Today was a good day with major accomplishments. After the anesthesia wore off Bill was very alert and interacted with everyone who came into the room. He also wore his PMV and was able to talke quite a bit. He finally told me that it was hard to breathe and his O2 sats dropped below 90 so we took it off. He did a little physical therapy but they didn't want to work him too hard after the procedures.

He has "graduated" to a different bed. He had been in one that moved air through constantly and was very noisy. He's now in a regular hospital bed that has an air mattress on it that still moves air through it, but it's not as noisy and is heated. Bill told me that he wanted his PMV back on and told me he didn't like this bed because it was hard! So, Jim, his nurse was going to try to soften it some. He also said that he was hungry! He hadn't mentioned food at all in the last 5 weeks. Of course his feedings were stopped at midnight on Monday/Tuesday and haven't been started yet. The order to restart has been written, but the new tube can't be used until about noon tomorrow. Jim said he was going to balk at putting another nose tube in. So, Bill is just going to have to suffer, but I think he'll be OK. He also wanted to try swallowing his meds this evening, but he has to be able to swallow well and he's not there yet.

He's getting his sense of humor back. I went to the bathroom and he told me that he hadn't been good while I was gone, he and Jim had played poker! But, he wouldn't hand over his winnings!

I got a lesson in trach care today and that's not something I really want to do. It's a lot scarier than doing the drive line and dressing changes from the LVAD. But, it will be done, whether I want to do it or not, cause that's what I do.

I think now that he will be moved next week after his biopsy. Dr. Yip was checking to see when it was scheduled. They have been on Wednesday and Thursday so I'm thinking it will be the end of the week. That gives him a full week then to get stronger and for me to check out the place and meet with the staff. I still don't think that Bill has comprehended that he's being moved to another hospital, but we will deal with that when the time gets closer.

All for tonight. When I signed in tonight, I was amazed to see that there have been more than 8100 views of the blog. I know that a lot of them are my own since the current post comes up for me too, and I know some of you check it multiple times a day. But it is still hard to believe that there is so much interest in our journey. Thanks to all of you for supporting us through this, it means the world!