Rest unassured

Father didn't play golf yesterday. His partner didn't want to play in gloom and mist. A couple of players went on to experience heavier rain before quitting. Father also finsihed early with poker -- not winning and came home to rest. This morning, he looked unrested. On the way back from hospital, he was blinking often. Marcus was driving, making the trip less scary.

Mother wasn't rested. She was loopy with sleeplessness, pain meds, and other meds. She ate more of a meal today. Last night, she tried the veggie lasagna and ate it pretty well. She had "perfect shaped" french toast which she ate most. Her appettite is slowly returning. She's plain tired of being there, I can't blame her. Her vitals are still high yielding yet another day there in ICU.

She is also experiencing "sub" week, in that two of her regular doctors have substitutes this week (those fellow doctors working in a group). I don't think she likes that too well.

This evening

Mother had PT and hated it, but apparently did very well. They didn't have her do it in the afternoon. Her friend, Betty, came in while Betty herself was in hospital. Her daughter Patsy was there. Betty is unsure about moving to rehab hospital. Mother seemed optimistic.

She was in good spirits, but was very sore. She liked her first meal today -- veggie lasagna. She favors the diabetic sweets though, pudding, cheesecake. She did more time on the auto bending machines. Her pain is less, but her work is greater. She is to move more and has a series of exercises that she is to do.
She hasn't really slept, so that hopefully is in the works tonight. She doesn't watch TV as much of it is crud and crude. She gets pestered at least every hour, usually more often.

Father, needing a break, went golfing today. The weather was continually misty today, but they all went. He was to follow that with poker. He hinted that he may not make it all night, but would try. He is still looking groggy and sleepy.

Marcus found the hospital courtesy wi-fi helpful.

confidence high

I, and I alone, visited my mother last night in hospital.  She was in fairly good spirits.  It took a couple of hours to get an IV person to get the blood into her veins.  She was given two more units of blood, as after two days of waiting, the numbers came back still a little low.  She took less pain meds today.

 

My father is a wreck, but I'm around so that he can unwind with some golf and poker.  He's in a weekly golf league on Tuesdays and plays poker about every other week on Tuesday.  He was plain whipped so I went to hospital and saw mom.

 

There is a woman there, pacing unable to do much, while her husband is to undergo heart surgery again.  She looks my age, but I understand that she's fifty (she hides it very well).  I could do little but wave to her.  Still, she paces.

 

I found that, when I get a chance to walk -- it's much like a full marathon, shedding weight from my shoulders and back, feeling better -- then slump, back into waiting.  My eyes feel heavy, but I can't sleep well.

"I don't know what I'm doing.  No one will tell me.  I think this was a big mistake Grandma.  I don't think I belong here."+

 

 

+ Platoon

As a simple side note, my brother-in-law wrote to the folks, graciously thanking them for the birthday card and gift.  His year is another round of BS and that's not bachelors.  I read the letter to Mom, and I dare say that his letter was hurried, as it was a tad difficult to read.  Mind you, I can read preschool writing.  His broad loops -- old French style, made it an interesting, but challenging bit.

 

Much to Mother's worry and bewilderment, is that her friend, Betty will be discharged from same hospital on Wednesday, there transferred to rehab, though different than Mother's prospective rehab hospital++.  Mom may or may not see her again soon.

 

Betty's daughter must decide where Betty is to go.  Her daughter's hands are "full" with many other obligations.  On top of that, Betty is not interested in assisted living -- nor are most/all patients in nursing homes.

 

++ assignment of rehab hospitals is based on:  need, criteria, ratios.

1.  need -- can patient do rehab in other fashion, not in-house

2. basis of need -- phsyical, neurological

3. New to me:  ratios.  There are some facilities that must maintain ratios of say (percentages picked out of thin air) 62% physical rehab (limb removal, replacement), 25% neurological (e.g.: siezure), 12% other (other prosthetic like eye, inner eye, etc.).  So, a building can't be 100% hip and knee replacement patients.

 

That's crazy, but that's insurance policy/demands, and government standards for payout.

--

It is very, very, likely that Mother will be at the campus rehab at Lutheran, but that hasn't been made as she's not yet in her standard room.

machines

Mother is improving and she is "attached" to machines that bend her knees.  She isn't doing as much on PT as they would like, so they are using machines to do it for her.  She claimed that it wasn't too bad -- felt good.  I'm sure that she was stiff, but isn't up to lifting her legs and doing much of anything on her own.

