Arrival Day of Celeste

Another long day, but a successful one. We arrived at the hospital at 8, and texted Mr. Science that he and his lovely Ms. could take their time arriving since we were already on it. He was appreciative of a little morning slack. Ms. Science had a backache and needed to work out the kinks with some exercise. We've all been sitting around on uncomfortable seating for days. Mother was already up and eating breakfast--and grouching about it. The eggs were cold. This was true. But, on the other hand, at the rate she eats, they would have been stone cold no matter how hot they were on arrival. Her oatmeal was also not warm enough, and she had no milk for it. It was in a plastic dish that looked as if it would stand up to the microwave, so I took it down the hall to the "Nutrition Station"--a room with a microwave and various things that patients can have. I heated the oatmeal and found a container of milk in the mini-fridge. She also wanted her chocolate Ensure heated. I didn't trust the bottle not to collapse in the microwave, but the nurse suggested we could put hot water in a styrofoam cup and immerse the bottle in it. This actually worked. So breakfast became slightly more palatable, and she ate most of it.

After breakfast, had a wash and brushed her teeth, and then she energetically suggested that we could take her for a walk. So we walked down the hall and back. Her heart rate only went up enough to set off the alarm very briefly. After that, she was ready for a nap. Mr. Science had arrived, so we went out in search of coffee, which was mighty scarce. One cafe was closed, and the Einstein Bros. espresso machine wasn't working. Oh the horror. I bolted half a bagel with lox on it, and we walked down the street to Angelo's, where there was a guy cleaning the grill, but no barista. Finally he showed up and gave us some very good espresso, and we coffeed up and had a rather emotional conversation about feelings and learning to deal with them after our assorted messed-up childhoods.

We hustled back to the bedside just in time to see the surgeon and PA making their rounds. The surgeon once again expressed his great satisfaction at the results--yeah, I'll bet he was quite relieved he didn't bump off a 92-year-old by accident!--and said she could go home tomorrow. PT had already signed off on her readiness. There had been some talk of letting her go today, but they are putting her back on her normal meds and want to monitor that overnight to make sure it's all okay. We're so excited. Deb and the Prussian came by to pay their respects. At that point, Ms. Science was on deck too, and the room was really too crowded with six visitors, so Mr. and Ms. Science took off to do Christmas errands and have dinner with a friend. Mother took another walk and ate lunch. Then she was ready for another nap, so we walked through the tunnels to the big hospital. The cafeteria there didn't have any espresso either, but we rehydrated and the Sparrowhawk and I shared some sushi, and we hung out. I had a little bonding moment with the Prussian earlier, when we found out we can both recite Kipling's "Tommy Atkins." Deb cracked up and said she always knew we must be related. Then they went about their business, and we went back to the cardiac unit.

We found Mother still asleep, so we waited in the family lounge for half an hour. When we returned, she was sitting up again, with her dinner in front of her. She expressed her amazement that they would bring her such a large meal so early in the morning. "Look, it's only five-thirty," she said, squinting at the clock. We kept telling her it was the same day, but I don't think she ever did get that memo. We hung out with her and helped with various things until it was time for the Sparrowhawk to go to the train station and pick up the Philosopher and his Lovely Friend. By the time they arrived, I had helped her back into bed, and she was about to fall asleep. They stopped in and greeted her for just a minute, and it made her very happy. As I left, she was again expressing her puzzlement that a whole day could have passed so quickly. I told her it would all make sense tomorrow. I think it would help if the sun ever actually showed its face! Who can tell if it's dawn or twilight when the sky is the same gray all the time?!

By this time, I was exhausted again and in need of food. The Philosopher picked a place downtown that turned out to be quite good. I had a grilled romaine salad with chicken, tiny figs, and walnuts. Not sure WHY the tiny figs, but they were good. And then we FINALLY got ourselves back to the hotel, set the Philosopher and Friend up with their room, and retired to our PJs. Whew. To quote The Tragically Hip (again), " . . . how one day takes two days and they get spent."