Merry Christmas Eve Eve

 From the land of

WHAT THE HECK?????

Hahahahahaha.

Every time I sat down to update for today

there was a game plan change.

We aren't done, but here we go anyway.

Let's see.

This morning at o-dark-thirty,

our 4th year surgical resident came in

and told us they were very happy

with how the procedure went yesterday

and nooooooowwww... the plan was....

pull the tube Wed and send us HOME.

(Like, no rehab...)

We've had so many doctors and nurses...

It was grand central station in here until

about 9:00 when I called Mom, and they

were still coming!

I believe we also had a chest x-ray early

this morning.

Pretty sure.

** side note: I had the BEST sleep last night!

Turned off the lights at 10:00 last night

and, although I was "aware" when people

came in, I only woke up enough to be aware

and then right back to sleep.

I didn't actually wake up, wake up, until

about 6:00 this morning.

It was AWESOME!

And now I'm ready for a NAP!

Ok, back to the main story.

OH! AND then Dr. Nold and his team came

by about 8:00 and echoed the resident,

and told us we had permission to take his

tube OFF suction long enough to take walks

throughout the day! (Originally it was 

100% suction for 48 hours, no breaks...)

So that was exciting!!!

Somebody, darn if I remember who, said since

we were likely going home tomorrow and it

would be "just us" I had permission to take him

to the bathroom if I wanted. 

He still has to wear his brace, etc, but at least

we don't have to wait for a nurse.

That's nice!

They gave him some more laxatives last night

and this morning, so... waiting isn't really 

a thing we wanted to have to do.

We did a bathroom run and then

he chose to sit in his chair for a bit.

We experimented with a few things and

finally figured out a way to make it

kind of comfortable.

Then PT Donna came by to take us out and about.

He already had on his shorts (YEA) and she

let us take off his hospital gown and 

PUT ON A SHIRT!

Like a REAL, flannel, button up the front,

SHIRT!

It's the little things, people!

We still had to put on his brace, and hang a

yellow gown like a cape, as an indication that

a) patient

b) fall risk

Put on his cool spiderman slippers and away we went!

I mentioned that we were a little nervous about

navigating the 2 stairs into / out of our house.

So she took us on a field trip to a stairwell!

She taught him how to go up and down

the stairs safely and he did it TWICE.

(over achiever)

Turn so you are facing the railing, and

just side step up or down.

It was easy!

Knowledge is POWER.

She is a darling lady.

(even if this was the one moment

she was not smiling.... lol.)

She was actually getting ready to

dash out of the picture...

After she left, lunch arrived and he

ate the WHOLE thing.

Another tuna fish sandwich, a little bowl

of fresh strawberries, and I went down to

the cafeteria and got him a big ol'

chocolate milk!

After that, we needed naps!

And then Mark, our awesome nurse de jour

came in with news.

The tube we have in his chest just isn't cutting it.

So, we are heading down to CT to put in

a 2nd tube. This one is more pencil diameter.

(The original is bigger around than my thumb...)

So... here came transport.

They slid him onto a different bed (ouch)

and we headed down to first floor.

As always the folks were super nice and

very happy to explain what was coming next.

They took a scan and then she showed

us where there is still some air and

some fluid in his cavity.

The goal was to put in a 2nd tube, but after

seeing the scan the head dude said he wanted

to put in TWO more tubes. One in the top

and one kind of in the middle.

Since he just ate lunch, they couldn't

sedate him, but said they would numb as 

best they could and try to be gentle.

Sent me out to a waiting room and 

before I knew it (probably 25 minutes)

(I'm reading another book...)

out came one of the docs to explain that

they ended up only needing 1 tube.

Almost all the air was already out and

the fluid was draining nicely.

They also contacted the trauma doc and

basically told him to come get his giant

tube since it was mostly just in the way.

(hahaha)

Rod said he didn't feel any pain at all.

(Except when they transferred him

to another bed, and then back to the

transport bed, and then back onto his

bed here in the room...)

That really hurts him.

But as soon as it's over, he's fine.

Now, he is on total 100% flat,

bed rest for 2 hours.

(He's asleep again.)

And then?

Goodness only knows.

I have no idea what comes next.

Surprise me.

Like I've said before, I'll believe we

are heading home when we are 

actually IN the car and driving away.

Until then, I'm keeping my expectations

low and just going for the ride.

But in the meantime, everyone is so kind

and doing the very best they can for the

very best possible outcome.

And after PT Donna's visit today,

when we DO get home, I know we can

handle it!

So..........

I'll leave you here.

Not knowing.

Cuz we don't either.

But there "may" be an update later.

We'll see.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve Y'all!