We're all in our Places

Mike came home from the hospital today. We were pretty sure he would be discharged today, but waited for the final word from his doctor. At 8:30 this morning, she gave her okay for him to leave the hospital. That was my cue to start disinfecting things here at home. It didn't make a lot of sense to start on that as long as I was hanging out in his hospital room, which was saturated in C diff bacteria. This morning I went over all the surfaces in the bathrooms and kitchen with bleach solution, washed all the towels and bedding, and the two quilts we use the most. It has been an all-day affair, but I just now put the last load into the washer.

He spent the afternoon downstairs next to the fire with his kitties. I was a little surprised not to find the kitties on his lap. He said Gracie had been kneading him to death, and he finally made her get down. That's okay with her because she's curled up on her little rug there next to the fire. Smitty is too lively to sit on anybody's lap for very long, but he does like his little kitty pole there...next to the fire, of course.

Before getting to the hospital, I went by the grocery store to pick up a supply of Ensure and probiotic drinks, including kombucha and kefir milk. Also, I found some one-a-day probiotic capsules that were buy one, get one free, and so I got that too. I tend to be skeptical about this kind of stuff, but in Mike's case, the science makes sense to me.

With Mike's illness being caused by a lack of good bugs in his gut, I figure these can't hurt, and they just might help. Also, to get enough calories, he is supposed to drink three of the Ensure nutrition shakes per day until he's able to tolerate "real food".

When I arrived at the hospital, his picc line had been removed and he was free of tubes for the first time in ten days. It was a good thing too because I didn't think either of us could spend even five more minutes in that hospital room. We were able to leave right away after I got there, and it sure was good to take him out into the fresh air, raining though it was.

As I have been writing this post, Mike made his way back upstairs, and I just happened to have a freshly laundered, straight-from-the-dryer flannel quilt for him to snuggle under. I'm saying he's looking pretty comfortable sitting there.

He's catching up on his TV shows and his beloved Formula 1 races. And he's out of the hospital just in a nick of time. He and Erik have been planning to attend the United States Grand Prix Formula 1 race at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, for at least a year. When things were looking darkest, we thought they might have to cancel their trip, and I know they both would have been terribly disappointed. Now it looks as if they'll get to go after all. The trip is one week from tomorrow, and so he'll have to continue his improvement. I think the promise of attending the race with his son will be a good incentive.

So that's all I know. My plan is to get back in the sewing room tomorrow. But I can't end this post without thanking all of you for your many supportive comments, healing thoughts, and prayers. It has meant a lot to all of us to know we have not been alone in this.