Transfer to rehab facility? Solid food, Bible - large print

I crossed paths with Denise's doctor last night (after 9pm... I swear that the guy lives at the hospital!). He told me that he talked to someone from our insurance about getting Denise out to a rehab place. I asked how long we were talking about... a month or what? He said a week or so! I at once couldn't believe it, and found it reasonable to expect, given the tremendous strides she's made during the last two weeks. I remember that while Denise was at Methodist, there was talk about moving her out. Due to some of her needs, not just any long term acute care facility (LTAC) would work. She needed to go to a place that also specialized in getting her off the ventilator, and I believe that the feeding tube may have been a sticky wicket as well. Our needs & desires are to find an excellent place that's going to meet her needs (rehab... not just a place where people are parked) and that the place is as close to home as possible. And throw in prayers for continued speedier-than-usual progress so that we can, as the doctor hoped, get mommy home for Christmas.

She had to fast yesterday morning, there were no vomiting episodes, and she even got to order solid food meals from the hospital menu beginning yesterday afternoon. She told her parents that she was "concentrating" on eating & swallowing carefully because she didn't want to gag & throw up. That would probably bring her back to square one. Temperatures have been within normal, spiking in the 100 range. Today she's got a paracentesis scheduled to draw fluid off the abdomen. She wanted a KJV Bible to read, but her vision was too blurry to see normal print. My dad brought a giant print Bible for her, and Denise tried using different glasses for reading. By the way, it's from Thru the Bible and has J. Vernon McGee's signature on the presentation line. Thru the Bible just posted the entire 5-year Bible study program in MP3 format, as well as notes & outlines. Click here to download.

Last night we took the kids to visit with some of Gracie's preschool friends from last year. They dressed up & went trick-or-treating at a couple houses in the neighborhood (thanks for letting us crash your party!). After that, Gracie got to visit Denise again, and show off her costume (princess). Jacob (Superman) was already asleep, so we didn't take him. That's just as well, because half the time last night, our little Superman was strutting around in foofey pink princess heels. Pray not only that Jacob outgrows that tendency by junior high, but also that he quickly begins to recognize Denise. Denise doesn't look the same as he remembers, so he's a little slow to warm up. That's pretty rough on all of us. Now that the kids have been given the OK to visit, Denise & I have the goal of bringing the kids for a visit every day. Visits from the kids have been good medicine.