Calling All Angels

I am so blessed to have my Dad here with us on this Fathers Day. I went directly to see him as soon as I got out of work this afternoon. When I arrived, he was sitting in a big "geri chair" out by the nurses station, and my Mom and my sister Nancy were sitting with him. (The nurses like to put Dad out in the hallway where they can keep a good eye on him.......he sometimes tries to get up on his own........my sisters and I call it the great escape:-) He looked good today....he was dressed in his new "workout" pants that my mom bought him, and he was wearing one of his favorite sweaters. He has lost so much weight. I went to him and gave him a Happy Fathers Day kiss, and then I read him the Fathers Day card that I bought for him. He closed his eyes as I read the card. Not sure if it was an emotional response or what. We then wheeled him out to the outside deck where he sat in the sun and breathed in the fresh air. Miss J and Steve arrived while we were sitting out there. I noticed he closed his eyes as Miss J read him the fathers Day card that she brought to him. He tried to talk a little bit to us, but it's very difficult for him because he has severe laryngitis. We assume this is a result of the NG Tube which he had for many days......it must have really irritated and inflamed his throat and vocal cords. It takes a lot of energy for him to speak......and he really doesn't have the energy to spare to carry out a conversation. His mental status has improved over the past 2 days, but I saw today that he is still hallucinating, and he still gets very confused. The confusion comes and goes. We still wonder what the future will be like for my Dad......the future is so uncertain, but actually, isn't it uncertain for all of us? We are still taking things one day at a time. The ups and downs have been so often and so extreme.
Here is a song for my Dad this Father's Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Idl2FGnLY

I hope you all enjoyed your Fathers Day. If you no longer have your father with you, I hope you hold onto the memories of all of the happy times and find comfort knowing that some day you will be together.
Here is one of my favorite images of my dad, taken exactly 5 years ago this week, at Crystal Lake in Barton VT.

Happy Fathers Day!!!!!!!!