What a cold night it is here, is it at home? We have had about a foot of snow and it's very cold and windy. I am glad I really don't have to go anywhere and just have to walk across the parking lot. I know we get snow, but sheesh, they say this is typical up here. It's like it does not stop snowing.
Having a good couple of days. Still taking it slow and getting her used to breathing on her own. She wears her talker during the day and they take it off at night. Her numbers are still very good. Her BP tonight was 130/78. I threw that one in for someone who might be interested and they know who they are!
They said her kidney function tests are looking better, which is a good thing. Still giving her some fluids.
She participated this morning more than usual with her physical therapy.
Her cardio boyfriend was in this evening. He said he had only one concern. Her ejection fracture is about 45% and at some time it had been 50%. This is from when she had an echocardiogram many weeks ago and he is just telling me this. He said he thinks with the combo of meds she is on now, that in time it will help and maybe improve. He said he would be happy as long as it does not get worse. He thinks as she gets up and can be more physical that it will help too. Yes, she lit up when he came in and talked to her.
I had to do something this evening that I have so far not had to do. COMPLAIN!!
There was an issue with me asking me to do something and it didn't get done for 2 hours. Well, I marched my booty down to the nurse surpervisor and made my feelings known. Also talked about a few issues that I have not been real pleased with.
I also found out that they have been giving her some pain meds and as far as I know they have not done that til now. I don't think I like it, makes her sleep. I know she can't really tell anyone if she has pain, but I think I would be the one who could tell them by how she acts. She does hold her head sometimes which makes me think she might have a headache and sometimes she holds her tummy. I honestly don't think she has been in alot of pain, I would not let her be if I thought so. She told me once in this day and age of medicine, there is no reason for anyone to suffer with pain.
The wound nurse said her tummy is healing great!!! She said there could of been alot of complications with the site, but she was healing great. I am so thankful for all of the blessings we are receiving with her.
Want to know about Thunder?\
It would be a four legged sweetie that I call Thunder the Wonder dog.
Mary Lou who runs the house brings her dog with her to the house. Which I absolutely love because I miss my babies at home. Well. Mr. Thunder is a certified therapy dog and today he came to visit Mom! I think she really enjoyed seeing him. Could be because he doesn't jump like those crazy dogs at my house. Thunder put his chin up on her bed and licked her. She had big smiles while he was there. She reached out and petted him several times and even fed him some treats. I am so glad she enjoyed it. She got to visit with Mary Lou also. Here is the part that brought a tear to my eye. When Mary Lou and Thunder were getting ready to go, Mary Lou reached down and patted Mom's hand. Mom took her hand and kissed it and smiled at her. We decided that meant she enjoyed her visit and would like Thunder to come back and see her. Maybe it was a thank you also for Mary Lou telling her what a wonderful daughter she had and she could see where she got it from (Just ringing my bell *wink*. Actually I do think I am who I am because of my Mom and grandma and grandpa, they raised me right. I try to do them proud!
Last night she did not want me to leave. She held on to me and played with my hair and wanted me to lay my head on her chest and I did just what she wanted. What wonderful memories we are making together. I guess she got tired of me because later on she patted me on the arm and let me up.
I see more and more of her coming out. It is so good in a way, but them frustrating for me. I was trying to do something yesterday which was taking care of me and she swatted my hand away and got upset with me. She swatted my hand and didn't want anything on her lips. Later she let me put lip gloss on her. At least she is beginning to be able to communicate what she wants.
