8/23/09 PM

Ed arrived in Dallas on Monday and the next few days were spent getting settled and getting used to a new routine. He has been lucky this week to have seen a few close friends who have stopped by. He recognizes everyone, he knows what they are saying and how much they care.

His breathing has improved dramatically, which surely paves the way for an easier recovery!

But I think perhaps the highlight of the week has been his granddaughters. We arrived on Friday night, but he wasn't feeling great so we waited until Saturday to make a visit to the hospital room.

I wish I had the words to describe the look on his face when they walked in the door. The light that shone from within when he saw their faces. They were equally happy to see him, and we all were thrilled and so encouraged by his progress over the past month.

Until he regains the ability to form words, we are playing a continuous game of charades. He must be so frustrated at knowing what he wants to say, but he just isn't able to make it come out so he uses a great variety of hand signals to get his message out. While we were visiting, he was able to discuss with us his desire for a smaller laptop, the need for Ken or Alice to find the software that he wants, the need for them to find his flashdrive as well. When he told Alice he wanted her to go and get him a laptop, he made little walking motions with his fingers and pointed at her and made his fingers run again as if to say, "get a move on, go and get my laptop!"

He is getting darn good at charades. (Alice could use a little practice, but she's getting it! Ken is the best guesser so far.)

When we were leaving to go and have some lunch, he made a motion to the girls and made a camera clicking motion, so we determined that he wanted a picture of them. We were getting them together for a picture, and he made the motion to bring them over to him for a picture. He wanted his picture with his favorite little girls.

Thank goodness, Dad, you are still here for us to take this picture. I share it here with everyone who checks this site so you can all see how good he looks, (how cute his grandkids are), and know that your prayers and positive thoughts have been working. Thank you all.

Alice enjoyed seeing the girls as well. I imagine it was a nice distraction for a little while to reconnect with them. The girls have had so much fun with their aunt and uncle, they saw all their Texas grandparents. It has been such a heartening weekend, I'm sorry that it will end tomorrow when we board the plane for California.



Things to look forward to: he is getting a haircut on Tuesday! He motioned today that he most definitely did NOT want his hair cut in bed...he didn't want the little cut hairs getting in his sheets. Hysterical. His therapy sessions are increasing in duration daily, and he is doing a fantastic job. Alice is there with him, working with him, when the therapists are not.

Positive things are in his future. Every day is a step forward. One month's time, and such progress already. His family is so incredibly thankful to be able to share this progress with those who love and care about Ed, and mostly we feel blessed that he is still here for us to tell him that we love him dearly.