You Know It's Been Too Long When...

It's been great to be out of the hospital. Yesterday, Nate got to sleep in until 9 a.m.! The only trouble was that his morning meds were a little late so he didn't feel too hot. We did better last night. It's so nice to sleep by Nate again. We have two twin beds in our room, so I pushed them together before he came home so we could at least be a little closer. Nate's enjoyed being able to lay flat, on a regular bed as well.

He was sent home with orders for a visiting nurse to come see him here at the Hope Lodge. She checks his wounds, does an assessment, and brings any supplies we need. It's a little bit of a relief to have another pair of eyes on him. We have our first post-op appointment with Dr. Lambert Monday morning at 11:00. We'll get a bonus visit at church tomorrow if Nate feels up to going! We would, of course, love to hear that she's going to let us go home. But, at this point we just hope for steady progress. He has a long recovery ahead of him, and has gone through a lot of trauma.

Looking back over the last month is a little overwhelming. In some ways it all seems like a blur, yet there are so many specific moments that stand out. There is something about consistently feeling raw emotion that heightens your awareness, and wears you out at the same time. Much of the time for Nate has been lost due to sedation and the medication he's been on. However, some of the times he does recount are the times he wishes he could forget.

He's been having me remind him of the specific timeline, and it's made me realize that we've measured our time here in some pretty quirky ways. I decided to list some of the events and milestones of the last month and here's what I came up with.

You know it's been too long when:

You use up a whole tube of toothpaste in one trip

You haven't had anything besides ice chips for 12 days

You take 2 ambulance rides

# 2

# 1

You've had to fill the rental car up two times, and you've only driven to the hospital and back (6 miles round trip)

All the nurses know you by name

You get admitted to the same floor 4 different times, and stay in 3 different rooms

Nate "exercising" his lungs with the sprirometer

You've collected 3 incentive spirometers

You haven't worn shoes in 16 days

The clerk in the ICU recognizes your silhouette in the ICU door so you don't have to call ahead to get in anymore

You've had 3 surgeries in 6 days

The food service lady brings an extra tray whenever there is one left over

Your feet haven't touched the floor in 8 days

Nate and Ali, our favorite PCA

Your lunch meat goes bad before you even open it

Your favorite PCA (Personal Care Assistant) went on vacation for 2 full weeks and you were still there when she got back 

You use up a whole can of shaving cream

You have to extend your 30 day car rental

You haven't sat up or even rolled over for 7 days

Dr. Lambert performed all 4 surgeries

You don't have to use your Garmin to get around anymore

You've had 4 major surgeries in 20 days

You stay in the same hospital room two different times, and on two different floors

You have to renew your prescriptions

You are on a first name basis with the doctors, residents, and medical students

Nate and Jim (Dr. Carroll), Chief Resident Surgery

The nurses know that you're always cold and bring you an extra blanket

 

You haven't worn your own clothes in 14 consecutive days

You get discharged from the hospital 3 times

The nurses know exactly where you want your pillows packed around your body, and they know that you need five of them to sleep comfortably

52 of the 100 staples

You've had 100 staples in your belly, 2 different times (52 and 48)  

You've had 8 different IV sites, and a PIC line, not including the Power Port you came with

You get on the local Relief Society President's "list"

You haven't had any food in 13 days

You haven't worn your own clothes for 23 total days

You've stayed in 3 different ICU rooms

You have "groupies" who cheer you on by name as you walk down the hall

Nate and Katie

You know which rooms have the best electrical outlets (Genn and Nancy will get that one)

Your favorite nurse was 36 weeks pregnant when you met her and she delivered her baby 2 weeks ago, only 5 days early

You know where at least 4 Dunkin' Donuts are located

You've been to church 5 times

You know just where to stand so the ICU camera can't see you changing into your PJ's

Your Facebook timeline doesn't go back further than this "event"

You start measuring days in "Post-Op Days"

You're starting to get a Massachusetts accent

Skinny Nate at the Hope Lodge July 21

You end up with 6 of those pink hospital basins

You can drive straight to Target, CVS, and Walgreen's

You've lost 44 pounds

You've slept in a chair for 19 out of 25 days

You start stealing soap from the hospital

You've received 7 packages in the mail

You've started and finished a complete billing cycle on your credit card

HIPEC surgery...14 longest hours of 

my life

You've spent 23 hours in surgery

You've spent 23 hours in the surgical waiting room

You haven't seen your kids for 37 days

Emma, Sam, Sydney, and Seth...we miss you!

That is when you know it's been too long!