More of the same, getting harder to understand

Spend a good part of the early afternoon with Dad today. He was a bit more restless today, especially this afternoon. He really can't turn himself or change position, so I think part of it was he wanted a different angle to sleep in.

His left side is pretty much non-responsive at this point, so they have to be careful of how they position him. With his voice so soft, and really anything that he tries to say coming out garbled (to the point that we just cannot understand him at all), we've resorted to trying to guess what he needs, and then ask him yes/no questions (squeeze our hand once for "yes" - two times for "no") until we try to figure out what he'd like. It's really hard.

He's not eating (drinking) much at all. Trying to get him to drink anything requires him sitting straight up in the hospital bed, so that if doesn't swallow right away (which happens quite a bit), it can come out of his mouth instead of down into his lungs.

He seemed ever-so-slightly more alert today in that he wasn't in a deep sleep, but definitely didn't open up his eyes or start talking. We had more visitors today (thanks, everyone!), which really means a lot that you come up even though Dad really can't interact or engage in the conversation. He's still in there, he just can't take part right now, so your visits and talking with him or with others in the room helps him a lot. And it helps Mom and the rest of the family by offering some respite from the thought of needing to be up there all day.

Huskers had a brutal loss -- really glad that Dad didn't see that one. I wish I would have slept through that game.

I'm off to a sleepover with the kiddos -- which means I'll be up early for "Auntie's Special French Toast" and some Looney Tunes before heading up to see Dad. More later tomorrow.