I woke up to a Tetris puzzle blocking me into my little sleeping corner. They had gotten Amanda out of the bed and into the chair, and the bed was blocking me in. I had to rearrange everything, including Amanda, to even get out. Amanda had planned to have a shake for breakfast. The nutritionist had brought some plant-based ones a few days ago, and I had one in the fridge ready to go. The NP came by to check on a page from the morning nurse. She wasn’t there to do her exam, but Amanda still laid out the ‘I want the NG tube out’ story for her. Amanda is done with that thing!
During rounds, they discussed a lot, but not much new. The BP while standing is an issue, but I didn’t get that they were concerned. The big question was getting the NG tube out. The NP told the team the request, but wasn’t very convincing. So I jumped in and shared my two cents. I explained how we’d done this before, and it seemed she wasn’t eating like she normally would after a big surgery. I was doing my best to help her get it out. I explained how the nutritionist said we could give it a try, and if needed, it would have to go back in. I told them that at this point, Amanda would be ok with taking that risk; she just wanted a chance to keep it out. The team as a whole was for getting it out and giving her a chance to eat on her own. The ICU attending did mention it was with the stipulation that it goes back in if she doesn’t eat enough.
After rounds, I took off to the apartment. There was a farmers market at an Ag center I drive through to get to the apartment, but it ended up being closed. I needed to get the totes unloaded and put away. Beverly came to help and brought reinforcements, her husband and youngest daughter. We all made quick work of the totes. Most of the stuff was kitchen-related, so we are almost ready to cook a meal. David and Renee arrive tomorrow, and Bev is ready to bring the crew back, so I think we may not only get unloaded tomorrow but also get everything put away, as well.
While I was gone, PT came by and got Amanda up. She didn’t walk, just stood. The first stand didn’t last long, and she had to sit down quickly because of her BP. The second was better; they had her rocking back and forth. Just as I got back, the nurse was about to pull the NG tube. She had said she was going to pull it earlier in the morning. Not long after I got back with lunch, as I spread it out for Amanda, an echo lady came by. Of course, she needed Amanda back in bed, but first, she tried to do it in the chair. No luck, and she needed her to get back in bed, but they gave her a break to eat. The soups I’d brought were too spicy, not spicy, just to her weird taste buds, right now.
When they got Amanda back up to get in bed, she stood and backed up a little, only needing a little medication for her BP. We went round and round about the eating. I was mad telling her she needed to eat, but I didn’t have a clue what she’d eat if potatoes in general were spicy. We were both frustrated. She decided she could eat some Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries. I got an order from Uber Eats, she did pretty well with that, eating a good many fries and six nuggets. It was perfect timing; the NP just happened to pop in to say hi. She did a little happy clap and was glad to see Amanda eating.
An extra BP medication was added last night to maintain things overnight. The need for both medications has dropped throughout the day, though. It seems we are heading in the right direction. This has been such a slow progression for this recovery. I don’t think either of us had ever expected this. Amanda and I were talking about how she was responding better and not needing as much BP medication. I told her it was the NG tube coming out that everything better. Amanda said, “That’s what I’ve been telling them!”
Amanda had been thinking about dinner and what she’d want. She settled in on pasta, fettuccine Alfredo. I’ve already been in the who cares about plant-based mode for a bit, now Amanda is there too! Nashville is a bit hard for that, especially for things within walking distance of the hospital. That and I’m just too lazy and beat down to worry about it right now. I looked for an Uber Eats Italian place and saw one that was close by, around the corner from Hopdoddy.
Amanda and I talked about the apartment this afternoon. I’m so glad she can converse with me now, even though she is a little demanding at times! I joked that I needed to call Joel, the interior designer I met at Hop a couple of weeks ago, since we are now getting things ready in the apartment. We’d exchanged numbers then, so I just shot him a text saying I was thinking of him. I’m trying to get in the habit of reaching out to people when they cross my mind. I mentioned how I hadn’t seen him at Hopdoddy and hoped he was doing well. I got a response pretty quickly that he was actually heading there with a friend. I was going to get dinner from a place that was around the corner later on. I don’t believe in coincidences like that, so I wasn’t about to not stop by and chat with him. I’m not going to go into his business here, but 2025 has been rough for him; he needed an ear tonight. We exchanged caretaker stories and had a heartfelt God talk. As much as I felt God put him in my path a couple of weeks ago to uplift and support us, it goes both ways. I think I was put his life for a reason, too. God is building a Nashville support system all around us, of people from all walks of life. Believe what you want, but that can only be God.
I grabbed dinner on the way back to the hospital, and we dove in when I got back. The pasta was a good call. Amanda was able to eat a good bit. Slowly, we’ll find things she can eat. And when we figure it out, her taste buds will be back to normal! The CRRT machine was off for just a little too long in a certain mode and had to be restrung entirely. That is a whole process, and all the CVICU nurses have to be certified by having three supervised strings. We have a nurse currently getting one of her certification strings on the CRRT machine, right now. We’ve helped a good many get their creds in our room!
David and Renee got a wild hair and took off at 9 pm last night and drove all night, coming up with the last of our things for the apartment. They are resting in Little Rock now and will be here tomorrow. Beverly has volunteered her family again to help unload and put everything away. As quickly as we got the kitchen put away today, I wasn’t about to turn that help away. So by this time tomorrow night, we should have a completely livable apartment.