 

She's clearer, focussed and hoping and dreaming of going to REHAB hospital soon.  I think that it'll be later, perhaps next Monday, as her Pulse, Heart rate and Blood Pressure are all too high, despite a nitro drip and a couple other meds.  The doctors came about to see her, ensuring her that she won't sleep.  In a retort to a doctor who came in while she was drifting off to sleep, "how can I".

 

She's in better spirits.

Painful irony

You're in pain, you want meds to kill the pain. You are given lots of meds. Somewhere, you develop a reaction to the meds. Suddenly, paranoia sets in. There is no recovery until it is leeched from your system. Lois experienced this for several days.

Late this morning, sans loads of morphine, she was lucid and responsive to conversation. Later, she was finally asleep. Beth, Debbie, Jennifer all bade her goodbye.

Today, so far, was better.
..............
A call from Dorothy was that her pain had not subsided. Tears of pain--untamed. God be with them both!

a funny thing happened on the way to craziness

Father was trying to sit in the convertible chair/sofa in the room. It pulls out, making an uncomfrotable bed. In trying this, he slid out with his neck on the back and his legs pulling away with the sofa part. It was a funny adventure.

Lois is constantly asked her birthday before receiving any medicine and now does it out of the blue, as a perfunctory response. Poor woman, no one wishes that!

Hairpins

Thursday, things went well, the surgery completed faster than they thought. Mother thereafter was in pain. They loaded her up as much as they could, but she wept and cried all day and night. Father stayed with her during the night, but he didn't sleep.

Friday, I picked up father to get him to sleep at home. I returned to the hospital where things went for the worse, culminating in her uncontrolled high blood pressure. After twelve hours of dangerous levels, Dr. Reddy (her cardiologist) relocated her to the ICU, at 12 midnight. They were kind enough to provide father with a room, where he slept for around 4 hours, but not well.

While in ICU she is better, feeling less pain on her knees and legs and a sonogram seemed to confirm no blood clotting. Her back spasms are frequent and are strong. The pain meds making her somewhat to greatly incoherant. On the plus side, she sat up and dangled her legs off the bed this morning.

During the day with IVs everywhere, she had a much better Blood Pressure. I hope that tomorrow she is moved to a regular unit with no high blood pressure. This will mark day three, hopefully the period where things improve.

Bethy, Debbie, Jennifer (Diane's elder daughter) came to visit. Jessica wears a hat of concern for her grandma -- Diane is way busy.

Marcus has discovered a new pain -- likely ulcer (s). They'll become manageable when the stress lowers, whenever that is.

Hospital

reasons why I don't sleep
Originally uploaded by MDH, II.

The surgery went just fine -- finishing early. Getting her into room, longer, getting her out of pain -- mostly unsolved. She is animal tranquilized, but that may not be enough. Today was very difficult.

Father rested in her room last night. He didn't sleep. When he came home, he got little sleep. Beth and Marcus were there with her, then Marcus picked up Diane's Jessica and later Jennifer came to see Lois.

It was just not good. More in later post.

Pain, strain, wait

Lois was in pain last night, but missed it this morning until ... she was ready to go to doctor's. She had made an appointment with her pain management doctor for 9:15 today. He guessed it was back spasms and offered her some sample drugs to see if they worked. Lois was worried that her rehab would be frought with tears of pain doubled from her back.

She rested and had a chance to pack up what she wanted for the rehab. Thankfully, Thomas and Marcus can do laundry service for her.

Thomas is on a cloud ... drifting uncontrollably. He can't concentrate on anything. Marcus has saved bits, and I do mean bits, of sanity with obsessing with a few items. No one will be in good shape tomorrow. Beth is coming up tonight and Diane plans to come to hospital upon ensuring that Jessica is at school.

The pastor called and indicated that he would be around the area in hospital to offer prayer and love, hopefully before the surgery. That just kicks it, doesn't it? There you are in gown, maybe covered in sheet, and church persons come by -- well, either accept the well-wishing or prefer your pride. I'd say skip the pride.

I plan on taking just about anything to get to sleep tonight. If I could hit myself with a mallot, I would.

Agony of defeat

Wicked week, but better than the last.
Lois had painful bouts, but kepts tears to minimum. Thomas is tripping over ideas and his own feet. Marcus appears calmer, better, but is "little boy" the atom bomb -- prone to fits of anxiety ... pouncing on tidbits of frustration. Soundbites and news -- little discussed.

Of disgust, Lois' liking of pain. She's worried about her rehab, considering her back pain. In either a moment of panic or clarity, she called a pain management doctor, with whom she's worked before, to handle the pain. She hopes that perhaps upping the Oxy will put moxy in her step. She hopes at least less grit in her teeth.

