Last nights events

I really love this convenience store now. :) this is also my new favorite sign!!


After seeing dad we spotted a pretty rainbow


Then a trip to Belks "going out of business sale" in the OLD Macon mall. These were not purchased however fun to try in ;)

My baby is all grown up!


OohLaLa!


Very classy, eh?





And last but not least an article from the paper on Monday about the hospital dad was in. It really is/was a good hospital.


And there you have it. What we really bought was a cute maxi dress for Angela and this dress for Liz



Looks better ON.
And a very nice wool peacoat for Angela - a $250 coat for $50. Even then on a growing child I made sure it fit Liz too as she's done growing and worse case she inherits it if/when Angela outgrows it ;)

FW: Dad update

On Sep 5, 2012, at 9:52 PM, "Martin and Marilyn"  wrote:

I have very good news tonight. Dad is doing much better, he's breathing better, his urine is clearing up and he actually can move his leg a little. I know Donna's blog yesterday didn't sound like he was making much progress, but what a change today!! When he first went into the center some ding-a-ling mentioned it would be a year before he would be back to normal and I thought that was a stupid thing to say to someone laying in bed, paralyzed on one side and very depressed. But then the nurse today said something like 3 weeks goal on going home. Of course we know he won't be back to normal then, but at least that's a goal and he has improved a lot in just 2 ½  days out of the hospital. He said he really didn't have much therapy yesterday, they mostly just talked to him, but today they put him through the ringer. He was ready for sleep by 6 both nights. I just hope he doesn't get visitors later on as the visiting hours are 4:45 to 9. I'd hate for people to drive all the way up to Macon and find him sound asleep and I'd especially hate for them to wake him up. He needs his sleep.

I've had a busy two days. I told you about yesterday and today I did errands and went shopping some more for clothes for him. Now I have to go back and exchange things tomorrow. I tried to find a robe for him but  stores don't carry them until winter. He said tonight that he didn't really need one. They didn't put his shoes on him today for some reason so he said he had sore toes from them rolling over them and stepping on them. His shoes were in the closet so I put them out on the floor with socks tucked into them so they'd see them tomorrow. He still hasn't got his appetite back but Donna said  one of the side effects of Cuminin is lack of appetite and nausea and he said he felt nauseous after eating a few bites tonight. I should have remembered to tell them that he will drink strawberry boost, that should help. He told the nurse that he would trade his bowl of pineapple for fruit cocktail so she got some for him.  So some of the nice nurses try to please. She even went back to his old room and found his deodorant that got left there. It's the little things.

While he was in the hospital he said he wanted me to give the jalapeño peppers that were in the fridge to 3 different people. I never got around to it and figured they were rotten by now but low and behold they were still good so I delivered a couple of baggies today and will dililiver  the other one tomorrow. I found out my right turn signal was out on the car so I asked Dennis if he'd fix it for me. He's a mechanic. So tomorrow I'll go to the car store and get a bulb and take it to him to fix. That is the first thing that I've had to ask for help with but I'm sure there will be many more times before Dad get better. So I'll do that, go to the store for milk, to Wal-Mart to exchange some stuff for a larger size and deliver the last of the peppers. Then it's back to the center tomorrow evening. Today I talked to the case worker and had some questions answered and he made notes of my concerns (very nice guy). Thursdays they have their weekly meeting with the nurses, therapist, doctor and case worker to make decisions and goals and he said he'd have more to tell me then.

So that's all for tonight. I love you all and will try to keep you abreast of things now that I have some time at home.

XXXOOO

All very true and I think Mom and have taken turns being the "negative Nelly" and, well, Tuesday was just a bad day.  Now fast forward to Wednesday night and it's all true.  He's even LOOKING much more chipper, however Mom did say that he really perked up with the girls and I arrived.  I had a plan for yesterday – get Liz from school and dash to Macon to see Dad, let the girls see him again, as the first time they saw him, he was in the hospital.  Even though at that time he was MUCH improved from the first week, he was still on the lower side of improvement.  Yesterday, however, made them feel MUCH better and happy about how Grandpa is progressing and seeing that he could move his leg was a shockingly good thing!

It wasn't SMALL moves this time of just the toe and having it stop after a few small moves, this was the whole leg from the knee and done a few times with a lot of thought and effort.  So, things are healing in the noggin' and connections are coming alive again.  Slowly but surely.

