It is wonderful having Bob back in the hotel room with me. Life seems as it should be! He spent the first days sleeping a lot. Perhaps it was the relief of having the transplant behind him, but we also wondered if he had switched day and night (easy to do in the hospital). Sunday while I spent the afternoon with my dear cousins Nan and Jean (the YaYas) at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Bob concentrated on staying upright, and it seems to have helped.
It was a perfect sunny afternoon at the Garden, in the 60s, and the Best of Missouri was displayed in huge outdoor tents, everything from pottery to chocolates to lawn art and mink teddy bears. I did think Bob needed some of the dark chocolate coffee bark from a local chocolatier, Kakao Chocolate (www.kakaochocolate.com). Yum, artisan chocolate at its best.
For the most part, we women ventured through the garden following no particular route, just strolling toward anything that caught our eyes. Various divisions include children's, boxwood, rose, home, Victorian, Japanese, and so on. There are numerous sculptures and water features. It is absolutely lovely, and I'm hoping for a return visit tomorrow with Bob and Bethany.
Jean brought hair clippers with her and when we got back to the hotel, I gave Bob a prison-like crewcut. Not the best. He's not had hanks of hair fall out, but he is doing some good shedding (we need to quit wearing dark clothes:-). The doctor assured him that he would not escape losing his hair, so we decided on a preemptive course of action. He looks great but needs a little sunshine on his scalp.
Monday, Day +14, was the earliest date we thought Bob would be released from the hospital. Instead, it was the first of many celebrations. St. Louis has an area south of I-44 (south of Forest Park) called The Hill. It's an Italian neighborhood with family-owned restaurants on many of the corners. Kathryn recommended Anthonino's Taverna (www.anthoninos.com, 2225 Macklind Ave.), where authentic Italian and Greek food is served. It has even been visited by TV's Guy Fieri. We went early, 4:00 p.m., sat at an outside table in the sun, and enjoyed an indescribably delicious dinner.
We were back to the Siteman Cancer Center for Bob's follow-up visit on Tuesday. Blood tests first and then a meeting with his physician's nurse practitioner. Those Keebler elves are continuing to work overtime to produce the blood cells that Bob needs. The medical team had set up a platelet transfusion for him that he didn't even require! Instead he was sent to Interventional Radiology to have his catheter/port removed, a more involved procedure than either of us anticipated, but all went fine. (No more Press 'n Seal with loads of tape to keep it covered during Bob's showers.) We also had prescriptions to pick up at two different pharmacies, and a very nice lady in optical fixed his bent glasses' arm from when he had rolled over on it in the hospital.
In the evening we stayed in the Central West End and walked to the Brasserie (4580 Laclede Ave., www.brasseriebyniche.com) for dinner. Again, we sat outside at the end of a row of tables. Everything seemed to be authentically French from the round cafe tables and black and tan woven chairs outside to the dress of the wait staff as well as the preparation and presentation of the food. Bob had the braised beef, carrots, bacon, horseradish, mint, potato puree, while I indulged in the roasted chicken, mushrooms, bread, jus. Both delicious. And we even feasted on dessert: caramel pecan tart with brown butter ice cream for Bob, and chocolate mousse with hazelnut shortbread for me. A very romantic celebration.
Unfortunately, Bob was reminded of the treatment he'd received and was up with nausea, reflux, and gastro distress throughout the night. We had been told that his recovery would be like this - peaks and valleys - but in the larger picture this is small potatoes.
We're looking forward to Bethany's arrival late this afternoon, and the celebrations will continue.
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