Good days/Bad days

Today I had absolutely no energy and could barely drag myself out of bed but the docs said that is perfectly normal.  I really don't have anything to complain about since I mostly have good days.  I think I'm going to start back to work (short days at first) next week.  I miss all my work peeps!

Am I bored yet?

Not quite.  My walking increases every day - today's morning walk was 12 blocks.  Went with Jesse for registration at the High School which pretty much blew my energy for the rest of the day.  I seem to get flowers every day - lovely lovely lovely.
Friends Frances & Carlos brought homemade green enchiladas for the family dinner.  I can't tell you how appreciated it is when people bring food by!
Scar is healing well - absolutely no infection - all that antimicrobial gel I made everyone use before they came in the room seems to have paid off.

SO happy to be home!

There is NOTHING like your own bed.  Healing well, just very tired.  Even going up & down the stairs one time is an effort.  Will take my first neighborhood walk today but probably not a whole block.  Jerrilyn in from Indiana - OMG the best omelet ever this morning!

Back on the Blog!

Thank you David, for taking care of the blogging duties for the last week.
I'm lying in my hospital bed for the last time waiting to be discharged.  David & Sam have come to collect me.  Wonderful nursing & medical staff at Kaiser Sunset - can't say enough good things about them!  So happy to be going home even though I'm not even allowed to lift something as heavy as this very computer.  Sorry kids, but that means you're on laundry duty for the next 6 weeks.
Jerrilyn comes tomorrow so Sam is looking forward to M&M's for breakfast & I'm looking forward to non-hospital meals.
Won't miss the constant attention - my favorite was the nurse that woke me at 2:00 in the morning by shaking my foot for 5 minutes to say "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"  I'm sorry, did I LOOK like I needed to go to the bathroom?
Hard to believe that  a week ago I was still in the operating room.
Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers.  I'll be back on my feet in no time!

COMING HOME TODAY

WEDNESDAY 7 AM:  Just got word M is being released today. Gotta go, more later.....

JUST FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT YOU MUST GET A G-MAIL ACCOUNT...........who knew?

WANTS TO GO HOME

TUESDAY 7 PM:   Fun is fun but M is ready to go home.  Maybe tomorrow is the day.  The DR.s want certain blood thinning stability at the correct thinness. We are very close. Today was a very busy day with lots of walking, showering, and rowdy boys. Megan goes home tomorrow early and will be missed. Fingers are crossed for good readings of tonight's tests.

READY 4 HOME

SHE STAYS, WE ALL STAY

TUESDAY IS VISITING DAY

A note on a shower

There is NOTHING more glorious than a hot shower after being cut up, poked, prodded, stuck, taped, sternum broken and the general physical battering of open heart surgery.

Nothing

She's still not answering her phone!

MONDAY 1 PM: Can't go home yet! Thought today was going home day but M's blood is not yet thin enough. Otherwise M is READY for home. She is very bored & restless! I had to hide the car keys to keep her from escaping. Biggest news of the day - pacemaker out so she gets to shower (the other patients and the entire medical staff of the hospital are very appreciative). Oh & she might have snuck on here to do a little editing....

PARTY TIME IN ROOM 5787

When I showed up today M was dressed to Party:

SUNDAY  MID DAY:  Although M is feeling better and improving hourly she will be not be released yet.  We had hoped for today but...  Her blood work showed she needs a thinner blood and medical adjustments must be made.  This is not a major setback for sure.  But it will keep here in hospital until it is worked out.  With Megan in charge at the hospital I am taking a lazy morning with the kids with a hugh breakfast.  Will see M soon.  More moore to come.......

NOW IN THE HALLWAYS

SAT 2:30 PM: Another big improvement since last time. More major Tubes have been pulled and M can wander the halls unencumbered. Sister Megan is here from Mass. Her being here is a great comfort to M. Sorry but I still have the phones locked up. More soon......

