Dad update

    Yesterday wasn't particularly good. At about 7:30 in the morning, before visiting hours, Dad had a seizure and quit breathing. They got him breathing again, and are giving him anti-seizure medication, but it's pretty scary. He still hasn't been able to eat much, and he's still throwing up most of what he does eat. (They're also giving him anti-emetics.) By the time I got there in the afternoon, he was mostly quiet. He did remember to tell me (and quite clearly) that "since I'm incapacitated" (a pretty good word for somebody who might otherwise be called catatonic) I (John) need to pay the bills. He also told me where the bills are and where our joint checkbook is. He also asked (brother) William if he'd taken out the trash, which would have been more impressive had William been in the room at the time. However, William had been there fairly recently, so we'll cut him a little slack.
    So not the best birthday imaginable. Birthday wishes from Facebook friends helped morale a lot. Brother Malcolm took William and me out to Mai Thai, which was highly wonderful. Then sister Anne and nephew James made it down from Boston. After ICU visiting hours ended at 10, Anne, James and Malcolm came over for a while for further birthday celebrations. I provided portable baklava, which went over well. And Anne and Malcolm had succeeded in getting Dad to take a little food and drink, so that was a happy ending, too. So not the worst birthday imaginable either.