HEALTHY HABITSâ—½ YOU
Well, since I now know what it’s like to have a long stay in the hospital, and so many people told me “Take care of yourself,” I thought I’d write about it, share what worked and what frustrated me, and how I tried somewhat to keep myself sane and healthy while sitting day and night by my husband’s side. If you’ve ever had to do this, I’m sorry. And if you haven’t, maybe you can help someone who has or is. It’s so hard when one loses track of time and space…and just wants to go home.
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Water – I kept water bottles constantly in front of me to drink all day long. It was easy to not drink, not eat, and not take care of myself. Water bottles front and center.
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Blanket – It’s cold in hospital rooms, often. Having my own blanket from home comforted me and felt cozy in a not-so-cozy sterile room. My niece even brought me a brand new blanket!
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Straws – Sounds like a weird thing to have, but my daughter brought up a box of straws. I can’t tell you how many times we needed one for the patient, or for our drinks, because straws always disappeared.
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Breakfast items – This was the meal of the day that I needed every morning, but didn’t want to Door Dash, didn’t want to eat much, but I needed. My DIL made some muffins and left them with me, and a basket someone brought had fruit. Perfect.
Laptop – When I could not sleep or function or breathe, connecting to my people and my world on line was a life saver…honestly.
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Music playlist – Music is healing, in every way. I often laid my phone by my husband’s ear, and I even found myself dancing near his bed. Lyrics you’ve listened to before somehow come alive, when you need to hear the truth in song.
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Cozy socks – I had a pair to wear every night. No one wants to walk on the hospital floor, and you certainly don’t want to wear your shoes to sleep. Thick comfy socks, a pair a day, were the best.
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Toiletry bag – I ended up throwing away this bag, after the hospital stay, because I grew weary and wanted a new one. But having my own toothbrush and familiar items from home kept me sane when I got dressed each morning.
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Little pillow – I used this to raise my husband’s head, handed it to him to hold when in pain, and though it was small (it was our car pillow) it was familiar and useful.
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A Sweater – I changed out my sweater almost daily, because it took on the hospital smell and I needed fresh, daily. But a sweater is a must, just like that blanket. You’ll wear it often. It will hug you when no one is there.
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An open window – Raise those blinds or shades as high as they’ll go. Some days, just the light coming in the window in the morning hours is what reminded me that He was there in his faithfulness, with every sunrise.