Back to a Routine???

Ted went back to work today. He's actually been working on and off since he got out of the hospital.  But, he was clear to drive today and the doctor said to see how he did at half days and he could head back to work - so after doing OK last week, he is back to work.

Today - I say AAAHHHHH!!!!  It's really my first moment alone since he got out of the hospital. Not that i don't love spending time with the smartest man in the world, but, I love my alone time.  Plus, over the last couple of weeks, I would look at my living room and my body would just tighten up in a deep cringe. It started pretty much from the moment he walked in the door, home from the hospital.  Here - let me paint a visual for you:

• Three computer bags - all with computers - all spread about the couch.  One or two of them open at any given time.  At one point, he had Brandon's computer, too - fixing it.  One or more computers would be set up on TV trays around the living room.
• Four blankets - one comforter, one quilt, two blankets (that shed like crazy).  Either on the love seat or the couch.  Every morning I get up - when I'm off - I have to wade through the blankets.  Ted, because his incision is still very tender and uncomfortable, has slept in the reclining love seat since he has returned.  Plus, his Bronco pillow on the floor - he would use it to hold onto to cough.
• Jackets, shirts and a sweatshirt have rotated and changed throughout the last two weeks.  Sitting on the back of the couch.
• Doo Dads of all shapes and sizes spread about the couch, the end table and the coffee table.  Some from computer bags, some from the hospital, some just there.
• An oxygen tube strung from my walk in closet in the bedroom to the love seat.  It's not been used for five nights.  It somehow got tangled under the love seat and took a lot of fighting with it to get it untangled.  Plus, the portable oxygen tank that has been sitting in the living room and never been touched.  
• Different papers and documentation spread here and there and everywhere. 

I'm not really complaining - it's just hard for me to sit and see my living room in such disarray and messy.  I really haven't been able to vacuum around the mess for the last couple of weeks.  I'm ready now, five minutes after he had left, I had moved and cleaned and put things away.  The vacuum is coming out.  I can't take it anymore.  Plus, that inch of dust that has accumulated over the last two weeks - it's going to see my dust rag.  I can't wait to have my normal back - it's what I need - my normal.  Whenever I would say anything about what a mess things were in here in the living room, Ted would look at me and say - it's a LIVING room, you're supposed to LIVE in the LIVING room!!  That may be true, but, I also need to feel comfortable and the clutter was about to send me over the edge.  

Ted had developed his own little routine while recovering.  He became quite involved in day time television.  I changed the station on Friday only to get a look because he REALLY likes Live with Kelly and Michael.   I can't tell you how many hints and tricks I've heard from the Dr. Oz show over the last couple of weeks, because Ted has watched it pretty much every day.  Not to say they haven't been good tips.

I have my own little guilty pleasure that I record every morning at 6:00 in the morning and try to find a moment during the week to watch.  I am a great fan of My Three Sons.  I love that show.  I especially love it when Katie comes on board.  So, the other night as he is walking back to the bathroom or something, he yells back at me, "Don't watch My Three Sons without me, you've got me hooked".  And so we're back to a routine - but, it may have changed up a bit.  I'm just glad my burly, old fart is getting back to his old self.  I'm glad to see him getting healthy - and lighter - 35 pounds at this point.