On the home from, Jeff took the dogs to the vet tonight. I knew he was taking Rox, but they all went and we knew they all had some issues. Well, $674.00 later......yes, you read that right here is what we have. I'll try to get it right, have to remember what he told me.....Brandy-more ear troubles, got the injections in her ears that do help and has 4 meds to take. Rox-bacteria and fungus on the skin, infected teeth and arthritis, he gets 5 meds and topical spray, got a shot and has to go back once a week for a month to get a shot and is going to get his teeth cleaned and finally Shaggy (my prescious) he has a bacteria and fungus issue with his skin also, a mass on his booty that was biopsied, bumps on skin that were biopised, arthritis, and sedated and xrayed and has a torn acl in his knee, he only has 2 meds to take, the topical skin spray and is getting the same shots as Rox. Sounds like we don't take care of them doesn't it. We try. Poor Jeff will be getting up a half hour earlier every morning to medicate the dogs before work.
Thanks for listening to my ramblings, it does help me to write and I have support group tonight and that makes me feel good. Tonight I made a rainbow with construction paper. It is what I think of when I think of hope......Sun after the Rain.
I am off to bed, the pain pill is kicking in and maybe I can sleep tonight.
Bunches of Love,
Angela
babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org
Oh yeah....Jeff is sending me my meds up in the mail and the cords and program I need to put pics on for you. I hope I can figure it out!!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ornery
I woke up to the sound of a snowplow. Ack. Just about a 1/2 inch. The sidewalks here at the house are always magically shoveled. I am told we are expecting up to 12 inches. I better go get some milk tomorrow and be ready so I don't have to drive. I was planning on going to Rockford to go to Hobby Lobby this week and get Mom a small Christmas tree. Time will tell when I can go, I do believe there is a Gordman's near. I could get in trouble.
There isn't a whole lot to tell. Still on the aerosol oxygen. They are putting her talked valve on because it is a bit harder work with that on and that will build her up for having her trach plugged. She has been ornery. She pulled her NG tube out of her nose twice in 24 hours. She had her mitt on this morning when I got in.
I guess the only change is some of her kidney function tests came back abnormal. So the kidncy doc is called in to look at her and he was in with his assistant. They have a couple theories, but I don't think they are too worried at this time. They were going to change on of her BP meds because that could effect the kidneys and she might be a bit dehydrated and were going to give her some extra fluid.
Her cardio boyfriend was in to check on her. I just wish you all could see how she lights up when he comes in the room. He told her how well she was doing and he wasn't going to promise her a rose garden, but he could tell her she was going to get better.
One of the aides told me today how much she loved taking care of Mom especially since her personality is coming out. She said she was halarious.
Today she held her gown for the nurse when she was repacking her stomach wound. And she put her pillows back on the bed for the aide when she was getting ready to put her back to bed.
She was more sleepy today than yesterday, but woke up for periods and watched TV and let me bug her. I didn't get a hug tonight, but she was sleeping. Getting up in the chair always make her very tired.
I got another week at the house. Right now I am on a week by week basis. I have used my 3 weeks and as long as nobody is on the waiting list, I get my room for another week. I have been told by a few that they will not make you leave. The woman who was here when I got here was here 6 1/2 weeks and I know there was a waiting list, because I was on it!
Someone dropped off cupcakes this morning. They were left over from a surprise birthday party. They were the kind that were really too pretty to eat. But I did manage to eat one. The community really seems to care about this house and takes care of the guests.
Mom is supposed to have a surprise visitor tomorrow. I will let you all know.
Bunches of Love,
Angela
babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org
There isn't a whole lot to tell. Still on the aerosol oxygen. They are putting her talked valve on because it is a bit harder work with that on and that will build her up for having her trach plugged. She has been ornery. She pulled her NG tube out of her nose twice in 24 hours. She had her mitt on this morning when I got in.
I guess the only change is some of her kidney function tests came back abnormal. So the kidncy doc is called in to look at her and he was in with his assistant. They have a couple theories, but I don't think they are too worried at this time. They were going to change on of her BP meds because that could effect the kidneys and she might be a bit dehydrated and were going to give her some extra fluid.
Her cardio boyfriend was in to check on her. I just wish you all could see how she lights up when he comes in the room. He told her how well she was doing and he wasn't going to promise her a rose garden, but he could tell her she was going to get better.
