Day 24 - July 25

Today was a good day, and, a not-so-good day for Jake.  His legs were in a lot of pain this morning due to the doctors starting to wean him off the pain medication he gets through the PCA unit, and, because the doctor also removed the pillows that were under his legs supporting them.  They want Jake to start straightening out his legs more and not get used to them being slightly bent at the knees.  They placed the pillows underneath his ankles and feet to keep his feet in an upright position too.  His pain level was still at a 3, which is good, but it's now a different type of pain.  They gave him a "boost" of the pain med through his IV and he started to feel a bit better.

On the shuttle bus ride over to the hospital this morning, I was talking to the parents of one of the other guys that got injured with Jake in the vehicle.  They wanted to know if Jake could receive visitors and if they could come meet him.  I was very excited about this because I know how much Jake wants to see their son and also meet them.  So, as Jake and I were eating breakfast together, he noticed two people standing outside his room.  It was them! :)  They are really nice people and gave Jake an update on their son.  Jake was so appreciative to them for visiting and for their update.

After breakfast, he decided to get into his chair for a bit.  We try to go outside to the courtyard every morning before it gets too hot.  It was a bit muggy (there's so much humidity here right now!), but it was so nice to sit near the fountain and just talk.  Before too long, he was starting to sweat and decided to go back into the coolness of his room.  His cousin bought him some games to play--Uno, Skip Bo, Sorry Revenge--so he decided to challenge his ol' mom to some games.  Now, we both teased each other about who was the best at these games and who was going to win.  Some of his nurses came in and were joking around with us too about the games. :)  Jake wanted revenge for the times I have beat him playing Phase 10.  Well, it was a very close game with both Uno and Skip Bo.  I will admit defeat--he got his revenge! :)

He decided to try to take a nap after that.  Notice the "try" part of that statement?  His legs were just so uncomfortable.  One of his nurses came in and said that the doctors wanted to lower his PCA once again but were going to increase the amount of his oral pain meds to help.  Jake was okay with this--he knows that he has to go through this to be able to be discharged.  

As he was laying in bed, the mother that visited him this morning came into his room full of excitement. :)  She told Jake that her son was moving up to the same ward as Jake--and--that his room is just on the other side of the hallway!  We shared in her excitement and I gave her a hug.  We asked her if her son was allowed visitors and she said that he was.  So, Jake is hoping to go visit him tomorrow.

Jake didn't get to play with Scooter today. :(  His owner had surgery today so someone took Scooter home with them to take care of him.  We are hoping to hear his toenails hitting the floor again tomorrow and seeing him at Jake's doorway. :)

Jake has an excellent nurse tonight--the same one he had last night.  He told Jake this morning before he left that if they assign him to Jake's ward again tonight, that he was going to ask personally to have Jake as his patient.  He keeps telling us that his first priority is the comfort and well being of his patients and that he will do all he can to make sure that they are well and that they get rest.  What a great man!!  There have been so many amazing nurses here (male and female) taking care of Jake--we already have our favorites. :)

Before I left, Jake was feeling miserable--because of the pain and because of the itching.  His legs are still covered with ace bandages, the wounds are healing, and he still has the leg braces on--all that combined together makes the itching unbearable.  He is allowed to have some Benadryl (through his IV) and knows that within minutes of them giving it to him, he is gone--out of it--in la la land.  He told me that I had better come get his hug right then because he knew that he would not be in the condition to give me a hug or say anything to me when I did leave.  As I left his room about 15 minutes later, he was in a deep sleep and did not even budge when I gave him a kiss goodbye.  Sleep well, son.