A peaceful night must deserve to be followed by a restive one.  Last night Paige slept ninety minutes and became increasingly impatient with her restraints.  She worried about her swimming and talked about the 100 free, missing her meet, and Westminster.  Yet, after a catnap this morning, she ate well, walked 260 feet, and is now sitting in a chair.

Today we are hoping for more physical therapy and some good eating.  We are now allowed to bring in foods for the dysphagia diet: bland purees of medium consistency.  Yum.  Paige made her father test them all last night, apparently expecting that we might be adding poisoning to the many tortures of her imprisonment.

At home our water pipes burst, drenching the north end of the house.   I guess we needed a project...

Liz returns to Virginia today with our gratitude.  She has been an enormous support to her dear younger sister, and, with Ryan, helped cover some of the wee hours.  Liz applied her great organizational skills to coordinating food runs from our supportive friends, and she showed great patience, tenderness, good cheer and fortitude with Paige through some very trying moments.   

She joins Brooks who returned to Virginia on Wednesday to resume his studies.  Brooks gave us wonderful support while he was at home, and he now buoys our spirits with reports on his new classes, his terrific church and friends, and his ongoing charitable work.   He is making Paigey proud as a student, a walker for the animal shelter, a volunteer for Habitat and a friend to Kenyan refugee children.  Liz and Brooks are both inspiring.  They are loved beyond measure.