Super Saturday

What a wonderful day. A Super Saturday indeed!!!!! When I went in the see Mom this morning I was expecting for her to be down to a 2 on her ventilator. Guess What---She was on CPAP!! That means that the ventilator is not doing any of her breathing for her. She is just getting pressurized air to help her breathe and help her strenghten her chest muscles. She tolerated that very well. I was surprised myself.

The PICC line was put into her arm this morning. I got to stay in the room. I bet Jeff would not of stayed!!!! I had to put on a gown, hat and mask just like the nurses did. You would think that they were performing surgery if you could see all the draping and sterile techniques they go through. They were sure they got it in place correctly. So later on she got a xray and then later the word came they had it in place correctly and they could start using it. So the central line in her neck will come out and hopefully that will help her neck feel better and be more comfortable.

The nurse mentioned to me that she did not seem to respond to her very well and she had read in the notes that Mom was responding to other nurses. So I got closer down to Mom's face and asked her if she was just being stubborn or did she not like that nurse. Well she smiled and the nurse said, she would not take it personally. She was just happy to see that she had responded.

Then the next wonderful thing was they finally got her up in a chair!!!! I was talking with her aide and she was wondering about if she could get up. I told her I knew there was an order for her to get up, but that she had not been up yet. She looked it up and found and order written on the 9th for her to get up everyday at 5. She said she would get her a chair and be back after she got another patient up. When she got back, she found out the problem. You have to be assigned a certain wheelchair and she did not have one yet, so the supervisor got her one. So the process started. I don't know all these correct names and medical terms, so you will all have to bear with me. They use some kind of contraption that raises the patient up and then they swing them over and put them in the chair and then use it to get them up and back in bed. Think of what a stork looks like when its delivery a baby. Well, Mom was the baby (Lynnetta you will have to fill me in and what these things are!)

She was up for 2 hours and they were all thrilled. They said usually 45 minutes is about the time for a first time up. Because of it being her first time up and with her on CPAP, they did a blood gas to make sure all was well and she was tolerating everything ok. Blood gas was perfect. Before they got her back in bed, she was moving and I am pretty sure she was trying to get herself out of the chairk, the aide thought so also. It's just so nice to see her move.

Some information that some of you have asked for.....

She is at Kindred Hospital in Sycamore, IL in room 115
kindredhospitalsyc.com


The house I am staying at is called the Pay It Foward House
payitfowardhouse.org

Check it out, I am in the somonauk room. This house is beautiful and old, which if you know me, you know I love. Everything in the house is donated. It is even prettier than the pictures of it on the inside. I think alot of them were taken when they started and now they have a lot more furniture and decor and more of it matches. The room I have sleeps 5. Anyone going to come stay with me :O)

The best email to use for me is babiak3@yahoo.com

Bunches of Love,
Angela

Blog Title

I don't like the blog title that I picked. I wanted Mom's name in it and she loves roses, but I had to think of a title before I could do anything. I will have to brainstorm on something more catchy.

She had another good day today. She was sleepier than yesterday, but awake and alert at times. When I went in this morning she was sleeping and I gave her a kiss. She opened her eyes, smiled at me and went back to sleep.

A cardiologist that specializes in electric physio(something or another) came in and checked her. He said from the heart point of view he thought all was well. He did order a echocardiogram just to check things out.

The nurse mananger was in to see about putting in her pic line. She wanted to wait til tomorrow to do it. She was going to order some meds to help numb her arm and have someone help her do it in the morning.

The hematologist was in and talked to her tonight. He said so far all of her tests have come back good. I know he mentioned those back were her kidney and liver functions, potassium, magnesium and a few others.

She went down to a 4 on her ventilator today and did well. Tomorrow she will go to a 2. If that goes well, she will then get put on a CPAP. That will be supporting her breathing and helping her muscles in her chest get stronger, but will not do the breathing for her.

Let's hope for a good Saturday!

Bunches of Love
Angela

First Update

Hi everyone!! This is my first attempt at a blog, so bear with me. I will try to update this at least everyother day. Visiting hours at the hospital are from 10 to 8 and cell phones are not allowed in the hospital. So nobody be upset or worried when you can't reach me or I don't call you back for a day or two. I am just really busy and tired and trying to get some kind of routine in place.

So all about Mom.......

Last Saturday they discovered that her feeding tube was infected and pulled it out. They had to put a NG tube back in her nose, which she hates and has pulled out once. The infectious disease doctor came today and checked her belly. She says it looks much better and it not as red and hard as it has been. She still wants a surgeon to come and check it, make sure it does not need to be cleaned out. She was happy she was tolerating the antibiotics well. Since she is allergic to penicillin, it is hard to find something to give her.

Also today, a blood disorder doctor came in and checked her out as much as he could, he did not want to wake her up. I guess her red blood count is down and is anemic and they wanted him to look at her. He said he would run some tests on her and see if anything was going on, but it could just be because she has an infection.

She is down on her ventilator to a 6. That is the ventilator is only breathing for her 6 times a minute and is on 35% oxygen. Her oxygen saturation was at 99%.

She has been really awake and alert in the mornings. Her nurse this morning said they had a really nice conversation. (The nurse talking and Mom blinking) She definitly knows what is going on. She smiles at me all day long and rolls her eyes at me. The past 2 nights when I hugged her goodbye, she was able to pat me. She loves to look at her pictures of Jonah, Paige, and Zach, watch Luca on my phone and listen to Zach's voice on her Birthday card.

I know I don't have too much to tell you, but it is just a slow process. I was told this hospital slowed things way down and used the first 2 weeks to watch a patient and see what was going on in all aspects and go from there.

Just hang in there with me and just keep praying!!

Bunches of love,
Angela