As we pulled into the neighbourhood, a heavily drugged Jon fell asleep in relief.

Well, much to the relief of Photon, the entire pack has returned home, a little worse for wear. Jon is still under much pain management, with this massive wedge making huge problems in transport (fitting through doorways, for instance) and posture. And now that Laura has made it through the recent challenges in reasonable shape, her body has lapsed into a terrible cough and chest cold.

We’re going to lay low for a bit. 😉 Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts!

The troops.

This what we’ll be dealing with for the next 12 weeks or more. What you’re looking at is a big white styrofoam wedge, with velcro straps wrapping around two grey zimmers (the overgrown shinguards also known as “knee immobilizers”).

If it’s like the other two times, it’ll be six weeks all the time, and then six weeks at least in bed. The beauty of it is they can come off for showers, baths (in a few weeks when he can have one) and weight-bearing in water (starting in about three weeks!).

I don’t look forward to dealing with this sucker in the middle of the night when Jon wants to roll over. But it is a huge improvement over the A-frame cast we were dealing with 5 and a half years ago…but Jon is a lot bigger.

We’re definitely getting down to the short strokes now: Jon’s been completely de-tubed, with the IV coming out around dinnertime. Nice, substantial dinner; then at around 7 p.m. we’ve had our first poop (which apparently—from Jon’s expressions—was akin to giving birth). We’re waiting for a visit from the physiotherapist—about the only reason they want us to hang around until tomorrow.

Jon ate well and then got a new dose of morphine and fell asleep by 7:30. Prior to that he was on his belly for close to 4 hours, most of that time he was twisting around without much discomfort while watching both his DVD player AND a vidoetape on TV. They removed his dressings and his incisions are looking luverly.

He’s sleeping peacefully right now, knock on wood. Poor Laura! Not only is she the one with the lingering nasty head cold, but it’s exacerbated by the fact that she keeps getting the nights where Jon isn’t in a happy place, while I get the tranquil shifts. Well, maybe I should stay another night. Then again, there’s talk that we may be discharged tomorrow, so I may just have equine footwear administered rectally, as they say around here.

Laura reports that Jon slept well til midnight, then off and on from there.

This morning, his medical status is ABG: Alert But Grumpy.