Rainy days and Mondays always get me down . . .

That's not really true. I like rainy days and even Mondays are OK, but I'm not too fond of surgery days. However, they are getting better. Today's surgery was only two hours--a record. Seth came back with only one wound VAC--a sign of progress. He only has three teams of surgeons working on him now. The only ones we've talked to after today's surgery are the urologists, and they were positive but noncommittal about final outcomes.

The anesthesiologists offered Seth additional pain relief via an epidural and were surprised to find he doesn't need it. When they checked his pain medication record, they were astonished to see how little he is using considering his wounds. As I said, whenever the doctors are surprised by positive developments, I see small miracles taking place.

We were sad to see Jerrica leave today. She took the night shifts with Ethan and, rumor has it, Ethan slept through some of Seth's requests for assistance, and Jerrica handled them. Thanks, Jerrica! We miss you already!

Before Seth was wounded, I was planning to go to Guatemala with a WSU study abroad program for most of July. To prepare for that, I was enrolled in a Spanish class. Even though I didn't get to go to Guatemala, my studies were not in vain. I met Maria Louisa in our first days in the SICU. She is the mother-in-law of one of the guys who came in the same day as Seth. She is from Mexico City and does not speak English. She is gracious enough to speak slowly for me, and we have become friends. Her son-in-law Justin spent three weeks in the SICU and just recently made it up to Ward 57. Maria leaves for home on Friday. I will be so sad to see her go. She was a bright spot through a dismal time.