AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH …
That’s what I get for being hopeful. Shows me!
Dammit!
No swallow evaluation today. ICU head is being cautious. Too cautious? I don’t know. I don’t want anything to go bad, but I want progress, dammit! However … they’re making noises about moving him out of the ICU this week and back into acute care. Part of me is thrilled, but a bigger part is terrified: we’ve been here before, and he crashed and got so much worse.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH …
Even if they’re not doing it TODAY, it does sound like they’re getting very close to scheduling the swallow evaluation, as well as moving him out of ICU - it sounds like things are headed the right way.
Schmoopie’s taste buds must be practically atrophied by now, poor guy! Has he lost a lot of weight?
I don’t know anything about it, but maybe they’re afraid he might aspirate some food or liquid and that would set his lungs back. Better to be ultra cautious while he’s on such an upward swing. He’s gone three steps forward - it’s better to prevent that one step back.
StG
Me = impatient. Bad me. And yes, he’s lost quite a lot of weight (muscle mass) although they are giving him a higher-protein feeding slurry now that his kidneys are under less stress.
I agree with StGermain, its better to be cautious with TOS’s health right now. Its so great that he’s able to be off the vent, even if it seems to be short amounts of time. He’s lost the habit of breathing, did it tire him out?
I can just imagine your happiness when you will finally be able to give him food. Watching him eat will make you as happy as it does him.
Joins everyone in a happy dance! HURRAY!!!
Posting to bump ya from being the last one in the thread :).
And yes, better to take things slowly than risk a setback now!
Ooooooooooookay deep breath the plan is for him to be moved out of the ICU today and back into acute care. Please cross any available appendages…
deep breath
Crossed-everything!
crosses her eyes
Crossing!
Sending out good thoughts!
Yay! Moving day for Mr. Shoe!
So, it’s been awhile since the last time he tried to check out of Hotel California - remind us again of what the differences are? And what are the overall stats that are prompting the move?
Does he get a new waitstaff? Better visiting hours? Cable TV? Inquiring minds want to know. Best of luck also, to Mr. Shoe on his upcoming swallow evaluation. I know he’ll ace it and score himself a nice tray of liquid food items post haste. 8)
Speaking as someone who’s had four abdominal surgeries… I was amazed - AMAZED - at how delicious a meal of jello, chicken broth, apple juice, and an Italian ice can truly be, when you’ve been denied food for awhile. I remember smelling that hot chicken broth and my mouth would just water like mad for it, like it was something other than hospital-grade sludge. Mmm! I had to pace myself to keep from downing it all in one gulp!
And when you get upgraded to the “soft” menu? Man. Macaroni & cheese, applesauce, pancakes and oatmeal for breakfast - HEAVEN!!!
Hang in there, Mr. Shoe! The good times are just about to start! 
Everything crossed, including my wires!
Well, he’s all set up in acute care - I even got to ride in the elevator with him (plus many assorted staff). Visiting hours are the same at this place - though they seem to be a touch more relaxed about the nitty-gritties of time than the ICU folks - and as far as I know the move is based on his PEEP and other oxygen-monitoring stats being down to ***XYZ ***levels. (The values of XYZ have been left for the more Rx-experienced readers. I’m really out of my element here.)
Nicer TV (e.g. flat screen hi-def!) and since he’s on the 5th floor instead of the 2nd floor, a niftier view through the window. Otherwise, roughly the same overall care, for now.
Oh, and I’ve been meaning to post, in the interest of fighting ignorance and all that, his current antibiotic regimen is:
::::crosses fingers:::::
::::crosses toes::::
::::crosses legs::::
::::attempts happy dance::::
THUD!!!
::::notes that combination of crossed-appendages and happy dancing is hazardous to my health::::
::::does it again anyway::::
:).
BIG STEP!!! I know he was here before, but this one will stick, I’m confident. Hugs all around.
Hooray!
:::/pumps fist::: Way to go Mr. Shoe!!!
Now that’s just hateful of you, showing off like that!!! I certainly hope you don’t do that in front of Schmoopie!!! 
So glad to hear the good news… what wonderful progress! Continuing to send good thoughts.
Great news, shoe! It’s a great, happy step forward.
-D/a