A Busy Day

November 5, 2012
I needed to take a break from this, in light of a tragedy at the high school that affected me more than I expected. That coupled with the emotional drain of this blog caused me to hit a wall on Thursday and I just couldn't do it for a while. 

Thursday 1 November 2001
1:20 pm  Brian is more awake today. I have been in to see him several times, each time finding him more animated. Early this morning, he was more quiet, becoming more animated when the RT came in. He likes her; he needs silliness and activity. I am going to work on that. (I remember this day. She was really fun, and referred to herself as the "Respiratory Terrorist" because she was always stirring up trouble for him physically. He would turn from looking seriously at me, to smiling at her. He didn't seem to want to look at me at all. I was tired, too solemn, worn out from all the stress and worry. I wasn't sure how he was going to come out of all this and terrified that it would happen again, without warning, there in the hospital. It was nearly impossible for me to be playful. I cried that day, I felt so bad. I was jealous, too.) I read some of The BFG a couple times and he liked it, paid attention. The OT and a Speech Therapist came in and worked with him; the PT is with him now. The nurse (Crystal) turned the tv on, which I don't like, and I turned it off. I don't think he wanted it off; I think he was angry and said "on" to me. So I'll experiment. I just would rather interact with him. (Seemed fair. Plus, the rehab doc didn't want it on: too much stimuli) I showed him a painting Marshall brought in for him - one of Brian's - and Brian reached out and rubbed his left hand on it. I told him one day he would draw and paint again. (That took several years....)
He has a little electrode taped to his ring finger on his right hand, and wants it off. Hopefully, that will be done.
My friend Becky Becker called this afternoon, as did Jamie. (Becky is a friend from childhood)
I am here alone; Rosemary went home, Kellie and Marshall are working, and Dave went home for the day. Kellie is due 2-3 pm. I will go see Brian soon, so I can see him a while before Kellie gets here.
Marshall bought photo albums and I put all Brian's Europe photos in them. Dr. Foster came in this morning. No time on the surgery tomorrow; I must check. 
6:35 pm  Surgery will be 2 pm tomorrow. It will run approximately two hours. Ahsa, Bubby, and Vanessa visited. Brian was so excited when they came in; his eyes and grin were HUGE. Vanessa brought Day of the Dead suckers and Brian recognized them. Bubby had a drawing/cartoon of Brian's in a notebook, and Brian traced parts of it with his finger. He was being goofy, chewing on the leg of his Josie puppy, to peals of laughter from the girls. It was delightful!!!! Friends are the KEY. 
Told nurses NO tv (and no experiments).
8:40 pm  Max, Max Jacobsen-Freid (a friend of Brian's since grade school), Alana, and Josh Romberg (high school friend) all visited Brian together. It went great, happy kids all. Bubby's dad, Phil, also visited earlier; he took care of Brian in Ashland Hospital (and later did an amazing job stitching up Brian's nose in the ER after a dog bit him the following March). Marshall is with Brian now, saying "good night". Kellie and I will be here tomorrow morning. Thom will come in mid-afternoon and Dave will be here.
Marshall showed brian the Europe photo albums. Brian turned pages and pointed to photos. Nurse Crystal asked Brian at one point if he wanted to get in his chair and he mouthed "No".
10:30 pm  I was with Brian most of an hour. No vent: it was taken out of the room while I was there. Brian looked at it and smiled at me when I told him he wouldn't need it because he was breathing well enough on his own. I read a chapter The BFG and Brian fell asleep.
Watched video on implantable cardioverter defibrillator (in the room at Cheney House).