Post-Op

October 9, 2004

Home at last! We rolled into town around 4:30 this afternoon.

October 8, 2004

Well, we are still in Houston. Erin's drain is still leaking a little. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

I got up very early this morning and drove in to CS to teach. My students have been so gracious and patient with my unplanned absence this week. This is the first time in all the times Erin has spent in the hospital (more than 80 days total) that I have left her all day to do something else. I left her in the able hands of her dad and Aunt Kat. I think they had a great time without me. Nico and Adam slipped over from Bryan with their mom Elaine, which really pumped up the party. I think there was a lot of puzzle working and game playing. Nico and Adam's dad, Mark, kept me company on my drive back to Houston so that Elaine wouldn't have to drive back alone after a very long day. Thanks, Mark.

When Erin's doctor was unable to release us from the hospital this evening, we asked for a pass. He gave us four hours away from the IV pole (and the hospital), so we all had a great meal at the Marriot and really enjoyed the time away. We got an additional unexpected surprise when we returned and the nurse told us that we didn't have to hook back up.

No news yet on pathology.

October 7, 2004

Well, it's still raining in Houston, not that it affects us too much, but it does make being away from our friends and family a little more drearier.

Yesterday after I posted, Erin had visitors. Mrs. Jacques (Erin's kindergarten teacher) and her daughter Katie dropped by unexpectedly, bringing books and good cheer. Soon after they left, Erin's school buddy and Knight teammate, Jackson, and his mom Shirlene arrived bearing a variety of goodies. Thanks especially to Mrs. Stafford's second grade class who practiced the right way to write letters by writing letters to Erin wishing her a quick recovery and telling her what they were studying in class. Thanks also to the awesome Mrs. Honea for organizing Erin's classmates to send the most beautiful get well cards! Mrs. Honea has also let some of Erin's classmates write e-greetings to her which is so uplifting for Erin. She feels like she is not even really missing much of school because everyone is keeping her so well informed. Jackson's cousin, Bailey, also sent a cute letter with an even cuter picture of herself. We are really adding to the decorations in the hospital room! Shirlene also brought my students exams from Monday. I guess I am going to have to cut back on the bon bons and champagne and get to work on some grading.

Last night we watched Anne (with an "e") of Green Gables, which is a very good and veeery long movie. We have also made progress on James and the Giant Peach. They are currently floating in the ocean about to be eaten by sharks. I don't know if we can stand the excitement. The jigsaw puzzle is coming along, although we are looking forward for Aunt Kat to arrive this evening so we can make real progress. She is such a puzzler.

Erin's appetite has finally picked up the pace, although it is not yet to its regular level. The pain management doctors DC'd (discontinued) Erin's personal morphine pump this morning. She hadn't used it much--just precautionarily before moving around or when she had gotten very stiff after being in the same position too long. Yesterday, she just used it once--right before her dressing change (not that it helped much. Erin has very sensitive skin and the tape really grabs hold of her skin and refuses to let go. Afterward, it required a trip to the gift store to make amends.). Anyway, getting exclusively on oral pain medication is one step closer to discharge. The only other (major) hurdle is the wound drain. We are headed in the right direction, but not close enough to slip it out yet. We are still hoping for the weekend, and the doctor confirms that that is what he has in mind, too. For you scientists out there--no path report yet.

Some of you have asked about the playroom. The 11th floor playroom has been open during the day, and we have played there some. It not quite as happening a place as the 9th floor playroom, and we have plenty of stuff to do in the room (thanks to all of our many friends who keep us well supplied).

We all really miss Davis and Moo (and Luke, Uma, and Kitty Muffin), and they miss us too. We are all out of practice on this hospitalization scene and look forward to all being back together.

October 6, 2004

Erin has begun to paper her hospital walls with the greeting you are sending. Thank you so much. It really brightens her day! We watched the debate together last night, though I have to say that neither VP candidate had exciting enough things to say to keep her awake. Last night went more smoothly than Monday night so we are all more rested today.

Erin's clinic nurses stopped by this morning for a visit and loved the fairy house she was building with materials the wonderful Mrs. Honea (Erin's teacher) sent to Houston with us. This was solace through work--she did not win the prize in the Radio Lollipop craft contest last night.

Erin's drain continues to, well, drain. This means she has to continue IV antibiotics, which in turn means she has to stay connected to an IV pole. The drainage does appear to be decreasing gradually. Erin had both physical therapy and occupational therapy this morning, which went well despite the fact that they interrupted the important work (fairy house constuction) Erin was doing. No word yet on what the doctor is thinking about the "go home" date nor any prelinimary pathology reports.