Good Morning, Sunshine

I arrived this morning to find the most handsome, droppy-eyed guy on the planet. The nurse was fortunately in his room, so I was able to get a small download of overnight happenings. I also saw the chief resident when I walked down the hallway, he said he slept, didn’t look like it. 

Justin is very sleepy, but it’s SO nice to have him off the ventilator the morning after surgery and talking and yes, complaining. Always a good sign. 

His epidural is managing pain VERY well, which is fantastic and according to the pain team, he’s on a super low dose. Let’s hope that pesky catheter stays put! He has an NG tube, which is pumping his stomach bile up and out since his bowels are still snoozing from being handled yesterday. This is Justin’s biggest gripe. Having that tube up his nose and down the back of his throat makes him crazy. Having a sensitive gag reflex doesn’t help either. He also has two drainage tubes in his abdomen to relieve excess fluid and left-over chemo. Because of the tumor removal on his bladder, he’ll keep his “foley” for about a week. The doc wants that incision to get a good chance to heal before applying pressure.

Unfortunately, I missed the surgical team this morning (thanks Visiting Hours manufactured from COVID precautions, guess the virus is more transmittable during the night) so I’ve already had a slight spat with one of the residents. Listen, I am Justin’s advocate, if they don’t have time/patience to answer my questions and get defensive when I call their bs, maybe this field isn’t their best option. I have every right to know, understand, and dis/approve any treatment. I think everything is straightened out, all the feathers are smoothed, but guess what, they changed the treatment after “further discussion.” So yeah, I win. 

My gift from Justin today, he called me a “smarty pants.” Might be a tad back-handed, but I beamed regardless. His nurse is a gem, we got lucky, hope she’s day 1 of 3.

We’ll try to get Justin to the chair this afternoon … he’s already propagating his interpretation from the doctor this morning that he could have “the day off to just rest,” but nobody is buying it. Lol! I’ll let him sleep for the next hour, then let the games begin!

Talk at you this evening! xo

Christina