Post Op Day 7

I can't believe that one week ago today at this time we were just beginning our 14 hour vigil while Doug was in surgery! Does it seem like ages ago to anyone else?

Its amazing the progress that Doug has been able to make over the past few days! Yesterday was a very big day for him. First and foremost, he got his NG tube out! That was the tube that was down his nose into his throat, and by all accounts definitely the most annoying one! Now that the NG tube is out Doug has also started on a clear liquid diet (all the orange jello and vanilla pudding he can eat---of course he doesn't really like jello or pudding so......). We've got to start getting some food into that belly of his! :)

Another big development yesterday was walking without the help of a walker! He did several laps around the floor with only the Physical Therapist holding onto his arm lightly. This is great, and I know that he is happy he doesn't have to use it anymore. He also had his Foley catheter removed so he is now free to get up and down to use the bathroom which also gives us an excuse to get him moving around a bit! He's doing great and always is able to draw several catcalls from the nurses station when he's out for his walks!

Finally another move yesterday was that they removed his central line and switched him over to what the call a Picc line. Basically the central line was through his neck and allowed all medication, pain meds, sleep aides, etc to be injected directly into his blood stream (works faster than a regular IV). This is also where the IV nutrition is insterted. The Picc line is in his left arm so it is a lot less cumbersome for him to deal with. I was there when they both inserted the Picc line and removed the central line----anyone out there in the medical profession probably already knows but that central line was BIG! Doug and I were both like..."whoooah".

Spirits are good, Doug's hands are still bothering him but they are more burning today which Dr. Sardi says is good because it means the nerves are firing up again! Still pretty painful for the patient though. Dr. Sardi is actually performing today on another patient the same surgery that he performed on Doug a week ago and stopped in this morning before hitting the OR. My heart goes out to the family of today's surgery, we all know how hard the next 12 hours or so will be. This morning has been busy already with the Dr. stopping by and then getting Doug out of bed. Right now he's settled in for another nap after an already busy morning:).

Elizabeth has headed home to NYC to go to work today, and last night Doug's good friend Paul stopped in for a visit (he lives in Annapolis so is pretty close by). David and Amy Cooper are making their way to town today and will be here today through thursday of this week to spend some time with Doug, and then this weekend will bring lots of visitors from home and all over--Doug's brother Jason will probably head down on Friday for the day and a big group of our friends from home and a couple from Boston will be here on Saturday and Sunday. My job this weekend will partially be traffic cop to make sure the nurses don't end up kicking everyone out!

Ok well I have to get some work done this morning, just wanted to post a quick update for everyone. We miss everyone at home and can't wait to get back.

Love, Lindsey