HEY FOLKS-We have some improvement. As I told some of you by phone this morning, Randy has opened his eyes a couple of times today. The amount of response we get from him is related to the amount of sedation meds they are giving him at any given moment. When he is at 20 ccs and leveled at 20, he seems to respond with his eyes and at some points he has opened his eyes on a few occasions. Not opened wide, but opened nontheless.

When I went in a few minutes ago, they had just bathed him, and cleaned his trach tube area, so they had increased his sed meds to 34.5, so he was really too groggy to respond. We played this little piggy went to market with his fingers, pinching each finger, and he tried really hard to open his eyes, but still just too sedated, but I can still see response in his eyes. He knew we were there and messing with him! They did drop the sed meds to 20 while I was in there, and by the time I get back up to see him he may be a bit more responsive. His fever has maintaned between 100 and 101 all day. All good signs I would say! I know Randy is aware of our presence and can hear our prayers, and is fighting to get better.

I feel truly blessed.

I love you all!

Not too much news this morning, but we are still holding our own. His temperature is still low grade, and we are still trying to locate the source of infection. Had a new internal medicine dr. (not a specialist!) He says the antibiotics they are giving him are supposed to be covering whatever the bug is, but they arent sure if the source was the central IV port or if it could be viral. Either way, the meds should be able to take care of it. They put him on some steroids this morning to help strengthen him, and to reduce some of the swelling in his organs. They are still pumping him full of liquids to keep him hydrated in other areas. We still have the drain tube from his head, but the liquid output is not as bloody as it was...we are shooting for clear, and none. It has slowed down and is lighter in color, so we have some improvement there. They are removing the port at his hip area. (This indicates they think they are done with running that scope up into his head)

Each of these steps are small ones, but each one is a positive one. I know God is with us. I feel the power of his love, and I know how much you all are pulling for us. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. Thanks again for all your love and support. More news later!

Got to see Dr. Smith just now. He says the brain spasms have stopped for now, and we will continue with the doppler scans every other day. He has moved his central IV port to his right side, and that was a successful procedure. He thinks the old port was the reason we are running a temperature, that there is probably some infection there, but it could be any number of other problems. He doesnt seem too concerned about this fever at this point in time. They are now telling me that is ok to try and stimulate him when I am in there. They have his sedation meds down to 20 ccs, (which is still a lot) so he may not be able to respond well to me, but WHEN I TALK TO HIM, I CAN TELL HE CAN HEAR MY VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!! His eyes move as though he is trying to see me. His lips purse somewhat when I touch his lips. (Not quite a kissing motion, but more movement than before.) I take this as a blessing of good news. For the first time I feel like he is responding ever so slightly to my voice, and the dr thinks this is good. BABY STEPS, but its the best news I have had lately!!

Keep Praying.
Thanks Amber!

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Still stable this morning. Still running low grade temperature. We will be doing another doppler scan sometime today, to measure brain spasms. They have lowered his sedation meds to 20 ccs. We cant go any lower than that until we have the brain spasms under control. Still havent seen the Dr. yet. The nurse said I would get to meet with him at the 4:00 visit.

They think his fever MIGHT be coming from his central IV line in his chest. They will be moving it from the left side to his right side or groin. They seemed to think this is not too uncommon.

He didnt really move or respond much yesterday. His pupils were dialated to a 5 yesterday. The nurse said 2-3 was normal. They are now at 3. But his eyes are still responding to light, which means that the "lights are still on somewhere"

They said he has a blister on his back that they have been tending to. I asked if it was a bedsore or what, and the nurse said no, although she didnt know much about it. This is the first I have heard about that. I suppose when I talk to the doctor we might find out what the origin of this is.

So not much good news to report. But not much bad news to report.

KEEP PRAYING...I LOVE YOU ALL
Felisha

Just went in to see him. He is looking better all the time, though it is still a very slow process. They have decreased his sedation medication from 40 ccs to 30 ccs, and his blood pressure is as low as it has been since we got here. It is running around 110/50, which indicates that the blood pressure patch is working well, and they can slowly start decreasing his sedation. He still has some swelling, and I am sure that we will have this for quite some time, because of the liquids they are pumping in to prevent dehydration.

He has started running a low-grade fever, anywhere from 99 to 100.2, until right before we went in to visit, and then it had spiked to 102. They had given him something for the fever, and the doctor has ordered and antibiotic to control any infection that may be coming on. He will get that twice a day for a while.

Otherwise, it still looks about the same. TIME AND PRAYERS!

I LOVE YOU ALL, for all you have done.

Sunday Morning Update

Todays News:

Dr did the doppler scan thing last night. No changes in the spasms, but felt no need to change anything in that department. He has ordered the doppler scan for every other day, as well as the catscans.

For the more optimistic news...he is showing some signs of life that we've not seen for a while. I can see his eyes rolling behind his eyelids. He keeps moving his mouth without me touching it. His left side of his body moved just a bit at one point. They have given him a more complete shave, and he looks much better today.

Sad news...They cut his pony tail off! There was just no way to save it in that condition. He'll have lots of time to grow it back, but it will take some getting used to it, I'm sure.

So for now things still look pretty optimistic, but we still need your prayers.

I love you all!

Felisha