There's no place like HOME

Thank you "Wonderful Wizard"!!

Yep, we are home! He was released about 10:30 a.m. and he was so excited to be going home. I am a little nervous because now instead of nurses, doctors and IV pulls keeping him in bed-- I will have to be up to that challenge. Actually, I don't think it will be that hard because right now he has the strength of a newborn babe...

We have a MD appointment at 5:00 p.m. tonite with his regular MD and will get him up to speed on what has been going on so he can take over following Todd's progress. We also have to go to the hospital outpatient lab on Sunday to get another CK draw to make sure his numbers haven't increased since going home.

Christmas hasn't even happened and I feel EXHAUSTED!! But without the help of my friends and family I would have melted along time ago!!

What a world! What a world!

8:06 p.m. Wednesday

No CK level to report tonight. They will draw another in the morning and we hope for a very small number!
We had a ton of visitors today which always is nice. He has been up quite a bit and is making progress with physical therapy. He used crutches today, and I think that was pushing it a bit, so back to the walker he goes. It is crazy to see my big strong man of a husband tottering around with his walker (yes, we purchased a walker... Equal to about 4 purses). It just makes you recognize that you really should never take your health for granted. This is going to be a long recovery for Todd and he may have to CHILL a little bit but we have faith that everything is going to work out just fine. I know it is because of the prayers of all of you, my wonderful family and friends, neighbors and co-workers. The meals, the snow shoveling, the babysitting, the treats, the calls, texts, emails, the visits and most of all your thoughts and prayers are making a difference! Thank you all!

P.S. My kids- Maddie and Tanner- you make me so proud with the amazing job you are doing at home with the babies. I could not be more blessed! Dad and I feel a bit obsolete after this week, because you guys are doing so well being king and queen of our castle. Love you!

And the number is...

26,000

Still too high, but on it's way down!

Shhh..

11:06 and he is finally asleep. He has not slept more than an hour or two the last 3 days (I can't imagine why). We went for a walk today, or should I say, I walked and he "rolled" in his way cool wheelchair. We walked and rolled down to the cafeteria for our very first date in hospital . It was so romantic.. Placing his swollen, half-shaven legs on the leg pads, gently steering him around the IV pull, dodging the gurney racing down the hallway, smelling the smells that only a hospital can produce. We shared some laughs and a small root beer frozen yogurt and then it was back to the room-back to watching O2 saturation, fluid intake (and my personal favorite-OUTPUT! Do you know how much pee is produced from 23 liters of fluid?). It was a fun outing and I think it was good for the spirits! Earlier tonite, we had another little worry. Todd started having some intermittent pain in his right lung and so we started really watching him for a possible pulmonary embolism. Super, huh. Right now, I feel a lot better about that because he is maintaining normal sats and his heart rate is also normal. That would not be a fun addition to our fabulous medical adventure.

Please Santa, could you bring some anti-embolism stockings, some Coumadin and an oxygen tank set-up with the coordinating nose hose? Oh, and please don't forget my stocking stuffers (Valium, diet coke and some dark chocolate)..

And for those of you who are wondering if I have a change of clothes this time around... Well, sort of. Right now I am wearing my husband's scrubs that he came into work on Sunday wearing. So, yes, I have a change of clothes this time and man, do I look good.

PS ---thanks so much to all loved ones and friends who have really stepped up to the plate and helped our family. We have had many kindnesses extended to us which is showing that we are so lucky to be US and know YOU! The Christmas spirit is alive and well and we feel blessed, despite the stress of this crappy crap illness and being away from our kids these last days before Christmas.

6:05 p.m. Update

Todd's latest test results-not good. CK number went up again to 36,000 (normal value is 800). This value represents the level of muscle cell breakdown in his body that his kidneys are having to try to flush out. The only treatment for this (rhabdomyolysis) is flush him with fluids. He has now had 20 liters of fluid. More to come...

Another update

We are a bit more encouraged this evening-not because of any new information, just because the last visit by Todd's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kubiak, was a bit more positive. It is interesting the social dynamic that exists in the hospital world. It is just like high school... The orthopedic guys are the popular jocks that are big, loud, funny, arrogant and entertaining. The internal medicine guys are,what Dr. Kubiak describes as "fleas" or in other words, they are the nerds of the hospital. The trauma surgeons are the mean jerks and the neuro surgeons are bookie geeks. So, we had been discussing Todd's condition with the internal medicine group this morning, and they had us a bit concerned that there may be further damage occurring in his legs which was obviously very upsetting. Then our meathead ortho guy comes in, tells us a few funny stories of his glory days on the ski slopes ("had a bad wreck on a jump, broke my back, lacerated my liver, contused a lung--duct taped my chest and went boarding the next day!") and fishing tales ("broke all the bones in my hand, taped a metal spoon from the galley to my arm and hand and went back to fishin'!"). He was totally positive that todd will have a good outcome in regards to his legs and fasciotomy. He, in all of his popular jockness, even pontificated on Todd's kidney issues. He feels like his kidneys will catch up sooner, rather than later, which of course is what we want to hear. My meathead husband speaks meathead just like the popular jock meathead doctor. So, despite any supporting tests, we feel better because the popular guy talked to us. SO TYPICAL!

Update

So this mornings update was not encouraging. Todd's kidney function is not improving like they would like and we will not be going home today and we were told possibly we could be here for Christmas. So not a happy day. No jokes today. Can't tease, can't mock. Just kind of sad right now. Please pray that we will be patient and accepting and that we can keep it together and that our kids stay safe while I am taking care of Todd.