Do you think I could substitute Splenda? :)

Update: *WONDERFUL* news from Ft. Worth. Chris has been moved to a *regular* room ~ Room 497 in Richardson Tower for anyone wanting to send an e-mail. Whatever surgeons did Friday apparently helped more than any other treatments for the infection problem. Chris has been *eating* today and told Sister he wants *REAL* Sprite please. :) He also *stood* for the first time since the accident ~ on his good leg ~ no pressure yet on his bad leg, but we are so hopeful now. Keep the prayers aimed at Ft. Worth please. He still has a way to go, but thanks be to God for this news! :)

My apologies for being so neglectful with my blog. Besides being sidetracked with a super-busy school year ~ *FOUR* new textbooks, y'know, and a sophomore class that is *VERY* big and very under-achieving and very attitudinal ~ I have been dealing with a very painful herniated disc in my back after I tried to move a bookcase without removing the books first. I'm not quite the hoss I used to be. :) Even more serious, however, is the fact that my 25-year-old nephew, Chris, has been in the trauma ICU of Harris Methodist Hospital for over three weeks now, following a forklift accident where he works. Doctors are fighting valiantly to save his leg, but for every bit of encouraging news, there seem to be two setbacks. Infection has been a complication, and also Chris's spirits. Besides just dealing with his current situation, his fiancee was killed by a drunken teenage driver this summer. So please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and if you would like to send him an e-mail of encouragement, you can here: https://www2.texashealth.org/contactus/volemail.asp.
You will need to designate the *Harris Methodist Ft. Worth* hospital as the recipient and the *Bloxom Unit Trauma ICU* as the room number ~ his full name is Christopher Vines. Hang on to your loved ones *tightly!* Life can change in a heartbeat!