It's been nine days since surgery. I'm doing fairly well. I've got the pill thing down. We've perfected drinking at least 60 ounces of protein. Today I had it all done by 8:30! Woot! I also had my minimum of 60 ounces of water down by 8:30pm! Double woot! I walked 4 laps around Concord Mills today. 4 laps = 4 miles = 1 hour and 30 minutes. Super!
I can say I've missed chewing this week. It's an odd thing. You spend your life chewing food and think nothing of it; you enjoy tasting things that are pleasant. Not chewing for 10 days now has been odd. Something we've done to help is make chicken bouillon broth. It tastes like food, kinda. Today I had an idea that topped that! Jeff ordered chicken noodle soup from the Chinese restaurant up the road. He ate all the noodles and chicken. I got to have the broth. It was sooooo good. It tasted like food. After 10 days of drinking semi-chocolate, semi-vanilla, and semi-strawberry things, it was amazing!
My first day home, I had a dream about eating a grilled hot dog. My second day home, I had a dream about eating cake at work. My third day home, I had a dream that I could go do the bathroom and do more than pee. At least the third one came true. It's funny how my dreams shifted from food to other things I used to be able to do normally. I think the body craves what it is used to. Even if that isn't a very pleasant thing.
I had my one-week post-op appointment. They took my staples out and Dr. B. cleared me for driving. He said things were going well, though he did give me a hard time for not having a water bottle with me. Where was my water bottle? On the dining room table. Apparently, having it out, but leaving it home, doesn't help me consume water. Who knew?
My one-month post-op appointment is on July 20. It's not a whole month, but it is 4 weeks and 1 day. My mother-in-law will be here. I was hoping that it would be when my mom was here, but my "second mom" is good too. There is always something comforting about having your mom around. She's like chicken soup broth -- just comforting to have.
Brandy, the girl who had the bypass the Friday before me, is doing well minus her being allergic to the Steri strips they used when they took our staples out. The woman who had the bypass the day after me (we met in the hospital) worries me. She has been taking her protein with "sugar-free ice cream." That can't be good. Not only do I think it messes up our dietary requirements, but is eating ice cream several times a day helping to get into better eating habits? I worry. I want all three of us to do well! I invited her over to try the stuff I have, but I don't know if she'll take me up on that offer.
My friends have been PHENOMENAL with helping me walk this week! I've been walked (again, like a dog) by Caitlin, Lianne, Wade, Lianne (and a little bit Thierry), Kathleen, Collette, Jeff (of course), Niki, and tomorrow and Friday by Leigh and Beth! Team Kawski is going strong! WOOT!
* In a previous post, I said that I thought only Collette would visit/think of me. Because I'm afraid for my life, let me note that I never doubted that my friend Cheryl would light a vigil, pray, call, and send a lovely rose bush. She lives in Ohio, but we talk several times a month and I am visiting her in the end of July and the beginning of August. She is amazing and my life is better because she is in it. There. Please don't hurt me now.
