Well, I don't mind. I just figured we were wasting space in the Café.

Okay then. Draining was awkward until I dedcided I'd stop weening and just do it. I positioned the medicine cabinet door for lighting, and easily mastered pivoting and tilting the handheld mirror (it was a "hand mirror" until I broke the handle off it so I could more easily hold it on top of my shoulder with my right hand) to get a decent view. Then, with practice, very slowly, I got pretty good at finger placement and movement in only fifteen minutes. I didn't use a face cloth like the doc told me as it was too cumbersome. I applied isopropyl alcohol afterward, although the doc told me to use peroxide so it wouldn't sting and wouldn't irritate the skin.

Yesterday, all went pretty well. Very little drainage after the morning draining. Last night, I didn't bandage it. Instead, I coated it with polysporin for comfort. Tonight, I will bandage it in case it was the Polysporin (I can't see it, but you never know) that allowed the buildup that I drained this morning. It took me aback. At least 5 ml of yellowish fluid and it "popped" out in a little stream... pretty gross. The antibiotic I started on Tuesday takes several days to take effect, so I should be just peachy shortly. I might even be able to sleep in my bed instead of propped up on the couch. And I'm about 70 pounds overweight. That's a lot of propping and not much couch.

There is little pain and it's less often. The itching is bothersome, especially where there is no feeling and where the incision is tender to the touch. But the real bother is not being able to drive... until tomorrow!!!

I will still have to take it easy because I don't have full neck movement and my neck is still pretty weak in certain directions. First light, I am going to the top of the hill looking out toward Kent County and look out over the forest. I might even get up to my camp next weekend - no four wheeling for at least four more weeks, though, so there won't be any big trout fries. Then again, there won't be any firewood cutting or painting or bear rasslin or heavy work of any kind. Just a few cold ones and watchin that river run.

How are you doing, Patti?