The theme of yesterday:  ick, ick, emotional drain.  The theme of today:  Great Progress!

Yesterday was probably the most emotionally draining day that I've had since being here, and of course there have been many.  They had to do a dressing change on the VAC (vacuum assisted closure) system on his belly.  This is extremely painful for him, and he knows it...and the moment he saw the doctor come through the door "PANIC" set in.  He went beserk!   And nothing we said would calm him down.  So three, yes three rounds of "relaxation medicine" later, he was calmer but still prettty upset.  This was the first time my hubby had to step in fully and I had to step out, it was much too hard to see him like that.  The whole process was a very long one.  But the nurses here are all excellent and they took over to help as much as possible.  So the rest of the day after that was not useful because he was so "druggy" from the meds, and very very, understandably so, cranky!  They also took him off the morphine and started Tylenol with codeine.  The morphine was making him quite mean and sad.   However we were told, in the midst of emotional drain, that the prognosis was good for him getting to be discharged on Monday!  Also he go to start on regular foods yesterday, but the trama of what went on made him really not want to eat.  Also he was suffering from some very strong "air in the bowels" pains (that's a nice way to say it), so that made him very weepy and not want to eat either.

Today, thank the Lord, is a much, much, better day!  No major procedures going on, so his stress level is down.  He woke up at 7:00 begging to get out of bed because as he cried out "his legs wanted to walk."  So he's been up walking a bit and sitting up in his chair.  Also he has been taking small amounts of food and water, and we finally got things working through his intestines!  This was a big progress note.  So we were told once again that the prognosis is still good to leave tomorrow.  I'm a bit nervous because he still is pretty weak, but I know real healing with progress at home.  Also I'm a bit nervous because I'll have to be nurse for while; he will be coming home with a pic line that I will administer his medicines through every eight hours.  Also he will come home with a portable VAC system for perhaps another week that the nurses will come out and help us with.  And they will be able to remove the pic line in about two weeks.  So the road is certainly not over yet, but being at home will be so huge.  And he is making wonderful progress!!!

Thank for for your continued prayers as we transition to home.