Dorothy’s sparkly slippers time
Monday August 10th 2009, 2:19 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare,Life

I was just coming out of my room on Richard’s arm for a walk when a young dad approached with a baby in a front pack, I’d guess about 14 months old,  wiggling her little legs in delight at life in general.

Turned out they belonged to my new roommate.  I got to hear happy baby babbling sounds at the same time I was reading an essay in Sharon Randall’s book about her son’s wedding, wherein she reminisces about what it was like to be a first-time mother to him and how wonderful it was to see her son a happy man with a wonderful wife, and yet, admitting how much she missed hearing the language that only the little ones can speak.

I wanted to hand my roommate the book on the spot.  But instead, when her baby started sounding fussy, I called out to them, (well yes of *course* I had one with me) and offered her husband a fingerpuppet for her, figuring he was the most mobile person in the room just then.

Then I got to listen to happy babbling sounds mixed with little-person giggles. If I hadn’t had a newly-stitched-up belly, I’d have asked for a chance to get to hold the baby, too.

The dad was in and out for a moment here and there, and after that fingerpuppet, as he was coming back in, his daughter in his arms, she eyeballed me with the very biggest grin on her face.  She knew a grandma type on the spot.  I was utterly charmed.

One last thing I had to go through before they could send me home: they had to remove a tube.  It didn’t look so big or bad, really, and a medical student was sent to go do the job.  I was on vicodin, but my stars. I couldn’t help but gasp and I was holding tight to the side of the bed and Richard’s hand.

The student said, It’s not supposed to be this bad, excuse me a moment, and she went running for a member of the surgery team.

They decided to give me a dose in my IV of dilaudad to make it easier on me. Almost immediately after it went in…

…Their voices got thin and tinny like a static-y radio, the highest frequencies (ie some of the consonants in the words) disappeared, and I was struggling to hear.

Oh! Was I on that coming out of surgery?

Yes, answered the resident.

Now we know.  Now we know.  Thank goodness for a tube that didn’t want to come out.  And then when it did come out, I could see why: the part inside was a whole lot wider. Think about a size 13 needle trying to squeeze through a size 5 opening, and they mentioned there were probably blood clots getting in the way as well.

Anyway, that’s done and I’m home.

And came home to what Michelle had described as looking like a pillow from Peru.  It was a thin muslin fabric, hand whip-stitched closed along one edge.  I carefully cut it open and she and I spread out and sorted 100 finger puppets.  Dolls, fish, birds, animals, alligators, bugs, even a few cartoon characters.  Cost with shipping was 36 cents each.

I felt like a little kid counting their Halloween loot. I said to Michelle, “Look at all this happiness waiting to happen!”

She got the first smile.


29 Comments so far
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How Wonderful!!!!! (the pupputs, NOT the owie._

I would love to know where to buy them, they are so magical.

So glad you are home at last..

Comment by Diana Troldahl 08.10.09 @ 2:39 pm

I am *so* glad *that* is identified, now you know that should you *need* to have it again, that will be a side effect, and for preference a different painkiller that *doesn’t* do that can be used – yeah!!!! (although, I’m somewhat a fan of previously identified side-effects, rather than having to guess what new ones might look like…) many virtual hugs for you, and giggles for little ones, until your belly is up for giggling yourself!

Comment by Mary 08.10.09 @ 3:13 pm

Thank goodness that student was compassionate and aware. Welcome home. I know those finger puppets had happy baby sounds ringing in your ears!

Comment by Channon 08.10.09 @ 3:45 pm

Well, now you’ve identified another drug to stay away from, or at least be aware of 🙂 And finger puppets! I found a pattern for some on etsy and am envisioning making some out of leftover yarn but each one will be given out with instructions to “Thank Alison!”

It’s good to know you’re home and on the mend. Praise be and many hopes you can stay out of “that place” for a good long time.

Comment by Leslie 08.10.09 @ 4:04 pm

I’m so glad you’re home. Yeah on the fingerpuppets – aka the bag full of happiness too!

Comment by TripletMom 08.10.09 @ 4:05 pm

The finger puppets have enchanted and distracted their first customer – you! Now they can be categorized as “recycled fun”.

Glad you found out so quickly which med was the villain. It could have been a lasting mystery.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 08.10.09 @ 4:31 pm

I am glad you had a puppet with you. I have misplaced that address so ordered some last week from some other place. I still want some like yours. I sure did not expect you to be home this soon–were you planning on that? Now, you are supposed to keep lying flat, right–and you are gonna do it, right?

Comment by sherry in idaho 08.10.09 @ 5:08 pm

That bag full of finger puppets looks like great fun!

Glad you’re home and feeling somewhat better.

Comment by ccr in MA 08.10.09 @ 5:08 pm

As Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”says, “there’s no place like home!” And don’t we know it!

Hey, do I get a puppet show some day? I’m just a widdw kid, ya know.

Just keep getting better.

Fun:

THE HAIRCUT

A young boy had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your bible a little, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.”

Well, the boy thought about that for a moment, and
decided that he’d settle for the offer, and they agreed on it. After about six weeks they went into the study, where his father said, “Son, I’ve been real proud. You brought your grades up, and I’ve observed that you have been studying your bible, and participating a lot more in the bible study groups. But, I’m real disappointed, since you haven’t gotten your hair cut.”

