Day 12 (SDH+11, PAO+6): feels like 3 weeks

We're making some progress!

Matt's been motivated and has been doing a great job walking.  He's been given more Miralax and suppositories and little by little he's been making small deposits into the commode.  He feels a little better and has been getting more sleep.  He still has occasional muscle spasms that are irritating, but not painful.  

Dr Mayo's assistant came to visit us this morning.  She said he's doing an awesome job with physical therapy and is amazed at how little pain medication he's needed the last couple days.

Matt's rashes are slowly diminishing and his skin is gradually looking better.  His incisions look really good too.

Our friends, the Blackstads, came by today.  I told them it's strange being in the hospital for so long.  It's like I've started another life here.  I have a certain routine such as going for a walk two times a day to get fresh air and exercise.  I've figured out the best food to get from the cafeteria, food that balances tastiness with nutrition and often get the same thing to eat every day.  Getting Matt in and out of bed to sit on the commode or go for a walk has its own routine that takes quite a lot of time.  He's not allowed to use the muscles in his right leg, so he can't lift it or move it himself.  When he's in bed he keeps his leg in the CPM machine which helps to keep the hip from tightening up.  Also, he still wears the compression socks, all of which I put back on him and turn on. 

More Matt quotes:

• Matt was getting ready to go for a walk.  I usually follow him with the wheel chair in case he needs to sit down.  This time he asked, "Will you bring the wheel barrow?"

• Matt requested some clean socks for walking down the hall.  He asked, "Can I get some more non-stick socks, I mean, non-slip stocks?"  

We heard the word "discharge" for the first time today.  Because Matt's doing well with physical therapy and his wounds are healing well, it looks like we just need to finish emptying his abdomen of gas and then we can begin thinking about returning home.

My mom and dad brought the kids by to visit again today.  Micah really wants us to come home.  Of course we are anxious to be a whole family again.