Day 3: Look out, Ahnold...

That's right, Ahnold...Richard is buffing up.
Be very, very afraid.

WBC: 1.7
Platelets: 243
Lbs lost in hospital: 5

The physical therapist comes by once a day now, making Richard do exercises to maintain his muscle mass. It's amazing what you can do just lying down: pushing one's knees down, clinching the glutteus maximus, flexing the feet, and doing bicep, tricep and othercep curls. Bed potatoes, all together now...a one, and a two. Slow and steady now. Three and four. Tired? Hah! Five and Six. Rest and begin again. (You can almost hear the whip snapping.)

Richard's nausea is unrelenting, so the doctor ordered a New! Improved! nausea medicine, Emend (not sure of spelling yet). It seemed to help a little. Richard's nausea is now at a 5 (on a scale of 0-10...it's been at 6-7). He had a few bites of cream of wheat, toast, and two saltines. He's lost five pounds, but I'm determined to put those pounds back on after he's home. He's a little tired of me asking him every couple of hours if he feels like having a taste of pudding, or a cracker or ice cream. I think he finally succumbs because I'm such a pest. But, really...what he's doing is rewarding my behavior! (Psych 101) I'm always so pleased when he says, "Okay, i'll try a cracker." Funny how basic things, like eating and drinking, become the most important things in your day at times like this.

And that's all the news fit to report. Thanks to all the callers today. It helps. P.S. I'm printing off the blog and responses each day for Richard.

Keeping the lungs fit, too.
And blow...slow and steady...two, three, four.
Good, now nine more times.










Things we were thankful for today: Great day/pm nursing staff (thanks Lorri and Zoraida); Seinfeld; and our children (which brought some tears and hugs this afternoon).