July 12: after midnight

Myt computer is acting up, so this is shorter than anticipated.

Had pre-admit stuff today. Had to go through the whole story, because everyone wants to hear it "from the beginning" instead of reading the chart. I was kind of stunned when I looked at my chart, which was 2.5 inches thick--that looked right. Then I noticed it was Volume 3. Kind of sobering. Anyway, the nice nurse practitioner (I forgave her for the sin of her training!!) presented my case to anesthesia. They made her go to the Chief, of course. Anesthesia was "very impressed with my numbers!!" And I don't look like I'm that sick...

Today was complicated by a GI bug--probably food poisoning from either BK Sat or TGIF on Monday, salads at both. Anyway, lots of times to the bathroom, but better today than tomorrow. Wouldn't that be great in the middle of open heart surgery?! Even Dr. Cohn may not have run into that one.

Bracing myself to wake up with a mechanical valve. Multiple reasons. Stay tuned. We'll see. I'm really being my usual prosaic self--it is what it is. My minister told me tonight that I have "spiritual vitality". New phrase for him, but strange circumstances deserve strange phrasing!

Mom is here, Brenda is here, obviously "Aunt" Beth is here. Took a shower and washed my hair tonight. For those of you who haven't had surgery, you have to wash the night before and the morning of with antiseptic stuff to start decreasing the germs. But then you wear your clothes.

Anyway, have to be up in four hours. But then I get to sleep most of tomorrow....

Thanks for all the prayers, good vibes and positive thoughts. Brenda and/or Joanne will update every few hours tomorrow, and then other days as needed. Can't really relax until I make it out of CCU, and I always seem to do something to delay my quality time in there.

Thanks, as always, for checking in. Laurie