11:00 AM

We got Mikie up in his chair, unhooked the vacuum from his NG tube for a while.  He is really sleeping hard now. We took advantage of that and shaved him and scrubbed some of the leftovers from surgery off his head. We wanted him all pretty for when Dr. Smith comes in the afternoon. The NP from neurosurgery came in to check on him.  (Her name is Dee.)  He looks good now, sleeping again. 

2 PM

Mikie looked like his stomach was bothering him again so I hooked the suction back up again.  It’s drawing off quite a bit of fluid now.  It seems that it gives him immediate relief.

4 PM

Dr. Smith and Dee came by.  He doesn’t see a reason why we can go home and finish the antibiotics at home.  Mikie has been playing most of the afternoon.  I had the DVD player going and he seemed to be enjoying the music and noise.  It really has been a blessing to stay with him today.  I must have wore him out, as he conked out around 5 just before I put him back in his bed.  Nurse BJ came in and gave him his meds and that really took him out.  Lorraine came and picked me up and we went and got some supper.  It’s 6:30 PM and we are back in the room with him and it doesn’t look like he has budged.  Lorraine and I will stay with him for a while but go home and sleep in our own beds for the night.  They took pretty good care of him last night so we will trust them with him for one more.  I’ll work tomorrow but hope that Lorraine will have him ready to check out by the time I get off.

7:00 PM

Justin and Joanna are on the way up to see us.  Mary Beth McSwain was here earlier to pay us a visit.  It’s time for shift change so we thanked the two nurses that took care of Mikie today and told them we hoped we didn’t see them when they came back after their two days off.

7:50 PM

We just finished a nice visit with Justin and Joanna.  Mikie slept the whole time.  We will probably wait until the evening nurse comes in and let her know we are leaving soon.

9: 00 PM

The vacuum pump drew off almost a litter of gastric juices off his stomach today.  Nurse Crystal is checking Mikie over now.  His J-tube is leaking a little so she is going to replace the bandage.

9:30 PM

We are going home to get some rest.