Wednesday

This is my sign-out, as Tashie is doing so well that my posts are getting repetitive!

She is once again impassioned about the political scene - a good sign!

We shall be returning to Portland on Saturday.

Once again, than you for all your notes, comments, and well wishes. . . .

Saturday

Tashie continues to get better and better and stronger and stronger. She keeps trying to strike a bargain to discontinue her antibiotics, but so far she has been persuaded to persist and prevail. 

The last few days have been a flurry of attendants: occupational therapy, physical therapy, visiting nurses, etc. Tashie is stronger every day, although she is still tired from the ordeal, and needs a lot of rest. She has to rouse herself at midnight and again at 6 am to take her antibiotics, which is surely a disruption to her REM sleep, but she's a sport.

She saw the surgeon this morning, Dr. Hansman. He is pleased with her progress, and removed the JP drain, which has been a huge relief.

Her major daily activities that are not directly connected with recovering are: chatting with brother Lal, and doing the NY Times crossword puzzle. She feels badly that she has not herself responded to messages, notes, calls, etc, but I have reminded her that she needs to conserve her energy for healing - she has a job to do!

Monday

The road to recovery is absolutely going in the right direction now.

Last night, Matthew answered a lot of questions we have had about the surgery, and clarified some misunderstandings.

Tashie has been sleeping alot still, but when she is awake, she is more energetic (relatively) and steady on her feet.

Speaking on the telephone requires a lot of energy she doesn't have, and tonight she got plum tuckered out before she was able to return calls. She sends love and thanks to everyone, but hasn't yet the energy to chat or even email.

She saw the surgeon today, and he plans to take out the drain on Thursday, after which she'll probably be a lot more comfortable. He spent a lot of time talking with her and answering questions, repeating much of what Matthew had said earlier.

Amey brought a fabulous vegan dinner, and Musty brought Lal over to join us. Tashie was lively and animated throughout dinner, discussing politics and describing scenes from the Big Lebowski. It tired her though, and she went to bed and sleep shortly thereafter.

Cheers!

Sunday

Tashie is settling in at Sara's, and the roller coaster of events is slowing down. She is sleeping on Sara's daughter Lisa's heaven-sent bed which has her comfortable in dreamland the minute her head hits the pillow. She has Laura's little silver bell to ring when she needs help, and Sara hooked up an intercom device so that we can hear her as well.

It has been a bit of a puzzle figuring out the last few days, but the important thing is that Tashie is home, and is beginning to get some rest after the exhausting hospital routines, where she was never allowed to indulge in her late morning sleep-ins. Today she sat out in the sun, enjoying the garden with Lal and Philip, chatting and eating tangerines. She still has limited stamina, but is steadier on her feet than yesterday.

We again got distracted from the root beer float routine; just as Laura and I were ready to begin assembling the oldster's treats, Lal was ready for a mid-day nap, and we didn't get back on track after that. We'll be owing several floats and chocolate malts in the days to come.

Discharge!

After a very difficult night with nurses short-staffed and stretched too far, Tashie has been discharged "home" to cousin Sara's house on Van Ness Avenue. It was an all-day discharge by the time we actually left the hospital - too late to get the root-beer float for her and the chocolate malt for Lal - drinks that have become an afternoon's special event!

It is soooo much more peaceful here - it is a relief to be in Sara's nest, sitting in front of the fire.

Visits

Mabsie arrived mid-morning for a visit, and shortly thereafter we were joined by Jaleh and Ziba, bearing delicious healthy healing helim for Tashie, plus yummy polou and khoresh, plus pistachios and ghaz. After short visits with Tashie, we left her to sleep and doze while we went to the Healing Garden/Courtyard for a wonderful lunch. Lucky us!