Hospital recovery, day 4 - evening update

12:15 pm EST - Just a very brief update. I'm writing from home and am about to head out to the hospital for a few hours. I slept in extra-extra-late this morning. I'm feeling so relaxed and calm after that deep sleep that it makes me feel like lying down for a little nap. Funny how that works...

Dad said that Mom had another good night. Jo Ann Jones was the overnight guest and she took terrific care of Mom. Mom is gaining strength every day. Dad said that she has been feeling a little woozy this morning during her morning exercises. She is borderline anemic, so it makes sense. Mom was given a pint of blood this morning and that will probably make her feel better (it helps that she gave blood twice before the surgery with this purpose in mind).

We're told that Mom will be probably be discharged from the hospital some time tomorrow. Home in time for Christmas. That in itself feels like a little miracle.

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4:55 pm EST - Barbie Schoeman left a thoughtful comment asking me to focus on providing some specific prayer requests with each day's updates. Thanks for that terrific suggestion!

Here are some current prayer requests for those of you looking out for Mom.

(1) Please pray that the blood transfusion Mom is receiving today would bring her new strength. She's receiving blood at this very moment. This process has been going on for quite a while. I'm amazed by how long it takes. This blood is actually not Mom's, but was donated by a volunteer. If you've ever rolled up a sleeve to give blood at a blood drive, please accept my thanks for helping in the recovery of surgical patients like Mom!
(2) After attempting to shut down all but Mom's most critical systems for the surgery, we're now trying to ramp them back up. Please pray that Mom's digestive and elimination processes would get back in gear with a minimum of discomfort. (I guess the shortcut version of this request is, "Pray for poop.")
(3) All indications so far point to perfect results with Mom's bone graft. (Remember, the surgeon harvested part of her pelvic bone and mixed it in with other material to help form new bone content for her spine.) Please pray for continued success as the bone graft forms. Good results in this area are critical to Mom's full recovery.
(4) Mom has had a variety of fevers and chills today. This is pretty normal for a body that's doing as much work as hers is, but it has led to a little discomfort. Please pray that her temperature will continue to stay within healthy range.
(5) Pray for Mom's nurses as they find good juicy veins to stick! Mom has been poked with dozens of needles during the past five days, and her veins are getting tired of all the abuse.
(6) Pray for wisdom for Mom's caregivers as we think about discharging her and heading for home. Mom is a little nervous about going home at this point. We want this to be a decision that she feels very positive about.
(7) Please continue to pray for sleep. We figure that Mom not has slept for more than 3 consecutive hours since her ordeal began on Thursday morning. She is exhausted.

Praises:
(1) We've had no infection at Mom's incision site so far! That is big news and very good news. She has an impressive scar that stretches the length of her back. It is perfectly healthy with nice pink tissue all around it. Please pray that this perfect healing will continue. Unrelated: I'm really hoping Mom will be able to work this scar into some future Halloween costume.
(2) Mom's balance seems to be very good so far. Considering that her whole center of gravity has shifted, this is wonderful news. We think Mom is a good 2.5" - 3" taller now than she was a week ago. Wow! If she wears really high heels, she'll probably be able to stare Dad down.