Electromagnetic Radiation is a Wonderful Thing

Hey all y'all.

I want to reiterate again how much it's helped me over the last couple of days to hear from all of you. I'm doing everything I can to be the non-freakout Kim that Chris needs me to be.

I left yesterday morning for a while, and went back to Livermore to check on everything. It's a little over an hour from here to Livermore, so I called Teri to see if I could crash at her place until this was over. Teri is an old old friend of mine from 1994 time frame, and has always been one of those friends that you could rely on with your life no matter what. I wasn't sure I would be able to get in touch with her, but I also knew that if she was away, I could just move into her place anyway (she confirmed my suspicions also). Teri also has a dog, part chow part black something-or-other (wasn't there a Yorkie in there at some point). Teri also loves the B, and B loves Teri. So, it got me within 20 minutes of the hospital in non-commute traffic, I'm with someone that I've known for a long long time, and I feel like I'm with family here. Teri took a lot of the stress I had been having off of my shoulders. I packed my clothes up, the dog, and moved into Teri's.

I stayed at the hospital yesterday through about 8:30, but I was really having a hard time staying awake. The adrenaline was finally wearing off, and it was becoming increasingly important to get some sleep (I didn't realize until later yesterday that I hadn't slept in almost 36 hours). I also hadn't been eating. It's the little things in life you forget I guess. So, I left and had the ultimate comfort food that I haven't had since I moved to California, and won't eat under normal circumstances... CARL'S JR #3! (There isn't an In-n-Out on the way home). Let me tell you, that was damned near one of the best comfort food meals I've ever had. Had a nice couple of hours with Teri before I fell into a forehead first snooze into the back of the couch. I packed enough pants and shorts and undies to get through to next week, but apparently forgot that I need shirts to go with the pants. Space out much?

Lisa came over here this morning and sat with Chris from 8 until noonish. We're BLESSED... Lisa loves Chris like a brother, and would be there for him at the drop of a pin. *I* have 2 women here right now, September 21, in the Bay Area that I could rely on with my life that are like sisters to me. I got here at noon, brought flowers to try to brighten up his room (but I really wanted a pirate balloon, and had I been able to find a Johnny Depp poster, I probably would have found a way to tape it to the wall). On Lisa's suggestion, I brought a bowl of halloween candy for the nurses, so they come in here to get candy, check on Chris. So far, I don't think the little ploy is working, but then again we are in an ICU type of unit, so I'm not surprised. The food delivery chick came without a banana though, I offered her candy, found out that Chris ordered a banana, told her, and the chick came back with 2 bananas. Maybe I'm wrong about the manipulation part. I also brought the nurses a container of cookies. Always fun to give a bunch of skinny chicks sugary stuff that I don't eat myself.

Chris is doing better today, though I would guess it's hard to tell to anyone that didn't see him the last 2 days. He did finally lose the catheter. We're out of the 24 hour window for finger rejection now, and the finger appears to have not only survived but Chris can feel his finger tip (Allysone, our AWESOME nurse, has said he's the first one she's had with this injury that can feel the fingertip). He's eating a little bit, and drinking water. I think he's still in pain, but it appears to be not near as bad as it was yesterday. I can tell that's he's definitely getting tired of people being around and prodding him all the time.

I finally opened the X-Ray CD that I ganked from Pleasanton. I asked for the images, so when they brought the image folder, the technician dropped a CD in there and gave us the eyeball like "here's your CD, just grab it while you can." So, I grabbed it and stuck it in Lisa's bag. I loaded it a couple of minutes ago, and I'm thinking that they didn't want us to take it (but I have it now, and not sure I really want to admit that I have the thing). Loaded it up, found the image I wanted, and had to do an alt-print screen to get it out of there:



Finally, tomorrow the Occupational Therapist will come and unwrap his hand and make a full splint for him to go home with. For those morbid friends of ours, I'll be taking pictures of the unwrapped, newly reconnected and regenerated, hand. I promise, I will not post them openly.

Thanks again to everyone. We have wonderful friends and family, and this has made me miss all of you so much. Not that I wasn't already missing you, but DAMN I really miss you now. We love all of you very very much.