Monday

Just got back from the hospital and Dave is doing great. We sat and watched Heroes together and it was so nice to feel like we were doing something so normal that was part of our regular pre-surgery routine. We were interrupted only once for the nurse to give him his assortment of shots and pain meds. I hadn't eaten any dinner, so Dave encouraged me to order some food from the hospital room service. I felt horribly conspicuous mowing down a burger and fries knowing he couldn't eat anything (for his sake I decided to forgo the milkshake since I knew that would really get him salivating). Sadly, he actually asked to hold a french fry. He even licked the outside of the fry under my disapproving eye. It's crazy to think he has not swallowed anything - food or liquid - for an entire week.

The highlight of the night was when he got his NG tube (for NasoGastric, I think, although I just refer to it as the NoseGoo tube) removed. FINALLY! He can now turn his head without getting wapped in the face with the tube, and it was just totally unpleasant for him to have that thing up his nose. His nose was very sore after they pulled it, but some good pain meds helped that pretty quickly.

I did snap a picture of him (half shaven face and all), but now my phone is having issues emailing it to my computer (big surprise), so no picture tonight. As I left his room, he was getting ready to shave the other side of his face - of course, the first side is already starting to look pretty stubbly.

His pulmonary therapy is going well. It's pretty uncomfortable for him, but he gets his lungs x-rayed each night and the surgeon said his lung capacity is increasing each day, but that there's still more expansion that needs to happen. Tomorrow morning is his first big "test" - the swallow test. If there is no leakage at the anastomosis, then he'll get to start enjoying some vittles - jello and clear liquids to start.

I'll post the results of the swallow test tomorrow.

Shannon