Waiter, check please!

You missed a spectacular site last evening. Renee and I took a road trip to the other building. The nurse transferred her IV pump and bags to a transportation trailer and I wheeled her on up to the penthouse to watch the downtown demonstration of patriotic pyrotechnics. We had a panoramic view of all of the displays booming through the skies in the Cleveland metro area. It was a fantastic spectacle. I tried to count just the professional productions and gave up at thirty.

We set up on the outdoor patio on the roof with Renee’s toes up against the glass panels protecting her from the twelve story drop. This is the highest building in the area. There is nothing to block the view of the downtown and the surrounding suburbs. It was like someone switched on the dolby surround system. We were encircled in the clamor. Our eyes did not want for stimulation. Our nostrils piqued by the burnt powder. We were in the thick of it. All of the colors lit up the sky of this foreign city highlighting the fact that we’re still not home. Renee grew uncomfortable in her chariot and we bailed out before the climax.

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Unbridled optimism is the spirit of the day. I packed everything for the trip home before leaving the hotel this morning.

The posse doctors were in early this morning. They did not pull the two staples the surgeon told them to yesterday. They forgot. Renee asked, “don’t you guys take notes?” Today they said maybe all of them can come out. They also asked Renee the big question, “Do you want to go home?” “Uh, yeah!”

They said everything is looking good. Renee’s responded well to her meals and the output from the stoma has declined to reasonable levels. BUT …. you knew there was going to be a but didn’t you? Her white blood cell count is a little bit elevated.

We learned more about white cells in December than we wanted to. This could be a sign of infection, it could be nothing more than regular post-op increase due to the incision or, as we found out with magnesium levels last week, it could just be a fluke in the testing. There is no fever or any other indication of abscess. Renee’s feeling good. She said she’s a lot better than the day we left Cleveland in December. They do have doctors and hospitals in Louisville who are quite familiar with this patient. If her best tactic for recuperation is to lie around she can do it in her own bed away from the place where she contracted her last infection.

The residents have to check with the surgeon but as of 10:45 A.M. we are cautiously optimistic that we can check out of the city by the lake sometime later today.