Nashville, TN., Vanderbilt University Hospital, 6:47 p.m., C.S.T., Feb. 20, 2014~

Dear All~

Johnny is in the hospital; he want in about two days ago.  He was on IV feeds, but he's currently on liquids; if he tolerates them tonight without vomiting, he will be graduating to regular foods tomorrow morning for breakfast.  

Right now, as I write this on my laptop, Johnny is sleeping peacefully.  The nurses just checked his vital signs; they are much better than they were when he first came in, much to my relief.  The dehydration threw 'em for a loop: his blood pressure was extremely low, his resps were quite rapid, and his pulse/heart rate were over 100 beats per minute.  They immediately admitted my husband; he's been here since.

Mama Louie has watching Nava and Novia; she is a godsend.  I do'nt know what we would do without her.  So I don't have to worry about our daughters.  They are in capable, grandmotherly hands.  That way, I can spend all my time with Johnny and be here with him, in case he needs anything.  Right now, though, all he needs is rest ... and to get over this.  The stomach flu really kicked him in the shorts!

I have been trying to get some rest myself, but it's hard when the nurses (or doctors) keep coming in to check on him, or when the lab people come to take blood from him or to check  his urine output every four hours.  They keep bumping the cot I sleep on, which, in turn, sends shockwaves of pain screaming through my stumps.  

I would think after all this time, the pain would stop, but it never does!  I still get phantom pains, and they're just as bad as they were when I first lost my legs!

I may have pain insensitivity disorder, but I still feel pain, especially in my stumps!  And it is so annoying!!

I wouldn't wish this on my own worst enemy!

Anyway, after Johnny gets out of here, I'm going to see if I can find a maid or someone to clean our house.  Our house looks like a tornado made a permanent home in it!  LOL  I just can't imagine what it will look like when the girls are a little older and crawling around; and Lord help us when they learn to walk .... EEK!!

Speaking of tornadoes, our area is now under a tornado watch until early tomorrow morning.  Lovely.  I know Johnny will want to keep up with the latest information; he has always been fascinated with the weather and is still working towards his degree in meteorgology.  He graduates in May, just four more months.  Can you believe it??  I certainly can't; he's really worked hard to get to this point!  It hasn't been easy but he's persevered; I am very proud of my husband!!

Well, I'm going to wake up Johnny and tell him about the impending bad weather.  Pray we get through it without any problems; last thing I want is to be trapped in a hospital when tornadoes are spinning around our area!  NOT good!  But it looks like that is exactly what could be in the offing for us.

Take care and God bless!  I will write in a few days if we don't get blown away by the storms!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Rebekka Rachel.  :)