One of the aides told me today how much she loved taking care of Mom especially since her personality is coming out. She said she was halarious.
Today she held her gown for the nurse when she was repacking her stomach wound. And she put her pillows back on the bed for the aide when she was getting ready to put her back to bed.
She was more sleepy today than yesterday, but woke up for periods and watched TV and let me bug her. I didn't get a hug tonight, but she was sleeping. Getting up in the chair always make her very tired.
I got another week at the house. Right now I am on a week by week basis. I have used my 3 weeks and as long as nobody is on the waiting list, I get my room for another week. I have been told by a few that they will not make you leave. The woman who was here when I got here was here 6 1/2 weeks and I know there was a waiting list, because I was on it!
Someone dropped off cupcakes this morning. They were left over from a surprise birthday party. They were the kind that were really too pretty to eat. But I did manage to eat one. The community really seems to care about this house and takes care of the guests.
Mom is supposed to have a surprise visitor tomorrow. I will let you all know.
Bunches of Love,
Angela
babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Hugs
Probably the best day yet!!!!!!
This evening when I reached down to hug Mom goodnight she put her arm all the way around me and hugged me back, tight!!! She held on for a few minutes too. Then she rubbed my face and played with my hair. I stayed a bit longer because the nurse came in to do her thingy and I hugged her again before leaving and I got another hug again. Made me cry.
Still on the aerosol oxygen and having good numbers. She wore the talker valve today, but she didn't talk. I think that she will have to relearn that.
The cardio was in and said the heart is still great. I did ask him about if down the road she should have her carotid artery cleaned out. He said in the future, but now is not a priority. She had that big ole smile for him again.
The RT remindeed her this evening that tomorrow would be 72 hours off the vent which means that they take it out of the room. I reminded her that last time that happened is when she had problems and maybe they could just keep it in the corner for now. I was serious, but I think she thought I was joking.
Here are a few things she did today, kinda letting you know how she acts and responds.
The nurse was giving her a heparin shot and told her she was sorry because she knew that they stung. I looked at Mom and told her a sting was better than getting a blood clot and she looked at me and smiled and nodded her head yes a bit.
Warning.....explicit details coming up
She had her sheet off and her left leg up and was moving it around. Her gown had come up and I told her that her hoo-hoo was showing. She looked down and then proceeded to straighten out her gown and smile at me. Good thing poor Jeff wasn't there for that one!
We are under a winter storm advisory til Wednesday night....Yuk
Bunches of Love,
Angela
babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org
This evening when I reached down to hug Mom goodnight she put her arm all the way around me and hugged me back, tight!!! She held on for a few minutes too. Then she rubbed my face and played with my hair. I stayed a bit longer because the nurse came in to do her thingy and I hugged her again before leaving and I got another hug again. Made me cry.
Still on the aerosol oxygen and having good numbers. She wore the talker valve today, but she didn't talk. I think that she will have to relearn that.
The cardio was in and said the heart is still great. I did ask him about if down the road she should have her carotid artery cleaned out. He said in the future, but now is not a priority. She had that big ole smile for him again.
The RT remindeed her this evening that tomorrow would be 72 hours off the vent which means that they take it out of the room. I reminded her that last time that happened is when she had problems and maybe they could just keep it in the corner for now. I was serious, but I think she thought I was joking.
Here are a few things she did today, kinda letting you know how she acts and responds.
The nurse was giving her a heparin shot and told her she was sorry because she knew that they stung. I looked at Mom and told her a sting was better than getting a blood clot and she looked at me and smiled and nodded her head yes a bit.
Warning.....explicit details coming up
She had her sheet off and her left leg up and was moving it around. Her gown had come up and I told her that her hoo-hoo was showing. She looked down and then proceeded to straighten out her gown and smile at me. Good thing poor Jeff wasn't there for that one!
We are under a winter storm advisory til Wednesday night....Yuk
Bunches of Love,
Angela
babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org
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