Surprise!!!!!!

Yes, I know I disappered. Sorry. I will talk about later. Enjoy the picture of Mom and Zach. This will be short, but I guess the best thing to say is she is doing ok. Good days and not so good days. About the same for me.

Bunches of Love
Angela


babiak3@yahoo.com

Settled In

I went and spent part of the day with Mom. I have decided that the drive isn't really that bad. I just turn up the music and off I go singing my little heart out!

The smell isn't any better, but I guess the day was better than my first one there.

Mom seemed to be in a pretty good mood. I only got a few smiles throughout the day, but I didn't get the look to kill either. When I got there she was getting turned and I met 2 of the aides, who seemed nice. Not long after that the Director of Nursing came in to change a battery. I talked to her a bit and she seemed very nice, said to come talk to her for anything. Just thought she seemed kinda young. They have some kind of pump they are using on Mom. It gives her the antibiotics throughout a 24 hour period. She told me there was a doctor there and he would be in to see Mom soon.

The doctor did come in, he is the internist for the facility. The director and a LPN came with him. He seemed nice too. He asked alot of questions, knew Mom was a retired nurse and he got down to her level and talked to her about what he wanted to do. I think she has another boyfriend! Which has made me decide that my Mom likes men. Not that she didn't like men, but you know what I mean and it's strange. I guess all she needs is a few good looking men to come see her now and then and make her happy. They get bigger smiles than I do. We will see if she does that for Jeff this weekend.

Anyways, She is having a bowel problem and they were going to do a few tests and have the wound care nurse look at her. They think it could be the antibiotics. When he bottom gets all healed up he wants to take her catheter out. Just another tube to cause infections. He would like to take her central line out also when these antibiotics are done, but I believe they said she has 10 more days on them. He doesn't want her on antibiotics all the time which most of us know isn't good. Having all the tubes is such a higher risk to get the infections, they want to take out what they can. Her potassium is a bit low so they will give her some. She will not get lab work done everyday or chest xrays everyday like she did. I know that is a good thing, but it worries me. I want them right on top of something if it isn't right. I do agree with this doctor that you just can't go on numbers of tests all the time, you have to get to know the patient and watch them. Oh and they can do xrays at the facility, I was worried about that.

I had questioned them about if she would have a cardiologist. She does not. If she needs to see one, the ambulance will take her to him to see, which means she will have to come to Decatur to see Dr. Caseres and I have no idea how that works with her ventialtor. She will have a pulmonologist and a general doctor along with her internist. I signed for a podiatrist to see her once a month and for a dentist to see her. I also signed her up for a monthly haircut, sorry Gail! I would have you do it, but it is kinda far for ya!

Then 2 new aides were there for second shift and they seemed really nice. They asked me all kinds of questions about Mom. They said that they do not switch the aides or nurses around much on the ventilator unit. So they have the same people working and they are able to get to know the patients better and the patients get used to who takes care of them.

I got her room all decorated. She is ready for Valentine's Day and has all her pictures up. I guess it's as homey as can be for now. I am having trouble geting her name on all her fuzzy socks--any ideas? The pair she went in has disappeared already. She has to provide her own TV. They found one for her to use until we get her one. They apparently have a few floating around for that reason. It has to be 19" or under or we would take her the new one she has at home. You have to pay $5 a month for the cable which doesn't seem bad. She will actually be able to watch HGTV now. Yeah!!!

Also got to meet the speech therapist. She came in to work with Mom and of course Mom ignored her. But she will be getting speech therapy 5 times a week.

I talked to her about where she was and why. It made me cry. I told her I was sorry I couldn't take care of her at home by myself. I told her I wasn't coming today because of the weather and she smiled at me, so it must be ok.

The house is a disaster, the yard is a disaster from where we were re-doing the fence when Mom got sick. It's like life stopped that day. The fall decorations are still out and Halloween ones in a box in the living room. I still have stuff in the car in bring inside and go through. It's going to take awhile to get things straightened up and organized here at our house and hers. I will eventually get some kind of routine down. Right now I'm lazy and just trying to rest up. I am making a list of things that need to be done so I don't lay in bed at night and worry about it. So much to do!!!

I am glad to be home with Jeff and Zach. I think they missed me. I know the dogs did!! Rox went to the vet again Wednesday morning. He is a mess!! He looks awful, I told the vet he looks mangy. Not nice of me huh? Hopefully the medicine for his arthritis will start working. He can hardly move at all. It's bad. Then you add in he won't stop licking his feet and butt and then his skin problems on top of that. Poor Guy! Shaggy will be having his surgery next Wednesday. This should be fun afterwards. He will only be able to go out if he is walked on a leash and he can't jump up on anything or run. So he is going to live most of the next 2 months in a crate. Guess you gotta do what is best for him. The vet said she had to re-do her own dog (who has had the surgery Shaggy is having) because she didn't listen to her own advice. She let her dog get on the couch and she broke her line in her leg before it healed. Glad she didn't have to pay for the surgery re-do! We would have to. She did say you can get the surgery done in Champaign. They would put titanium in his leg and it would be about $2000. Jeff sure said no to that quick.

