My hip healing was going great but about 4 weeks ago the incision was starting to drain which didn't seem right so we went to the doctor the next week.  His initial diagnosis was that it was an infection which is a disaster in a hip replacement.   He was not sure so he took 3 separate cultures and put me on 5 days of IV antibiotics.  They came to the house and put in a peripheral catheter which had to be repaced every 3 days.  Every eight hours I had to connect syringes to the catheter and infuse the antibiotic (cefazolin - 1000 MG).  The doctor extended it another 5 days while we waited for the culture results.  The results then came back negative but I am still draining and it still could be an infection so when we saw the doctor he extended my antibiotics another 6 weeks.  I went to the hospital to have a PICC line installed.  It is a 49 cm catheter which enters my left arm between the elbow and the arm pit.  A nurse comes every week to change the dressing, take blood samples and vitals.   Hopefully it is not an infection or it is under control because they would have to remove my shiny new hip and replace it with a temporary, antibiotic one for six weeks for the infection to clear and then put in a new hip.  In the mean time I am getting around just fine, nary a limp, no pain or non-normal aches and am doing most chores and tasks but in moderation.  I am truly tired of daytime TV, jigsaw puzzles and sudoku.  We are still going to Erie for Caitlin's graduation party but the month-in-Maine is on hold until things have cleared up.  The waiting is the hard part.  Thanks to everyone for the cards, calls, concern and caring.  They truly make this short bump in the road more negotiable.