The young man paused a moment, and then said, “You
know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve
noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had
long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.” To this his father replied, “Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?”

Comment by Don Meyer 08.10.09 @ 8:02 pm

Identifying the cause of the problem is a huge plus; yay for that! I love it when there’s an explanation. And double yay for you being home and for puppets welcoming you!

Comment by (formerly) no-blog-rachel 08.10.09 @ 8:03 pm

I’m home now. Yeah! I get to sleep in my own bed instead of in the car. I’ve been following your adventures when I could log on. I’m glad that you are home where you can enjoy really good care from the highest quality providers (your family.) I’m glad the hearing loss side-effect wore off. A neighbor here is struggling with apparently permanent hearing loss in one ear due to some medication. Of course, she is 94, which could be a factor in the situation, and you’ve got a long way to go before you can claim that.

Comment by LauraN 08.10.09 @ 8:38 pm

So glad to read you are home. Let everyone pamper
you with love. Sending a cyber ( HUG )

Comment by Marianne 08.10.09 @ 9:01 pm

Hi! We’ve been traveling most of the summer so have missed seeing you. So relieved that you are home to puppets and happiness waiting to happen. Rest and mend! And here’s another big hug too–one that won’t hurt your stitches 🙂

Comment by marguerite 08.11.09 @ 1:04 am

So happy that you are home!

Comment by Sonya 08.11.09 @ 1:42 am

Glad to hear that you are home. Please take care of yourself. You are the most refreshing person I know. Despite your own issues you care and demonstrate your care to others in so many ways.

Comment by debra 08.11.09 @ 3:26 am

Welcome Home!!

Comment by Danielle from SW MO 08.11.09 @ 3:50 am

Alison, are you doing something to upset all these babies in the first place ; ) So, how long do you think this Peruvian pillow will keep you going?

Comment by LynnM 08.11.09 @ 4:29 am

My jaw dropped so low, it’s having a hard time closing again! What a wonderful present!!! I love that there are still so many generous people in this world! 😀

I’m glad you are well enough to be home. I suppose there is a silver lining in everything… Or at least that’s a lesson I’m learning through other people’s experience these days.

I learned yesterday that a close and long time friend of mine had a stroke last week. She’s 44 years young, getting ready to be a grandmother for the first time next February. Of course, I asked what her favorite colour is (just to make sure my memory was right) and will start hunting for an afghan pattern to do for her. I was going to knit a shawl, but since she’s lost (for now) use of her left side arm and leg, I’m thinking an afghan would be more useful…

Anywho, she kept saying that there is a silver lining in her experience as she is now determined to take better care of herself. Her goal is to be able to hold the upcoming baby in both her arms.

I still wish there had been another way for you to find out what you were “under” coming out of surgery than that pain… :-S

You and your family remain in my prayers, daily!

Be a good patient at home, please. 😉

Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 08.11.09 @ 6:03 am

Soooo glad you’re home again! And isn’t the sound of a baby giggling the best in the world!? I miss my Moose!

Comment by Jody M 08.11.09 @ 7:18 am

Home again, Home again, jiggity jig!

So glad to hear your home, and having fun with finger puppets 😉

Comment by Alicia 08.11.09 @ 9:26 am

please consider posting your “bag of happiness” source. glad youre on the mend, continue along that route and we will be happy with you!

Comment by Tola 08.11.09 @ 9:30 am

Congrats on being home again!

Comment by RobinM 08.11.09 @ 9:49 am

Hurray, you’re home! I know you are on the mend and in good hands. Love all those puppets!

Comment by Ann in Marin 08.11.09 @ 1:25 pm

Dilaudid eh? i’m gonna remember that. Jsut in case I need to know myself! A pillow full of finger puppets is too cute.

Comment by Carol 08.11.09 @ 3:01 pm

Alison, I can’t believe you’re home so soon. That’s just great! And, to a houseful of those wonderful puppets. Glad you heard some good giggles with the little one next door in the hospital. Take care of her Richard and Michelle — I know she’ll want to overdo. But, she’s HOME! And, she can sit on the couch and knit and watch those squirrels and birds she loves. That’s so great! Hugs, Nancy

Comment by Nancy 08.11.09 @ 3:41 pm

Terrific to hear you’re home – now you do what is required to stay there!

And I may have missed it, but seeing the “pillowcase” of puppets from Peru reminded me: was the bag of scarves ever located?

Comment by Margo Lynn 08.13.09 @ 12:25 pm

Alison —

Where do you get your pillowcase? I’d love to get a case myself for those little ones I run into sometimes, I mean ALL the times.

PB

Comment by Patricia 08.16.09 @ 1:50 pm

Hmmm….blunting of the senses? That’s what dilaudid is supposed to do. You just notice the loss of hearing more than others who have a full complement to start with. And so, you notice the blunting of the sense of hearing.
I want to know how to order up a bag of happiness–address, how to pay, etc. Once my new job starts, I’ll have to get me some of them to hand out to small, bored, children.

Comment by Karen Lewis 08.18.09 @ 3:24 pm

Can you give me the Dilaudid that you can’t take? It’s what I get for my worst migraines. 🙂

Comment by Momo Fali 08.18.09 @ 7:35 pm



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