Sunday Evening Dec. 18th

By the time I arrived, Greg had walked the hall four times and managed to get into his own pajamas. He was also off his drip - which means he has to start eating more, even if he doesn't feel like it. He was very ready for his first shower (his head stayed dry of course), and so walked down the hall again with me. I was really impressed that he made it all the way through the shower (of course he was able to sit for it all) and then to walk straight back, because even sitting through a shower takes a lot of energy (speaking as one who usually has to rest after her own!) -- oh, the many daily tasks we take for granted! Greg then slept for a bit, but later was finally able to speak on the phone to his parents. I know this was great for them all. Greg couldn't speak long, and he was exhausted again afterwards (even *listening* to me speak on the phone exhausts him, his sensitivity to any sensory input is still so very strong), but especially as his speaking is so much better today it was great that they could talk.

After yet another rest, he wanted to shave -- he did a pretty good job too. So in general he is looking *so* much better. Also, shaving meant looking in the mirror -- something he intentionally avoided doing until now. I did not ask him what he thought, knowing he would tell me when he was ready. Later he told a visitor that he had done this, and that it had not been as bad as he feared. He sounded quite positive. And indeed, he seemed to get a crazy burst of energy when this visitor came, and he chatted away for quite some time. Occasionally a bit disjointed or even slightly bizarre -- but he is still on morphine! It was quite amazing really. He was very tired for the rest of the evening, but in fairly good spirits too, exercising numerous attempts at humor.

Throughout the day he kept coming up with random tasks that need to be done at home, and of things he would like to Sharon to buy, and he even tried drawing a diagram for the computer's broadband set up that yet needs to happen. Neither Sharon nor I could make much of the diagram (!) but that could be partially due to the fact that we are two literature/theology majors, who are used to relying on our engineer husbands for comprehension of such things. But what was really important was that Greg had grabbed a pen and paper for the first time, without stopping to think about it, and had scribbled away.

So, as expected after I had processed the shock of that morning phone call, it was a really good day for Greg. (He can't even ring out from the phone in his room so I can only imagine what the poor nurses thought when he was insisting at 8:30am that he must use their phone to ring for another pillow!) Each day he continues to improve in leaps and bounds, even as the day progresses. Please keep wisdom and self-control for Greg in your thoughts and prayers, for he needs to find that balance of determination at progress, and not pushing so hard that it actually threatens regress. And only he will be able to stop himself from "overdoing it".

Each morning he wants to know who has left a message, who has sent a card. So please be encouraged that even if you don't hear back from me, Greg hears of your calls or cards and they encourage him. Just today he discovered that he is allowed to receive text messages on his cell phone in the hospital, although we had been told before that the phone had to be off at all times. So if you do know how to text, please feel free to do so, because he will be able to turn on the phone and read them now -- maybe just best that no one actually rings on the cell phone to talk on it between 10am and 8pm French time.

Tomorrow we will see the neurosurgeon again, and will have more news. Each day we hear of more of you who are following the blog, and this too really makes Greg feel so much *not* alone in his day-by-day journey. We have heard that some of you have left "comments" messages, and he is so eager to read them! Each little thing for him to look forward to is no little thing at all. So with many, many thanks, for your presences and care, until tomorrow with its news,
Kirstin (much fortified by Sharon Jebb's excellent lentil soup!)