Yesterday, after the surgery, Teoman came back at about 6pm. He was lethargic, not happy or sad or impressed with much. We were relieved to have him back at our side. Teoman had two visitors that night - first our neighbors from Kusadasi - gypsies that Tolga doesn’t like so much, but the kids had been playing over there lately and now the neighbors, the mother and 20 year old daughter, were worried about Teoman. They were in and out briefly, the mother told us her hands were shaking the whole time and she had been praying. The second visitor was old friends of Tolga’s - from work. Actually, they weren’t good friends - but they lived in the area and Tolga had contacted them asking about hospitals and such. The husband and wife team came with an overnight bag packed with random things for us: diapers for Teoman if he needed, extra clothes, pajamas for me, cologne spray (Turkey’s disinfectant of wounds and hands as well as for freshening up). The husband worked in mining, the wife was a former nurse. They brought their 3 year old who was obnoxious. Teoman just watched listlessly, and seeing his lack of enjoyment I brought Tuana to a nearby park, inviting our new friend’s wife and her son.
In the night, Teoman woke up a few times. He was supposed to get up and walk - but woke up having to pee and not wanting to move anywhere. Nurses aren’t around for these things - I’m not sure why - and Tolga had Teoman pee in a bottle. Neither of us had the heart or will to push him to walk.
In the morning, the surgeon checked his belly and it was too hard - he pushed us again to get him moving. Teoman was still having bouts of pain where he'd groan and ask us to hold his belly. I had slept by his bed all night with my hand on his belly, and it brought him the most comfort when his stomach was tensing.
The doctor had Teoman walk to the place to get an ultrasound. When he walked it was with an IV pole that had colorful bear faces over it’s wheel coasters. He took tiny steps and walked bent over begging one of us to hold his belly. Begging for it to be enough. Asking us to carry him back to bed. But he was brave too, and braver when there were strangers - nurses or doctors or helpers encouraging him. And when he came back, all that walking helped him pass gas. A lot of gas.
Tolga went out and bought him a toy - he bought Tomris and Tuana one too. How could you not celebrate gas and the smile it brought to his face?
Teoman still hadn’t eaten all day nor was he very interested. In the late afternoon, the doctor came by and brought Teoman back to bed - walking him faster and Teoman even smiled with pride - but it was short lived. He drank some water, then some juice, and later soup - but none of it did he eat very much as his pain still kept coming and going in bouts.
Tuana had been with us the whole time. She was doing quite well - entertaining all the nurses and helpers and patients. She doesn’t particularly like strangers - but she is always watching them and waving. If they see her, they smile and wave back showering her with endearing comments to which she will answer with blowing a kiss, and sometimes the noise of a kiss. She was difficult at times too - when Teoman was in pain and wanted me to hold him - Tuana would have none of that. She will hug her brother or sister when they cry, but I’m hers and she’s not good at sharing.
We’d been calling and checking on Tomris too - she had been happy, but today she cried which led Tolga to immediately decide to drive home and pick her up. Teoman wanted Tomris too.
In the evening, with all of us together, Teoman perked up some around 6, smiling again. Sitting up and telling me with pride and a smile that it didn’t hurt to sit.
We celebrated again with a family hug - one of our favorite things to do.
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