Hi all,
Once again I need to start with an explanation of any repeat information. SORRY, I can't remember what I'm telling who, when. I think I am getting a little punchy.
A word about me now that I have your attention. Watched the ballgame last night with half a large sausage, pepperoni, cheese and mushrooms pizza from Hungry Howies. Howie makes a pretty good pizza and when finished I wasn't hungry at all. This morning I wondered why, if I wasn't hungry, I ate a 100 calorie 1 fat gram Skinny Cow Carmel Truffle Ice Cream Bar and a 400 calorie 7 fat gram piece of white cake with Carmel frosting. I guess it was a night for Carmel? Maybe all the Snickers bars waiting for the goblins that didn't show up did it.
I got here around 8 this morning. Fred has been sleeping on and off all day. His nurses did get him up in his bedside chair just about 9:15. At approximately 9:18 he asked me when they would stop torturing him and put him back in bed. Just about 9:20 I spoke with his nurse who said, "he needs to be up for at least an hour," so I left the floor and went for a Starbucks. I figured he really did need to sit up, so, if I wasn't here he couldn't ask me. I guess it's a variation of the "Good Cop/Bad Cop" thing but with nurses. He did sit up for close to an hour and forty five minutes. I came back after he got clean linens and a gown change. I asked the nurse if she would bring me a bunch of shaving supplies, which she did. Now , if I go ahead and shave myself we can put them to use. He isn't going to get a shave this morning, that's for sure.
I talked with one of the docs this morning. Yesterday last, I may have said his incision was still somewhat open, it's not. What the surgeon was talking about yesterday was an internal layer of tissue and that was closed using that "screen door" material. I guess if nothing else the screen will keep flying insects away. His incision site is closed with staples and looks pretty good. He does have two drains in place. If you picture the end of a turkey baster (the squeeze ball part for our non cooks) that's what they look like. The nurse will empty them, and squeeze them shut, as they expand they will pull in any drainage. The tube line going into the wound site is very narrow and these will come out asap. I wonder if Fred realizes he now has four balls?
It's been a little difficult to separate being a nurse and a brother. Honestly I think he is better if I remember to be a nurse first. The big problem is I have been the "little brother" a lot longer.
I think he is doing pretty well all things considered. Hopefully tomorrow we can talk a little about what he wants, or expects, of me down the road. Last night Wanda said she was a little bored without me around, silly lady. If I were her and I lived with me, I would be doing a "Happy Dance" I was gone. Can you imagine having me underfoot (OK, maybe a bad choice of words) all the time? Oh, did I mention I dropped a five pound weight on my bare foot the day before I left? My right foot is an interesting mixture of colors now.
Tammy called a while ago, she'll stop in soon. For now I think I have a chair nap in my near future. Take care everyone,
love to you all, Chuck
PS: Lynne, hope Marshall continues to improve.
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