No Place Like Home

Fifteen days in the hospital was more than enough!  So thankful for a sunny, mild day to bring Tom home.  It was such a great sight to pull into the driveway and see Zac and Sarah raking leaves.  We welcomed Kay Scott, family friend and physical therapist, who helped us transition to home life.  I am so pleased that the car transfer went so smoothly.  I can't say that we will be making many trips, but when we do it seems like it won't be too bad.  Hopefully with each day, we will become more and more comfortable with our "new normal".
On Thursday Tom's temporary rental wheelchair was delivered.  It is a step above the one he had been using.  We look forward to getting the special order chair in a couple of weeks that will be a "Cadillac" compared to this one.
Also on Thursday I was "trained" in giving Tom his Lovenox shots.  These shots are given in Tom's belly and are to prevent blood clots in his legs.  I had no idea I would receive an honorary bachelor degree in nursing!  I think I have learned more in the last two weeks than in the last 20 years!  Not only have I earned a nursing degree, but also feel certified in speech, occupational and physical therapy!
Tom's night nurse on Thursday came in on Friday morning before she left to say good-bye since she wouldn't be back before Tom went home.  It was so encouraging to have her give us a hug and let us know how much she enjoyed caring for Tom and I think I saw some tears in her eyes!  We are so blessed by the love and care Tom received from all of the staff on the Acute Rehab floor.  We especially enjoyed getting to know Tracy (speech), Katie (physical) and Jennie (occupational) therapists who are using their gifts from God to help people. 
On Friday the therapy team planned special Fall Festivities for the rehab patients.  It was so fun to watch Tom play the games and win one of the competitions!  The highlight of the day was having the children from the daycare center at the hospital come through the rehab unit dressed in their costumes and each of the patients handed out candy to them.  Tom's face lit up as the kids came by and he was able to give them a treat.  Once again I forgot to take pictures.
Friday much of the last minute details of the house remodel were completed along with a crew of friends and family who came to clean!  I was greeted Friday night with the fresh smell of clean...love it.
The hospital bed, along with several other specialty equipment needs, was delivered and set up prior to our arriving home.  Once set up the delivery man then realized the motor on the bed was not working!  He had to go back to the warehouse and come back to put a new part on the bed.  It now works beautifully and will make Tom's home life much easier.  My sister has been the "gopher girl" going and shopping for the many needs we had.  Some of the items she was able to get:  extra long twin sheets, extra long mattress pad, waffle crate for the bed, extra long shower curtain, shower rings, towels, and I'm sure many things I have forgotten.  Not only did she shop, but she then prepared dinner for all eleven of us who were here to share dinner with Tom.
It is a little overwhelming sorting through the medications and remembering when Tom is to take them.  I am so thankful to all the family who are here to help me with the transition.  My sister-in-love, Cheryl, will be here for the week getting us into a routine and helping with the nurse's role.  She is incredibly organized and she will also help with the organization of our home.  I still have not changed out my closet from summer to winter clothing and I look forward to getting that done.  My brother, Mike and brother-in-love, Terry, were able to get a bed set up for me so I can be with Tom.  They also made a run to the grocery store and Home Depot to pick up some last minute items.  We all are feeling like we could jump into the "communal living" idea!  We just plain enjoy being together!!
Last night the nurse said Tom was up five times.  He had two bowls of cereal and a yogurt at three in the morning because he was hungry and couldn't sleep.  I told him starting tonight he will be on a new schedule...no night nurse to bring him whatever he wants!  He has had such a hard time sleeping at night, we are praying that now he's home that that will change.  I told my mom that I feel like I've brought a newborn home from the hospital and I need to get his days and nights back on track.  The nurse told me not to let him sleep this afternoon and that would help him sleep better tonight.  I sure felt badly when I woke him up when he feel asleep in his chair.  You should see "his chair"...it is a throne!  We took bed risers and put under it to raise it to a better level for him to get in and out of.
The home health nurse will come on Sunday to see how we are doing and then therapy will start on Monday.  There is no rest for the weary, but we are so thankful to be at home and receiving loving care here.

We pray that you will be refreshed in God's presence as you worship Him on the Lord's day tomorrow.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."

Romans 5:1-2