Abby update - November 22

"Good-bye Trach Song" (sung to the tune of "The Wicked Witch is Dead"--you know, from the Wizard of Oz!)

Ding-dong,
The trach is gone,
The trach is gone,
The trach is gone.

Ding-dong,
That pesky trach is gone!

That's right: After days of wondering where the pulmonologist was, Abby and Gordon went to see the ENT today. And, after hours of sorting out insurance paperwork with the administrative complainant, Gordon and Abby saw a very friendly ENT who took a look and said there was no reason for that tube to stay in Abby's throat! So, this evening Abby has only a small patch of gauze on her neck (not even any stitches--as the hole usually closes on its own). She looks great and is doing great. No words yet, but I can only imagine that it will feel much easier to try now.

Today was another food breakthrough as well. After her great chewing yesterday, today Abby got to eat Cheerios, real scrambled eggs, diced fruit, and diced veggies (well, actually she passed on the diced squash--that's the Abby we know!), along with a few other pureed things. She had a great appetite and is gonna be ready for that stuffing and other goodies tomorrow. She also learned to drink from a straw--even some Dr. Pepper again!

Finally, though it's late, I just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We have many family members coming to join us and Abby here tomorrow, bringing lots of food, from the sound of it. It will be good to be together with Abby, and we will have many blessings to count. I'm hoping to share some of them with you tomorrow (if the tryptophan doesn't get me first), but just wanted to be sure to close with a note of thanks for the love and support you've all shown to us.

We are thankful for you all...
-the Linam clan (and the Johnson clan too)