Today is a rainy, sleepy day in Minneapolis, even Eli is having a very sleepy day. But, that’s ok because he had surgery on his broken olecranon (funny bone) this morning. Surgeon called to say it went really well! No problems coming out of anesthesia or any of his other numbers that they watch (my main worry in having another surgery so soon). This should be the last surgery though!

Nurse Susan said not to rush to the hospital. I got there around 10:30 and he still wasn’t in his room. They shooed me away because there would be a lot of people and a lot going on to get him settled back in his room in the SICU. So I sat in the cafeteria for another hour or so. I take advantage of that time to make phone calls that I don’t want him to hear – because he hears and understands everything we say so we have to be careful. I’m not complaining; that’s a wonderful thing! He works at Whole Foods here in Minneapolis, so I had to call and open a claim to put him on a leave of absence. It’s phone calls like that, that I’d rather he not hear so he doesn’t get upset.

It’s been a really quiet day for him, but given that he underwent another surgery that’s understandable. He’s actually sleeping more soundly than I’ve seen so far with the exception of when he was on the trach tube. He needs his rest to recover. So I’m sitting here watching my baby boy sleep on and off, even snoring a bit while I try to figure out this website/blog to journal and update all our family and friends. I moved the posts to the blog where you can make comments that we will read to him when he’s ready. At least I hope the comments work – it’s a little confusing for those of us who are not millennials or younger.

Speech came in and reiterated that his swallow is great – no issues that she sees (yay!!!). His diet is now regular food, although I’m not sure he liked the chicken he was eating. He doesn’t have much of an appetite, but again given that he had surgery, it’s normal. PT and OT came after that. Got him up in a chair! No cognitive evaluations today or walking because he’s just pooped!

I saved the best for last, and it looks like the drain in his brain will most likely come out tomorrow!!!! That’s a huge thing because it’s the last hurdle to jump over in order to move out of SICU. Hooray!! It’s an EVD drain (external ventricular drain) that drains excess amounts of cerebral spinal fluid. Normally, our bodies absorb it (guess it’s about a coke-sized can per day we produce). If his ICP (intracranial pressure) numbers go to high he can’t get it removed. However, I had some prayer warriors praying this morning that his ICP numbers would stay low and not go over a certain number. Guess what? God is still listening, and his numbers have been great all day! Please pray it stays this way and he gets the drain removed tomorrow.

That’s all for today! I will write more tomorrow on my day off from the hospital and fill in the gaps of the first few days. Again, thank you for your support, prayers, and love. We are feeling it! Love to all of you!