Fresh Air

If you read the previous blog, I'm sure you're waiting on pins and needles to find out what happened with me and the nurse. Well, unfortunately there was no ass kicking to be had today. She got a little snippy at first, but then was perfectly pleasant the rest of the day. I think that it may have just been Jerid's mood. He didn't sleep well at all last night so he was tired and crabby. He hadn't even been out of bed yet, witch made me feel really guilty for coming in so late. 4:00 PM and and he hadn't cleaned himself up or walked or anything. He told the nurse that he was waiting for me to come and motivate him. Not that he can't do it without me. I think he really was just very tired.

So I immediately got him up and we went for a walk. A fairly long one... 4 trips up and down the hall and a loop. Not too shabby.

Then guess what we did?? WE WENT OUTSIDE! Yesterday the lung coordinator said that we could. When I told the nurse, that's when she got snippy. I said "we need a wheelchair because they said that I could take Jerid outside". She said "who's they?" and I said "Kevin Carney" and she said "Oh." She said that she would call the doctor and look into it. 10 minutes later she was back with a wheelchair. Uh huh. That's what I thought.

So for the first time in 21 days, Jerid left his room and we went outside. I don't think that he realized how much he needed and missed it until we got out there. It was a perfect summer day. Not too hot with a beautiful breeze. For a while, we just sat under a tree (me on a bench and him in the chair) where the sunlight just barely filtered through. We watched squirrels playing and birds and people walking by. It wasn't very busy since it was the weekend. Then I pushed him all over the place. Boy did I get a workout! We were outside for about an hour and a half and then went in because Jerid had to pee. It was just what the doctor ordered. (The outside, not the pee.) I really meant to take a picture of Jerid sitting outside, but forgot to. But we did take a picture of this squirrel laying flat on his belly. I'm not sure what he was doing, but he got up after a bit so he was OK.

When we got back to the room I was starving, and after one look at the dinner tray that was waiting, we ordered Chinese. Mmmmm.... some of the best I ever had. We both stuffed ourselves.

Jerid was super duper tired by this point, but I wouldn't let him out of another walk. So off we went. As we were strolling along the halls, I happened to glance in a room. A man was sitting in his chair facing the door with just his gown on and his legs spread. Before I could avert my eyes... I saw it... the whole kit and kaboodle. And I believe he's having the same swelling problem as Jerid. If only I could erase it from my mind. The only thing I could do was save others so I grabbed a nurse that I really like and said "Erin! You better close his curtain!" She did and thanked me several times. What can I say? I'm a hero.

By then, Jerid was exhausted. I spoke with the night nurse, and they're giving him a sleeping pill tonight. Along with 4mg. of Dillaudid every 3 hours. And she was going to do his dressing changes before he went to sleep.Hopefully he'll get some much needed sleep.

Also, Jerid's creatinine level went down! From a 6.1 to a 5.3. This is very good! And since all of his other levels are good, he may get to come home in the middle of next week. Fingers crossed!

Well, I'd love to chat more, but I've got a date. No, not with the man down the hall from Jerid. With an almost seventeen year old stud who wears round glasses and rides a broom. Actually, Ron's more my type. Happy reading to all the HP fans!