Go Dad, Go!

We didn't stay long and Ill post another post on what we did after we left Dad.  We took the opportunity to dash out when the doc came in to discuss blood in his urine… yeah, that was a good time to take kiddo's out of the room.  J

Rehab...

Rehab is BAD in that they make dad sit for three hours between PT sessions.

Rehab is GOOD in that they make dad sit for three hours gaining stamina and building muscles sitting in a chair between PT sessions.

 

It’s such a double edged sword.  You know it’s good for him, and yet, the empathic side wants to make this easier for him… the logical thing is to just suck it up and know he’s building stamina as things are going.

The only other issue that still concerns me terribly is that 1) Coumadin levels are high 2) there is blood in his urine again.  There is still an issue with mind and body working in conjunction to give ample notification to allow hand and body to get together to make everything come together to get urinal in place, and get things “done” in the right order.

 

I know in my heart of hearts it’s killing him to have to do the things he has to do at this point.  It breaks my heart to see him so down hearted at where he is right now.  I need to be a better cheer-leader and reinforce the fact that there are bigger things still going on in his head. 

 

Bigger connections being made and the others, in time, will come.  It sucks for now to be this dependant on others… but the reality of it is, walking and coordination and BIG muscle things are taking over the brain function for now.  You don’t really want to compare him to a toddler, but really that’s where the brain is… the brain is in the mode of trying to get BIGGER things in order, get new paths.  With toddlers, the reality is, potty training backslides when the big muscles are in work, when other learning is going on, some things just take a backseat. 

 

It’s harder when you’re an adult, and you KNOW what you can/should know how to do in regard to that level.  And, let’s face it, more than a bit humiliating to be in this situation.  How can you balance the knowledge that this is short term with the anger that this is going on in your head?  How can you support an aging parent to let them know that this isn’t the worst that could happen – you SAW the worst when you witnessed the stroke. 

 

There are MUCH worse situations.  They could be strapped in to a bed, drooling and unable to speak a coherent word.  Potty problems are NOT the worst that could be…   It’s such a sucky fine line right now…

 

Really, really sucky.

Dad has escaped...

Well just the hospital for now. He's in Central Georgia Rehab Hospital now - room 410. Visits are limited to 4:45 - 8:00 but I think in the beginning he won't make it to 8:00 if they work him as hard as I think they will.

It seems like a nice facility and I hope they take great care of him and get him improving daily.

I think dad really needs to see some improvement... It would sure lift his spirits if he can see some improvement.

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for continued improvement so he can make it home!!

Backyard flowers

I'm finally getting color in the back yard and building on it slowly.





Sure wish year would bloom together. There is the bright red and some pink. The red is my favorite however found the pink in the clearance isle at Lowes - a new favorite clearance area! Silly people don't you know these plants bounce back and will be beautiful? It's how I got half the daisies. Can't beat $.29 each!


These too are rescue plants the closer one had a harder time bouncing back however joined its twin in blooming finally!!


Wisteria is going crazy!! Grapes. Well, they may have to go they have seeds and are tough.


This is a start from dads plant. Loves where it is and is taking over the pot ;)


My potato plants are blooming. You would have doubted my sanity buying the at $.25 because they were barely twigs with two or three leaves. Look at them now! The other rescues in with them not doing quite so well. But that's life with rescue plants. Some work, some don't.

The verdict is in on the stones

They are oxalate based.
Do you know what foods are high in oxalate?
http://www.ohf.org/docs/Oxalate2008.pdf shows you all you wanted to know.
Now the mystery is solved as mom and dad grow pecans.... Yep guess what is high in oxalate... *ding*ding*ding* you guessed it - pecans. Whoops. Guess pecans are out from now on!!

Saturday

My services are not required today....what to do, what to do....
Yard. I've had these wall bricks since the 20th. Along with the daiseies I did rescue that same week. It's time to put them in. So here's what I did this morning.



Naked dirt


Tiny wall


With pea gravel (both sides) and backfill


Me after. In reality by then I slipped into the pool clothes and all. I have gone on to poison weeds and salt the pool. However. I should tackle THIS but I don't want to:

Friday medical update

We hit the highlights with knowing that Dad is going to rehab on Monday (I'll have you know every time I say "going to rehab" the Amy Winehouse song starts in my head!).  That being said, there are a few medical updates.

