Back by popular demand...

Hi everybody!

Isn' this a cute picture of me? Thanks, I think so too. Jeanne and Marty call this my "cute-ing" move. Then, I can get them to do pretty much anything I want! Ha!

But enough about me, let's get back to me and Marty. I am in charge while Jeanne is at work or out doing errands. Actually, I am in charge when she is home also. The point being that I can tell Marty feels a bit better every day, with more energy and stamina. He doesn't nap as much, talks on the phone more, and has reorganized his desk area. He hasn't yet left the apartment building since he came home from the hospital, but will do so to see his doctor tomorrow.

Jeanne sleeps long and deeply for the first time in ages. She still has that worried and weary edge; more cute-ing by me will surely help!

Got my work to do, must roll over and bask in their adoration!

Thanks everyone for attending so well to Jeanne and Marty!

Yours truly,

H.R.H. Carmella

The Gratitude List

I am deeply grateful for folks who have tweeted, texted, sent thoughtfully brief emails, and even sent cards wishing Marty and I well before surgery, during his hospital stay and after his release to home.

Thank you also to the good kind people who provided car rides to and from the hospital, made cookies for nurses, thoughtfully provided books and magazines for hours of medical wait time, made me laugh or allowed me to blather. Thank you to people who kept in touch daily, by various means, so that I would have a touchstone of normalcy and humor.

Thank you to my dedicated students who patiently endured re-scheduling as well as my rather exhausted demeanor.

I will thank surgeons and nurses in other formats, but I am grateful for their skilled work and compassionate care.

Marty gets a little stronger every day. He can eat, sleep and move about with increased range. His Foley catheter will be removed on Monday, thus vastly improving his comfort. He is in good spirits and enjoying Carmella's company during the day. We all treasure each other's company in the evening. We sleep well and awake grateful for life, health and the kindness of friends.

Further progress evidence

Recovery continues at home on many levels. Of course, Marty sleeps much more deeply at home than in the hospital. And since the surgery removed the gnarly mess that had caused him so much discomfort, he sleeps even better than previous to surgery. Intestinal cramping and continuous vomiting are no longer issues. This is a huge relief!

Although he takes lengthy naps, he is up doing non-weight bearing projects for much of the day while I am at work. Marty can go up and down our 3 flights of stairs, slowly and carefully, several times daily. He is also understandably tired, and runs out of steam quickly. Then he wisely rests.

The best news is that he can eat just a bit more widely than his formerly very boringly restricted diet without ill effect. As his intestinal tract heals and recovers, we are hopeful that he can enjoy a normal, healthy diet much like we ate before all this distress began years ago,

Many fond and deep thanks to Jay who so very thoughtfully and kindly sent a package of classic films on DVD! What a great recovery gift!!

Thank you also to Delia for magazines for Marty and chocolate for me!

A word from Carmella..

Hi everybody,

You have likely heard about me, as I run Marty and Jeanne's household with a velvet paw.

It is such a relief to have my full staff available once again! I missed Marty not only for myself but for Jeanne. It takes a village to see to me, and I am attentive to the village!

Anyway, Marty seems much better after he bathed and ate today. He sleeps a lot, which presents me with many opportunities for warmth. Jeanne is much more calm and at ease now that he is home. And everyone can play with me, hurray!

Thanks to all the people and animals who have cheered and supported Jeanne during this time!

Love,

Dame Carmella Marie Barrett Spiegel

the home report

Although it was a little dicey last evening to get Marty in and out of a vehicle and then up 3 flights of stairs, we made it, he is home now, and healing thus continues.

He slept well in our own comfy bed without hospital noises, lights or interference. Carmella and I successfully kept him warm.

Given that this is his first day at home after major surgery and an extended hospital stay, his activity level was impressive. He collected the mail (3 flights down and then back up), cooked his own lunch while I was out to appointments, sat at his computer to check email, and reorganized his desk. That is a lot of stamina and strength for a person just out of an abdominal surgery! Don't worry, people, I am not letting him wear himself out, just happy that he is coming along so well.

We are taking this very step by step, moment by moment. As the landscape changes with his continuing recovery, I will request anything we need directly by email, text or phone.

Our thanks to you very dear people who have sent thoughtfully brief emails, texts or voice mails to express support!

Home at last!

After I finished teaching today (I had returned to full working hours yesterday), our friend Matt picked me up and drove me to the hospital to bring Marty home. Marty was all dressed and ready to roll. We said farewell and thank you to his nurses, all of whom deserve medals and an increase in pay, and good bye and good luck to his roommate, then onward to our home!

Marty walks slowly and carefully, and looks understandably weary and worn. Once he can eat, rest and unwind at home for some days, under Carmella's fine supervision, I am hoping some measure of his strength and stamina will return.

Many thanks to Matt for braving rush hour traffic on Marty's behalf!

Fewer tubes, more food....

Marty was "upgraded" to soft foods today, such as custard, yogurt, sherbert today. He had a little hot cereal and a few bites of orange sherbert. He proceeds cautiously with food intake.

His epidural for pain med delivery was removed, as was his I.V. morphine drip. All pain meds (he is currently only taking industrial strength Tylenol) now taken orally. He retains an I.V. hydration drip until tomorrow afternoon, when he is scheduled to come home!

Transitioning from hospital to home is a mixed blessing after an extended hospital stay. He will enjoy privacy, quiet and comfort, as well as Carmella's company. He will also have less skilled care and nursing attention and more challenges in caring for himself. It will be a readjustment for both of us as we figure out what he needs for continued recovery on a daily basis.

Please give Marty the time he needs to adjust to home life and continue to heal; allow him to call you. Also, the "no visitors" request remains. Thank you for putting Marty's recovery and our serenity first!

Thank you to all the dear people who emailed, texted and sent messages in other formats to cheer and support me and Marty while he has been in the hospital! You're the best!