08.29.2010 Sunday Weak-in-the-Knees but not on the floor

Quiet Day. Dr Reed let us know that he would be coming in the morning. I wanted to see the surgical site so when he came, I looked over his shoulder. This doesn't sound like a big feat however, since the time I was 15 years old, I have had a very low tolerance for visual medical incidents. When I saw the "shark bite" I didn't faint, but experienced a new sensation...nausea. I managed to stay in the bedside chair until the doctor left, but IMMEDIATELY after that, I crawled into Den's bed and had to stay there for a while. I was basically weak-in-the-knees until about 3:00pm. Dorothy isn't doing well. Jane said that she had alot of swelling and was complaining about discomfort in her left arm. Ed and Jane are looking into skilled care facilities that will take her upon release in about 3 days. My dad stayed in the hospital for observation overnight, and was impatiently awaiting release. They decided to continue their vacation as they would rest better away from home. I have tried to keep up somewhat on school with internet access. Both of my laptops are at the hospital now, along with the camera, and Den's medical apparatus. It's going to take a pick up truck to take all of this stuff home. Den is trying out crutches. The wound vac will be applied tomorrow. He is still "not-out-of-the-woods" yet so no one is predicting a release date as yet. I'm really getting tired trying to keep the house going...and fight against the vaccuum that pulls you into the parallel universe that is medicine. It is very tough to maintain any kind of life outside of the 9th floor. Dennis passed a depression evaluation. I'm not sure how he did it, unless he flourishes with all the attention. We may have to find him his own nurse, because I can't devote this much time to him and be a student and wear the other hats. This is going to take some doing.....