Kidney swelling isn't any worse/better.  They are in a 'watch and see' mode.  I guess that's better than getting into a slice and dice mode.  I'm OK with wait and see, however with the removal of liquids for over 12 hours, I think they have done a number on poor Dad.  Now his urine is very very dark.  (as in darker than tea dark... almost coffee dark.. maybe a weak coffee). 

Yeah, I'm sure everyone in Blog-land is shaking their head.  Believe me, so am I.  I never thought that I would be critiquing my own fathers pee... but here we are.  I guess in reality, as we age, this really should be what we know of and think will become the reality.  Maybe it's because I was so young when my fathers mother was ill and I wasn't exposed as it was child.  Mostly it would seem that it's the daughters who are involved in the care of elderly parents.  It's not a bad thing, it's just the nature of the beast - we tend to be the caregivers later in life.  Hum... wonder if this is why mom and dad moved closer to one of their daughters?  Hum...

OK, I'm waxing poetic as I have a keyboard, a real keyboard to work with.. yeah.  I stole Elizabeth's computer.  Whoop!

So, anyway - kidneys have issues, but not bad ones.  Urine dark, however nurses are not acting too concerned about that fact.  Dad's getting mad because we're pushing and pushing nutrition and drinking of water which is really, really bugging him.  I don't blame him and was trying to nicely tell him that mom is pushing him simply because she wants him stronger and healthier because she wants him to get stronger and well faster so he can come home.  She doesn't want to live alone!

I understand where they are both coming from and I'm sure it's annoying as all get out to be pushed food all the time..  but it has to be for now.  Maybe when he's in rehab and can't have us around to bug him at all meals and have a LOT more and different friendly faces who are having the same or similar issues as him it will be a blessing for both of them. 

The bottom line is that most of the physical issues seems to be behind him, now it's the long road back to getting back to daily life and improving function so that he has mobility.  Right now that's the biggest goal.

Something that I haven't talked about is progression in rehab IN the hospital.  I think this is the third day rehab proper.  He was sitting in the chair for a few times after coming back to the room, however I think the nurses put a stop to that as they aren't that familiar with the tools that are used to get those needing a lot of assistance up and into bed again.  As of yesterday he graduated from stretcher for his return to returning in a wheel chair.  I think this morning they took him down in a wheel chair as well, however, I'm not sure - as Mom and I had bailed out just as they had finally come to get him for rehab.  Anyway - he's still a three person assist in and out of bed.  Two strong men can do it, however, he's not got enough strength back in his leg to really help out enough at the end of a session downstairs, so it's a bit harder for him to assist as much as needed for little nurses (sorry nurses everywhere, but if you're not trained in this, it's HARD - I can see that!). 

Anyway, found out that he took a few steps the other day with a walker and today he took more steps with a hemi walker.  The rehab folks are still trying to determine which walker will be best for him.  I think that the hemi walker seems to be the answer for him with a weakened left arm/hand.  However with time, and strengthening, maybe a full walker would be better for him.  I guess we'll see what the true rehab gets him set up with. 

The following shows someone walking with a hemi walker:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1YhfI8HCXc 

I'm always amazed when I find out just how much is effected with stroke - bowels, urinary, cognitive and response times.  And I know it's trivial to me, but I'm sure it's mortifying for dad to have to have help.  He's such an independent person.  I did tell him roofs are OFF LIMITS now.  ha - for those of you who know Mom has been saying this for years when he was going to someones house for the church who was having roofing done... and where would you find dad???  ON the roof.  Sigh.  Yep.  at 80 years old, ON the roof.  Goodness.  I'm afraid if he gets mobile enough he'll go back on roofs... I told him they are TRULY off limits now.  :op  yikes!!

Ok, so I'm rambling now.

Friday!

That day typically denotes huge happy dances... This Friday not so much. This Friday is business as usual. Work, hospital, home.

The question has been asked about if there are plans for release from the hospital.

The answer to that is as if today, yes, the plans are for a move to rehab on Monday.

Why Monday? Reasons number 1 is its a three day weekend. What a crock, eh?
Reason number 2 is the better reason. They need to get his cumadin levels to a therapeutic level and have it stable. So we have two days to accomplish that.

In the meantime mom and I went to check out the rehabilitation. It was very nice. Hope dads there on Monday. I think it would do him a world of good.

