Great News and more Prayer Requests!

Last night I had a dream that dad was sitting up and talking to us without a feeding tube when we got back to the hospital (I also had a dream about Pastor Fred playing in the elevator, but that's not real significant:) )We knew the nurse was going to try and bring dad out of sedation again this morning, so we tried to be up here for that. When we walked in the room he was sitting up, WITHOUT THE TUBES! :) and communicating with whispers. When asked who my mom was he mouthed, "my wife" when asked who Brandon was he mouthed, "Brandon" the nurse then said he had a heart attack and Brandon saved his life and he whispered, "Thank you"
(I had stepped out of the room b/c he was coughing stuff up and I didn't want to hear that) So he knows who we are, can communicate and is breathing on his own!! He didn't know the month though, but I don't think that's a big deal at this time b/c of the medication in him and everything. They will not sedate him again b/c he couldn't breath if they did and they can't give him pain medication b/c it could relax him where he wouldn't breath on his own, but he said he wasn't in any pain so that's a praise.

I'm anxious to talk more to the nurse b/c I'm a little worried that they took the breathing tube out sooner than they wanted b/c of the fear of him getting pneumonia, please pray we don't' have any backslides. It's emotional enough as it is and when it takes a step back its a real punch to us. I'd rather it go real slow and steady than have to be up and down.

Please continue to pray that his fever will go down, it's been creeping up and that's not good. He's resting now so pray his blood pressure and heart rate get to a good level too.

A few other tidbits: When my Uncle Dale went in he whispered something to him, but Dale couldn't understand, so the nurse listened and she said, "he wants you to find salvation" So Dale told him to stick around and watch him:) They say to listen to someone when they're in this situation because they speak what's really on their heart and what's important, so I hope everyone takes note. We always knew how sensitive my dad's heart was to the salvation of others and this only proves it to everyone else.

He asked Sarah for water, but she said, "No", not yet b/c she's worried about his swallowing with everything that has happened to his throat. I told him he had great nurses and he whispered, "can you talk them into getting me some water" and then smiled. Oh how I wish I could have given him what he wanted! But I told him that the nurses really do know best and then as soon as they can they will.

The nurse has told him many times that he's had a heart attack and she said he may experience some short term memory loss and that's very common, so she just keeps telling him. Well, we were all around him and Cody said he has to stick around long enough to look like the guy in the postcard Cody sent him. (It was an old, old man in the back of an old pickup truck in a hospital bed with his nurse, and his rifle hunting. The caption said something about "this being the last year he should hunt") and dad laughed. The laughter made his numbers shoot up a little and so we were going to leave him to rest and he whispered, "what happened" and mom said, "you had a heart attack" and he whispered, "I know that" (so his short term memory did ok for awhile anyway) we realized later he was wondering what happened as to why we were leaving him to rest, b/c he saw mom look at the monitor and talk to the nurse.

My Uncle Duane went into the hospital last week with a blood clot and dad told him not to plan any long trips without him (meaning going to heaven) well you can believe that made us a little nervous having him head to the hospital not long after! However, I told dad today that Uncle Duane was getting better and would be leaving the hospital soon, so neither of them are taking a trip for a long time. You could see the relief in his entire body!

When my uncle Elroy went in he said, "it's nice to see you moving around a little" and dad whispered, "very little" :)

I am so thankful for this mornings events, I'm still scared b/c there's such a long way to go still, but what Joy we've had this morning. He knows us, he still has his same compassions and humor and although things are foggy for him, he's my dad as we remember him! (she said he might not have the same personalities, but so far so good-thank you Lord!)