Speaking of Jeff. What a wonderful husband!!!!!! He let me put my Mom ahead of him and go off for 3 months. I love him more for it. I left and guess what? I got a present when I got home. He took my wedding ring to get fixed and got my Valentine's Day present and gave it to me early. He got me a matching bracelet, earrings and necklace. They have a Hershey's Kiss on them and the tag says Kisses. So I always get to wear a kiss from the hubs!!!

Wednesday evening I got a call and when I answered it this is what I heard----Hi Nanny!! I went across the street and played with Luca. Did me a world of good. Nothing like hugs and kisses from a 2 year old. He was going to come home with me too! He did ask about Marylee. I told him she was still sick. Maybe they will let me take him to see her when things get settled down.

I hate this weather, but I can only imagine what it is like up north!

Bunches of Love,
Angela


babiak3@yahoo.com

Lincoln

Well Mom is in Lincoln at Maple Ridge. She is in Room 49 in the ventilator unit. Luckily for now she has the room to herself. I am trying not to be too judgemental because nowhere is good enough for Mom. It is definatly a nursing home and the smell hits you when you walk in the door. So that is my first impression. I filled out the paperwork for her and have some things to take today. She is totally pissed, excuse my language. I did not go yesterday. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I needed a day away and Jeff conivnced me I was not a horrible daughter if I didn't go. So I shall go today and see how she is and start making her room try to be a little bit like home. I think this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Will update you all later.

Bunches of Love,
Angela


babiak3@yahoo.com

Home

Mom is getting moved to Lincoln today. I will be following and then be going home. More later

Bunches of Love
Angela

Just letting you know

I have not been to the hospital yet, but have spoken to the doctor. We will be staying for a few more days. Mom's temp went from 100.2 yesterday to 100.6 today. They have started her on 2 IV antibiotics. So with that and her blood pressure problem tomorrow, she is staying for at least a few more days. The doctor said if they sent her like this, she would just end up in the hospital down there.

I also discussed having a CAT scan. She said if she was having more mini strokes it would not change how they treated her, but I told her it might change what we wanted to do. So, she will be getting a scan today.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

Coming Home?

I was told today that Mom might get to move tomorrow. They are not sure though. Her blood pressure went down to 59/33 this morning, but was doing better during the day. She is also running a low fever. She will be going to Maple Ridge in Lincoln, they have officially accepted her as a patient.

Mom has done nothing for 4 days but sleep and I am worried about her. It is normal to get tired and worn out when they wean someone because they really are doing alot of work. This is more than sleepy. She is just plain out of it. I asked today for a cat scan. I am worried she has had another stroke or some small ones. So I don't know what is going on. They were doing some blood and urine tests on her this evening to check out why she might be having the temp. They were also going to do a sputum culture.

I went ahead and paid for my motel for Friday night. I will see what tomorrow holds. I want to come home and get Mom closer to home. I think it would be so good for her to see someone else besides me.

Bunches of Love
Angela

Update as promised

Gosh I have to think what has went on. Rich came Saturday and had to leave Sunday. I think he got to have a nice visit with Mom and we did too. He took me to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner and boy was it delicious! Then he treated me to Bath & Body Works. I can assure everyone that I smell very good!

Mom is doing good right now. Ever since Friday night she has been awake, alert and happy. Rich had never seen her like that. I think he was surprised. The blood she received has brought her hemoglobin up and is staying up. The only infections that she has right now is a urinary tract infection, so all those nasty bugs are gone for now.

Her J tube got clogged and the doc pulled it out today. I was not happy with that. She just got it in last Wednesday. He said she probably didn't need it anymore. Oh I have something to say to somebody about that.

Her lungs have cleared up and today they started a weaning process again. She is still in the ICU and I think she likes it. She likes to watch everyone and there is some action going on in there.

They did an echocardiogram of her heart yesterday. Her ejection fracture is at 35%. Not the best news, it dropped ten percent. Her heart is only pumping about half of what it should. Doc said usually he would put in a defibulater, but she isn't able to handle it right now. She has some crazy things going on with her heart rythmn too. They think her blood pressure went sky high and that is what caused her to go into heart failure. I do know she has a great cardiologist. That's her boyfriend ya know. He even apologized to her this evening because he said his hair was not perfect for her. He was in surgery today and it was messed up. She just smiled that smile and patted him. They are very entertaining.

