UNBELIEVABLE PROGRESS........

Today went well again! I am loosing a little track of time so if I repeat some info please forgive me. Cooper is now off all his drips which are the meds administered through IV. He is still receiving some electrolytes and such from IV because of course he is not eating but there is no new news there. He does have his oxygen cannula back in but at a very low rate and that is no big deal. The pulled his arterial line in his wrist which is nice because it gives him more mobility. The pace maker has remained off all day and everyone seems pleased with his rate although it is relatively slow. He looks fantastic! He is nice and pink and his perfusion is great. They took his drainage tubes to bulbs which does not probably mean much to all of you but it is one step closer to having them removed. They have taken him off the morphine and switched to ibuprofen and oxycodone. This is a longer lasting pain reliever and does not have the sedative factor that morphine does. Today we were able to hold him which was wonderful. Karli and I held him all afternoon and now he wants to be held all the time but you can't blame him. He did start to interact a little more today and watched a movie and asked me to read him a book which eased my concerns of brain damage a little. He has eaten ice chips and drank some water and apple juice. All in all he is doing just great. The floor doctor said his recovery has been simply amazing and I agree.

Tonight has been a little more difficult. He is verbalizing a lot more pain. It is hard to calm him and he wants to be held like you hold a kid his age, chest to chest, real close but we can only hold him like a baby cradled in our arms. I try to tell him that I want to hold him close too but it will hurt him more.

We were told today that we would be going to the 4th floor tomorrow which is crazy. The 4th floor is where you go right before you go home. I asked if they were sure we were ready for that and she said he looks great and is ready. I said, "no, are you sure WE are ready for that?" They just laughed and assured be that I could handle it considering I spent most of today caring for him anyway. I suppose they are right but in the past we have been at Day 20 before the 4th floor has even been discussed and here we are at Day 3! He is so strong this time!

Terry and I are doing fine. It has been a little rougher this time because we have not gotten a room down the hall which means we have both been staying in the room sleeping in chairs that are not meant to be slept in and no shower, yuck! Therefore, if we are moved to the 4th floor which has a bed and a bathroom we will be ecstatic!!! I am so tired at night and I guess it is just because of the long days and nights. I am hoping Coop sleeps a little more tonight but we will just have to see. I don't mind seeing his beautiful eyes even at 2 a.m.