Progress

Well, it's been 2 days since surgery and Jim is making progress. His catheter was removed and he's been able to pee. I know...more information than you probably wanted but it was a struggle, mainly because every time he tried a nurse would knock on the door for one reason or another just as he was about to go and BAM! Flow staunched. When I left him yesterday, they were about to recath him but alas, the doctor came in and said he was fine...no need. 

Additionally, they've moved him up from a clear liquid diet to a soft diet which means he can have yogurt and ice cream and oatmeal if he wants it. I'm trying to get him to push himself a little with this because he needs the sustenance to get stronger so he can come home. The problem is, he's just not hungry. He'll get there though. His guts have started moving again - meaning his digestive tract is doing what it needs to do so that's good. 

Jim's pain is still at a 5 (where it was yesterday) and he's still on the PCA pump for morphine but he said it is getting better. The problem this morning was he finally managed to cough and clear his throat/lungs (this has been something that's resulted from the radiation last year that he hasn't been able to do since surgery) and it hurt him a lot. 

All in all though, Jim's a trooper and really doing well. I'll say the biggest frustration for him is the constant stream of nurses and nutritionists and random people that come in his room throughout the day and night. Plus all the beeping of machines. He's on oxygen (because of the morphine) and it impedes his eating so when he wants to eat, he has to move the oxygen off his nose and then alarms start sounding. Also, he's considered a "fall risk" so if he shifts in his chair a certain way, really loud alarms go off and about 3 nurses come running. I'm hoping that goes away soon for his and their sake. Truthfully though with all the annoyances, he's being a good patient and grateful for all their help. For now. I'd say in a couple days he may just blow his top. 

I'm not sure when Jim will get released. As of now, I'd be surprised if it was before Sunday. He still has a drain in and it's still draining a fair amount, or it was yesterday. The doctor said she'd like that out before he goes home so we'll see. I'm hoping for a Sunday release but who knows. 

Today I'll head down around the same time - 11:00 or 11:30 - stay for a few hours and then come home to be with the boys. I've done my yoga this morning (my body is sore from yesterday but a good sore and I feel like it's going to really help my shoulder get back to normal) and I've eaten breakfast and after this, I'll go walk the dogs. It's miserable out there again and Scout hasn't eaten so I'm guessing his stamina is not going to be very high. I'll be lucky to get 2 miles out of him. Little turkey. 

Dinner tonight will be leftover chicken and brussel sprouts that I did last night in the air fryer (in a sweet chili sauce). It was delicious!  

And that's all I've got. Better get out there and walk before the heat of the day really ramps up. It's disgusting out there though and it really makes me look forward and yearn for fall. K - happy Thursday! Later!