30 December 2016 And home again...

Wow I can hardly believe that I am home again.
Christmas Day was spent recuperating in the Geelong hospital - and that was certainly a first! It began with an early morning Christmas Day breakfast hand-made and prepared by Jen - and how could  resist the delectable Portland strawberries and raspberries to nibble on during the day! 

Christmas Day - attached to my tube, and wearing a Christmas hat strategically designed (unsuccessfully)  to hide the curly, wiry tufts of hair appearing under my hats and wig!

The doctors who performed the pleurodesis were both surprised at how well it all went, so I was happy with that. Unfortunately for 4 days I had to remain attached to a suction tube approx 4 metres in length - just long enough for me to hobble into the en suite, but otherwise most inconvenient! So when it was finally removed early on Boxing Day, it was just a matter of going through all the discharge paperwork - and head for home. What a relief that has been, for Brian as much as for me. 
Since arriving home, I have been managing pain fairly successfully, the stitches have been removed - and then Christmas has begun! With visits from Sonya, Scott and 4 children, Dale and Kodey, Simon and Caitlin, and Adrian - we had a lovely time enjoying the children's excitement and playing inside - as the weather was decidedly damp and humid. 
And now for a few Christmas pics. Quite honestly I didn't know how pale and scrawny I look until seeing these photos, but then again, it's not all about me - rather the family fun we were able to share. I have lost around 5 kg over the past few weeks, (normal for me after surgery) but that will change as my appetite improves. 

All the family - with the five grandchildren

The children always love a story..