Home is good!

So here we are home for 4 days, and still basking in the happiness of being here! I'm much more weak and sore than I expected to be, which was a bit of a shock, but gaining strength daily (I hope). I am officially tubeless, which is nice, but still can't eat much since the only catheter I have right now is really, really small. But rest assured, cookie dough still seems to be well received.

I'm also getting a low-grade fever for a few hours every day. Today, it was later than usual and only lasted for about an hour, so whatever it is, I seem to be fighting it pretty well. Which is good; I still have too much yeast in my mouth from the antibiotics, so if I had to take more, I might never be able to get rid of it.

I think I figured that once I left the hospital, it would all be over. I didn't factor in recovery at home or the fact that this surgery was just plain harder on me then the other ones. So I'm not quite home free yet, but on the bright side, I've lost about 10 pounds! See, there's always something to be thankful for!

I'm just praising God for Jason and my family and friends; in the 4 days we've been home, we've had 7 guests/helpers and 6 meals provided. We certainly don't eat this well when I'm cooking! But what a blessing to not have to worry about it, and BOY is this food good!!

I think Jason is exhausted as Parker demands almost constant attention - he's pretty understanding that I'm still weak and can't play with him, but he doesn't want me out of his sight and won't let Jason do anything but play with him when he gets home. He's glad to get home with us but will quite happy when things go back to normal (or what passes for normal in our house of insanity...).

Mountains of laundry being leveled by loved ones... including Jason! Is there nothing that man can't do??

Just a quickie...

Well, this won't be a long post, seeing as I'm not as strong as I think I am and that it's really, really cold here in our computer room...

But hallelujah, I'm HOME! We left the hospital at about 4 pm yesterday and spent the night in St. Pete before heading to the airport at 5:30 this morning. I did better than expected in the airport and the flight, but we had requested a wheelchair to be waiting at the Allentown airport since we figured I'd be about done. That was right up until they announced that all wheelchair people should remain seated until everyone else left the plane. I looked at Jason and said, uh uh, my baby is in that airport, and I'm NOT waiting for everyone else to get off this plane! So I walked up the ramp until I sat in the middle of it and got a good, long hug from Parker!

He did great, which we knew he would (thank God, he takes after Jason and is very flexible) but has said he's glad to be home... and more importantly, that he's glad I'm home!

I'm beat but feel good. I still have a catheter in my pouch until Wednesday to give it a bit longer to heal. It's fairly discreet, but really, I think a plastic tube taped to your belly is a fashion craze just waiting to happen. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed. I'm much calmer now that I'm home and actually got a nap today (been too wound up to sleep during the day w/out meds), so I'm expecting an AWESOME night's sleep - back home - with my family.

God's in His heaven and all's right with my world. G'night!

See ya!

Greetings! I'm am thrilled to report that this is our last entry from good ol' Palms Hospital! After much ado (and some anti anxiety meds since I'm too hyper), I am officially being discharged today! I already am free of wires and machines and feel like a new woman. The one teeny, tiny drawback is that the best flight, logistically and financially, is tomorrow morning. Jason and I will be staying at the same Comfort Inn we went to coming in (which is new and very nice) and leaving for the airport around 5:30 am tomorrow morning.

I can't wait for a good, long shower in the hotel's oversized, granite walled tub! Ah, to feel human again!

And then, provided there are no flight delays, by 10:00 am tomorrow, we'll be in Allentown airport, and I'll be hugging the stuffing out of my wiggling, hyper, over excited, trying to squirm away son!! YAY!

I think I'll keep this blog up for a bit yet, just for the next 2 weeks or so as I continue to recover. Hard to believe that another few days would have a big difference, but tho I feel petty good in general, getting dressed this morning showed me that I'm still pretty weak. Can't wait to get home tho. Also can't wait for the coffee coolatta Jason is bringing me from Dunkin' Donuts in a little while!

Signing off from Palms (and praising God for His mercy and faithfulness - care to join me?) Love to all!

Oh, relax a little.

Well, sorry to say, this is Meggan checking in... I know Jason has quite a fan club, but I decided to take a turn anyway. So there...

Last night and this morning seemed to be such a huge setback for me, and I confess, I was quite bummed out. Having the belly tube be put back in, hearing the nurse say back to clear liquids to start the whole switch to food over... I couldn't see how that would do anything but add 3 or 4 days on to my stay. Wallowing, just wallowing in self pity. I'd forgotten to avail myself of the strength just waiting for me and didn't go to God for the help I needed.

On the plus side, there is army of people going to God on my behalf, so He chose to work anyway! After a tearful morning (and being unable to even think about eating broth and jello at 8 am), my surgeon's nurse came to examine me.

Basically, she said everything is looking really good! All my preliminary labs are normal (tho we have to wait for the finals), and removing my central line got rid of my fever and put my white cell counts back to normal. She then said she felt the nausea and vomiting was a result of me getting myself too wound up! She said, relax and stop throwing up your food. She put me right back on solid food and said we're still on track for a weekend release. How good is God to work even when my faith had wavered!

