Surprises

Rich is in the hospital, probably for a couple more days. On Tuesday he had a severe headache that wasn't improved by prescription painkillers and a decongestant. When I came home from work he wasn't making much sense and he was obviously in a lot of pain so I took him to the ER. They quickly took him to the back and gave him narcotics to relieve the intensity of the pain. After a CAT scan, chest xray, blood work, and a spinal tap, he's been diagnosed with viral meningitis.

He's in the hospital for pain management because the virus has to run its course. Viral meningitis isn't dangerous neurologically or life threatening, but it is characterized by painful headaches because the virus attacks the lining of brain. It also isn't very contagious, so his doctor thinks it is unlikely that anyone else in the family will get it. Whew. Right now he's getting 3 mg of morphine every two hours and percocet every 4 hours. He isn't nearly as stoned as I'd expect, but the pain is at least at a level that he isn't miserable. He'll be in the hospital for at least a couple more days.

Meghan has been amazing. She's here for the second night and is doing far more than I ever could expect from a friend and caregiver. Dad is coming up Friday to relieve her a bit because she's exhausted.

Boys are fine - Raha really worried initially but doing fine as long as he get regular updates and knows what to expect. Aaron asking for Daddy, and Luke asks when he's coming home. I'm with Meghan - exhausted.