As further evidence that I'm not going anywhere, I was able to switch rooms into a bigger/better layout. I know first hand what that means for inpatients from my own work. It's always the same, big room switch = long stay expected. I have however had a number of nursing staff and even housekeeping comment on how this is also the lucky room. And I also know first hand that some rooms do seem to have either good or bad vibes associated with them - so perception or reality, I'll take it! It makes sleep overs easier, and keeps Lydia out of medical equipment (mostly).
Then exhibit #2 is the visit from the nurse educator, which was basically an orientation of sorts to all things special for the long stay patients. Some are simple things like access to the "activity cart" with miscellaneous movies, books, crafts, games, etc. There is an expanded menu & take out binder, parking passes, family dining passes. She encouraged me to make the room as homelike as I wanted - bring pictures, artwork, of course my own clothes & bedding. Surprisingly I learned Charlie can come visit since his immunizations are up to date, provided he's had a bath. I can even bring a mini-fridge in if I want since I can't walk down to the "nourishment room" and then am not dependent on cafeteria delivery hours. She gave me hints to areas of the hospital that aren't in use during evenings & weekends so we can head over there for a change of scenery & more space now that I have wheelchair privileges. My OB cut back on monitoring overnight enough that I officially am a "do not disturb" between 11p-7a ~ another long stay patient privilege. Of course if I need anything they are in here in a flash and that goes away if anything clinically changes, but at least I have the option of uninterrupted sleep for now.
I have been readmitted now a week (again), and am trying to pretend I have some kind of schedule. It does help and was advice from a friend with her own bed rest experience. I am just starting to be able to "sleep in" which really means waking up at 6:30-7 instead of 5:15, but then there is less time to fill during the day. Weekdays all run together - wake up, breakfast, news, Today Show or GMA, get hooked up to monitor, maybe watch Kelly & Michael, local news, shower, lunch, "project time" ie - read books, do puzzles, blog, email, pay bills, make phone calls, play games (I had a few more options when I was home, but from here that is about it), maybe nap, then dinner, more TV or movies or reading, more news, then sleep. Any visits that happen are a welcome break in the day. There are apparently 5 or 6 other antepartum patients right now as well; supposedly they give us the option to all be wheeled to the lounge once or twice a week as a sort of support group. Since so far I haven't met any of them yet I have no idea how long they are all expected to be here, or if I will end up seeing a number of them come and go home during my stay. For today I am looking forward to a nice long visit with Chris & Lydia, and a wheel chair trip for a change of scenery, maybe even fresh air in the courtyard. If I'm lucky tomorrow will be more of the same before the weekday "schedule" starts again.
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