Another VERY long day, though I am winding down much earlier than last night.

Chelsea tried to get me up at 5:45AM. I decided to give her some lettuce and try to rest a bit longer. It only lasted for another half an hour but I REALLY needed that half hour.

I walked her, showered and headed off to the hospital, missing Dr. Fehrman by just minutes. He had been in, told Dick what the plans were and that they were hoping to do the reduction at noonish. So I decided to zip down to the cafeteria for a bagel as I was really hungry by then. To my dismay, when I got back, Dr. Fehrman had been there AGAIN, because he forgot to mark the foot he was working on. A very important thing.

So we sat together, visited when he was not dozing and waited. He did not have TOO bad a night because of the morphine. Then somewhere aroung 10, Bobbie walked in. She had read the blog and my message while having her breakfast after her walk and decided to just come on down. We were sure glad. She left just about the time they were going to come to get him as she had to get home. Bill was due home from work and they were going to visit her mother, Barbara.

He went up to surgery at about 12:30PM. I zipped back down to the cafeteria to get something for lunch and came right back up to the room. I was not taking any chances on missing the doctor again. I did not have to worry about that. There is plenty else to be worrying about as it turns out.

After about an hour the nurse came to tell me that word had come down that they were unable to do the reduction from without and had to operate. Dr. Fehrman even called in Dr. Livermore to try to help but they were unable to put the bones back manually. So, there are now three more wounds and three pins in that poor left foot. Dr. Fehrman came down after the surgery to explain everything. It is, as we all know, very serious because of the poor circulation in his legs. The next week to 10 days will be crucial.

Poor Dick did not get back to the room until almost 4:30. He was a long time in recovery and is still not recovered. Jim and Michelle came at about 3PM and stayed until almost 6, even going down to the cafeteria to stay with me while I ate something. Michelle jokingly said that she WANTED to be there because people who are coming out of anesthetic are funny to listen too. They are too.

He is bothered and can't put his finger on it. Tomorrow we will go through everything with Dr. Fehrman when he is able to hold it all together. I am sure he feels bothered because it has not sunk in that he ended up with a major surgery instead of the manipulation that we so prayed for.

Richard called from Madison and talked to his Dad. That was comforting to Dick. I got home and had a call from Eileen and a message from Nora. These are all so welcome.

Please pray hard that God puts his healing hand on Dick. A Dr. Mc Calla, a infection specialist, has put a pick line in Dick's arm again. He wants to give antibiotics to be sure that the bones are totally clear. Anything to ward off creeping infection. Dr. Siddique put in the pick line and came up to see me. He is such a comfort and I am SO glad that he did that procedure. I got to see a couple other nurses that have helped us over the years and Brian from Dr. Moreno's office. We have way too many friends in the medical profession. They all love Dick.

Anyway, now I am HOME and Chelsea is begging me to go to bed with her. (Either that or she has to go out to "you know what")

I will give her the opportunity for the latter and then we will do the former.

Until tomorrow.

Love you all

Mary