First full day home

Jerry's first full day home started out quite well. He said he'd slept well and that he was hungry - a great sign!

As the morning progressed, his coughing kept getting worse. He'd barely catch his breath from one bout before another began. He wasn't running a fever, but his temperature was up. We finally decided it was time to call the doc.

Dr. Kaufman prescribed an inhalant which he promptly called in and I promptly left to get. We are very fortunate to have a terrific pharmacist, Scott, and his wonderful staff. They consistently provide us professional service while showing just how much they care. I hope they understand just how much we appreciate them, especially in this particular medical adventure. The inhalant seems to have helped some, though we did have a rocky evening. Jerry wasn't the least bit hungry but was willing to have an Ensure.

For the rest of the world, this is Christmas morning and we wish each and everyone of you the merriest of Christmas. For us, it's the next day of our challenge to rebuild Jerry's strength. I am kind of a nut about Christmas, but I've found it necessary over the years to be quite flexible about the exact date due to the challenge of having family scattered all over the country. I know we will celebrate this holiday with some of the traditional fanfare (food, gifts, etc.) eventually, but for today we are celebrating what we see as the core message of the holiday: love.

I can honestly say that I love Jerry more today than ever and I see that love shining back at me from his eyes. We are blessed with loving family members who continue to boost our spirits from all across the country. We are deeply grateful to our friends, both in town and out of town, who have shown us love in many forms, especially over the past couple of months. In all the ways that truly matter, this is our best Christmas yet.

With love and deep gratitude, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!