Mama said there'd be days like this...

Brett and I are on the flight home from tampa. I had to say goodbye this morning to my father. Mama said thered be days like this, just didn't know this soon or how hard.

Dad is fully alert, feeding himself thru the peg and even making requests for certain flavors of shakes. I mentioned a malt flavored one and was very excited. This morning he made a request for 3 malts: chocolate, pineapple and caramel. So that takes care of breakfast lunch and dinner. I'm glad it made him happy. I think its funny though he asks for flavors, even though he never tastes them. Oh well, makes him happy.

His communication is easier than I thought. I was able to read his lips easily and what he spoke too fast, he wrote down. It was also a nice resource reading over his messages he's written while I left yesterday to today. I made him a chart of common things to ask for so he can point. His speech will come back. He was able to say the word "noise" yesterday even! What I could understand, Brett got bc apparently it is a "man thing". Was actually quite funny how brett and dad could communicate using far less words and no paper. I guess men can care for eachother. Just kidding!

He's out of ICU and in a really nice large corner room with bright windows. He said the past 2 nights he has slept the best he has in 3 weeks. Very well rested and well nourished. They plan to move him to a rehabilitation hospital in the next couple of days. Its a hosp that is specifically for respiratory rehabilitation. Teaching him to learn to do more actives on a daily basis, care for his trach and speak. The hosp will still be in Tampa (its an hour drive each way with traffic where he is now too)

There is so much about a trach I didn't know. That its an actal tube shaped like an upside down "L" that connects his lungs to expell. He won't be able to smell or taste or eat actually. He is able to cough but it comes thru the trach. The care required is much more tremendous then I ever thought though.

My dads secretary from NJ flew in yesterday and more family and friends fly in all next week. I hope it doesn't become overwhelming, but he asked for his razor and shaving cream, I suppose to freshen up for the visitors.

All in all, it was a horribly sad day with lots of tears saying goodbye on his end and my end. There weren't so many words to say, we knew them.

Were headed back home, tired no doubt but we are looking forward to tomorrow... Baby Gender Day! We won't be announcing until we return from mexico, but if anyone has any guesses or wagers, carry on.

Peace be with everyone, especially Dad.