Moving Forward - Day 33

We both woke at 7 this morning.

Jim reminded me to put the flag out. Today is BeeJay Bunny Boy's birthday - he died two years ago and would have been 15 today - on Flag Day. So the flag is out in his honor and for our country.

My morning devotional was in Isaiah 61:10, but God led me to Isaiah 62:10 --

"Go through,
Go through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people;
Build up,
Build up the highway!
Take out the stones,
Lift up a banner for the peoples!" 

A most interesting verse in many ways.

One, because God has given me a book to write about the stones that lead us astray and guide us to the Rock of Jesus

Two, because it is a command to God's people, to Jim and I, to go, wherever we are, proclaim His divine word, take out the stones - the stones of darkness, of fleshly pursuits, to encourage, to show the way of Christ to all.

When I called Jim at 9 to share this verse, he said the doctor was in and he is to start clear liquids. He may be able to go home in a couple of days. Jim wants to go home on Tuesday.

I was up to see him between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Today's menu included 8 ounces of apple juice, a snack-size jello, and for supper, hard candy.

Jim says his pain is letting up some, making it easier for him to get around.

Recovery At Home - Day 22

Jim had apple juice this morning. Has not had any pain meds yet today .. not since 9:50 last night. Nearly 12 hours. He is trying to wean himself off them. Still very tired.

Jim slept most of the day. He didn't take any pain meds until 7:50 p.m. and that was because the J-tube was bothering him. He had jello for lunch and chicken broth for supper. He's not eating very much because the tube feedings keep him full. After supper, we drove to Barnes and Noble and HyVee and got some walking in. Also bought a package of small ice cream cups, which Jim can have beginning Friday.  Yum, yum.

Recovery At Home - Day 21

Jim had pain meds at 4:10 this morning and was back to feeling hot and clammy, hence the ceiling fan was turned on and windows opened. We got up for the day around 7.

Today is the first day of drinking clear liquids. First he did the grape juice test - I gave him a full glass of it -- all of 9 teaspoonsful, which he drank over the course of 20 minutes. If there was leakage, we were to call UIHC immediately, but alas, there wasn't/there is no leakage, so he can move on to clear liquids as tolerated.  Five to six meals a day - that's like every 2 to 3 hours he can have a little bit -- broth, popsicles, apple juice, jello, etc.

He will stay on a clear liquid diet through June 4 and if everything continues well, on June 5, he can start all liquids.

 At noon, I gave him a little lime jello in a bunny mold and he's ate half of it. Going good ... just still tired.

Since he has less post-surgery pain, now the jaw pain has resurfaced. I called Morgan & Morio Oral Surgeons to see if Jim could get in earlier for consultation and managed to move appointment up a week, from June 16 to June 9.

Jim's sister, Dianne, came for an afternoon visit, and since I had the afternoon off work, we went out for lunch at Zio Johno's -- all 3 of us, except Jim didn't have anything to eat. Food was tasty - Dianne and I were hungry. Then we stopped at the credit union to make a deposit - Dianne needed something sweet, so Jim got her a sucker... LOL. Then on to St. Luke's for Jim's chest x-ray to see if the air outside the lungs has resolved itself, and lastly, we came home. Not an exciting afternoon, but we got lots of visiting done inbetween all the activity.

It's after 5 p.m. now and Jim is having a tiny glass of apple juice. A little bit later we plan to take a walk up or down the street.