Home Again! Post-Op Day 5

Rhett was released today! We were getting excited when he kept his breakfast down this morning. It was then we knew we'd get our walking papers. Good job, Rhett! Now, he's still in a hospital bed, but at least it's at home, in our living room. Even though it's not the best centerpiece for the living room, it's much easier to take care of everyone this way. It was hard for me to be at home, but thinking I should be with Rhett in Salt Lake and then when I was in the hospital with him, I'd think I should be home taking care of everyone else! Maddening!

So for the next 5 weeks or so, he has to do very little. He's allowed to do small excursions in his massive wheelchair (around the house) and sit in the bed. That's it. His feet are not allowed to touch the floor at all. This should be interesting!

We'll add to the blog when he's allowed to start progressing again, IF we don't die of boredom first. Thanks to all for the support and love!

P.S. This pic of him was from the other day. He's doing much better now.

Cloudy Haze - 4 days post op

Well things were a little foggy for 24 hours thanks to Oxycodone, he was either sleeping or crying. In an effort to take Rhett off of his Epidural we tried Oxycodone, which I hear is fabulous for some. However, Rhett didn't like it. He slept all afternoon and then watched movies and ate popcorn all night long!

We crammed some food down him this morning and he responded with some projectile vommiting, very nice distance! He even hurled while we were cruising around the hospital hallways in the wheel chair, too many wheelies maybe. A quick shout out to the nurses at station L for cleaning us up. Rhett complimented them on their efforts, he said, "good clean up guys!" I took the man down stairs to get my diet pepsi fix (better than Oxycodone), and Rhett saw the doors to the outside world. So, for twenty minutes we sat and watched the snow coming down outside and dreamt what it would be like to escape to the deep powder! Well, at least I did. Pretty sure Rhett was thinking about sharpening his bowling skills at Jack and Jill's. We then cruised back up to his room. We had to take the long way as station L wouldn't let us near their station for some reason...something about a drive by puking...pansies.

Doc Stotts saw the potential dependency and moved us from Oxycodone to Loritab. Rhett is doing better. He's much happier now, laughing at bad jokes while watching Hairspray...nothing like John Travolta dancing around in a massive pink dress, shaking this booty. Now I may hurl a couple of times. Madagascar 2 is up next, never seen it before. Thanks Ryan, Linds and Al for bringing him the DVD. Rhett's had several visitors. Bishop Jensen and Brother Atwood came by tonight and brought gifts. Chelli and Meg brought food and treats.

There's a decent chance Rhett may go home tomorrow. He has one objective tonight, find a way to take a "duke"... it's been 5 days! Apparently sitting in a bed all day on narcotics backs up the pipes.

History of Rhett's Blog - Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

www.rhettjacobs@blogspot.com

Post Op. Day 2

Today was important. Donata, from Italy, is Rhett's PT. She came and Rhett instantly cried. He gets so worried when the medical staff enters the room. I'm sure he is wondering what else they can possibly do to him! But Donata was great. She even got him in a wheelchair! It was amazing. We enjoyed the excitement by walking down the hospital hall and coloring pages in the Young Zone (thanks Steve Young). I thought coloring might take Rhett's mind off of his legs. He would color for 2 seconds and say "It still hurts. Brown please." Then he'd color some more. "It still hurts. Green please." etc.

Luckily, the Doc. upped his dose of pain killer so he's resting well now. Of course he's resting now, because I took all the kids home with me. Hospital peace was once again restored after the family visit was over! He and Dad are watching Hairspray, his new fave musical and Alvin and the Chipmunks. With Dad in charge for a couple of days, they're probably going to party all night!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RHETT!

Okay, also Happy Valentine's Day. It was a little rough, as birthdays go. I mean, there's the typical "eat so much you throw up", and party so hard, you break your legs.....

Actually, the Child Life Specialists made Rhett a big Birthday Poster and sang to him. His nurse, Kelly, who is awesome, gave him a gift (Candyland) and Dad, Paige and Meg came to visit. Everyone has been so nice. I hope they don't take Rhett's grumpiness personally. I tell them all that each scowl really means "Thanks so much. I love it!"

Operation Day

I can't believe my mom and Rhett were in surgery on the same day! My mom broke her leg and had surgery while Rhett was in having his legs broken. Weird.

Anyway, Rhett went in at 2:30 and the surgeons didn't come out until 8:30! It was a long day, but all went well. He lost a lot of blood so they gave him 2 liters and his levels look good now.

Last night he was pale and swollen because they did the procedure pronated, that is with him positioned face-down. So his eyes and lips looked strangely swollen.

At first we couldn't get his temperature up. They piled so many blankets on top of him, you could only see a little of his face! But as soon as he got warm, we took off most of the blankets and now he won't even let us put a gown on him. I guess he can wear his birthday suit when his birthday is Saturday!

This is myself, Rhett and Wes a few weeks ago at Pack Meeting. Rhett just earned his Arrow of Light Award! Yeah!

Okay, so everyone has probably noticed that Rhett did NOT have surgery last Wednesday. The surgeons had to change it to Friday--tomorrow!

I'll admit I am feeling nervous now. I know it's the right thing to do, but OUCH, it's going to be painful!

One good thing is that our dear friend, Kim Abbott, who is a nurse at PCMC, will be on shift Sunday. It will be good to see a friend there.

He goes under about 1:15 for a 5 hour surgery. I'll try to post afterwards, to let everyone know how he's doing. Thanks to everyone!