Coffee? Tea? Serenity?

Wow, how time flies!

Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving?

Today is Nov. 28. I have seen Dad on several occassions since my last post. His back has begun to be better. He began doing some very easy exercises which slowly worked the muscles loose. That seems to have done the trick - until last week. He was in his company pick up truck when he backed into a parked 18-wheeler. There was no damage to the other vehicle, but the rear fender of Dad's truck shows the evidence of his fender bender. When that bender took place, Dad said he immediately felt his back take a jolt. He was pretty sore and stiff, but seems to be doing better now.

He has had a couple of blood pressure readings (with a home monitor) that caused concern. These occured in the early morning hours; shortly after waking. When discussing these with me, he assured me that he would call his cardiologist if they continued. Within of a days of that concern, Mom told me that it turned out the batteries of the monitor needed changing. The indicator did not show up when Dad used the monitor, but did just a few days later.

His cough continues. While he was not smoking, which was immediately following the surgery, that cough showed dramatic improvement. When he began smoking again, the cough returned - in a manner that seems even worse than before. Even with the suggestions of the nurses, doctors, and family who cares, he chose to smoke again. At first it was a lot less than prior to the surgery. Now, it seems that each time I see him he is smoking more frequently. My heart wants him to quit. My own habit of smoking helps me to understand the difficulty in doing so. What a grip that little bitty thing can have on a person's life.

As you pray, pray for Dad and his smoking habit. You can pray for me as well. The harder I try the harder I fall.