Something I remember from Whatsit Jr.'s hospital stay is that the doctors told us that you can tell a lot by simply observing the patient. I mean, stats and numbers are important too, but if a patient is behaving “like their usual self” or “looking healthy” (whatever that means to you) that’s often a really good sign that they are truly on the mend. I hope that’s the case for Mr. Shoe. I’m glad you and he had a great day. 
(I remember how it felt to wash my hair after only 4 days, after my C-section, and I can’t imagine going six weeks. :eek: )
Adds request for paypal PM.
And as for the crying, they were tears of happiness. Joy and relief. Your man is acting normal semi normal again and you love him and need him and it seems as though its actually going to happen.
Many more prayers for both of you are happening.
We like reading good news…because it IS good news. 
Just for that…I’m going to wash MY hair in the morning!
-D/a
Funny how even a little good news can affect you when it’s been in short supply. A few years back the Younger Ottlet was knocked flat by ulcerative colitis (by the time it was correctly diagnosed, she had lost nearly 40 pounds and couldn’t even keep water down). About three weeks into what turned out to be a two month hospital stay, she called me and said, “Dad! I ate a piece of toast!”
It was a good thing I was teleworking during that time. It wouldn’t have been fitten’ for my cow-orkers to see me on the floor and bawling like the proverbial baby.
More to the point, continuing good thoughts from someone who knows a little bit about what you’re going through. And please add me to the list of people to notify when you get the PayPal thingy set up.
That is happy news. Truly.
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This is great! You’ve been so strong; you have to let it out sometime and so glad it was over good news!
You all are my kids’ ages, I think. I’m pulling for you as hard as a mama can.
I’ve been opening this thread with trepidation lately, so hearing that Mr. Shoe is feeling on the ‘normal’ side of things is a great relief.
I do think a significant part of recovery is in your state of mind.
Sending a whole new barrage of good thoughts and yes, please add me to the paypal list also.
Please add me to the PayPal list!
Good news. You never know how much you miss normalcy until you get a little bit back.
I’ve been reading all along and I’m excited to hear about the clean hair. Must have felt wonderful. Add me to the paypal list?
I can completely understand the happiness of clean hair. When I was 16 I spent a week in the hospital on IV and couldn’t wash my hair. A hot shower after the IV came out was heaven!
You and The Other Shoe are very much in my thoughts.
Good grief. You people are amazing. Seriously, I mean that, with everything I’ve got left.
He was still pretty chipper this morning - first time he’s been awake during the morning visiting hour in a while. His dr. has noticed that he was more energetic, and is sounding a bit more cautiously optimistic** although the lung X-rays still look cloudy as hell in the bottom lobes of both lungs. Doesn’t sound like they’ll know for sure if the new combo is working on the bacterial infection until probably early next week.
** Man, I hope that doesn’t jinx anything.
Add me to the list as well, please.
If Mr Shoe is retaining lots of fluid, you’ll want to keep his skin as moisturized as possible to keep it from splitting. The Former Mr Kitty was particularly fond of Hemp brand moisturizer from Walmart, as it didn’t feel greasy. The lavendar scent is very nice. Go gently- those swollen extremities hurt!!
Continued good thought!!
Good news!
SOmeone needs to educate me on how this paypal thing works once I have te email, because I sure do want to help.
“Should I stay, or should I go now?”
<guitar riff>
A bed at a big well-known hospital’s ICU opened up just now. When Shoe was really fading, we had started asking the doctors about the two local teaching hospitals, asking if he might benefit from being moved, if they might help do … something.
Well, one of those options just opened up. (The other one rejected him.) It was kind of like a fire sale; we had to answer ASAP, or the bed would go to someone else.
We … turned it down.
On the one hand: oooh, shiny! It’s a big hospital known by name with its own separate immunology department.
On the other hand:
- we’re happy with the care he’s been getting in this ICU. It’s not like we’re trying to move him *away *from a particular situation.
- we’ve asked specifically, and there’s no particular piece of equipment or something at the other hospital that’s not available at this one, or anything like that. It’s more about having more/different staff, rather than a change in treatment.
- he’s still not breathing for himself and is hooked up to a ventilator, so the move would involve a delicate ambulance ride.
- he’s finally, FINALLY starting to get better. Here. Now. In this hospital.
… and, last but very much not least, - he reallyREALLY wants to stay put. He knows and likes his doctors and nurses, he’s aware that he’s making progress and getting stronger** and he’s been adamant when his opinion is specifically (yes/no) asked, that he likes where he is and wants to stay and does not want to move. (Also, he hates traveling as sort of a general rule and is very much the homebody. The room he’s in counts as “home” for now, I guess.) Plus he knows that where he is now is a scant few minutes from our houses, and the other place is further away.
** Holy crap has his handwriting improved in the last couple of days. 
Also this morning he won some minor bet with his dad (“Cash Cab” was on the TV) and he lifted his arm straight up in the air! He hasn’t been able to do that before!
bobkitty, oh, we have been. A shout-out to Climb-On Creme, which is his brand of choice. (All the nurses immediately say, “Oh, it smells so *nice *in here!” when we’ve put it on, and it’s thick, rich, good stuff.) In fact, I need to pick up another tube of it for him on my way back this afternoon. Luckily, the swelling in his legs has gone way down thanks to the Lasix treatments, which is another component of the whole “he’s getting a little bit better” thing.
God, I hope we made the right decision. It feels like the right decision, but I know that if anything goes wrong we’ll all - especially his mom, who’s prone to that sort of thing - second-guess ourselves and regret everything.
If it feels right, it’s right. Glad to hear he’s doing better, all squeaky clean and awake.
Please add me to the PayPal list.
Please add me to the paypal list as well
It sounds like there is no reason to move him, none, so just know that now that bed can go to someone else who really DOES need the care they have over there, wherever that is
So glad to hear good news; thoughts are always with you.
Just because a door opens up doesn’t mean you should walk through it. If you have faith in the current place, and he’s happy there, and there’s no good reason for to change…then you’re making the right decision.
So, he can raise his arm. When is he creating an account? 
-D/a
I haven’t posted, but I’ve been following and would be glad to send a few bucks your way.