Hoooo, boy! It's been quite a day. Larry is HOME, finally, and sound asleep in his new hospital bed, which was delivered at the 11th hour by the DME company. I thought for a while today that I would have to put him on an air mattress on the floor, but fortunately almost everything got here before Larry did.

Eric and I went to get Larry late this afternoon. We loaded him into our van, which was not easy because the seat is so high. We probably should have brough the car, but it's so small that I don't know if it would have been any better. Anyway, once we got him home getting him out of the van and into the chair was much easier.

He was really happy to be home. Eric was here, and his daughter Cynthia, and our granndaughter Sammantha (age 3, and very excited about all of this!). We set Larry up in the library in his chair, and we all ate dinner in there and huddled around the air conditioner. I'm so glad that the day he came home turns out to be the hottest day of the year! Ugh.

Larry sat up for a couple of hours, but then got tired and we put him back to bed. Everone left, and it was finally just the two of us. I poured him a very small glass of wine (he probably should not have alcohol, given all his meds, but I don't think once will kill him), and we had a welcome home toast and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. Nobody in the next bed making loud and distressing noises...no nurses in the hallway talking at top volume at 2AM...just a quiet, normal evening. It was great. Larry leaned his head back and closed his eyes and relaxed more than I've seen him do in two months.

He started to get sleepy, and I decided I'd better change his diaper before lights out. I made the mistake of thinking that because I've seen it done a zillion time in the SNF, and because I've helped someone else do it, that this was the same as doing it all by myself. Let me just say: NO, it is not the same at all. I made a total mess of it; it took me 3 tries and 3 diapers to finally get it done, and the end result is about as sorry a diaper change as you could ever see. I ended up with a diaper that is lowriding in the front, with the back lost somewhere, probably up around Larry's shoulder blades. I finally just gave up; he was getting pretty frustrated, and tired of turning side to side for me. There are 2 pads under him and if he has a BM tonight, then I will deal with it in the morning. I just could not put him through any more of my ineptitude for one night. I can't believe how much harder it was than I expected. Oh well - I will have plenty of time to practice!

I'm looking forward to the weekend, which will give me some time to acclimate. We're not expecting company, and I think the two of us need to settle back into each other as a couple, and just get used to each other again. So much has changed, but hopefully some things are still the same.

Our cats are SO happy to see Larry. One in particular has been pining for Larry ever since he's been gone, and is sleeping on the bed with him now. They are certainly a picture!

Tomorrow and Sunday I'll be on my own. Scary, but I'm so glad that I don't have to visit the SNF anymore. It will be a lot better when I get used to the mechanics of how some of these things work, but for now I'm in the learning process and it will just take some time.

So glad he is home!

xxxoo

..jm..