9 pm CT

Not gonna lie, today started out rough. When I arrived at the hospital this morning, Matt was in a foul mood. Irritable and frustrated, he couldn't get comfortable, was hot, told me he couldn't handle the smell of my perfume...everything. The nurse wanted him to sit on the side of the bed til he was cleared to walk. When she sat he up, he was in a lot of pain. She told him that if he'd work through it, he'd be so much better later today. He wasn't buying it. 

They took his chest tubes out (3 of them!) and his catheter today. Matt said it was so painful, especially the chest tubes. But the nurse promised that he was going to feel like a new man. He was cleared to walk and when they got him up and down the hallway, he was like a little kid who won a medal in his first sporting event. He was so proud of himself! He also felt so much better.

Several of Matt's college fraternity brothers from SAE at MTSU (Phi Alpha, guys!) came and visited today. Big shout out to Bobby for coordinating the "Matt sitting." Matt loved catching up and visiting with those guys. He also ate well today. 

When I got back to the hospital, he was like a new man. I was met with a huge smile and sweet disposition. His nurse told me she loved him after noon today. Haha! Matt says that once those tubes were out and he walked, it made the biggest difference. Bill Hayes even walked him up and down the halls for a second round. 

He just shared his gratitude for today:

• Getting all the tubes removed
• Walking
• Appetite returning

Friends, your prayers are making such a big difference. Thank you hardly seems sufficient. We feel them and we receive them. Please keep them coming.

Tonight is date night, so I brought my guy some dinner (potato soup) and look at this smile! He's got a pretty epic scar too. When he FaceTimed with the boys and they saw his chest and arm scars they remarked that he must be running the air conditioning at the hospital because he's COLD (ice running through this veins). Apparently, friends, this is a good thing. Haha! The boys are so proud of their daddy and have been incredibly strong and helpful amidst finals and end of year events. 

But y'all, that smile...oh my gosh, I was so glad for that to return.

Love you all so very much,

Heather