Sorry if I left you hanging, but if you’ve followed us for any length of time, you know that the absence of posts meant Amanda was discharged as planned and we are home! Thursday night, I was getting ready to leave and saw my bus, the one I can get on close to the hospital, was getting close. I was getting things ready for Amanda before I left, but the nurse came in to give her meds. She takes some over-the-counter stuff like melatonin and a couple of other things that I always get for her before I leave. I waited for the nurse to leave to give her the meds; otherwise, they might freak out. I waited a little too long and watched my bus drive off as I rounded the corner of the hospital. So I walked to the transit center to catch a bus, just missing two other buses and barely catching another. As I got close to the transit center, I saw a guy leaning against a wall with a girl between his arms, looking like he was trying to bust a move on her. When I got closer, I thought he looked familiar from the side. He turned, and I recognized he was from StarBs. He had a big “Hi, Mr Barkley” for me like he does in the store! I also greeted him by name, but didn’t want to interrupt them! As I told Amanda the story, I said I couldn’t wait to give him a hard time in the morning about it!
Missing my preferred bus, I had to walk a different way. It’s not bad, but it’s not lit well and has more traffic. I like the other walk better, even though there are no sidewalks, there is hardly any traffic, and I rarely meet anyone walking. On my walk down the dark sidewalk, I heard someone speaking in an odd spot, which concerned me a bit. I had my head on a swivel after that. It was just a guy who had gotten out of the ER that was close by. Then I saw another guy in the adjacent empty parking lot who didn’t look like he lived in our neighborhood, or anywhere for that matter. I’d never been worried on a walk, but this one had me a little concerned, and I thought I wouldn’t be comfortable with Amanda ever walking like this. Not that she ever would, but it had me thinking about some of the women I see walking. Then, when I got to our apartment parking lot, I heard a guy yelling and a door slamming. I was really on guard then as I walked through our complex gate. A lady was about to leave, and I wanted to escort her to her car or ride, but I feared I would have freaked her out. I wouldn’t have thought twice about it if I were back home. But interactions with people here in the city are a little different. I regretted not talking with her; I will offer an escort either way next time.
I was a little late getting up; I had the railroad call a few times at night and wake me. Then again, in the morning, I had to check the boards quickly and tell the crew caller it wasn’t a legitimate call and they needed someone else. I was waiting to take off till later, and only if needed. I made it to almost 10 am before I had to take a sick day. Those are starting to dwindle quickly, hoping I can have a stint of working without taking off here soon. By the weight written on the board when I entered Amanda’s room, I noticed she’d lost another 6 pounds. Even with the dopamine off and just the Bumex drip running overnight, she still shed a good bit more. A grand total of 26 pounds for this admission. That’s got to be a record somewhere, and if they had a pee-pee award, she would have won it!
The team came by, and the PA told us about her plan for diuretics at home. It was essentially the same plan we were on before. I was concerned about getting Amanda to dry and asked what we would cut if we needed to back off. It was one of the extra pills we could back off on, she said. The doctor was in the hall on the phone during this. When he came in, the PA went over everything with him, mentioning that we could drop off or add as we saw fit. He again said he wasn’t worried and knew we were savvy and on top of things, and wasn’t at all worried about the care at home. I asked if we found ourselves overloaded with fluid again, could we possibly do the dopamine at home, and he said yes, they could. It would be a bit unorthodox to go on and off of it at home; it would usually be long-term, but we could do it at home. He understood the gist of the question and knew I was just trying to keep from another admission.
After that, all they had to do was enter the discharge meds, and we could be discharged. The PA called to talk with Amanda a few times, then the nurse came in with the papers. It was much quicker than we had anticipated. All Amanda had to do was sign the paper, with no IV to pull or need for transportation, we were gone after Amanda threw a cardigan on. I hadn’t even taken any bags to the car, but we came in with all the stuff on my back, the back of the wheelchair, and piled in Amanda’s lap, so we did the same leaving. I couldn’t find a handicap spot when I arrived at the hospital, but still found a decent spot, knowing I’d be bringing Amanda out.
Since it was an earlier than expected discharge, we needed to get lunch. There was a shawarma shop nearby where I picked up a falafel wrap for us. We took it easy in the afternoon. Amanda was ready to wash the hospital off when she got home, though. For dinner, it was some leftover soup from a Chinese takeout place we like. We were both tired; hospital days wore both of us out! With my turn out of town, I wouldn’t be required to answer the phone, so I turned it off and we slept in. It was late before any of us rolled out of bed. Tank was even enjoying the late get-up, and he didn’t bother me to take him out.
Even with a late sleep-in Saturday morning, we were both still tired. I understand why Amanda was so exhausted. With the dopamine, her rate was even higher than her regular marathon running rate; no wonder she couldn’t sleep. I was having sympathy tiredness for her, I guess! I left early in the morning to grab some groceries for Easter dinner. I wanted to beat the holiday shoppers. Amanda is the baker; I don’t like measuring things. So I was looking for rolls, but couldn’t find anything. I called Amanda to see what she wanted and woke her up. She said Tank and she were already napping even though they had just gotten up! I beat the crowd at the grocery store only a box away, but didn’t beat the crowd at Whole Foods. The pretentious crowd was up early for Easter grocery shopping! The rest of the day was spent just chillaxing.
Today we don’t have anything on our plates, but Easter dinner, which we plan to have for a late lunch. On the menu, I have roast leg of lamb with a mint sauce, which my mother always made for Easter. Sides are roast root vegetables including carrots, parsnips, turnips, golden beets, sweet potatoes, and shallots, along with mashed potatoes, an Amanda request, and sautéed asparagus. Not finding any suitable rolls, I pick up some baked-at-home fresh croissants and an array of small, sweet treats for dessert from Whole Foods.
I really needed to go to work, but I’m glad I am home for Easter with Amanda, even if we didn’t leave the apartment. It’s not a holiday I typically take off for, and I seem to work it a lot for some reason. I had a Facebook reminder of a photo from the first Easter after Amanda’s transplant pop up just the other day. As I got ready for church that year, I could see the writing on the wall that I would likely have to take my call to go to work at church. The phone rang as I pulled up to church. I was packed with my work clothes in the car and ready. I stopped by to get a smooch from Amanda and a quick photo op, then changed in the bathroom. As I was changing, YJ, your pastor, entered the restroom. We chatted and swapped railroad stories as I got ready! He was a railroader for a stint before he was called into the ministry. Many don’t get railroad life, but he does and understands my absences in times like that.
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