Escape from ICU :)

Hello WEEKEND!  

To many of us, it's just another day of work, but to some,it's time to wind down from the week and potentially spend more quality time with family.  Whatever camp you are in, I hope you make the MOST of your time! Time will always keep going, it's important we make the right decisions on how we fill that time.

Thursday, September 1st was the first University of Utah Football game.  If you know me well, you know that I am a Utah Alumni and a Utah Football fan.  This was the first Season Opener I had ever missed.  A good friend delivered some wonderful Utah gear to help me still make it a fun night. What an amazing surprise and so, so generous!! Of course the T.V. in my room didn't have the game.  I did however have "I dream of Genie" and several other shows I hadn't seen in years!  LOL!  I did get a good play by play from the "Rock" and "Miracle Boy".  I made them go so they could cheer!!

I was feeling super good, so from day one when I saw my docs, I asked "ok, so when do I get to go home"?  HAHAHA!!  You know I am that pain in the rear patient!  Everyone was super nice, but I felt like I was in prison!!  I needed someone to watch me while I walked the halls to make sure everything was good.  The new medication and the surgery, made me super bloated!  I would look at my legs and wonder, OH MY HELLEN!  Is this the way I am going to always look?  YIKES!  Then I reminded myself to focus on being grateful for being alive and having a chance to see my son graduate, potentially be a grandma to spoil the grandchildren (HAHA) and be around for my family.  I could figure out a way later to lose all this excess water weight if necessary.

What I really, really wanted was to freaking put on some UNDERWEAR and drink some COFFEE! Sheesh!  Is that too much to ask for?  HAHAHAHA!!  I finally asked the nurse if I could put on underwear and my doctor if I could drink some coffee and they both said YES! WOHOO!! That made my new heart super happy!!  I am sure all the people in the hall were REALLY happy too!  HAHAHA!  I am sure they got tired of my derriere! HAHAHA!

Friday. September 2nd, I was moved out of ICU. HOT DANG!!!   From room S208 to room 427. My really good wise friend talked some sense into me today.  He said "you're looking at this as a prison, you need to look at this like a spa and enjoy being pampered and relax and catch up on movies you've always wanted to watch.  "Just enjoy the journey". My wise wise friend.  So, with his little pep talk I turned my prison attitude a new attitude!  

Labor Day!  Great day!  Mom and "ROCK" have been visiting daily, and "Miracle Boy" every other day!  I am so fortunate to have these three amazing human beings in my life. My fear of not being able to hug my "Miracle Boy" before the transplant was gone.  I hugged him the first minute I saw him!  I couldn't help myself!  "Rock's" parents wanted to come and help "Rock" and family.  Since Rock was not able to work at the cabin the weekend of the new heart, They went to the cabin to work.  They came back from the cabin and they came to visit this evening.  I sure love them so much!  I feel their overwhelming love flowing into me.  I no longer needed someone to escort me on my walks, so I started walking 3 miles a day once I left ICU.  It's almost not worth counting anymore!  Lol Walking around in a hallway in circles 36 times.  WOHOO!  JOY!  I got to know the nurses. I took the time to write thank you cards to the nurses and doctors and delivered them.

I love my boys and my mom so much and so many others who have been so supportive, praying and sending their love!  I don't want to let anyone down!  I am going to obey the doctors rules and get out of here is what I thought!   It's also what I keep thinking because I am not a good rule follower.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend and remember to make the best of it!  

Love you and thank you for taking the time to read the blog!!

Claire