1 Week!

One week ago at this point I guess I was in the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)   I ended up there all night because there was not a bed available in Trama ICU where the surgeon wanted me.  By staying in the PACU I was the only patient and had a nurse dedicated to me for the night.  Linda was her name and she was wonderful!

SO today I had my first visit with the home health care visiting nurse.  She is actually set to visit with me daily until the drains are removed.  The visit went well..blood pressure has been perfect!  110/70.  I also received a call from the hospital to check on me.  After sitting with the nurse at my kitchen table, I think it is starting to hit me the scale of my surgery.  It was big!

I am getting a little better at getting in and out of bed.  Wish I could raise the head of my bead at home like I could in the hospital.  Here is the pic of my family/bed room.  Thank you to my wonderful hubby for setting me up in the family room!  Frank had to run out for a few work appointments today but a wonderful friend stopped in to make us lunch.  How strange it is for me to sit in my own kitchen while someone else makes hot dogs for my kids.  I am struggling!  I want to run the vacuum, I want to lift the milk!  Instead I watched my super 7-year-old put a load of wash in the washer and a neighbor swiffer my kitchen floor.

Each day gets better and it has only been a week..one really long unbelievable week.

3am do you know where your BPM patient is?

SO I sit here in a nice quiet house.  Actually slept for about a 4 hour stretch. I woke up in some real discomfort but I think I can say not pain exactly.

Did I mention that Frank moved our guest bed downstairs to the family room for me so I did not have to climb stairs?  And my powder room is now filled with my necessities?  Very handy!  I am still getting used to getting into and out of a non hospital bed but at lease I can do it on my own!

I took the opportunity to empty my drains. Not too bad 17ml total in 12 hours.  My girls have been wonderful but I am still trying to keep some things completely from them.  The drains are really something.  A much-needed yet totally uncomfortable and honesty very disgusting need.  I have put together an outfit with and undershirt underneath one of Franks short sleeve button downs.  I can pin the drains to the undershirt with the girls not having a clue that they exist.

Guess I should wiggle my way back into my bed.  I am still doing the breathing exercises from the hospital.  Not sure if I am supposed to or not but figure they sure can’t hurt!  I will post some pics of my new family/bed/hospital room soon.

Today I get my first home health care nurse visit.

Not long now

Less than 2 weeks now.  First I need to start off with a big Happy Birthday to my husband!  I hope you enjoyed your round of golf today!

So the 5-year-old mind continues to swirl for Madison.  We can be doing just about anything when she will blurt out another interesting question such as:

  • “so mommy, if you do not have this surgery would you become one of the bald people?”
  • “mommy, how are they going to make your boobies and belly smaller, squish them down really hard?”

She has also taken the opportunity to tell random people that I will be going into the hospital.  But she does seem to be handling it alright.

We have a list of crafts and things that they wanted to do this summer so we went shopping yesterday to buy many supplies.  We made our first iron on t-shirts last night.  We will attempt tie-dye later this week.  The puppets and puppet stage are in process.  My kitchen looks like a Kindergarten art room gone terribly wrong.

Other than that things are relatively calm 13 days out from surgery.  The insurance company actually called to see if I needed anything today…found that interesting.  We have the guest room cleaned out probably for the first time in years.  My sister-in-law will be staying the night before the surgery so the girls do not have to be pulled from best a 4 am to take me to the hospital.

Not too much longer now!