Let's Blow this Joint!!

Katherine and I have FINALLY both escaped the hospital!! They let me leave about noon today - just in time for a 1:00 appointment with a neurologist across the street. Talk about anti-climatic!

Anyway, I saw a neurologist who has actually heard of the syndrome I have (which apparently is a rarity) and he was very encouraging. He said I will recover, but he can't tell me how long it will take. He said that my headache is actually caused by 3 things - first is the high blood pressure which caused the swelling, which causes a headache. Second is that he believes I still have a spinal fluid leak causing a "spinal headache". Third is all the high blood pressure medication I'm on can actually also contribute to the headache. For the first problem, we'll continue the huge amount of blood pressure medication until my body starts regulating on it's own. For the second problem, we wait to see if it goes away on it's own. If it persists for more than a couple of weeks, we might have to do a third blood patch. For the third, he doesn't care if the medication causes a headache - the most important thing is for my blood pressure to be under control, so any side effects from the medicine will just have to be dealt with. As for the two week figure I was throwing out for the duration of the headache, he said it could be more, it could be less - there's no way to guess. He will repeat the MRI at some point to confirm the swelling has gone down, so then we'll be able to eliminate causes if the headache is still around. I will have weekly appointments with him and my internist so they can both monitor my progess closely. I have a home blood pressure monitor and I'll take my pressure regularly and report back to them for any changes to the medication they might need to make.

Clear as mud?

Overall, I feel pretty good. I did go about 9 hours overnight without taking any pain medicine and that was a bad idea. It wasn't really intentional, but after 9 hours, the pain was really bad again and it took 6 hours or so for me to be okay sitting up. I just have to manage the pain a little more closely than I'd like. This, I can do - if I can't sit up, I can't feed Katherine, and that is plenty of motivation!

Speaking of the most beautiful girl in the world - she's doing great! She spent the night at the hospital with me (and her Meme) and it was wonderful. Just having her with me made my last night there so much more enjoyable. She's a GREAT baby - she nurses well, she sleeps well, and she spits up...get this...normally!! I hope it continues, but so far, she is NOT a projectile vomit-er! Yippee!!

David is so sweet as the big brother. He's taking all of this upheaval very much in stride. He wasn't happy about his mommy having to stay in the hospital, but he was very good for his daddy last night and he even showed Daddy some songs from the play his class will be doing next week. Daddy videoed all of it so we'll watch tonight. I can't wait.

I'm sure you all just want to see pictures...enough words already Cindy, shut up and show us the pictures!!

Here's the great big brother with his baby sister! He was so excited to hold her for the first time, but I think it made him a little nervous. He was asking to play his DS before too long.

Here's Meme with her grandkids - she's been amazing. John and I wouldn't have made it through the last 4 days without her. Thank God for Meme!

Daddy and his kids - he's such a proud Papa! The bears are presents - from Katherine to David and from David to Katherine. They both sleep with their bears.

Those are all the pictures I have for now. More will be coming.

Thank you so much to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. It's been quite a ride the last few days, but with all of your help, we are going to be just fine. Obviously, I wouldn't have chosen this complication or the extended hospital stay, but I've learned so much about myself and the wonderful people around me through this trial. I'm blessed abundantly, beyond measure - with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers - you name it. I've been overwhelmed so many times with the sheer magnitude of blessings. Truly, my cup is absolutely overflowing. Thank you, thank you, thank you - I know your prayers have made all the difference in the world and I'm grateful and humbled for everyone's concern.