and figured nobody would still be up at that hour to read the blog anyway (except Kim who is trying to stay up for me).
Will's day was busy on our new floor. First he had to get a pic line in. I watched that and it was fascinating. They take a ultrasound and then just find a big vein to stick it in. It's all sterile and it's like a surgery, but it's not. Anyway, they went through all the fluid that is still on him and found a good vein. They put in a couple of ports for the IVS. Then they got to take out the two ports that were in his upper thigh. They really want him to get sitting up and moving. The drs. know that will drain the fluid off the chest cavity.
So they got that done and then they tried to take out one of his chest tubes on his left side but somehow it had gotten kinked with all the other lines running around on his side. When they unkinked it, it started to drain again so they decided to keep that one in for a little while.
Then the herd of drs. made their rounds and all fit into this tiny little room. The head one, Dr. Harris, asks a bunch of questions. It reminds me of that show "Scrubs" so when they all left, Will and I laughed at some of the guys' questions. We tried to put some names from the show and match them with those drs. This family is easily entertained.
Then came the swallow test. You have to pass this test in able for them to clear you so you can start drinking and eating. Willie flunked. If it wasn't so sad for him, I would have laughed at some of the questions he asked the dr about giving him a "redo" He said he would study more for it. I guess when you have been on a vent a long time you muscles get lazy and don't want to work. Will is so thirsty and he begged her just to stay there and let him drink while she was watching. He did everything he could but get down on his knees and beg, he probably would have done that if he could have gotten out of bed. But this was one dr. that was more stubborn than Will. They don't make very many of those. So this morning he should have another test and then he will be able to start drinking.
While I was sleeping, Tom got Will up and sat in the chair. He is weaker this week than last. So they had to pick him up and put him in the chair. He got to stay there for about 45 minutes. It felt good for him to be off him back. They also took one of his feeding tubes out. He is still on 30 % oxygen and that's good. We hope to move him around more today and get him drinking. His lungs are still "wet" so he needs to cough more. I never would have thought that we would have to remind Will to cough. What a difference.
So this was a good day, positive moves forward. In a couple more days, we will be back to where we were before Will had his "setback"
Thanks everyone for your help in getting Will ready for his March Madness picks. I will let you know when we get them going. Your page was a good one Susan and Roger, thanks.
Hope all of you wear green today and just thank God of all your good luck that He has been giving you. I know I do. The luck of the Irish and all that. I think we have found a pot at the end of the rainbow. I will let you know if he gets his Pepsi today or not. I think even if he doesn't pass, he's still going to drink some.
Take care and God bless you all