Monday, December 8 ... Picking Up Speed

Well, it's the start of a new week, and Dad is picking up speed in both his vocabulary and his appetite! The therapy at the rehab hospital is great but the food is terrible, and Dad's taste buds are recognizing that fact very quickly! When Mom arrived at lunch time today, dad had only eaten a few bites of the "yummy" ground-up turkey and microwaved veggies before pushing his tray to the side, so luckily Mom had picked up some fish for lunch and shared with Dad. She said Dad seemed tired and a little irritable, but he had just finished his morning therapy, and was still facing another session after lunch. A friend from church, Van Gilbert, apparently stopped by during that session, and before he left had asked Dad if he could get him anything, and Dad's response, along with a chuckle, was "a drink!" Something tells us that Dad was not talking about a Diet Coke!! When mom returned to Katy Rehab this evening, Nurse Jackie "tattled" on Dad and said he refused to eat anything off his dinner tray. She also told Mom that she didn't blame him; it did not look very appetizing. Jackie suggested that Mom ask Dad what he was hungry for and maybe she could go out and get him something. Dad apparently was quick to answer that a "cheeseburger sounded good." So, even though they have not really wanted Dad to have bread (in fear that it might be too dry and hard for him to swallow), Jackie thought he just might be able to handle it now and agreed to bringing "contraband" in! Mom made a run to Burger King and got him a Kid's Meal and he pretty much ate the whole cheeseburger complete with mustard, ketchup and pickles ... and drank some of the Diet Coke! This was just the beginning to the party going on in Room 228 ... the Ligon's stopped by with a big, red poinsettia to dress up Dad's nightstand, and shortly thereafter, our long-time neighbors, Mike & Pat McKenzie came to visit. Apparently, a group of friendly faces is just what Dad needed, because he was "talking up a storm" (meaning answers with more than 2-3 words) and even told Mom what the mysterious other vegetable was that he planted in his garden that we couldn't figure out ... radishes!! Mom said she better start watering and taking care of that small vegetable garden, because Dad will be mad if he comes home and everything is dead! Tuesdays are evaluation days at the rehab center, so we will let you know what his doctors and therapists think about Dad's progress after Mom talks to them tomorrow.