Tuesday, 7 pm

End of the day for us both. We have walked the hallways 5-6 separate trips. Ed has done balancing and strenthening exercises and practiced deep breathing off and on. His surgeon has been by to send us off for the night. He says we are probably over all the problem parts and now the numbers are all in the right places. No serpents threatening to lift their heads tonight.

What we are waiting for is Ed's being able to eat and drink normally, the reawakening of the GI system. He managed some fruit yogurt today and a dish of ice cream. We hope a little more substance tomorrow. The hiccups continue off and on, but they are not driving him crazy, or at least not yet. The epidural will be capped in the morning (not removed so that it can be started again if necessary). And he will get pain meds orally as needed.

It is possible he will be discharged on Thursday. And we will either go back to P.R. Or stay around here a few days extra to have his incision staples removed on tuesday, the 5th. If we don't stay, we will have to get the staples removed either at the P.R. clinic or in Bellingham. Whoever does that kind of work. Not, I might add, either of us, though Ed would doubtless give it a try if necessary.