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[mignon]

Good news that the surgery went well.  We are rooting for both of you, T-mom.

[lizzy]

Glad to hear the surgery went well. You're both in my thoughts.

[systeme_d_]

Thanks for checking in, Theatremom.

If I may say this, I advise you to enjoy your husband's pain-med-haze for as long as it lasts -- I say this because (understandably) my own Dear SO gets really cranky when they wear off!

[msparticularity]

I absolutely understand your staying there right by his side, but I also hope you're able to get some rest yourself, and to eat some actual, real food. A couple of days in a row without much sleep and with nothing but hospital food, and you're going to be no good at all to him when he gets out--not to mention to yourself!

[gennimom]

Glad to hear things went well. How's he doing today?

[theatremom]

Spouse will be coming home tomorrow morning. It took the cardiologist all day to make rounds and when he did show up, he felt that one more night here and, more importantly, one more round of blood tests to check kidney function in the morning, would be the wisest course.

Except for a strange post-op fever that hung around most of Saturday, spouse has done very well. The procedure was laprascopic so he's had only minimal discomfort. We're both tired of being here, though. I'm going home tonight to check on the house, retrieve the teenagers from their respective friends' houses, get a real dinner, and sleep in my own bed.

Spouse and teenagers will be back in school in just under two weeks. I'll have another ten days or so after that before my fall semester starts. I have got to get busy with my course preps, and for the auditions that will take place during the first week of classes.  I'm hoping a good night's sleep will help with the panicky feeling I get every time I think of school starting.

Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes, everyone.

Theatremom
exhausted and homesick

[adjunctprincipessa]

I'm so glad that your spouse came through the surgery well, and hope that you are able to get some rest soon!

[dellaroux]

All good thoughts.

Take things a day at a time and have some minimal, basic goal that you will aim for each day to keep things sane.
 

For example: I once ended up adjuncting for far too many courses with far too late a notice, while still trying to write my own thesis and work part-time as an EA for a truly crazy prof at another school (a job I'd accepted when it looked as if I'd only have one course to teach and would need more income...).

I promised myself I'd meet each class with slides in the tray.

There was one class in which that was truly all that I could manage, and opened it up to group discussion, slide by slide and it went well enough.

I'd never want to have to face that again, but the "bare minimum" defined my limits and helped me set timetables for work, sleep and restful activity that kept me (mostly) sane.

I wasn't faced with the same levels of worry and financial concern you've mentioned, but if, adjusted for the scale of your situation, it seems useful, feel free to use it, and stay steady.

[theatremom]

I'm back from a short, self-imposed exile. Checking out, mentally if not physically, did me some good -- I started the fall semester last week feeling rested and ready. The first few days were insanely busy for everyone, as that's when we cast the fall shows, but I had a short, productive meeting with my chair on Friday.

Although we're not anticipating any long-term absences, I did talk to him about ways in which my courses could be covered in the short-term, if necessary. The public speaking courses I'm teaching have a strong online component already, so moving them entirely online for a few class sessions would not be a problem. A colleague has agreed to meet these classes and videotape speeches should I have to be gone then.

The beginning acting class is a bit more problematic, as I don't normally utilize the CMS for it, and it has such a strong performance element. However, this is a small department with a tight-knit group of students. In a pinch, I can shuffle some of the course content around and give them "rehearsal" days if I have to miss class. My chair has offered to meet with that class, if necessary, and make sure they stay on track.

Spouse is doing well, although his kidney function is continuing to slowly deteriorate. This is worries me, but he is being closely monitored, so hopefully there won’t be any sudden surprises. He’s at stage 4 right now; stage 5 is renal failure. The remedy is a kidney transplant, although with his other health conditions, I’m not sure if he’d be a candidate for the surgery. That leaves dialysis.

<Deep breath> I have to stop thinking about this; it does no good to worry about things that might or might not happen at some point in the future.

Thanks again for the advice, good wishes, and room to vent.

[prytania3]

Theatremom, I am so happy to hear things have gone well.