10 Days At Duke....AGAIN

The walls all too familiar, the linens haven't moved, the nurses faces are the same as before, and you're happy that the shower you got this time has a shower head that stands up straight.  There is still pizza in the cafeteria, and the 24/7 Starbucks means you might just put on a few extra pounds this week or two.  The stories are still the same of the loved one that had a life saving surgery, and the parents praying for their child with cancer that they can make it through the next round of chemo...we all are praying, we all hurt, we all walk the same halls and share the same stories.

Friday Day 2 - Come on honey its time to get up and walk.  Trying to not sound like his mother, but an encouraging wife...begging for her husband to recover just as quickly as he did the first time.  A simple request of extra pain meds for your hubby because you know what will get him through the next 48 hours.  Baby its 1 day post op don't you want a shower?  NO!!  Still having to smile, still having to encourage but not nag...you finally get him up and in the shower...this time though, he wares out quicker than before.  He's in more pain.  A 12+ incision and 3 manipulated organs just causes more complications and more TLC.  Will I survive this too?

Friday Night - Surprise prom is here at Duke as Austin and Bobbie walk the halls to visit dad, followed by happy tears, and hugs.  Life is only going to get better and your family is here for you...proven again.

Saturday - WHERE ARE HIS MEDS????  Its not the nurses fault, The pain doc ordered WHAT???  Dear God, that's PCP!!  No wonder he is seeing purple elephants and pulling away from my hand.  NURSE HELP!!!  They ordered too much!! :(  Can he just get some Tylenol?  I promise it takes the pain away?  IV, yes...I don't care who that guy is, he doesn't know my husband!!!  Finally a meeting, surgeon, pain mgt, I don't care what you want...THIS is what we are going to do.  You switch him to NPO, you order IV Tylenol and switch the dilaudid to fentyl and turn down the damn PCP...The cocktail I requested worked!!  24 hours Tony is up and walking, he's showering, sitting up, and pain is down to a 6...AMAZING!!

Now the cath comes out and waking up all night for bathroom trips and writing urine counts on the board. The sleep deprivation starts.  But I will stay strong, I am here for him, I will NOT have it any other way.  I will make it through nomatter what we go through this week.

Sunday - A visit from Mackenzie's family and Alec. Tony got up and walked around after he got his does of Alec.  Followed by two very excited 9 and 6 year olds that missed their mommy and daddy so much.  Dinner in the cafeteria and evening coffee in Starbucks with my dad and mom and hot chocolate for the lil A's.  Tears and hugs when its time to say good bye...cause this sure as heck never gets easier.

Monday - Day 5, third sheet change, the blankets are still in the same cabinet, the cups and ice chips are around the corner from the nurses station, and now we get smiles and cheers on the 2nd lap around the floor.  Then the miracle we needed...Tony POOPED!!  It took a few days, but it finally happened.  The colon is working and we are closer to going home.

Tuesday - A childhood friend surprises Tony.  Broin came by and made Tony get up and walk 3 laps.  He is here to push and encourage so I can take a break.  Seeing his friends perked Tony up and makes the journey just a little bit easier and worth it.

Wed - MOVING DAY!!  We got moved to a bigger room cause our toilet was messed up...but does the shower work?  Its so important that I get my daily showers.

Thursday - More visits from another childhood friends and former co-workers.  Frank and Jim came by along with another dose of Alec.  More laps around the floor.  IV's are slowly being disconnected, home meds are being introduced.  Mood swings are in full force and I'm excited that my love is FINALLY ready to get the hell up outta here!! :)

By Friday we are discussing discharge to be home in time for our baby's football games and Mother's Day?  Tony is able to keep food down, just need to get on the protein and high calorie diet.  Too easy, this isn't our first rodeo.  Pack up, time for discharge ready to go...one final night in the recliner.  One more time to the familiar cabinet, one more night in this room, one more walk through the halls.

Saturday Morning - Dr. Pappas orders vaccines unexpectedly, delaying discharge a couple of hours, I thought one more walk through the halls, one more visit to Starbucks, one more story being seen by the walls its time to go home and surprise our babies!!!  :)

Finally, happiness is Duke in our rear view mirror...only to have us return...again *CRY*