coming home and an apology

	souvenirs for the kiddos….
	thank you, microsoft
	thank you, friends
	thanks, jack, mackenzie, kelly, mandy, and any other giver. lovely.

Last night around 6:45 p.m., we arrived back home.  Since our kids were still doing well (or rather since our generous friends were still willing to keep them), we opted not to tell them we’re home yet so don’t ruin it for us!   Hopefully, i’ll be feeling awesome by this afternoon and i’ll be able to welcome them back with full gusto. 

it was really nice to come home to a clean, laundry done, bed-made, quiet house.  i know we didn’t leave it this way so thanks everyone.  i’ve only seen the entry and my bedroom so far, but damon assures me the whole house looks great. 

my nurse, DAT, paid me the highest compliment (he thought) when he told me my “bowels are very thunderous” as he listened to my abdomen with a stethoscope.  he was so excited about this news.  yay for thunderous bowels.

i was also given a complimentary flu shot upon my discharge just so they could poke me one more time (that makes 12 holes in my arms) and give me one more place to ache. 

my final blow before leaving the hospital last night was that i couldn’t button my pants because my tummy is so swollen.  that was a real treat to pull a pregnancy trick and have to use a rubber band around the button and through the button-hole to secure my pants.  not so awesome. 

coming home was actually quite hard for me.  i cried quite a bit because of the pain.  and damon’s repeated “it’s just pain, honey.  just keep walking” [totally sounds like something my dad would say] didn’t buoy my spirits at all.  of course, nothing can really buoy my spirits when i’m in that much pain.  “just pain” sucks.  the ultrasound results we were waiting for last night confirmed that there is some fluid still in my abdomen (either a blood clot or bile) and that is what is causing the increased pain and sensitivity to my abdomen.  my doctor assured me these things would dissolve back into my body with time, but that it would be pretty painful for several days.  i’ve learned i need to take my meds round the clock, no matter how i’m feeling so that i don’t allow the pain to overwhelm me.  so i’m a full-on druggie for now. 

i was in bed by 6:48 last night and, aside from a few trips to the bathroom, i did pretty well.  though, i am afraid to get out of bed because that’s when my abdomen hurts the most and once i’ve started that pain, there’s no going back.  i’m definitely getting better and stronger.  can’t wait to feel like my old, happy self again.

thanks for all your support.

and…

to my little brother, pepper:

remember years and years ago (probably 20 or something?) when you had your appendix removed and you were still recovering?  you were laying on the couch, having people wait on you, and i was tired of all the attention you were getting.  you asked for a pillow and i threw it to you- landed right on your abdomen.  sorry.

totally thought you were being the biggest baby when that made you wince in pain and catch your breath- and maybe even cry. 

now i know better.

i’m truly sorry. 

Technorati Tags: pain,pepper