Her and I have been reading a magazine with recepies in it and she likes it. I read her the recipies, she makes a face if she thinks they are yucky and if she doesn't I read her the recipie and she comments on it with her expression. She even takes the magazine and looks up close at the pics and seems to read things. I don't do this long with her, she gets tired easy.

The bad news for me is I am losing my room Friday. I have been back 3 weeks now and there are people on waiting list. I'm not sure yet what I am going to do. The cheapest hotel is $225.00 plus tax for a week. I know that I need to come home and relax but I just can't leave her up here for a long time especiaaly with her in the ICU unit.

Bunches of Love
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org

Quick Update

Just wanting everyone to know Mom is doing much better. She has been happy and sniling since Friday night. I will try to post tonight.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

Rough Day

I have no excuse for not posting other than I think I'm tired and just bummed out.

Today was the worst day of all so far. I'm actually not much into explaining right now, but felt I needed to update everyone. Today Mom went into Congestive Heart Failure. She has been taken and placed in the hospitals ICU that they have. She doing much better than this morning and I'm told she is out of the woods for now. Her blood pressure was sky high also. They have her on meds for that and lots of lasix to take the fluids off. She was going to get an anxiety med this evening which I have never requested before, but trust me she needed one. She will also be receiving 2 units of blood through the night. Her hemoglobin was down to 8 again. They put in a central line so they would not have to keep sticking her all the time, she is a really hard stick, so that should make it easy.

When the cardiologist was in this evening, he said she was in a major full blown failure. Of course that is her boyfriend and even with the kind of day she had, she perked right up for him. I might have to hire him to take care of her and keep her happy.

As for me, time to be honest. I guess I did ok, but it is the first time when I have been asked if im ok that I have said no. I was not ok, I was a crybaby all day. My eyes hurt really bad right now. I have to be honest and tell all of you I thought she was dying and I could do nothing for her. I had decided that if she stopped breathing, I would tell them to let her go. I guess God isn't ready for her quite yet. It was one of the hardest things I have ever watched. I have to say that the hospital employees tried their best to take care of me. I got lots of hugs and even kisses all day long and people coming to check on me and Mom. Everyone from aides and nurses, some of the kitchen staff who I see everyday, the speech therapist, her PT therapist, Joe the night housekeeper and even a hug from a doctor. I think we might of grown on some of them. So have no doubt, she is taken care of. Her favorite nurse Julie was in ICU today and watched her very carefully and was in there kissing on her. She is having her own problems with a sick father-in-law who has leukemia and is on a ventilator in a Chicago hospital. When she is not working, she is with him.

Also, Wednesday they put in a J tube for Mom. She now has a G and J feeding tube.
She was still aspirating some and this should help being in her intestine. She gets her meds in the G and her feeding in the J.

Please say a prayer for us.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org

Bugs!!! Bugs!!! Bugs!!!

Sorry for being away for so long. When I came back I brought a migraine with me and have not felt good since. I do feel better today, except for the snow.

Mom is doing so well, probably so many things that have gone on. I'm sure I won't get to them all.

I think the most important one for her is getting the tube out. She is like a different person. You can tell she feels better. They say having the feeding tube in her stomach will help so much now.

I have discovered one of her biggest problems (or should I say they have). She was full of nasty super bugs!!! That is what Dr. Mia, the infectious disease doc told me. She had infections in her bloodstream, urine, lungs, stomach and saliva. Some she said were not worrisome, they were just "clingers" I guess they changed her catheter also and stated fresh. She is on all new antibiotics and they seem to be working good. I asked about where all these bugs came from and was assured when you have an extended hospital stay, this can happen.

They are weaning her off the ventilator again. Today she was down to a 6 (breaths per minute the vent breathes for her) and seems to be doing good. Her blood gases have all been great. They feel she has been aspirating this whole time and that is the cause for all the lung and vent problems she has had with getting off. She has had some problems with "spitting up." She seems to be getting too much air in her tummy. So when the spitting up happens, they take air out of her stomach and turn her feeding off for at least a half hour and let her stomach settle. I believe they are looking into changing her feeding.

Her cardio boyfriend wants to do an echo cardiogram sometime in the next week to check her ejection fracture and see if it has improved. Here is a treat for you, I found his website and you can see his handsomeness for yourself. Although his cheeks look fat in some pics!!! http://elitecardiologysolutions.com/index.htm

The hematologist is pleased, her hemoglobin is staying up.

Karen is working on her with swallowing. She uses this thing that stimulates her cheeks and neck and then gives her wet swabs to use in her mouth. Mom takes them herself and puts them in her mouth and twirls them around and moves from side to side and gives them back to Karen to re wet. Karen feels her chin and makes sure she swallows and she does. I was very proud of her.

I guess one of the best things is also how many people have said since I came back how different Mom is. She is much more awake and alert and interactive than she was and now I know it's not just me seeing it!

