We’ve been home a week.

And yes, I’m so thankful (so so thankful) hubby was well enough to be discharged.

And yes, I much prefer sleeping in my bed to sleeping in a hospital ICU recliner.

And yes, the commute, parking fees, and unlimited snacking have taken a toll on my wallet and waistline.

But being home isn’t the delight that you’d expect.

We’ve been around this bend a few times – and the caregiver task list is never shorter upon return from an in-patient ‘engagement.’

Have you traveled before? Coming home from a trip abroad is both wonderful and overwhelming, right? There’s the comfort of being in your own space, making girl dinner plates while wearing the comfiest jammies that never go on vacation with you because they’re your “home” jammies. You know the ones.

But coming home also means reentering reality: back to work, vacation laundry, home life logistics, and the credit card statement (eeek!) etc.

Now imagine this vacation was at a hospital.

And instead of the Thames or Michelangelo’s David, your sightseeing consisted of the nurses’ station and the therapy gym. And while the midnight snacking was legit (read this post about epic hospital snacking!), the room service sucks. Also, the credit card statement (eeek!).

So we’re home now. And I’m grateful, but this hasn’t been a “break” by any stretch – in fact, it’s overwhelming. In just one week, I’ve:

• Scheduled two hospital follow up doctor appointments for this week, and one for next week
• Started to organize the bills and explanation of benefit documents piling up on our counter
• Started calling service providers with questions about said bills
• Filled out an insurance form and mailed it to ensure claims that are coming in are properly processed
• Picked up all prescribed medications except for two that require prior authorization
• Followed up with the prescribing doctor about said prior auths to see if we can get the ball rolling
• Scheduled the recertification needed for home health
• Scheduled and completed the nurse’s home visit
• Scheduled and completed the reassessment appointment with physical therapy and speech therapy
• Placed a call out to occupational therapy provider for reassessment and scheduled a time for early next week
• Organized all medications, including new ones, and put them in a two week pill organizer
• Took a photo of the daily medication organizer to remind myself how to organize them next time
• Unpacked the small luggages that contained clothes and stuff from the hospital
• Ordered and picked up two pieces of new equipment my husband will need to continue therapy and to be safe at home

Y’all – this isn’t even the whole list. There’s more stuff, and there’s work, kids, home (oh my goodness, it’s a disaster in here), etc.

So, while I’m tremendously happy to be home, I’m also feeling a totally justified sense of overwhelm. And I’m not sure how long it will take to dig myself out of this place, but I’m chipping away at it.

Hug a caregiver today – with their consent, of course.