On The Mend

Hi all,

It's about 6:30 Sunday morning and I thought I would let you know how things are going. Quick answer is "slowly better". I'm taking a couple of naps a day, and otherwise trying to take things in a deliberate approach to rebuilding strength. I got on the scale this morning and found myself below 200 lbs for the first time in 12 years.

Another interesting issue is that I was strapped down/restrained for several of the first days in the ICU. I must have fought that, because both shoulders are painful, particularly at night. Also, my last couple of nights on the general ward shredded any sleep schedule I had. As a result sleeping through the night has been difficult, but it is getting slowly better. I was probably up 4-5 times last night, but it was the first night I didn't wander downstairs for a while.

Liz is in Seattle for a few days for a long-planned half-marathon (God knows she deserves the stress release) and has left Robbie and me in the loving care of her sister, Kate. Kate has been my sister-in-law for almost 19 years, and we've talked more and more substantively over the last three days than we did in the time previous. She is a wonderful, kind, and informative person. I sorry I waited so long to get to know her this well.

Kate has convinced me that my body needs calories to rebuild, so yesterday the three of us went to a local diner. I had my first chocolate milk shake in years. This morning I had a PB&J sandwich and a banana for breakfast.

On Tuesday, it's back to Georgetown. First for an echocardiogram to ensure there was no heart damage and then to meet with Dr. Cheson.

Vic L.: love the icon picture (you sexy beast).

One last note: my brother-in-law Buster came through his quadruple bypass surgery great and should be going home today or tomorrow. Thank you all for your prayers.