Life on the sofa.
Not really all that bad, that is if one enjoys discomfort. The sofa is not designed for a big man to sleep on, the dips and divits. Then there is the texture, nothing like the soft cool comfort of those delicious cotton sheets on the bed.
I end up staying up till the wee hours of the morning, perhaps the late night, but I am on alert and on guard listening to each breath of my wife as she sits up right in an old broken down recliner attempting to sleep.
I have her propped up with various pillows to protect and support her arm from shoulder blade to finger tips. I have a pillow behind her back to support her back because of prior surgery. I have a dog bone pillow to craddle her neck and head. I wrap her shoulder in a towel and dual ice bags to cool and comfort the surgical sites.
Since the recliner will not recline I have a stool with several pillows on top to raise and support her legs. Then I complete the scene by wrapping her in her favorite fleece blanket.
Once sufficiently medicated she drifts off to sleep, how she sleeps like that I cannot fathom as she looks most uncomfortable.
The first few nights there was no sleeping through the night. She cried out in agony frequently. I would awake and try to comfort her. Then the clock was set to awaken us to make sure she stayed on time and ahead of the pain by keeping the schedule of pain medications.
I felt so sorry for her as she seemed to never get comfortable or escape the agonizing post operative pain, even with a pain pump installed. I felt as if I were going mad as I knew not what to do and was at a total loss.
But things are looking up now.
Yesterday I took her to a follow up appointment with the physical therapy department. She has a few exercises to do. The massive bandage was finally removed and now she can shower. I have even gotten her a seat for the shower so she can sit and enjoy a nice comforting bath, though she is not to allow the surgery sites to be constantly bombarded and soaked by the shower.
Mandy has been a great help. She has made me feel protected and safe when Debbie would lash out at the World when the pain would spike. Mandy has helped with cleaning the house and preparing food. She takes care of the dogs and other things around the house. I would be lost without her help. Often she will slip into the family room and cover me up as I have finally crashed into a deep sound sleep with no covers. She says I would curl up into a tight ball appearing to try to stay warm. Mandy would gently cover me in blankets or even her robe. I love this girl so much. She is family.
When Mandy moved back home she brought her dog Jenga with her. We sort of feared the worst and held our breath not knowing how our Maggie would react. A few growls they are now friends. When I am on the sofa Jenga will be sleeping at my head and Maggie will be at my feet. Jenga is a very loving and needy pup, she is a snuggler. It feels good to have her with me, either sleeping at my side or following me around the house.
And today Debbie will be getting a new recliner! Yesterday we ordered a new one and it shall be dleivered today! It is a lovely buttery soft tan leather recliner. It rocks and will lay flat. Tonight Debbie will sleep like a Queen in her new recliner!
Now I must go for there is laundry to complete and a sink of dishes calling my name. I also think I hear the sofa calling out to me to come back and go back to sleep, but I must resist the sirens call of the sofa.
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