Getting up and around

James and Dad had a good night together without any complications (PTL!).  And this morning, James had a sponge bath and is now looking clean and healthy.  The pain doctor turned James' epidural off to see how he tolerates pain without it.

The physical therapist visited James this morning and he got up in his chair. It was his first time to get up and around and let's just say--it wasn't the most comfortable experience for him. Mom and Dad worked with the therapist to move James in the best way. But it's sort of tricky to not only keep his back straight, legs at a 90 degree angle, head straight up but also manage his catheter, wound drain, and epidural in the process. Talk about a recipe for disaster. Thankfully--it worked okay and we got him in the chair with minimal problems. He seemed uncomfortable and in pain while he sat in the chair, but that was sort of expected as it was his first time out of bed. We need to get him up later today, but we all just hate to see him in pain so it's difficult to feel real motivated to get him up. Oh well--let's not think about it until we have to do it again.

James is now exhausted from his little excursion into the hallways of the 9th floor and is sleeping very soundly.

Prayer requests:

* No infection and no fever today
* Continued pain management without his epidural
* Quick learning for mom and dad on moving James safely & protection for them and James
* Lower GI track start working
* Adjustments to chest brace so no arm impingement occurs
* Healing for James

Getting adjusted in the new chair--James always wants to bring his head up, which is not the best idea right now.

James' traveling, guitar-playing, song-sing troupe!

We will do about anything to make him smile right now.

Dad playing the two chords that he knows.

Fighting the drowsiness from those meds!

Strumming his own tune!