Upswells of hope and love are offered as a friend, now adrift in feelings of helplessness, dropped by today. She wondered, hintingly, if I would wake Lois to chat with her. I didn't, as Lois was in pain and my main concern is and was that she get to hospital on Thursday without knocking herself out with pain. Friend, Betty is in hospital (previous post) and will be in rehab at the same time as Lois. Perhaps they will meet each other in their efforts there.

Father's golf, as cathartic as it might be is no substitute to mother's well-being. He is as capable of thinking as a clam ... open sometimes, but mainly filtering. Marcus is a bit more capable, but stressed. Lois' health is primarily his worry. Onto that, money and job and a few other things that are left undiscussed.

I'm glad I don't smoke as now, I would be a Pennsylvania steel mill belching out smog and soot as surely as I exist. Mother rests poorly, father poorly ... thankfully, a spit of good news

Father's bone scan, though more intensive than planned, turned up nothing, according to father. Still, his shoulder is a mild wreck, he prefers not to drive and his knee was the focus of the bone scan. In my heart, my mind ... doubt. Cynical and skeptical to the last ... Marcus drags doubt, concern and sorrow, in every step.

Mother's confession of procrastination was a welcome laugh. She delcared today that it was great that she'd be in rehab center where they don't take excuses, no passes, no, "no"'s. She'll have to do the work; pain and all. And in that, I am glad that pain ahead she's mandated herself to assistance.

It's plastic, it's rectangle, it's filled with sand

and poop. This week is viewed in litter box.

Tuesday: rotten, really nothing more to say on it, other than plain rot. Father had a chance to play golf and poker.
Wednesday: slightly better, but Father didn't golf
Thursday, almost as rotten as Tuesday.
Friday: Thomas, Lois and Marcus went into hospital for Lois' pre-admission testing. Lois claimed it was to be 30 minutes, but that was far off. It lasted nearly 4 hours. She learned some, as did Thomas and Marcus. In leui of lunch that they missed they caught some 4:30 dinner.
Saturday: Sluggish. Father and I went to look at convalescent care items and bought a couple of things. Two salespersons were at the one store. One wanted to sell everything, the other was less pushy.

Father and Marcus replaced a toilet seat which took herculean efforts, six tools and 40 minutes. The old metal bolts were rusted and the plastic nuts didn't move. After making no headway with the dremel, Marcus hacked away slowly with a sawblade, 4 sheets of paper thick.

We finished today with Lois' back hurting again. This week bit me already, otherwise I would have invited it to do so.

Also, we found out that an old friend, Betty, was in hospital for other checking when she had a grand mal seizure. I know little else. Her daughter is due to come down tonight or tomorrow. Betty was worried about getting old and having to be in a nursing home ... this might eliminate choices.
....
Marcus still hasn't found a job. He will now be fighting with MetLife to process his paperwork that they have had for three-five weeks, to give him some of HIS money. He's none-too happy. The Tums corporation has opened a new branch due to increased sales, in a related story.

Goodnight sweetheart, well, it's time to go.

No monuments this week. No grand vacations or leaps. There was one giant leap for Jenny-kind Saturday in that she left for freshman year at Purdue. This week only (sounding like an ad) is strictly freshman orientation. Jenny and Jessica haven't been truly apart from each other in a a long, long time, though wtih Jenny having a steady (serious) boyfriend, Gary, the sisters have spent less time together. This will be a hard separation for both.
I'm not too worried for Jenny, she'll either stick with her core (Vetrinary Science) or pursue something else. Schoolwork wasn't a terrible problem for her.

The Freygangs borrowed Thomas' van. Father and I went to prepare it for the move -- yank seats, vaccuum and wash. The vaccuuming was long-since needed, but it looked better quickly. The auto wash did an okay job, but father and I noticed not one bubble of soap during the wash, leaving us with skepticism. Jenny wasn't packed well for the trip and her room looked like either:
A: earthquake focussed on her room, sending everything everywhere, mostly to the floor
B: all personal belongings were put in blender andit was set on maximum spread

This week, Thomas and Marcus did a little painting. On Friday, Lois got a coumadin level check and Father picked up a new Lutheran Hospital map with the parking garage and two buildins that Lois will visit during surgery and rehab. After that, Thomas, Lois, and Marcus ate a lunch at Cracker Barrel, which was noisy enough to deafen the deaf. Conversation wasn't really possible.

Unstated to anyone, Marcus took a look around and saw, what looked like a partially filled soda bottle on a table. The bussers (table cleaners) didn't attempt to move it. I thought this gross, until ... 20 minutes later, I noticed one on another table. "Think rabbit ... think!" They were, instead, snapple-shaped bottles that contained syrup for breakfast meals. I'm scho schtupid!

