Christmas Day

Christmas Day at home. I know Mom felt good to wake up in her own bed. Her "support staff" here at home was happy to wake up to the blessing of her presence.

(We were also cheered enormously by some delicious homemade food from the kitchens of Kay Himmel and Patty Taylor. Yum.)

It's been a great day so far. A Christmas unlike any other. Mom is adapting well to her new circumstances. We're figuring out new routines — how to move around with success in a non-hospital bed, how to navigate carpeted and tiled floors, how to bathe.

Here are some prayer requests for Mom on this very special day:
(1) Pray for continuing relief from pain. Her pain is not unbearable, but I know it still gives her trouble and wakes her up at night. (Mom's euphemism for being in pain is saying she's "uncomfortable." An understatement, I'm sure!)
(2) Pray that Mom's spirit would be encouraged. She has a hard time noticing all of her progress along the way. Her family is enthralled by her progress — indeed, we see indications every day that she is getting stronger and more mobile — but Mom does not have the same perspective. Pray that she would be have a better sense of all she's accomplished so far.

Praises:
(1) Mom had had some swelling in her hands and feet for several days following surgery. The swelling is now gone.
(2) We continue to note with some delight that Mom's incision site looks perfect. No signs of infection. This is terrific!

She's home!

Great news — Mom checked out of the hospital successfully this afternoon and is now resting comfortably at home!

We're thrilled to have her home and are getting set up to offer care there. Mom doesn't have as many terrific amenities at home as she did in the hospital. But I think waking up in her own bed in the mornings will be really comforting.

While she was in the hospital, some secret Christmas elves snuck over to the house and left some special presents for her. Lauri and Jonathan Petty came over and planted pansies in pots on the front steps. It was a real joy to see those bursts of color by the front door. Hal Posner also left a beautiful bouquet of roses. Mom was really touched by these thoughtful gestures.

Now comes sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep and more sleep. We are tiptoeing through the house, just trying to create as much quiet as possible. The doctor said yesterday that it's pretty normal for Mom to feel like she's been hit by a bus. She's had a huge part of her body taken apart and put back together. She's beginning a long process of recalibrating. So Mom could sleep straight through Christmas at this point. I wouldn't mind a bit.