Chez PLJ

All in all, we are groggy.

Jon is convalescing well, and that is the main thing. Pain is decreasing, slowly.

The big issue, basically, is sleep. Jon wakes constantly during the night, either in pain, or by being woken as we administer meds. On top of a regular Tylenol dosage, he’s on a morphine-on-demand schedule, and he generally still needs it at night. Some nights he wakes as often as once an hour. As the healing continues, Jon is twisting and turning more in his sleep, and there’s no doubt that is causing more pain. But on the other hand, he’s pushing himself farther and helping the healing process.

There are some amazing differences from last time. With the removable wedge-‘n’-zimmers instead of a cast, Jon is already able — and obliged — to do physiotherapy two or three times a day. With the therapy, it didn’t take many days before he was able to bend the newly rebuilt leg all the way into his chest. Amazing. Clearly, he’s healing well. It’s a far cry from five years ago, when they opened the cast up after six weeks and Jon had two extremely itchy toothpicks that he could do nothing with.

The zimmers also mean that Jon is able to have a shower, which is kind of important for a 10-year-old boy (at least from our perspective). The actual event is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. 😉

The other difference from last time is approximately 15 or so kilograms, and I am feeling it. I’ve hurt muscles in both my back and my abdomen. I know, I know, be careful, don’t get a hernia, etc. etc., I’m doing my best. I’m dealing with a 70 lb. young man who wants to roll over 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night, but at the hint of pain — which there will be, we’re rotating 180° fer cryin’ out loud — will try to fight the motion.

Every morning I’ve got to carry him downstairs in full regalia. He barely fits through doorways, and I have to approach them and the stairwell at interesting angles and pitches. Gradually these lifts are getting less painful for him, which makes it somewhat easier on me.

Days are pretty easy, but we’ll get him working hard in the coming days. Jon’s already back to his spelling practice, and he’ll begin reading again soon. I was hoping tomorrow, but he’s woken four times in the first 3 and a half hours of tonight, so maybe not.

Time for bed.