Thomas and Lois got threee plates of food each. They didn't eat it all. Had the meat been not as dry, surely they would have had a better meal. They each disliked the grits and the sausage gravy. I ate fish, some of which was fried in oil with fried chicken, giving it that chicken flavor -- yuck! It wasn't all bad.

After the vehicle exchange on Saturday, the three went to an Italian restaurant, Casa Grill. The service was slow, the table uncleaned in a spot, which I didn't mention to anyone. Father got their signature salad -- large bowl that he couldn't finish (bottomless?) Mother got a hoagie fillet of sole sandwhich that she didn't finish that came with side pasta. Marcus finished all of his lunch at 2:30 (very late lunch) as he didn't eat breakfast.

After that, Lois plummeted into Stephen King's Misery, in that her captor "pain" delivered well her doses of pain -- back aching to the point of near tears. Her dialogue with the pain sounded mantra-like or hail Marys. Unable to sleep but spots, she failed to make it to church again. Father, sleeping only a bit better had to attend as he was head usher.

Marcus read through more, this time completely, worthless job postings. Tripling the number of postings today wasn't a good trade for quality. Quantity only helps at particular times.

Jessica is to come to mow father's lawn, but we'll find out if that happens. It being only the three of them at the house this weekend -- I would guess that they'd go to see a movie together, their family enjoyment. In contrast, Thomas, Lois, and Marcus played cards with mixed results. Father typically lost, especially when playing King's Corner. Playing 7up (card game), he fared better.

Circling Hell?

Try as I might, I can't find out why she's there!

I called Diane today about her and Mom's appointment with sewing. Apparently Hell hath no fury like ill fortune.
She was calling from the road to pick up her son, Joseph, who got pulled over twice in the same day. His offenses are unknown to me, at this time. Last night her husband James (my brother-in-law of course) got into an accident and might have whiplash. Her elder daughter, Jennifer, might have a bladder infection again. Yikes!
I guess that if you are LIVING in hell, it really isn't Hell, as Hell is continual death and absence/distance from God -- mett out as you did in life. Here, Diane has the upside down horseshoe birthmark, She calls it Murphy's Law extreme. If something can go wrong, it will -- twice in one day.

The folks were doing okay yesterday. Father played iron well, but putted terribly. Overall, he had fun, but disappointed with his, "short game". Lois had some difficulty with soreness and rest. Amazingly, few doctor appointments this week. Next week -- anew.

Father has a bone-scan scheduled, midtime between here and Lois' surgery. Today marks the two-week mark before her double bionic knees, being the $6 Billion Woman, or at least that's what is billed to Medicaid/Medi-Care and other supplements.

weekend

Beth and Tom came up this weekend with their dogs Samson (in photo lying next to father) and Argos, black German Shepherd (not shown here). Tom wanted to exercise them a bit and work on training. Argos is larger than Samson, and is less than a year old. Tom hopes to get him trained for Schultzhund -- canine sporting.
While Father, Tom, dogs and I were at the park, Lois, Beth, Diane were out drinking tea and choosing fresh bread. Though not too hot, Marcus was chewed apart by mosquitoes.

It was very nice to have the Loves come up to visit, however short it was. The Loves and the folks watched Pride and Prejudice, well, not father as he snoozed through it. I declined.

Bethy emailed me, wanting me to call Tom, for she grabbed his keys and her new building couldn't make outside calls at that time. Sounds like the building was all ready, right?

Wet paint

Father and I were painting again. This time, it was the upstairs hallway walls. It seems to be my lot in life to paint. The seemingly thousands of corners from five doorways took a long, long while. In the middle of painting I got a call about a sales job that I likely don’t want, selling financials to senior citizens.

We finished and when we were cleaning out brushes and trays, the outside well (not where one gets water) was filled with paint water and plant material. Water went nowhere, because of the plant waste. I thought that it would eventually drain and went in to wash my hands then shower.

I went to the basement (opposite side of well) and the paint water had crept in, along the floor. I dropped scrap towels to hold back what could have been a flood. I went outside and bailed the excess water from the well while Father dropped more towels on the floor. After the well was 5 mm filled with water, very safe, I returned to clean up the mess.

It had crept under a storage cabinet, thankfully plastic and easier to move. It also went under the clothes washer, so we had to move it and clean the mess there. Yikes! It had been a while seen the cabinet and the washer had pulled back. Goo, eww ... and gross! Suffice to say that the energy I had for the second coat of paint today, was spent on the water disaster. I am spent. Father had a sore back, so we called it a day at the half (12:00)

The good news is that God was looking out for us, in that it rained heavily in the afternoon and the plugged well would have been an issue, perhaps.

