Update ...

Just got a call from Courtney, Dr. Saile's assistant.  Here's what I remember about our conversation (I think I need to get myself a recorder so I will actually be able to refer back to what exactly they say):

Joey's temp was low overnight so they had him on a heating pad, but it’s gone back up to normal since  the IV pain meds were stopped at about 4 AM.

He's now on Rimidyl (anti-inflammatory) and Tramadol (an opioid pain medication) and these will continue for the next week or so until he comes back in.

His stitches will be removed in about 10 days.

I will need to use a sling to help him move around over at least the next few days (I guess until he appears not to need the help.)

For now, he can walk SLOWLY out ONLY to go to the bathroom over the next week.

In another week or so (after re-exam) he will be able to go on 10 minute SLOW walks (“Slow” so he will put weight on the leg and not limp on 3 legs)

He will need exercises extending the leg 6 times daily until he is well (at least 6 weeks) so he doesn’t just curl up, pull the leg up against him, and let everything get stiff.

He will need to be crated over the next month or 6 weeks when he is not on a lead, so I'm hoping he can still go to therapy, even though he won't be able to do the water treadmill thing until the incision has healed.  If he's there, he would be able to move around and have that leg extended periodically during the day for all but two days a week.  (Plus he's always SO happy to be with Jennifer and the people over there at therapy - and there's not going to be much else he can do that will make him happy anytime soon, poor guy.) 

So . . . in addition to the patellar luxation surgery, he also had a (cruciate?) “ligament implant,” and something done to his tendons, I think they said yesterday.  They plan to tell me more about exactly what was done when I go to pick him up this afternoon.  They said to plan on spending about 45 minutes there, so I expect I'll be getting a lot of information.  And I'll get a long list of discharge instructions, as well.

Okay!  I'm ready.