From Vicki - Settling In

It's almost difficult to figure out how to begin this post. Life has been altered so completely for each of us, in separate ways, and yet here we all are again under the same roof.

There is no question that this is the place that John needs to be to begin the next phase of healing. He's already eating meals, walking around, figuring out what he should do with the small bursts of energy he gets. The hospital, as my Mom always used to say, is no place for sick people. At one point, a Dr even said to us that they like to get people out of there as soon as possible to lower the risk of infection.

So home is good. John still has 2 tubes sticking out of his sides. One side for drainage and one side for feeding. There is no possible way he can consume enough calories to get better, so at nite, he's hooked up to a feeding tube that augments his caloric intake. I think it pisses him off mostly, to still have to be tethered to this machine, but I know he wants to get his weight back and even more so, his strength.

Friday was an insane kind of day. With discharge from the hospital imminent, we had to get a hospital type bed in the house so that he could remain at the 30 degree angle that is most comfortable for his "zipper" on his belly. Elliot's face was so swollen from poison oak, he had to go to the Dr and all this was happening while Brother Mike was arriving at the Oakland airport. It's taken us all weekend just to get settled in and to find a couple of moments just to stop moving and getting things comfortable for all residents of David St.

Brother Steve has left for Chicago and Mike takes his place as the brother in charge. Kevin will be here next....I think on Friday and there's always the fun couple of days in between where there are 2 brothers visiting and doting on our family. Taryn & Elliot seem to be basking in the attention of their Uncles.

Elliot is now much better after treatments with some steroids. He can open both eyes and he can go back to school tomorrow.....further signs of things settling into some kind of "new normal". Taryn is happy to be back home now and has resumed most of her normal activities with her friends. She'll have to be back to work this week...one more sign of settling.

So many of my friends were gone this weekend. Gone to San Diego to the California Democratic convention. I was supposed to be there with them, but this time, it was better for me to stay home. So many people were so nice to call me from San Diego and report in. Martha, Penny, Matt, Eden, Bill E, Sharon and Johnie.....it was so great to hear from you and hear your impressions of everything. That was a perfect substitute for not being there and I appreciated it so much. I look forward to visiting with you all and hearing about everything that happened.

In the meantime, it's early to rise Monday tomorrow and time to sleep. Thanks to all for checking in and keeping track of the progress here in the Cosgrove house. It's really good to know you're all out there.

Peace
Vicki