Time to recover

Hello everyone,

I have been telling Brock for the last 24 hours that I need to get something out to you. I know some of you are wondering.

We were both so happy to arrive home on Sunday. Minutes after arriving, along come our daughter and son-in-law with the 2 grandkids to put up a welcome home banner for Grandpa. They couldn't believe we were home already. We had a nice short visit.

When we left the hospital we had a surprise. The discharge nurse had a lot of written instructions and was going over everything. We were shocked when she said "diet as tolerated". We had no idea he would be able to eat whatever he felt like eating. Before surgery, we had the idea he would only tube feed for weeks while his body healed. Not so! He ate pudding, yogurt and broth, but got brave and had saltines with it! He's also drinking juices.

Later in the afternoon, home health care came by to teach us how to use the tube feed equipment that was delivered by another company. It was quite tiring as it took a couple of hours. Brock was set up to have the pump running from 6 pm to 8 am. The food is a lot like ensure (if anyone is familiar with that). Just really good nutrition. Well, he couldn't sleep much the first night. He says it makes him feel full and he couldn't get comfortable. Every time I woke up, there was Brock just standing there. It was a long night. We ended up turning it off 3 hours early. It's easy to use, and all I have to do is flush the tube with tap water. (I feel like a nurse. :) The tube actually was surgically implanted in his intestine, not his stomach.

On Monday we were both tired from not sleeping the night before, but did manage to take one walk outside and one ride in the car. I went grocery shopping and also picked up Motrin so we could get him off the strong pain meds that just don't agree with him. We both slept some. He ate a lot more, including an ensure to make up for the tube feed he couldn't take in, oatmeal, frosted flakes, a donut, pudding, juice, milk, and topped it off with a Wendy's chicken to go wrap. We were so proud.

He wasn't able to lay down, only recline, so we called the home health nurse and he said that is common. Many people cannot lie flat. So throughout the day, he practiced on the couch and bed to try laying flat. Finally today he is able to lie on his left side only (not his back or right side yet.)

On Monday evening I know Brock was dreading getting the tube feed going. Well, Monday night went worse. At 12:30 a.m. he woke me up and said he couldn't take it anymore, so we turned it off.

He still didn't sleep well the rest of the night.

This morning Brock called the surgeon's office and talked to them about just eating by mouth and they gave him permission to try. We were so happy. He really feels like he can get adequate nutrition by mouth. After that he took a nap and has slept 3 times today. Praise the Lord! That's a big hurdle.

Brock wanted you all to know he was up to voting this morning and it was a good feeling. I hope all you Hoosiers got out to vote today too.

So we are taking one day at a time. Easy does it.

We haven't had many visitors yet as he just doesn't know when he's going to have to sleep. When he wears down, it comes on suddenly. We are thinking of all of you and very thankful to have you in our lives.

Matthew 28:20 And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

or as our Grandson age 4 (almost 5) says, "Jesus said, " I will be with you always.""

Our God is an AWESOME God!

Have a great week. We have a follow up appointment with the surgeon on Monday, May 12, but I'm planning to blog before then.

Love,

Chris