Fijian feast

Merlyne brought a feast with her tonight. The cafe closes at about 5:30pm but it's an open space just off the hospital lobby so we've been using it as our private dining and games room after hours. Merlyne laid out the tuna and vegetable curry, lamb stew, rice, tomato and avocado salsa, kumera, brocolini and green beans while we waited for the three to come down from Rosie's room.




It was our first real sit-down dinner and felt very civilised. Everything was delicious, including the mangos and cream for dessert. Thanks, Merlyne!!!!



Jessye is sleeping over with Rosie tonight and we've scored one of the foldout beds for her since the lazyboy is not that great.

Swim and scones

Rosie and Sophie had a 3 hour sleep while Jessye and I went to Jo and Sandro's for lunch, scone-making and a swim. It was a lovely afternoon with them and a good chance for Jessye and Sofia to chat about Japan. Alex was around to hang out with too.


When we got back to the hospital we 4 went down to the cafe where they didn't mind at all us eating the yummy scones courtesy of Jo, complete with jam and cream.

Happy time

I forgot to mention that Michael and the amigos (Rosie wants to call Miika and David Julio and Miguel) popped in and Rosie asked if she was allowed further out of this building. Miika, the jokester, said "not into the city". I asked Michael if she could walk to the Travelodge. I knew the answer would be no but I wanted Rosie to hear it from him because she's been hassling me about it. After physio, we all walked down to the cafe for hot chocolates and snacks outside in the warmth which will be too warm for the rest of the day probably. Rosie was in quite a hilarious mood in contrast to yesterday and we made lots of brain jokes.




She is starting to feel lots of strange sensations in the scar area, such as something moving from side to side, thinking I was touching her head and other movement up there which is all good - means the nerves are getting active again. We had a game of up the river, down the river which Rosie won and Jessye lost.




Back in the room now, Rosie is having a nap and Jessye and I will drive to Jo's place for a while to make Rosie homemade scones she's been craving and Sophie will stay with Rosie. Sophie wants to sleep too so will use the lazyboy.

Physio

Paula, a physio, took Rosie to the Physio room for some exercises using the equipment. We'll be able to go there by ourselves anytime.

Ultrasound

All OK, no clots in the legs, according to the sonographer. This is a routine check for all surgery patients who are immobile for hours or days.

Day 4 bright and early

I came to see Rosie at 6:15am and found her awake unable to sleep. She'd had some sleep during the night but interrupted by headaches. We took a wheelchair ride out to the 3rd floor garden outside her room and she walked a lap of it quite securely with me just holding an arm for insurance.
After a short snooze back in the room, Miika and David (Michael's other neurosurgical fellow from Switzerland) breezed in with Anne, team leader nurse. Rosie asked about the noise in her head. Miika explained she had extra air and brain fluid in the cavity which moved around and accounted for the sloshing she hears. They should be reabsorbed in a week or 2.



Also, if she can feel pain or any weird sensations coming from the scar area, that is because all those nerves that were sliced through to the bone are healing and trying to get back to work. It's normal and nothing to do with the brain.

It's all go this morning. Rosie had her first shower by herself using a chair in her bathroom. Then blood tests, then breakfast (All Bran) and now off to have a leg ultrasound to check on thrombosis.