Hospital or Hotel?

We have just spent our first night at the hospital -- WakeMed Cary. And it is swank. This place is wonderful. It feels like we're in a hotel "suite" and not a hospital. I swear, IKEA musta decorated this place. Between the flat screen TV, faux bamboo back lighting and the state of the art bed that automatically adjusts the patient's pressure points to prevent bed sores, the cool designed fold out bed/couch AND the modern art on the walls, we are doing ALRIGHT. Plus there is free wi-fi. Oh, and the view is beautiful. I don't lie.

My mom is doing considerably better. Her comfort level has increased and she seems much, much more alert and back to doing some things for herself. The pain meds via IV is making all the difference and the high tech bed has provided her with a good night's sleep. Praise God for it all.

The staff here is wonderful. Her doctor is wonderful. She is doing so much better she hugged the man this morning. I swear to you, this man is probably the kindest human being I've ever met. This man just exudes kindness and compassion. My mom recognizes it --- even on all the drugs she's on. I think there was one point this morning she was trying to flirt with the man.

We saw a turn for the better in her last night when she was joking around with her Filipino nurse and said, "The Vietnamese are prettier than Filipinos!" That's my mom. Now you know where I get it from. Okay, now you know where I get A LOT of things from.

It was a good night for her. She is showing signs of motor skills returning to "normal" and there is laughing and significant interaction/engagement on her part. We would have never believed it 24 hrs. ago.

I was so tired last night when I crashed here I didn't even know when Danny left to say good-bye to go home. But as hospitals go, there is always a nurse coming in to check the vitals every couple of hours, her need to use the restroom and the random beeps and alarms of the IV stuff. I was up at 11:30 pm, 3 am, 5 am. When my husband showed up with a one splenda vente latte from Starbucks at 7:30 this morning I thought he was sent from God. Wait, I've felt that way about since June 7, 2008....

We are all sitting here with her -- Michael, Lauren, Danny and I. She is joking around. Telling Lauren she likes her shoes. Okay, now Michael and Lauren are arguing about fashion. Really? Teenagers...... All feels right and well with our little Snead, Bullock and Dulin world. I will enjoy and be grateful for these moments.