So, the doctor did remove 2 of my drains. Yeay! Dr. Salvino, plastics fellow, was trying very hard to be gentle and reassuring when he pulled them out. One came out easily, i didn't even realize it, the other, not so much. I was holding Ats hand with my left hand and trying to hold Frendell's hand with my right, but Mr. Reyes was busy trying not to faint, so he was playing with his cell phone so he didn't have to really see what was going on. Dr. Salvino then asked him if he was alright and that to let him know if he felt faint, because we have seen people faint here before. Frendell did a great job and did not faint, with all the drain removals and dressing changes, but he did look a little green there for a while. I've been encouraging him to blog about it... who knows, maybe one of these days he will :-)
After that, we went to lunch and then walked around at Costco. Finally got to go there to walk.. but by that time, i was so tired already. Got home and just rested the rest of the day and night. We got home to a beautiful flower surprise from cuzin' Karen Martinez. She sent a bouquet of sunshine :-) .. very pretty yellow flowers. We have been so blessed with all the flower arrangements we have received... from Ate Vien Cornell and her Mom; Dana and Matt (gerber daisy along with a very cute bear which I will wait until the kids get here to name); Elder Barnett and the Illinois Conference; Ann McLaughlin; Becki and Jason Wightman; Auntie Puring and Uncle Victor Cabanilla and Chicago Fil-am family. The flowers are so beautiful to look at and they have brightened our home and brought smiles to our faces.
Our week-end has been busy with visits. Saturday, our band, OP2.0, along with our other young adults came by to say hello before they led worship @ West Central Church, where Oasis had its monthly meeting. It was great to see everyone and we had a great time visiting and even took some pictures. I think it was the first time they met Ats, except for Joyce, who met her several years ago. Then Froy and Patricia came over and brought yummy dinner, but we won't say what it is :-) but it was delicious... now we will have lots of curious comments...
Froy has been so great about helping us fix the house and tonight was no exception. He ripped off the carpet from the stairs and put some new ones. It looks great, Froy. We got to visit with Patricia and we were so sad to hear that her brother was in the hospital due to pneumonia. We pray for him and hope that he will be able to go home soon as well. Unfortunately, it had been a long day and I fell asleep right after I took my meds.. didn't even know when they left :-( sorry guys.... old lady getting sleepy early :-)
On Sunday, I tried to help Ats sort out some things in the laundry room. Sometimes it's difficult to pace myself. When I'm taking meds and not in so much pain, I forget and try to do more than I probably should.. and then afterwards I remember why the doctor told me to take it easy for awhile. No one's fault but my own. I rested for the rest of the afternoon and then Uncle Jesse and Auntie Beth Reyes came over to visit. It was great to see them again and talk about juicers and wellness centers and healing in general. They are very generous and fun to talk to and we enjoyed our visit with them.
Frendell had a volleyball game in the p.m. Unfortunately his team lost :-( Hopefully, they'll win next week. We had a busy week-end and lots of people sent home food for me (thanks Aunties who made all the different delicious foods). So many of you have been so generous and so responsive to our needs. God has been so faithful and you have answered His call to your hearts. We thank you all for your generosity.... for your thoughts, for your love and concerns, for your prayers, for just thinking happy thoughts and well wishes for us, we thank you. It gives us courage and hope to face each day.
What does this week bring? More doctors visits.. and counting Ats days before she goes home to California :-( unfortunately, Lauren got sick last Thursday while Ats was here... poor thing. I know she misses her Mom. we are looking forward to Frank, Candy and the kids coming in about a week's time. I will try to post more pictures soon. Thanks for listening.. I hope you all had a great week-end. What's everyone been up to?
Jason Wightman brought over a very delicious casserole his wife, Becki had made for us. thanks Jason & Becki... it helped that we didn't have to cook for several meals when I got home. This actually happened on Tuesday, Feb 3rd.. if you read my blog that day, we had an ADD moment where we got locked out of the house. All worked out in the end. Thank you Wightmans... you're great neighbors 
This was Frendell realizing that we went to see the surgeon too early. He and Ats were trying to make me laugh while I was sitting there waiting for the doctor... first doctor's visit
So, people were looking at me while i was sitting in the waiting area of the surgical clinic on Tuesday. It was such an ordeal to get ready.. put on some clothes, my coat, grab that pillow and water and lozenges... just in case I coughed. The ward clerk got upset with Frendell because she thought he was making me walk to the next building where he parked by the health club. I told her the surgeon wanted me to start walking... she felt bad, but he picked us up by the front door... not too far to walk. 
So I finally got to get out of the hospital on Sunday, February 1st. The surgeon told me he'd try to get me home in plenty of time before the coin toss.. and I sure was home, even before lunch. In fact,later on in the afternoon Auntie Puring and Uncle Victor Cabanilla came over and brought us soup and flowers and by the time the Super Bowl started, I was fast asleep. The beauty of medication :-)
Getting wheeled out to the front lobby. My last 10 hours at the hospital, I was transfered from the SICU to Tower 4, a newly built section of the hospital. The floor I was in is the last step before discharge... really lots of independence and big rooms... enough to walk around in, sit up, watch TV, etc. etc... it's almost like a hotel room, except you're hooked up to things on the wall :-)
The pictures are publishing in the reverse order.. sorry. Ats got bored waiting for the transporter to come and pick me up in the wheelchair, so she was amusing herself with the things on my bedside table.
Frendell forgot my shoes @ home because we didn't expect that I would be discharged that early on Sunday morning. The socks are from Ann McLaughlin and the brown slippers are from Mariezel Lorenzo. They kept my feet warm, girls, thanks so much :-)
Finally got dressed to go home. Ats had to help me coz I couldn't find my nurse. This is really the independent unit... you're all on your own.. they're trying to get you ready for being independent at home...
Frendell took me for a walk before I went to bed Saturday night. He had a very long day @ church that day, came over, we strolled down the halls of SICU, with the lovely fuschia slippers from Mariezel, and then I went to bed. He ate my pizza. It was a great date. And Ats was chaperone :-)
Ra and Sean came to visit Saturday night, Jan 31st.
This was supper. The dietitian was very apologetic and didn't know quite what to feed me because I asked for a vegetarian diet. It was supposed to be peanut butter and applesauce, but I learned later that they no longer served peanut butter @ the hospital, due to all the allergies and such. Frendell liked the pizza... he ate it later .. the nurse was so amazed that I finished my supper that night :-)
Our church members: Auntie Eden, Auntie Diana, Auntie Esther, Jean and Uncle Rey. They wanted to sing to me, unfortunately the SICU was kinda strict on their policies. Sorry...
I took several walks that day.. here I'm wearing the very comfortable brown slip-on slippers from Mariezel. Thanks Mariezel, they kept me from sliding :-)