Hooray for Dialysis

Apparently, it was a great day for Pops. He had dialysis again and it's really helping to reduce his swelling. Even his left arm is less swollen and we haven't seen that go down since the accident. We are realizing how much his kidneys have been affecting his overall health. He is feeling better and better since starting dialysis, and you can see it in his face.

He is gaining a little more control of his right arm, and was working his wrist today more than he has been. Not much finger movement there. But more exciting was when he started moving the wrist on his left hand! Just a little bit of control, and only when mom holds his arm up, but definitely more than anything we've seen so far. Very exciting. Mom said he was in a great mood...seeing his own progress is the best thing for him.

One funny moment was when mom was trimming his mustache. She was trying to get it just right and he was growing impatient. She went in to try to even it out one more time and he stopped her. He rolled his eyes and said, "It's fine. We're not going out today."

Pops may not be going out anytime soon, but he may be movin' on up. Rumor has it that he'll return to the spinal cord unit on Monday. Yes, it's exciting....but we've learned that in hospital talk, "Monday" could very well mean "Thursday". Things tend to take longer than what we're told. But it's encouraging news none the less. They are hoping he will be off the respirator by then, so we keep praying that he continues to do well. He has much less anxiety this time around, and we praise God that he seems to have more peace.

The only anxiety I have witnessed is when I asked him if he was rooting for the Bears or the Colts. A seemingly trivial question, except he now has a son-in-law and daughter-in-law on opposing sides. Opposing with a capital O. He smirked and refused to take sides. Yet. So just a note to our Colt-fanatic Johnson relatives...when the Bears win on Sunday don't let it distract you from continuing to pray for Pops...keep your chins up. Boo-yeah.

Praise God for a great day....exactly eight weeks since the accident. We are so thankful for the way Jesus has brought us closer to Him...albeit in a desperate, hanging-on-for-dear-life sort of way. Closer none the less. I know that this season in our life is so sweet to Him, as we cling to His word like never before. It's easy to ignore God when life is easy and the sailing is smooth. But the pain and desperation of these months, the stormy seas if you will, are what bring us to the feet of Jesus. Smooth sailing is nice, but the excitement, the rush, the real joy...that only comes when you're in the storm.

Thank you God, for being with us in the storm.