Cheese Graters

As we go on 21 days in the ICU, we have become buds with most of the nurses. Some of them have not come to love us - yet. Big Daddy is Heath's favorite. We'll talk about him later. He's the only man I think that could give Casey a run for her money. Day to day life in ICU is always different. One day you hear one thing and the next day it is totally different. Yesterday we thought we may be getting that feeding tube out but today - for now at least- it's still there. It's there to supply high protein yellow goo into Heath's tummy. He can eat anything he wants but this goo supplies the calories needed until his full appetite is back. He said the goo tasted like Orangey-salty snot. Mmmmm... give me some of that please ! Nurses have a funny sense of humor - they usually come in with the bag of orangeysalty-snot with a big ole grin on their face yellin' "It's feeding time!". Weirdos.

Speaking of nurses- Have you ever seen a nurse wash a newborn for the first time? Did you think - dang that nurse must hate that baby.

Now imagine that you're sunburned. This is the worst sunburn you have ever had, and its everywhere - back, head, face, legs, arms, hands, ears under your arms, backside of your legs - everywhere except your feet, groin area, and neck. Now - imagine babyhater is wielding a cheese grater. That is what a full dressing change is like. The pain is so intense that just laying there is almost unbearable. Breathing is now painful. Sheets are too heavy. A pat on the arm is too painful. Talking uses too much energy. Comfort is not found. Thank goodness for good nurses and good doctors and good ole morphine. It works fast and it can be given intravenously which means its almost instant. I, myself, can tolerate pain- for at least 5-10 seconds. I believe in pain medicine. You want to know why God gave us pain- so we could ask for pain medicine. Pain medicine = good. God also knows how much we can handle and never gives us more than we can bear. He must think a lot of Heath. Morphine does something strange to Heath. It causes him to float. He asks us to make sure he doesn't float away. We put our hands on his shoulders an make sure that doesn't happen. As the morphine drowsiness begins to take its toll we hear a mumbled, "Thank ya'll, thank ya'll".

Vince Lombardi once said " The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will". Well I believe that Heath has the will.

Til Tomorrow!