Day 1 - November 24: Surgery Day
The truth is that Mom had bronchitis. She was recovering, but I could still hear her coughing at night. She had told the surgical staff, but I think she exaggerated a little bit on how “well” she was. I couldn’t fault her though; our friend Greg was coming all the way from Arizona to help me take care of her (though I had told Mom that wasn’t necessary) and she had already gone through an approval process for her work that seemed to make her real grumpy.
My beloved cousin’s from my Dad’s side of the family were in town. I was worried to leave her but we both knew from the Internet research she was likely to be sleepy and boring for the next few days. She told me to go off and have fun with my cousins. Besides, they don’t give driver’s licenses to four year olds, so our Au Pair Gift promised me she would drive Mom to the hospital and back for me, since Greg wouldn’t arrive until Thursday.
Mom was doing pretty good not coughing but the nurses laced her IV with antibiotic just in case. Mom told me that she didn’t remember the surgery at all; which is good I guess. She was having “drainage.” What is that? Blood and guck I guess. So they decided to keep her overnight at the hospital (she was supposed to go home that afternoon). They told her that she had drainage tubes in her neck being held in place by safety pins of all things. I asked her to show me but she said no. I guess she was worried I’d be scared. I’m pretty brave! I can handle FrankenMommy! Well…maybe I’d cry…I don’t know! She still hasn’t shown me.
Anyway, the nurses had to change her dressing several times. Mom’s a superhero you know so she wasn’t complaining of pain. They wanted her to eat and drink but she kept falling asleep. She drank a little water and they found her some Italian Ice. They were trying to push Jello, but Mom HATES Jello. Then finally the nurse talked her into a pain shot. Ironically, Mom’s throat didn’t hurt as much as her head and back. She thought the headache was caffeine withdrawal. I make my Mom coffee every morning you know! And she said she couldn’t have it before the surgery. We found out later that headaches after the surgery are pretty common. And the nurses did let her trade out some water for a cup of coffee, which she drank black because they brought her powdered creamer which she hates and didn’t really have the coordination to handle that at the time. I would have brought her MILK! Her back probably hurt because they had her on her back so long. Mom doesn’t like to sleep on her back. In addition to being a superhero, Mom’s a Princess! Greg says she’s “curvy” that must be good, because my Mom is beautiful. Mom had three or four pain shots after that.
The nurses told Mom that the stitching on her neck was excellent (Mom’s surgeon does “cosmetic surgery”…I have no idea what that means but it’s supposed to be good). So once the cut on her neck heals she’ll be PrincessMommy with no Frankenstein (that’s a monster).
Day 2 - November 25: Home Coming
The next morning the Nurses bribed Mommy. They said she could go home if she ate breakfast. She had a huge cup of coffee with vanilla creamer and then she ate an entire cheese omelet with some apple juice. She was able to call Grandma C. Her voice sounds pretty normal! A little quiet but otherwise the same. She wanted to put the Thanksgiving turkey out to defrost and then she just hung out watching TV. She decided to take Advil rather than the extra strength Tylenol with codeine…there are adventures with codeine later. Showering was difficult. The nurse had told her not to get the bandaging wet, which her long hair made a bit difficult.
Day 3 - November 26: Thanksgiving Day
Mom loves Thanksgiving and she loves to cook. She was a little sore in the morning, but with a little Advil she was happily stuffing the turkey. She was resting when my Dad brought me home. She said she looked like a monster but to me she looked beautiful! Her bandage was really big. Later I went with Gift, our Au Pair to pick up Greg at the airport and when we got back, the kitchen smelled like pumpkin pie and Mom had made sweet potato soufflé! Greg made the mashed potatoes and the Waldorf salad for her. Then we ate; and it was DELICIOUS!!! And I’ve decided that mashed potatoes are okay as long as Greg makes them. I had three pieces of pumpkin pie. Mom was happily enjoying the dinner. She didn’t eat as much as she usually does at Thanksgiving, but she was able to swallow without much pain.
Day 4 - November 27: Recovery Rebound
Mom forgets that even though she is a superhero, she is still human. And one that has a huge hole in her neck! The next morning she was wiped out. She was pretty sore and decided to try the codeine…which knocked her completely on her can. We put her on the couch with Sake Kitty and came home 4 hours later to find her in the very same place. Gift and I took Greg to Wal-Mart to experience “Black Friday…” Whoa!
The rest was just what she needed though she perked right up after that and ate some more turkey dinner and pumpkin pie with us. Greg bought some more bandages for Mom. She was told to change the dressing were it to get…icky. Greg helps her change it in the morning, later in the afternoon and then after her shower before she goes to bed. The drainage is not too bad…or so she says…she still won’t show me. Apparently, Greg took a picture. Why my public gets to see it and not me I’ll never know. Greg was determined to find a better surgical tape too. The tape that the nurses gave her from the hospital is tearing up Mom’s skin! It hurts her to pull it off! And she’s got little scabies where the tape has been. I hope Greg succeed, I’ll let you know.
