Saturday August 8, 2009 3:49 P.M.

One step forward and one big jump back.

For some reason Daddy's breathing became more labored last night and he had to be put back on a higher level of oxygen. He's now requiring 80% oxygen to keep his blood oxygen stats up in the normal range. His Doctor is not sure if this is the result of having too much fluid around his lungs or if he has thrown another blood clot since they stopped the heparin last night. They are now restarting the heparin sometime today.

A wound specialist came to see Daddy today about the neck incision and the chest incision. They put a vacuum seal system on the two areas that will keep it pulled together and allow to heal. They are hoping that this system will keep the areas from bleeding so badly when they start back the heparin.

They pulled a culture from the chest area to test for infection, but we haven't gotten the results back yet. They do have Daddy on three different antibiotics right now. Two of which are very strong IV antibiotics.

Daddy's kidneys are making very good progress mostly because of all the increased fluids they are giving him.

I think the funniest thing the Doctor said today was that Daddy's was malnourished when he came into the hospital. Can you imagine my Daddy malnourished??? You gotta laugh at that! (Daddy would even laugh at that) The Doctor did say that, that has slowed the healing process also.

Now the biggest concerns are his lungs, heart and kidneys (which kidneys have improved a great deal). They are not sure why he is now requiring more oxygen.

Daddy is pretty agitated today and just seems to be in a really bad mood, but with what he's been through he's entitled.