The strength of the heart

With Ernesto bearing up the coast, my parents ganged up on me yesterday and sent my ass packing. I was originally intending to come home this morning, but with a predicted 5" of rain, I figured maybe they were right so I high-tailed it on home yesterday, Ernesto nipping at my heels.

We continued to get good news yesterday. The cardiologist had done an ultrasound on Dad's heart on Tuesday and it is in fantastic shape. The surgeon said the chest tube can come out either today or Saturday because the fluid has all been drained. The pulmonary specialist said that Dad does not have pneumonia, that the breathing problems were caused by all the fluid in his chest making his lung collapse. Each one of them took us to the side and said it was a serious miracle that Dad had survived all of this.

And yesterday morning, Dad ate everything on his breakfast tray except the mystery meat (we think it was some kind of pork cutlet) and the napkin.

Last night, I called the hospital room to let my mom or sister know that I had gotten home safely and my dad answered the phone:

Me: Hey Daddy, it's Liz!

Dad: I know.

Me: What are you doing answering the phone?

Dad: Well, someone had to answer it. Everyone else is downstairs trying to find something edible in the cafeteria.

I think he's feeling much better.

The funny thing this week is that the nursing school is back in session and the students have had Dad as one of their case studies. He has gotten so horribly spoiled by them waiting on him hand and foot that he will be unbearable after they move on to another messed-up patient. But in the meantime, he's just beaming at all the attention. They all think he is the cutest thing they've ever seen and he has a huge fan club here at the hospital.

You know you've been at the hospital too long when:

1. You get the employee discount in the cafeteria
2. You know all of the weird shortcuts to get to the cafeteria
3. Random people start stopping you and asking how your dad is doing

I'll probably be headed back down on Saturday for a quick trip with Monkey Man. Apparently, my one brother already bailed out yesterday and left my sister holding the bag. My other brother, who even though he knew how sick Dad was left on a hiking trip in the Cascades without any way to get in touch with him, flew in last night. He is such a clueless fuckhead that I can't even talk about it right now.

Off to crash on the couch for a few minutes before Monkey Man rears his head. I just wish I could get the beeping of the IV pumps out of my head because it's slowly driving me insane.