Day 13: Free at last, free at last

Day 13: Free at last, free at last

WBC: 26
Platelets: 48

Richard came home today.

After I picked him up at the hospital, we had a quiet ride to our house. Richard was savoring just being outside for the first time in two weeks. He's so happy to be home.

When we got to our house, he went from room to room taking it all in. He checked on the plants in the backyard, too. They're still alive, which is a miracle. I've always confessed that the only things I can grow are children.

He spent the day on the barcolounger (thanks again Jeff), remote and phones in hand. He watched the US Open, then went to bed at 9. His appetite is a little better, due mostly to having non-hospital food. I asked him what he wanted for dinner, and he said "steak!" Steak it was. Even though I had to cook it forever (he's still on a low microbial diet), it was tender enough to have good flavor. He had about two ounces of steak and a few bites of well-scrubbed, steamed squash. The squash was the first vegetable he's had since he left home I think! He couldn't stand the smell of anything cooked in the hospital.

We're on fever patrol right now, taking his temp twice a day. I'm also extremely careful about cleaning door handles, and anything he touches. When his counts are higher in a couple of weeks, we can be less diligent. Right now I have lysol bleach wipes in the kitchen and bathroom, though, and use them throughout the day.

Richard has doctor appointments over the next few days and weeks, but having him home is very sweet.