Mike is at home from the hospital. We arrived home around noon. He is having a good day, but has been asleep most of the afternoon. I was able to wake him and get him to eat a 1/2 of a sandwich around 2 p.m., and some Gatorade, but it is going to be a challenge keeping him from becoming dehydrated and losing weight, when he wants to sleep all the time. He is just very hard to wake up now.

He is taking two kinds of diuretics which is helpful in pulling the fluid away from his abdomen and legs, caused by the Ascites, but this may also work against us keeping him hydrated. The nurse suggested I weigh Mike everyday to watch for any rapid increase of weight which might indicate that fluid is increasing.

Then there is the concern with the ammonia building back up in his blood, causing the Hepatic Encephalopathy. Those symptoms cause him to become confused and disoriented. It's hard to differentiate what is confusion and what is, what I named tremors. The tremors are very obvious with him reaching his arms out in front of him, trying to grab things, and moving his limbs largely. He eventually snaps out of them, and chuckles, but I'm not laughing. There is a part of me that wants to ask God, "Do you remember who you are working with here? I'm far from being a nurse and I'm not certain I will stay on top of everything or know what is what."

Mike frightened me a little this morning when I arrived at the hospital. He was somewhat out of it, when I was there, and I became concerned if we were leaving the hospital too soon again. I explained to his nurse that I was noticing an increase today in the tremor-type symptoms while he was asleep..even at times while his eyes were wide open. I told her I was afraid to bring him home in this condition, especially with our home being two story. My heart sank with the news that he may never recover from this fully, but afterwards, I reminded myself that God is all powerful and all knowing, and if He feels we need these new symptoms in our lives, then so be it. We will just learn to live with them with His help.

My largest obstacle will be dealing with Mike. The nurse explained to me that these symptoms may be a new normal for Mike, but he would do just fine at home. She suggested I make a bed downstairs for Mike so he would stay on the first floor, and avoid the stairs. So, I spoke with Mike about all of this and he promised me all the way home he would allow me to fix up a bed for him downstairs. Then we got home, and the first thing he did was head up the stairs. ;( He is NOT a good patient!

Anyway..... we are home now, and I feel blessed he is here with me tonight. I'm grateful for every day God gives me. I know you know enough to pray specifically for our needs. You have been so faithful. Thank you for your prayers, and please keep us lifted as we deal daily, with all of this.

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10