Chicken and Waffles...

So...enough is enough.  We are ready to J E T outta here.  We have made great progress today.  TPN off.  Morphine discontinued.  Zofran not needed.  He is now on Lortab liquid which manages his pain much better.  He would write his own orders if he could.  He took control of the dry erase board at the nurse's station today and wrote DC next to his name.  Dr. Saed, along with the other nurses, were quite entertained. 

We started the Chicken and Waffles about 1 o'clock today.  They are slowly increasing how much he gets every 2 hours.  His goal is 80 cc/hr.  We are at 50 cc without any adverse effects.  We both had a nap today...all I needed was a little ESPN to lull me asleep.  Once we were awake for the second time today...he really focused on drinking liquids.  He has had 9 ounces without difficulty.  Yea!  He has figured out that Crystal Light Lemonade and Strawberry Kiwi makes him gag.  His drink of choice beyond Lortab of course,  is water and red Powerade. 

We are so close to going home.  He is beside himself.  I on the other hand am thoroughly enjoying eating whatever junk I can get my hands on.  My appeal to his physcians will involve the effects this hospital stay has had upon my waistline.  24 hour diet recall includes...creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole, loaded mashed potatoes, trail mix, grapes, cheddar cheese, spicy monterey jack cheese, hummus, pita chips, cajun snack mix, peanut M&Ms, Snickers, Crystal Light in gag flavors, water, flat diet coke (I was desperate), a Grande Nonfat 2 Equal Hazelnut Latte, and Hubba Bubba.  Please let us go home so I can stand in front of my freezer and refrigerator and gawk at the cool sustenance that awaits me.  I know...I know...its not about me.  Robert can't eat anything.  How selfish am I to gripe about food? 

So lets talk about the couch that Darleen and I have slept on for 2 weeks.  Robert sat on it today for the first time.  He said it was equivalent to his at home.  I don't miss that one either.  It is quite deceiving actually.  It looks perfectly normal until you sit in it and roll on to your neighbor...or look underneath and see the springs busting out of the bottom.  The truth is...we would sleep on the floor if we had to...to support Robert...but lets get this show on the road.  That is all.

--Jaime