Update

Ultrasound is ordered for kidneys.
When the pain was going in an ultrasound was performed and there was swelling more so than after surgery. So another ultrasound has been ordered by the urologist. And we wait. Which is needed but really the wait is not easy when there has been no liquids since midnight. And it's now 10:30am. No liquid no food.

Come on already.

So far we're on: Low dose lasix, and his normal daily medications, that's it.

Breathing is wonderful and down from 102 +/- to 86 much better. Thinking that a lot of the issues at hand were due to too much fluids for too long.

I think that the lasix is helping quite a bit. Not sure how that reflect for the kidneys.... I know they were pushing liquids in the beginning to flush the kidneys.

Just talked with the doc Gudapadi and found out they went NPO (nil per os - snooty for nothing by mouth) as they were thinking he would need a stent replaced on his right (surgery recipient) kidney today. Then after looking at his levels rethought the need for that. sigh. Nothing like leaving an old man hanging while they make up their minds all the while not asking what HE wants. Really? He's already said NO to most invasive things until he's feeling better

So unless there is something causing major damage right now he's going to "opt out". Good enough for me and well within his rights and we'll step in if we think his decisions are not sound. So far all choices are within reason. The heart patch can wait and is debatable on being the cause and the "be-all" fix so it can wait and/or not be done at all.

AND his nurses pointed his lowered mood to the doc as well and Zoloft is in board. I truly think that just getting OUT of here and improving a bit each day will be good too. Zoloft will just be icing on the cake to help him through. Plus it's a super low dose just to take the edge off.

WHOOOOP!!!

I just got a GREAT call from mom  - dad moved his toe ON PURPOSE!!!!

Yep, the left one is on the move!

YEAH!!

 

Update

PT is doing wonders.
Left side:
Arm lifting to shoulder
Finger grip doing better
Nothing to report on the foot.

Getting stronger in the right as well.

Now he's to help with a lot more. He's to do more and more for himself and figure out how to get it done. So that's the goal.

Appetite is still crappy. However he's eating a few things just not what we think should be eaten. But I guess in reality not moving = less need for calories. Nothing tastes good to him.

We're waiting for the nephrologist now. Kidney that he had the surgery is swollen more than in the past However the pain from last night could have been indicative of a stone or blockage that could have passed or shifted.




And an afternoon of MUCH needed rest by those who need it!

Today's happenings

Today started well but lunch time found us with a huge pain in the side. Literally. Big pain in the right side. To the point he couldn't take a full breathe. So a series of X-rays and ultrasounds to see what is causing issues.
And another set of tests and holding for results :o/

Poor dad.

However on the upside PT is doing wonders for his left hand. He can now do a bit of pinching and lifting his hand about twice as high now. So progress is being made even with a few setbacks.

The foot is being a little more stubborn, however has good sensation so there is confidence that movement will return in time.

The other positive is that the hallucinations have eased and should be completely resolved by now. Now if we can get everything else eased up and well be doing better.

Views

View out the window (from my corner if the couch)



View of the small hall where the last in the yellow dress was yesterday. And dad watching a ball game right now.



Mom at the other end of the couch in the rooms chair.
The kids art work us above her head on the column more facing Dad.

Standing in the hospital hall

I noticed this



Cool picture... Right up my alley. But the noted this



Yes an Autry. What a coincidence, eh?

There are quite a few if her pictures in the halls up here.

More on what's been seen

Someone suggested we document what's been seen today.
So you know that he had visions of walking the halls and being kidnapped by someone last night. He told mom this morning he would point out the SOB...

By the time I got there the nurses came in to bathe him, so we stepped out and he was less on the kidnapping and more on tying to call mom...even though she was right there in the room in front of him. He finally settled into the bed and started batting at things in front of him and insisting there were webs on his tissues. The he was paddling at the ball infringing of him towards the TV.  There was also an episode where I was sitting at his head and he was looking towards the entrance to the room asking if we could see the lady in the yellow dress??  Uh, no.. No one was there.  Then the lady was drawing on the wall with black markers or marks. He asked a few times about her.. But at least she was pleasant and no one he knew that was already dead talking with him...that would have pushed mom over the edge.  Mom and I really thought he was loosing it. 

