Update on dad...because I think some of you (Marcia) want to know...

 Just in case ya'll were wondering...dad is still at rehab.  Yes, I still go there everyday I don't have official jewelry business to visit.  And by visit I mean I go in, I sit down, he barks orders at me, he asks me the same questions he asked me the day before, we watch a little tv & I go home.  

B-rad went with me one day last week when it rained.  He sat in the corner & played on his phone while I just sat.  My aunt & uncle showed up so that was good to have someone to talk to.  Dad's a talker, but not really to us.  Plus he's not big on details.  When you ask him questions he just answers with a mumble or 'i don't know...'  UHM I love the details...

We were there long enough for them to hook up the machine that bends his knee on his bad leg.  When the nurse was hooking him up, I saw this nice bruise.  It's on his bad leg in the back.  I don't know if that's where the truck hit him or what?!  (That's not my hand...that's the nurse... but his skin looked really weird.  Like plastic or something.  It's still swollen...)

They hook him up & he has to have it on twice a day for 2 hours.  I thought it was going to bend it like fast, but it doesn't.  It's super slow...

 Notice B-rad taking his head outta his phone?  'Oh, something different.  Wonder what it is?!'

 'Oh, borrrrr-ing.  I'll go back to my phone...'  You can also see his busted up right knee in this one.  (See his tan lines from his shorts?  I told ya he walks a lot!)

 Since those pics last week he got moved to another room.  He doesn't have the window seat anymore so it's super boring when I go there to 'visit' because I have nothing to look at.  Sigh.

When I got there Tuesday night the parking lot was packed.  I was really surprised & hoped they were having some sort of 'patient visitor appreciation night'.   Nope, just trick or treaters...  When I walked in the patients were outside their rooms with bowls of candy.  Even dad got in on the action. I was surprised to see he's lost some weight.  I only see him in bed in his gown.  He looked different sitting up with actual clothes on.

 At first he had his leg sticking out into the hallway & then he decided he better turn sideways so one of the kiddos didn't hit it.  (Isn't that cow cute?!)  I didn't realize how good he was getting around either until I saw him up out of bed.  That made me feel better because I was just imagining him laying in bed at home all day not being able to do anything for himself.

 When he had had enough of the trick or treaters, he was ready to go back to bed.  I said, "What are you gonna do now?"  He said, "You just watch this, kid!"  He was able to get out of his wheelchair all by himself.

 He has to steady himself with the walker & then he can get on the bed.  (Notice his pink cast?  I said, 'Dad, why in the world do you have a pink cast?!'  He said, "oh the surgeon did that...it's for breast cancer awareness."  Wow, what a nice thing... 

But don't get too excited yet...  I was talking to the ladies at the town hall & one of them told me that when he told her he had a pink cast she said, "Well, tell everyone it's for breast cancer awareness."  HA!  My dad is EVER the politician!)

  I figure this is how the conversation went with the surgeon:

Dr.:  "Mr Brown, what color do you want your cast to be?"

Dad: "I don't give a shit what color the damn thing is."  (those that know my dad know that that is EXACTLY what he would've said!!!)

Dr.: thinking, "Ok, PINK coming right up..."

There has also been a big change at their house.  There is a ramp out front for him now.  

Let me tell you about this ramp.  Dad was in the hospital for 4 days & has been at rehab for 2 weeks now.  We knew he was going to need a ramp.  One of the locals around town said that one of the schools had a carpentry class & that's what they did-build stuff for people who needed help.  Mom waited for a ramp...and nothing ever happened.  We found out Monday that he's coming home tomorrow.  Panic time.  Mom's church (Graceland) had told her they could get her ramps but she said, 'No, that's ok-someone here locally is going to build it.  Thanks anyway.'  The local guy never even had anyone measure for the ramps so they hadn't started building them yet.  Annoying.  

Mom called one of the Pastors at Graceland Tuesday morning.  Tuesday afternoon they were at the house measuring.  Wednesday (the next day) there was a crew there building the ramp.  (It's so funny because I had 9000 people tell me, "Hey-we saw them building the ramp for your dad!"  Small town living for ya!)  I think it's awesome that Graceland responded so quickly.  Dad's not real big on churches & stuff so I told mom to tell him, "Yea-that ramp is there courtesy of Graceland Baptist Church!"