Mother was a little more energetic today and spoke with hospital about appointment. Diane was supposed to come over to work with Mom on some small patches for their sewing tomorrow. At the time of this writing, she had yet to show.

To make walking difficult, most of the walls upstairs were wet, but dried fairly quickly. At 3:00, the rails were up and it was as good as it was going to be for today. Father thought that one coat would do, but Marcus wasn't sure.

The wound that would not heal

Mother has an August 24th surgery appointment.  Mother complained about a leg injury that hasn't successfully healed for 3 years.  Nice -- a nurse who doesn't check into it.  Against her will, Father took her to the doc.

According to the doctor, they need to take a biopsy to verfiy his suspicions that it's pre-cancerous.  Since an incision might bring on an infection, he suggested that she not take this action now, so close to surgery.  Some more about which to worry.

 

Today was a long one.  Lois is sore, Thomas is plain bushed.  The news isn't good.  Welcome to the weekend.

In lighter news, Diane and family are supposed to take a mini-vacation to lovely Monticello, Indiana for a day at Indiana Beach (large, long lake with rides, etc.)

 

Beth, Tom, and their canine companions Samson and Argos are due to come up this weekend.  It should be fun, much more fun than the drive, wait, bad news.

Books, interview, appointment

Lois now has a surgery appointment -- 6:30 a.m. August 24th. Good golly, miss Molly! Following this, P.T. and convalescent care for weeks. All of this in consideration, Lois has chosent to dive right in.

Father, tired of his recent book -- "dry" as he called it, found a book at the library, the basis for the movie, End of the Spear. It should be, well, potentially more interesting, depending on authorship.

Marcus had an interview today -- short, simple, "I might call you next week" was the ending statement. Granted, I didn't come into the new-smelling of new carpet office, dressed in either tie or suit in the 96 degree humid, rainy weather. I suppose that had I perfectly shaved before, that might have lent itself to a better first impression. I have no high hopes for this job.

Lois was too sore to successfully go sewing today, so she didn't. Diane, who was to sew with her, chose not to go, in favor of better using her time to sort out the Purdue affairs as Jenny has dubious housing for college. Jessica was with her, but spent much time, quietly sitting -- seemingly bored. It was, however, good to see them.

Happy Anniversary to the folks today

My father called today after Mom saw the doctor.  He has okayed the double knee replacement surgery.  It might be another month or so before it happens, but it was joyous news, none the less.

 

Today is their anniversary, so in celebration they are going out to a fancy-schmancy meal somewhere ... I was not given that info.

 

My sister sent me an electronic (e-card, via hallmark) for the folks.  Laptops are great, as I can tote that bad boy around and show them -- hey!  Here's your romance card, c/o my little (but older) sister.

Monday musings

We went to Cheng's Chinese Buffet for dinner; Thomas, Lois, Diane (above), Jessica, Jenny, Jenny's boyfriend Gary, and Marcus. When we got back, Jenny and Gary went to do their thing, meanwhile Jessica mowed the grass in slightly cooler temperatures. The morning is the only cool time of day, but she's sleeping.

Diane's ear is healing -- cotton here to limit visual seeping. She's doing okay, hearing fine and in fairly good spirits. Lois is in pretty good spirits, having done another Coumadin test today and due to have another on Friday. Diane and Lois are to sew in a class on Thursday. Thomas still has a sore shoulder, which is ever-so-slowly improving -- so he says. The new house potpourri is something like IcyHot or BenGay, but generally smells strong and works weak (ly).

Marcus is still resume posting and getting poorer and poorer sleep, as well as poorer and poorer in general. After a short email from Uncle Jack, I know that Dorothy is still in pain, though on pills -- not much change or good. Weather's not, health is not -- summer 2006 is hot sweaty, smelly and in need of improvement.

Sadly, I have little chance to speak with the Orozcos, so I'm not sure how well they are doing. Johnny is set to do football practice for school -- though possible that stomach injuries will hurt greater until fully healed.

Beth's job is moving 15-30 minutes East. She has an even longer drive. She's darn-near a scenic highway to get to Fort Wayne in a much shorter time than on I-69, but that shows how far she is from her NW Indy home in Zionsville.

Today is Tuesday -- golf day, let us hope that it marks a start of GREAT HEALTH FOR EVERYONE, that Father can golf and that no one has ditch-digging duties today.