We talked to his internist who said it could be an infection and the neurologist also said the same thing...all the time the nurses had the knowledge of him having an Ambien and talking smack last night.  Sigh. Lack of communication.  

AFTER we talked to the nurse who finally talked to us about the Ambien and bad he had been to physical therapy and was wore out. So when did the cardiologist choose to show?  Yep then.

He was NOT amiable to the hole fix, he was not amiable to much....and with the insult of that drug was no longer eating either...  Sigh. We finally let it go and he finally drank the ensure before I left.
After all the discoveries of drugs and half lifes of Ambien this could be 49 hours to be out of his system fully. Lesson learned NO Ambien.

Anyway...after the discovery of Ambien the actions of reaching for webs from the ceiling and complaints of lint all over the bed frame were now funny rather than concerning ;). What a difference a little information makes, eh??

Mystery half solved.

Just found out they gave dad an Ambien last night and he was really out if his mind last night. Guess it really can have some weird reactions with folks and had he been mobile he would have be traveling the hallways
Apparently this isn't that uncommon a reaction. Good to know. Scary!!
So he very well could still metabolizing that drug out of his system.
So wonder why the doc didn't know of this? Goodness talk about lack of communication. I thought government was bad. Wow! It's everywhere!!
In the mean time they still had the order in for a chest X-ray. So it's been done (bedside) and a urine test to look for infection there too just in case.
Temps are holding steady he was:
99.6 @7;
98.5 @ 12;
99.4 @ 4
So not really screaming infection but his side with the stone surgery hurts. That's not a good sign.
And were getting complaints of lint all over the bed and webbing from the ceiling like spider webbing. according to dad it's a very dirty room. And I DO have my glasses on and I see NO webs at all.
And just for Linda I stopped the X-ray tech after dads X-ray JUST for this picture ;)

The X-ray machine has a cute face ;)

One step forward two steps back

Came in today and found that dad had some weird hallucination if being kidnapped and taken to other areas of the hospital.
He was also back on his IV fluids.
The nurse had already turned it off and had questioned if he needed them as well as he was doing well on other aspects.
Yesterday had a lot if blood in the urine however today the catheter is out and the blood issue has resolved from what we can see and the tech confirmed that issue was resolving.
So to recount:
Back off of the IV after being back on last night
Off the catheter
Off oxygen
On PT
Hallucinating
Breathing a bit labored today as well
And still no doctors to talk with yet.

What was left off of yesterday's post

What we left off yesterday's post was:

Dad has trouble getting IVs from all the scaring on his arms from the grafts for his thumb in the 60's so they've blown more than a few veins. The site he's had for a while was getting quite sore so they tries to get liquids through the neck one he received when he went to ICU. Well it's what they call positional as its easily cut off by, you guessed it, position. So, although it works for meds it wouldn't work for an IV. They tried for another site (twice) and it was a no-go... Then I talked to Damian (MD) and he suggested if dads drinking well we could convince them to loose the IV. Because he's still on the heart monitor they have to have IV access "just in case" so I pointed out the neck works just not for IV so why not just leave it and "see how he does" as his sore site won't be reused anyway and they stuck him twice in the left side without success. They're really no worse off at this point... So quit sticking him an see if he's getting enough liquids by mouth. They agrees and we're off the IV.

Damian also suggested he could be getting too much liquid this way if he's getting it orally and it could be what was causing the labored breathing as well. So one less insult.

In addition to that we mentioned the blood (just specs, don't worry) in his coughing and the doc asked how he was doing in oxygen. He's been at 100%. In addition Damian had said there was no real reason for oxygen at this time and it was low volume as well. I didn't even bring that up to the doc but SHE suggested he get off oxygen and see how he does.

The good thing in that is speech clears right up so I can tell its simple extreme dry mouth/throat causing a lot of that issue.

So less insults to Injury and he's feeling more like a free man. You can see it in his reactions. Treat him like a well man and he becomes a well man.

I'm thinking we're past the worst of this and really feeling that Monday he will be moved to rehab.

Wonderful wonderful news!

Guess who's UP?? Yep! Dad.
Physical therapy is in progress and (drum roll please) he ate ALL his dinner - yeah right after we got him some ensure because he wasn't eating.

Saturday Dad update

Physical therapy is now approved after discussions via phone with the medical services. So that's good news as he really really needs to start moving as he's getting weaker and weaker laying here.

