Recovering

Stephanie and I spent the night in the after surgery waiting room. The chairs were less than adequate for sleeping, but we managed to pull two chairs together and make it work. Jayna was in checking on Steve every hour or so. Really he did very well - the pain medicine kept him pretty sedated.

Yesterday flew by as we witnessed Stephen's initial recovery from open heart surgery. They did get him out of bed to sit in a chair. The nurse told him that they were going to get him out of bed 3 times today for about an hour each time he would sit. After they got him in his chair and he experienced the tremendous pain in the move, Steve suggested that he just sit there for 3 hours and forget the getting in and out. The nurse laughed and said - sure that was fine with her knowing full well that his suggestion was impossible. Steve was very funny as he sat there for the first 5 minutes saying "hey, this isn't half bad - I think I'm going to make it." Stephanie and I were very encouraged thinking "wow - Dad looks good". About 10 minutes into the "sit" - he couldn't focus, then nausea, then heaving, then shallow breathing, then begging to be put back to bed - 15 minutes into the experience! So much for three hours.

The second time did not go any better and the third - well, they decided to not even try. Stephen has begun having involuntary musclespasms and jerking. Last evening the doctor suggested that Stephen is not breathing deep enough, thus not getting enough oxygen. Steve is trying to be so strong and not a big baby so he has been refusing to take much pain medication. The nurses upped his pain medicine so he would breathe deeper. Hopefully that will help.

The day was long and quite boring. The family could only come in at 10:00; at 2:00 and at 7:00. So there was alot of sitting around with the realization that the rest of the stay would be similarly boring. We arranged a flight home (North Carolina) for Stephanie - she left around 8:30 last evening. Sara Jayne will be leaving in the morning for Jacksonville Florida. Sara is driving the entire way with 2 babies in the car - those of you who are praying for/with us, that is my prayer request for the day - for protection of this family while on the road. Jayna went to Jason's house for the night as they gave Steve a sedative to help him sleep.

It is now Saturday morning November 1. Dr. Coffey just came in and told us that they were going to remove his drainage tubes, catheter and some of his IV's. Later this morning they would remove him from ICU and put us in a room with more privacy and comforts. They even suggested that Steve would be walking around the ward some tonight.

I am very much aware that Stephen is on the mend. Please know that it has brought me great comfort just knowing that all of you were praying and keeping updated on Steve's progress. I'm sure from now on, it is just going to be the daily mundane routine of getting better. I promised the girls that I would keep this blog updated for them. I know the prayer request will be remain the same - just keep on praying for healing and strength. I'm doing great - I am sleeping well and gratefully watching Steve get stronger every moment.