Let's hear it for Mickey D's...

...they fed a hungry man tonight! Yes, George (Irvin) enjoyed a double cheeseburger and fries from McDonald's a little while ago.

This is Helen blogging tonight, so Chip can sign in and get his hospital update along with everyone else. And really great info it is! (I hope I can handle this technology okay -- y'all bear with me.)

I felt so bad for George last night when we went to the rehab unit dining room, because I could tell that there was nothing on his tray that he really wanted. He was still on something less than a regular diet. He ate his jello but that was all. So today I called his nurse and asked if I could bring him a cheeseburger and fries tonight, and she said "Yes."

He ate that double cheeseburger (all except one bite) and a lot of fries dipped in catsup. (I don't know if it was Heinz catsup, but I hope not. That's a family joke -- he doesn't like to eat Heinz because of its association with John Kerry's wife, the Heinz heiress.) As he ate I could tell that he was a man who had found something on his plate that he really enjoyed. Tomorrow night I will get his favorites from Chick-Fil-A.

We had some good news to share with him today about our granddaughter Betsy. She and Skeeter were with me, and she had just learned today that she has been selected as the 10th grade representative for their school's homecoming court. When we told George he responded with a hearty "All right!!" and gave her a big hug.

This is probably the big news of the day. He is walking! Yes, walking on his own two legs! How great is that!! The problem with his right arm and leg seems to be gone now. Of course I was hovering over him to be sure he didn't fall, but I probably didn't need to be. He did fine. The nurses keep an eye on him when they see him getting up, and go to help if needed. They can see right into his room from the nurses' station.

I would say that he is fully awake and alert now. He still has some trouble expressing some thoughts into words, but he is doing so much better than yesterday. The speech therapist gave me some things to work with him this weekend while the therapist is off, because he said it is important to have continuity in his therapy. George said many things pretty well though -- he has come such a long way for someone who only two weeks ago today suffered what the doctor described as a very serious head injury.

We read each comment you post and appreciate them so much. Also, it has been exciting to hear from a great many people we have not heard from in years. How wonderful that is. We'll have all the comments you've posted printed out so he can read them.

Can you tell that this has been a fantastic afternoon for me? Yes it was!!

I leave you with this thought that we find more true as the days go by -- "With God, all things are possible."

Helen