"We miss home" and "we're happy", were among the first things the rescued Thai boys said while in hospital, say officials.

Some of the boys have now seen their families, but only through a glass panel.

Further test results are expected in a few days and if there are no signs of infection, families will be allowed to visit face-to-face.

Image source, get

Welcome, if you're just joining us. Here's a quick recap of events so far on Tuesday:

• The rescue began at 10:08 local time (03:08 GMT), with 19 divers making their way into the cave.
• If conditions allow, nine people will come out today - the four remaining boys, the coach, a doctor and Navy Seal divers who have been with them.
• Thai Navy Seal divers have said that today's mission might take longer than usual.
• The eight boys who are already rescued are said to be in good health.

...of epic proportions.

Bangkok-based illustrators Aruni Aunhawarakorn and Jantima Manasviyoungkul behind the page Sisidea, external have shared this adorable image depicting the boys, the divers (foreign and local), rescuers, volunteers and government officials as various animals.

"We are so, so happy at the news and our cartoon shows our appreciation from the Thai people - to everyone around the world who have been involved in the search as well as those who haven't been mentioned," they told BBC News.

Here's a short look at who's who in the cartoon:

Boars: The boys - all in the Wild Boars football team

Seals: The Thai navy team

Lion: The British divers who made early contact with the boys

Naga (Dragon): The water pump team that brought cave levels to safe standards

Frogs: Foreign divers

Crane: A touching tribute to the ongoing flood disaster in Japan

Tiger, kangaroo, panda: Rescue teams from Myanmar, Australia and China

Swallows: The media teams at the scene bringing news of the rescue operation to the world

And can you spot Elon Musk?

The Thai Navy Seals have confirmed that today's mission will take longer than usual, but say they remain hopeful the operation will end today, saying everyone would "celebrate together".

"Hooyah."

The boys were brought into the cave by their football coach and there's been much debate over whether or not he's to blame for the situation. In a handwritten letter, he apologised to the boys' parents and they have since said that they don't blame him.

The 25-year old is a former monk and has played a crucial role both in their predicament and their survival, writes the Washington Post., external

Five of the trapped group remain to be rescued. But there are more people in there. They are the Thai Navy Seals that have kept the boys company and trained them in basic swimming and diving skills.

These Seals will likely be the last ones to leave. And after days in the dark cave, they too will have to be careful about their health.

Relatives of the trapped children are still waiting at a checkpoint near the cave for any news about their boys.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

In response to a fan in Bangkok, external who asked if he had any words for the Thai cave children, British rocker Liam Gallagher tweeted out the lyrics to the 2002 Oasis hit Stop Crying Your Heart Out.

In case you haven't heard it before:

Hold up, hold on, don't be scared. You'll never change what's been and gone.May your smile shine on. Don't be scared, your destiny may keep you warm.

Image source, @liamgallagher

So far, we don't know which of the boys are already out and which ones remain trapped for now. All that's certain is that the coach is still among those in the cave.

Here's a recap of who the 12 teenage boys and their coach are.

Today, some of the families have been told they'll be able to see their sons soon.

Over the past days they've been nervously waiting for that good news.

When the families are finally allowed to visit their boys in hospital, it will be the first time in more than two weeks that they've seen them.

So far, they've only seen them on the videos taken inside the cave and have only been able to communicate via written notes.

Read more: Thai boys and parents send letters of love and reassurance

Image source, Thai navy seals

The mission chief has said full support should be given to the rescue team today.

"Please give us time to work. Today’s mission is more demanding than the two previous days," he says.

The past two days brought out four kids each day.

On Tuesday they have four kids, one adult, a doctor and three Navy Seals to bring out.

"We may have to wait for a lot time but we hope it’s worth the wait. ... everyone, please send us your support."

The BBC's Tessa Wong in Mae Sai tweets:

The head of the rescue mission, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, has been asked whether he can make use of Elon Musk's offer to help.

He says he acknowledges the help of Musk and his team, but that "the equipment they brought to help us is not practical with our mission".

"Even though their equipment is technologically sophisticated, it doesn’t fit with our mission to go in the cave."

The status of today's rescue operation is still unclear.

So here's a reminder of just how difficult it is to get the boys out.

Experience from the first day of the rescue helped to speed things up on day two, Mr Narongsak says. It took 11 hours to get them out on the first day, but only nine on the second.

Water levels inside the cave have not risen since the evacuation began on Sunday, he says.

If conditions allow, the four remaining boys, the coach and the doctor and Navy Seal divers who have been with them for the past week can come out today.

Narongsak Osotthanakorn, the official who has led the rescue mission is giving a briefing to the media.

He's confirmed the earlier health reports and said parents of the first group out were able to see them through a window.

In the next 48 hours they should be allowed to see their kids - but from 2m away.

The parents of the second group may be able to see them - through glass - this afternoon, if doctors allow it, he says.

The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Chiang Rai, says heavy rain all morning has made this third day of an audacious rescue operation more urgent.

"The team of Thai and foreign divers has gone back in to try to bring out the last four boys and their coach, in what one person involved in the operation described as a race against time - the rain is likely to increase water levels in the cave system."