Bunches of Love
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org

Home Sweet Home (Away From Home)

I am back in Sycamore with Mom. Got here Friday evening around 6:30 and went right to the hospital.

I did have a good time at home. Seemed strange when I first got there, somewhere I wasn't used to being. The dogs didn't even greet me at the door. But they did come when I got in and Rox got up for the first time on his own since getting his tooth pulled and not being able to walk on his hind legs. Then they got excited when they saw me. I think Jeff might of too. I did stop at the theatre first to see Zach. Made him kiss me in public. I really didn't rest a whole lot, but got some things done and spent time with the boys. Went to the vet's with Jeff, Rox and Shaggy. Poor Shaggy has such a hard time walking, but no problem running to chase a squirrel. He has to wait at least 3 weeks before he can have surgery. Jeff took me to Olive Garden to eat, which was very nice and good. The first bread sticks were hard and I hide them on the seat and asked for more. Guess I could of told her they were hard, but I have to do it the comical way. They were out of Ranch dressing and Jeff asked the waitress why someone couldn't just run over to Target and get some which she didn't seem to find funny or take him seriously (he was serious.)

We went to Wal-Mart and Kroger and got groceries. I like for him to go once in awhile so he knows why I spend so much at the store! Went to Rural King and got Rox a dog bed which Brandy likes to sleep on. Unloaded groceries and I laid in bed and watched Ghost Hunters.

I went to CEFCU and took care of some of Mom's business at the bank and got it all straightened out on Thursday and got more groceries at Aldi's. Did a bunch of sorting and cleaning out while I was home, mostly of things I hauled home. Made the boys a nice dinner of Pepper Jack Chicken which tasted great. A home cooked meal!!!!! Zach got to come home from work londg enough for us to have Christmas and went back to work. I was a party pooper ion New Years Eve, didn't feel good and had a headache and went to bed. Jeff did come kiss me at midnight, our tradition.

Got up Friday and did more work and laundry, got the car packed, took Inky her Christmas presents and hit the road. There were some tears shed, but we will survive. I am sorry I did not have time to go see Luca. I miss him terribly.

I have to give Martha a big thank you for staying up here while I went home and was able not to worry "as much" as I might have. I called the hospital twice a day and got updates from Martha. I was able to start my time all over with at the house too!!! That is a big worry off my shoulders, I know I have a place to stay again for 3 weeks at least.

Ok, so about Mom.....She was sleeping when I got there, but I kissed her and told her I was back and she opened her eyes and smiled very big at me. The aide told her that they promised her I would come back! She smiled all evening and held my hand. I signed the papers for her procedure today.

I understand that she was quite a handful one evening. I believe it was Thursday evening. She pulled her NG tube out twice within a couple of hours and Martha said she just smiled at the nurses. She also managed to do this with her mitt on her hand. Julie our favorite nurse came in to tell me today she kept them busy. Julie told me she put her tube back 3 times within 4 hours and the last time it took 4 nurses to hold her and get it back in. She also reported she made sure Mom's hair got brushed.

I got to the hospital this morning at 10 because I didn't want to miss seeing her before they did anything. They didn't know what time the doctor was coming in. They were setting up when I got there, but it was about 11:30 before they began. I asked why she did not have her PIC line in and they nurse supervisor didn't know but was concerned. So she had the scope and her feeding tube put back in her tummy today and everything went very well, she did great. I am amazed what they can do in a room. She slept most of the afternoon and then was awake until I left at 8. She did seems to me like she was in a bit of pain and I did request a pain pill for her. I actually think she thought I was talking too much. I was talking, telling her whatever, and had stopped and she went back to watching TV. I started talking again and she turned and gave me that :moms evil eye" look and I told her I would be quiet.

Here is the most interesting part of the day. I saw Dave in the hallway. He is the PA for the pulmonologist. He says to me something about Mom being better because she sure was sick. I was like,,,what??? Apparently she has an infection in her urine (which I knew) and one in her blood. He said it was VRE (I think) and was telling me what a nasty bug it was and how good she was responding to the antibiotics and seemed to be feeling better. This is the reason they had to take out her PIC line. I told him I didn't know about most of this and he was surprised. He was at the video swallow test also. He said she swallowed perfect, which he was happy about because what they thought wasn't working was. He said it all went down perfect til it got down so far and then it just came up and went in the lungs. Apparently they were surprised and thought it was a one time thing and did it again and sure enough, happened again. He is interested to see what the doctor has to say about what he saw today. It may also help explain about her problems getting off the ventilator. He said even a tiny bit of tube feeding coming back up isn't good. He said it really was good for her to get the feeding tube put in her stomach. So we shall see what happens. She will stay on the vent settings she is on for a few more days and let her rest up from today. I feel very blessed.

I'm going to post some of our holiday pics and mom's room this morning all ready for "surgery."

Bunches of Love
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org