January is underway

It's Sunday evening and I'm trying everything to settle Erin down for an early evening. She has 'enjoyed' going to bed well after her normal bedtime, sometimes pushing 10:00pm. It's exhausted me on top of everything else I have going on! Tomorrow marks back to school for Erin. I am seriously hoping that being back in her routine will gear her down a bit! She has by no means been any trouble, she's just got energy to burn and I just don't!

So, an update on Gord.... Early Friday morning - like 7:30am early - the phone rang. It was Kingston General looking to see if Gord was coming in that morning. I told the woman that we had an appointment at Hotel Dieu on Tuesday and that I had no idea what she was talking about. In her dismay, she said that someone was supposed to call us the night before to let us know they had a surgery time for Gord. She felt really bad and asked if we could make it in in 2 hours. This of course is a unique challenge in that we live 1 1/2 away from Kingston and I had no one to look after Erin for the day, not knowing how long the day would be.... So after waking up Richinda and then Andrew and Rita, Andrew graciously got Emily out of bed and brought her out right away. So we were off to Kingston just before 8:00am. I am soooooooo glad the roads were good! We got there at 9:30am and the folks admitted Gord and got him ready for surgery. It was a looooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggg afternoon of waiting. Finally, just before 3:00pm, Gord's surgeon came out to let me know that they had operated on Gord's heel for about 2 3/4 hours, and installed a plate and pins to rebuild the heel bone. The surgeon thought everything went well, but did say the bone was in really bad shape. He said there was some damage to the carteledge, so he would likely be susceptible to arthritis in his foot in the coming years. I got to see Gord about an hour and a bit later in his room. He was pretty groggy, but felt alright. Of course the effects of the local anethetic were not out yet! I stayed with him for about 40 minutes, then headed home as it was getting late in the day and he just felt like sleeping. The drive home was fine. I hit some snow just before Brockville. I stopped to get some dinner for myself and the girls and got home around 7:00pm. Andrew came to pick up Emily, which was wonderful, as I was pretty tired.

Gord called the next morning saying they were going to discharge him that morning, so Erin and I were heading to pick him up Saturday morning. Gord had unfortunately been really sick - they think from the morphine - much of the night and a bit in the morning. Erin and I got to Kingston at about 11:00am. Gord was really white when we got there, but he had managed to start to keep food down at that point. The nurses were just monitoring him for a bit before letting him go. Erin was happy that his lunch arrived in his room and she happily helped herself!!! It was pretty funny! We left around 1:00pm and were home shortly after 2:30pm. I hoped back into the car and went to the pharmacy to get his prescriptions filled and to grab some groceries. I was home at 6:00pm. I am very tired of driving!!!

Gord was in a lot of pain yesterday evening and through the night. He was really feeling the effects of the surgery, but he seems to have the pain under control now.

Erin has been a great little helper though. She helped me put away the Christmas decorations (except the tree - need some help with that!!) today and helped to tidy the house. She has also helped get things for Gord. That has helped me out too! So Gord goes back to see the surgeon in 3 weeks to get his stitches out and to get fitted for a walking boot. He won't be able to use it for a while, but they apparently take some time to fabricate, so they want it to be ready when he can finally put some weight on the heel - in another 3 months!

So, the week starts back to 'normal', whatever that is! Aunt Eleanor has graciously agreed to take Erin to and from school on Wednesdays, so that will be immensely helpful to me so I can get a full week of hours in at work.

Enjoy the week all!