Day 4 - Post Surgery

Welcome back!

Here's a picture of Jim with his only smile of the day. As you can see, he's in the early stages of growing his post surgery goatee! This is the only time we see Jim with facial hair (except for the scattered patches that he misses each day). I think there's going to be a little more gray in it compared to the one he grew for us five years ago. Be sure to give him a bad time about that!

I haven't gotten much exercise other than the four times a day that I take the four flights of stairs to his room, but he had me hopping today. He was absolutely furious with me when I came into the room this morning. I decided to sleep in an extra half hour and he took me to task for it! He actually had his nurse, Carlos, call me as I was walking down the hall to his room. He proceeded to chew me out and even called me the "B" word, which is a HUGE mistake at our house -- he's lucky I didn't club him right then and there! He was being so mean to me and kept telling me to leave, so I went and sat on the couch until he settled down. Eventually, he told me about a bad dream that he had where he was surrounded by dead people and couldn't move to get away. That explained things. I think that he woke up very scared from this dream and, when I wasn't there, he kind of freaked out. He was a little more disoriented at first but gradually got more clear headed. His speech was a also more slurry, but he didn't seem quite as exhausted today. He's still very weak, though, and frustrated with how minimally he can move. He went through this last time, but he was on a respirator then, so he wasn't able to verbalize his frustrations and pain as much then. I have to keep reminding him (and myself) that he is still ahead on his progress compared to his surgery five years ago.

Because of his ability to verbalize, he is being very bossy. He kept telling me to sit down because I was making him nervous, but as soon as I would, he'd ask me to get him something or do something for him. Then he would tell me to sit down again. This went on all day. After awhile, I was making myself nervous! He showed a little more sense of humor today, but it definitely had a darker edge to it. He still says that he hasn't decided whether to keep me around or not, but then he tells me he's just kidding. He would do the same thing after flipping me the bird. He's starting to get on my nerves!

We are both a little concerned about his lack of motor skills. I remember this from last time, but I still would like some reassurance that he hasn't suffered a stroke. The doctors don't think that he has -- they just think that his weakness from the aspiration has increased the intensity and that those will fade as he gets stronger. They did agree to do another CT scan for me tomorrow morning, just to set me at ease and because it's been a few days since he had one. Hopefully, that will come out as expected. I do think that he was stronger and that his motor skills improved a little as the day went on. The physical therapist came in to work with him, and he wanted to do the exercises she gave him a couple of times more during the day. No one can say he isn't trying his hardest! He got up in his chair again but was really happy to get put back to bed. His chest sounded much clearer, but they were having trouble getting rid of the rattle tonight, so I think they may be doing a deeper bronchial suction on him later, if they can't clear him up. He really needs that cough to come back.

Dr. Fiorella came up to see us and let us know how the 'pipeline gentleman' was doing. He said that he had some up and down issues that they were dealing with, but it wasn't unexpected -- just a little disappointing after the excitement yesterday; but the gentleman is still holding his own, and he'll continue to try to keep us posted. I'm sure I don't need to ask you all to continue to pray for this very special gentleman. Jim is very frustrated that he can't get a timeframe from the doctors on his treatment. He wants all the answers now, and he's just not going to be able to get them. He's very impatient about going home, although he's no where near ready. He just needs to relax and let his body take the lead over his mind -- easy to say, but hard to do. Dr. Fiorella thinks he'll be hospitalized about another ten days, which puts us at the three week mark that I pretty much expected from our trip to Phoenix last time. I'm not booking any airline tickets home yet!

I'm pretty sure this is the earliest I have posted my entries yet -- it's about 9:30pm. I promised Jimmy I would get in earlier tomorrow morning (I don't want to get chewed out again), so I'm going to go right to bed and start catching up on my lost sleep. I hope he has an easier night, despite the extra suctioning treatments he will probably be receiving. Please pray for that darn cough to recover and for his pain to be better. He wanted me to tell you all that his pain is the "worst ever, and that it really sucks!" I'm sure you would never have guessed that. I just keep reminding him at the end of each day that he's one more day closer to getting well. Thank you so much for the continued prayers and support. They are much appreciated by us both!

Love, Krissy

P.S. I've been reading him your blog comments, emails, text messages, and facebook walls. He really enjoys that and is even starting to respond to them himself through dictation. I have a blackberry, so it allows me to receive them throughout the day. Thanks for that also!