Houston, We Have Extubation

They removed the breathing and feeding tubes this morning at 11:30 without a problem.  Joe's been breathing on his own all along with varying levels of assistance.  He now has a cannula providing air.  When I asked the nurse how long Joe should refrain from talking, in a riff on Joseph Campbell, she said to "Follow your pain."  Great.  They'll monitor Joe for a day or two in the ICU, and then he'll move to a general medicine floor.  Three cheers for the Amazing Joe!