So it looks like we'll be heading home Sunday morning -- the fare for the flight can't be beat, even if we have to stay in hotel Saturday night if I'm released Sat. This is actually preferred since a Sunday discharge would have to be done so that we could leave the hospital at 5 am. That's a pretty tight squeeze!

I'm so thankful that Jason is here; his presence is soothing and does much to help me unwind. I'm also thankful for a dear friend who sent me an email full of encouragement that I was unable to get until the time I really needed it. Yay God!

So tomorrow I'll let Jason take over again; his posts are much funnier than mine! But tonight I just wanted to thank you all for your comments, cards and prayers. Here's hoping this is our last visit to Palms of Pasadena Hospital!

G'night!!

Day 14

"...I'm back in the saddle again.."

Back at my home away from home. I arrived 2 hours later due to complications, not involving my flight. It's good to be with my wife!

Today was a good day. Other then me coming back, she is now catheter free! She has always had a hate/hate relationship with that contraption. Thankfully, Meggan also has not had any bladder spasms,(Praise God) another reason to celebrate Catheter Free Day. We also are happy to report, no fever!

What do you do in the airport with nothing to do but time? Think about flying. What we're those Wright brothers thinking? They must have been crazy! (They didn't create jets, I know, but follow me) A couple ton of steel, formed into bird-like structure. Thousands of pounds of food, flying equipment, not to mention people weight, seats, baggage, gas, etc. Then we actually sit down, strap in and wait for the plane to reach a speed where then the plane pushes off and rises.

The day didn't come without setbacks. Meggan became VERY nauseous a few hours after my arrival. (Not associated) It resulted in her belly tube being put back in. This is done to prevent nausea. Sometimes patients stomachs can handle food easily. This time, Meggan is not adjusting as fast as she would like. She believes it will delay her return home. No word from the white coats.

Thanks to friends, I'm now hooked on 'Alias' and cannot stop watching.

Tomorrow is looking up, I'm taking my wife on a date. Well, I'll walk 3 blocks, buy some Dunkin' Donuts coffee, walk back and we will dine in our private hospital room, overlooking a palm tree or two.....oohhh lala!

Food, lovely food

Momentous day - I was put on soft food! YAY! The GP who oversees my day to day conditions was able to push me ahead of schedule a bit, so after a yucky breakfast, I got real food for lunch and dinner. Very tasty (hospital food - but it's not so bad here) and it's nice to chew.

Doing OK otherwise and hoping to get released as soon as possible once Jason gets back down here. He comes back Thursday, and I'm soooo excited. He will also be able to walk to Dunkin Donuts and get a latte for me!! Double yay!

I also can't wait to leave so they can take my central line out. I'm allergic to the adhesive used on the dressing, so MAN does that itch!!

When I spoke to Parker last night, he said, "I miss you, Mommy." Jason said he wasn't coached to say it, he just said it. And, since he sounds cheerful and happy, it made me very happy!

Tomorrow is more food; if this keeps going well, I should stay on schedule for release in just few days. So, all you coffee drinkers, drink a sip for me - can't wait to be able to write that I have an official release date! G'night!

Isn't this a little counterproductive?

Met with another urologist today, who is putting me on stronger meds to calm the bladder. Of course, it will probably also slow down my intestines... just when I'm starting food again. Is it just me, or does this seem like a bad plan? Please pray everything just keeps working and healing so I can home this weekend as planned! I did at least understand what this one was saying, which is ironic considering I didn't like what he said (haha).

Otherwise, good day today! I got 1/2 my staples out, so my belly is sore, but this is another step toward freedom. The Popsicle was cherry... and it made me nauseous! They still moved me to clear liquids today, tho, and that's gone very well. Of course, I find it challenging to eat vegetable broth at 8 am (altho Jason wondered when it wouldn't be challenging to eat hospital vegetable broth... a very good point, indeed). But the cranberry juice, water ice and hot tea have been lovely and gone down without a hitch. Onto full liquids tomorrow (which means watery oatmeal for breakfast - yuck - I think I'd rather have broth!).

I got a load of mail today, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! I got a bunch of cards from Parker, most of which featuring a ship with a sail and flag and 3 figures (Jason, Parker and Mommy? I assume so). I have the one that says, "I love Mommy" propped up so I can see it from bed. All the nurses have commented how smart he is, and I say, well, what can I say? He is smart!!

I also received flowers from my cousin, Pat, in Baghdad. Now, here's a guy with a lot on his plate, but he still managed to make time to brighten my day. Have I got the coolest fam or what? Between those and the ones sent by my parents' small group from church, the room is looking quite cheerful. If you just look at the flowers, you forget it's a hospital room! OK, so I'm not fooling you either, but flowers do go a long way toward giving me something nice to look at!!

Time to head out for a walk. Only my second today, but I'm pushing them to be longer and longer. Haven't made it outside yet; there's still too much junk hanging off my IV pole to make it easy to move over bumpy concrete! We need all-terrain poles. Or better sidewalks. Or to not get holes in our pouches and avoid the whole thing in the first place...

No memorable dreams last night - which means I slept the whole night! YAY! Here's hoping we all have sweet dreams tonight!