
Six Week Anniversary
Yesterday we celebrated the half-way point in Nyel’s bed-bound state! Six balloons – one for each week of his patient waiting. And I made brownies with chocolate chips, too! (I think that was a first since Hector was a pup, as they say, or at the very least since my son Charlie was still living at home!)
Today we travel up to Vancouver to Rebound for Nyel’s second post-op appointment with his surgeon. Another x-ray, no doubt, and maybe the cast nurse will clean up his tattered edges. Or perhaps he’ll get a new cast altogether. His swelling is way down and he has room to spare in this one.

Morning Paper
In retrospect, the six weeks have gone by fast for both of us. The days have been a blur of visitors and meals and sponge baths and transfers from hospital bed to wheelchair and back again. Nyel plays solitaire, does crossword puzzles, reads the New York Times and tries to keep current with his Oysterville Restoration Foundation duties. I do the daily chicken chores, load and unload dishwasher and washing machine, empty bottles and buckets, schlep trays back and forth, and sometimes remember to get the mail. In between, we take naps and check our email.

On A Roll
Six weeks to go. That’s forty-two days and nights. I think the final celebration will warrant much more than six more balloons and a batch of brownies!
Congratulations, Nyel and Sydney! This occasion is definitely brownie worthy!
Wow, congratulations to you both, but how is it possible that much time’s gone by? Funny how even situations like this become the norm–but then suddenly t won’t be!
Wow, so glad Nyel and you are half way through this healing process! Nyel has certainly been a good patient and you have been a good nurse. It will be rewarding to check in with his surgeon to learn of his progress. The best to both of you. I have to compliment you Sydney for keeping things as normal as possible at your home and continuing on with your Friday night activities and other company that you have.
Thanks for your kind remarks Marion. And on the subject of “keeping things normal” — I’ve always wondered how people going through dire circumstances can manage to give the appearance of “life as usual.” I finally am understanding that it’s actually the easiest alternative. At least it helps to keep some perspective through the grim parts.