Friday 9 PM: Nighttime finds M basically the same, she walked several times. John Temarkin visited this afternoon and left a collection of tabloids and M is in heaven. Paula Melis is coming to visit and spend the night. We are not leaving M here alone, the company and having an advocate seems to keep her on a fast and smooth healing program. more to come tomorrow.

Friday 5 PM Quite a day today. Most of the tubes have been removed and M is mobile. She is walking the hallway in the ward. She has been moved to the fifth floor. M is showing a little intreats in TV. A big difference from just this morning.......

RE: NEW VIEW

Dr. Op readjusts the flow

FRIDAY MORNING

9:30 AM:  Good news.  M has been moved to a recovery room and is OUT of ICU.  Many more of the machines have been removed and she is feeling ever better.  Will now attempt to attach a view photos from the last day or so.  She has been moved to room 5787.  Sorry, no flowers or calls yet.

5 PM Thursday: It's been over a day since the surgery. The rhythm of healing is sorting itself out. The pain medication and it's timing is still an issue but the hospital is working to get it right. The boys are on their way to visit and M is excited to see them. Seems like a week since she's seen them. Me too. Friend Sadia is bringing them up here and then going to spend the night & I will take boys home with me. maybe I can add some photos that can't be loaded from the Ipad. An early goodnight.....

10:30 AM big news here is pain doctor changed the meds and things look better then before. Also M skipped the clear fluids part of her diet and went straight to oatmeal. We are now waiting for lunch.

NEW VIEW

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Well that's a bust. Trying to show the view out the window from the new room. It is quite nice with palm trees and the HUGE scientology buildings across the street. The machine will not let me do that, yet.

7:30 AM & M is now in a chair! Getting better all the time

5:30 am  We all had a good night.  M slept like a baby, one hour at a time.  She got rest and is much more alert.  In a short wile we'll move to a new room.  The new room # is    3112      ,   more later

10 pm M is still woozey but doing much better. Just ate a good sized jello pellet. And is drinking water consistently. I think she will get some sleep now.

WED 6:3o PM: M gust had big forty minute nap. The good part is no pain tension while sleeping. Friend Oppie is visiting (he works across the stree) and is cheering M up.

The tube is OFF!!!!

AT ABOUT 3:45 they took out the ventilator tube.  Mel was extremely bothered by it.  She is breathing on her own. and so much more comfortable.  Yay!

Just got word. M is out of surgery and it went well. it is 1:30 now and she will be in ICU in about 30 minutes. Will give you all an update then. It will be a day or so before she is in a room. Remember no, flowers. Just good wishes. thanks, d

and... Toes as well....

The toes are for the nurses NOT for the doctors :)

The Bee keeper

Photo from a few minutes ago:

More Moore Later.........

Melissa ready for surgery !!!

For all of you out there who are wondering, already, how Melissa is doing here is a little update.

She just went in about half and hour ago with a smile on her face.

I went to pick her up this morning at 4:30am and were on our way to the hospital laughing already as she was driving her Prius, very smoothly (NOT), and made me wear  my cup of coffee instead of drinking it!

Thought I would just let everyone know that everything went smoothly this morning and her spirit was grand, as usual! :)

Will update as soon as the docs will talk to David and I.

Keep up the comments, please, as she will LOVE to read them all!!!!

Pie.

I am wonder woman!

Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers!
Love,

Melissa

Sunday bagel breakfast!

As promised....

David just sent me this pic

Prepping for Wednesday

A good weekend.  Very relaxed.  Got my haircut.

My friend Hedy said I should eat red meat before surgery (don't know if it's true but it's a good excuse) so last night we had a lovely family steak dinner.   We're having lox and bagels for Sunday breakfast - the family favorite breakfast.  Jesse and the twins are on their way to the bagel store to get fresh bagels.  Still can't believe Jesse is driving!

All I have left to do today is pack and get my rainbow nails!

See? No fear!

After getting the diagnosis I went on a wonderful day trip to Catalina with my good friends Paola and Taneetra where we went zip-lining!  SO much fun!  So heart surgery?  It's nothin!