Post Op Update #4

Let's Eat!

Last night Tracie's body gave the signal the doctor needed to approve food. Normally you don't celebrate flatulence but here everyone congratulates you. The only bummer is that the doctor forgot to change the diet orders so no orders no food. A few of you may have seen me angry and you can imagine the tension that was in Tracie's room this morning. The doctor that is treating Tracie does excellent work in the operating room but gets a little "side-tracked" when it comes to post-op care. One of the reasons we were pretty laid back about this surgery before she had it is because we didn't have all of the information that we needed. Our doctor said things like "don't worry I do this thing all the time" and the answer to questions are "possibly" and "we will have to see." So I am applying some gentle pressure to the nursing staff to get his $%^& @#$ on the phone and give the go ahead for lunch. This will get done. The other odd thing about our doctor is that he does his rounds very late in the evening because he does not like to have to talk to too many people. I think I intimidate him a little. He showed last night at about 11:00 p.m. and before I left for the night Tracie and I wrote down some of the questions we had. So here are some more specifics. Dr. Belnap did not take out any major chunks of liver he only removed the tumors. The three tumors that he left behind are small and do not pose any risk. He said that the remaining tumors are probably good for another 20-30 years. As for the short term treatment the surgery took care of that already all that is left is the healing. Tracie has had five c-section births so recovering from a big cut in your belly is not foreign. In fact she is darn good at this part and knows what to expect. As far as time left in the hospital it will "probably" be until Sunday. Tracie has to be free from all the tubes and also be able to eat and process food.
She is a real trooper and will not miss a requirement. We will spend the rest of the day on the same training schedule and I am confident there will be food. What do you know just as I am typing the nurse has just given us the good news. There will be lunch!! Oh and an added bonus a shower and pajamas. Life is good!! Tracie is an amazing person she may seem meek and fragile on the outside but has the heart of a lion on the inside. We will be home in no time. For those that are concerned the kids are having a mini-vacation of their own. On Wednesday they visited one of their uncles work places, the fire station. They were able to sit in the fire engine, talk on the radio, dress up in the gear, and as they were leaving the Paramedics got a call so they were able to see all the vehicles leave sirens blazing. New years eve was spent at Grandpa and Grandmas where they had a party and counted down the new year. Yesterday and part of today the kids have spent at my sister Melissa's home. Yesterday they visited Jump On It. I think they are doing very well. When I talk to them they are all happy and anxious to get back to what they were doing. Hey lunch is here and the first sip of cranberry juice was luxurious. Well got to go mama needs a little help.