Breathing is still very labored but no crackling in the lungs so pneumonia is still not suspected.

He's a bit more slurred and really slowing down. Not sure if this is due to the whole fact of being down for five days now and being just slap wore out from any activity or not.

So physical therapy will be here today. Sometime.

Temps back down.

Temp is down and mom is staying the night...I left her with the packed lunch for dinner...and headed home. Bad daughter, bad daughter! To my defense there's only one bed....so I'll be back in tomorrow morning to see results of the tests from today.

This afternoons happenings.

MRI complete ultrasound MRI complete ultrasound complete. Now we wait for the answers as to if there are clots in the in the groin area. He's had some visitors. Now he's breathing hard. Not sure if it's the activity if MRI or the visitors or the combo that's doing him
In on his breathing. His sats are good but he's hot
now. 100.6 now what the crap?
Lungs clear on listening to them.
More wait and see.

Shifting and changing

Echo was rough apparently they were supposed to have us leave the room and they got started but they forgot and there we were.

I'm sure most can't stand to watch this stuff but even though it was rough I'm glad I was there. I watched his breathing and oxygen on the monitors so I know with all the gurgles and gagging all was really still well and results would be forthcoming soon enough. So we stayed and watched the torture continue until the bitter end.

When all was said and done were in for more tests. Now we're in a "Where's Waldo" hunt for the clots as its not in his heart. Next set if tests will be another MRI in his lower extremities and an ultrasound on his groin.

And the hunt continues.

Hearts and such.

Not a clear picture it was dark in here. Heart echo done. Found a small hole in the top part of his heart. This is the main suspect. The mini stokes appeared to be old and new so... Now they look at fixing that to avoid more strokes. The heart docs will confer and see what they will do. It could be mess it could be surgery. Hurry up and wait. More test more folks talking. And we wait...

Sense of humor

For those in our family you'll appreciate the morbid humor we have. While talking with dad about what he could remember about the episode I teased him that I couldn't even give him flack about "don't go into the light" and the fact they were shining a flashlight in his eyed during all this.
Fast forward to today when he asked mom for a dees-a-da, which for those non family members was moms childhood statement for wanting a drink of water. I joked with him not to tell the nurse that or he would be getting folks running in QUICK. So, yep, you guessed he he told the nurse he had asked for a dees-a-da earlier. Boy the nurse whipped her head to us on that one - ha! NOT nice of him but shows where we are right now.
On to the medical stuff for today. Last nights MRA showed a series of mini strokes in the back region. The original damage is in the frontal area so this is new and now throws suspicion on the heart and clots breaking off for there and going to the brain.
The order was put in for a trans-esophageal echo to look at his heart much closer. So we waited and waited then found out at about two thirty that they were going to do the test tomorrow morning at 8am. Sigh. The good news is that we will know right then what they see as they do it in the room. So first thing we get to see if the heart is the issue.

Still chipper

Proof dads doing "OK"


See good color and doing well. Still a people person and knows 99% of the nurses and doctors by name.

Stoke of bad luck.

I’ve always said I was going to use this blog as a journal of sorts and was going to put everything in here and print it annually – so for I have done this, but there has been no BAD.  There has been bummer news, bad things to the house, but nothing this personal, however, it is life and it’s mine, so here it is.

 

Wow, how to start this update…

 

From the beginning:

Monday: Dad went in for kidney stone surgery and came through that OK, or appeared to, anyway. 

Tuesday: 9am mom noted he wasn’t using his left arm for a lot of things and it was weak.  Well, he hadn’t started as surgery was Monday and he was pretty loopy Monday from what I hear – you see, until now, this was still considered “one night” as a precaution for bleeding stay.  By 2pm the hospital was confirming a stroke.  There was nothing they could do for him on any level as he had just come out of surgery and couldn’t get blood thinners or he would bleed out.  So… they waited.  He had lost use of his left leg (as in no wiggle, but sensation) and partial loss of his left arm.  It was weak, however he could lift it over his head, but it would “drift” down or to the side.

Wednesday: He was grabbing his cup a little better with his left hand and having more control over movement and they had him starting his rehab.  The rehab gals came in  and they had him up sitting and even had him standing with a walker for a few minutes.  He was teasing the nurses and was sitting fairly well, when he would list back, he would stare at the nurse and pull him self back to sitting and eye to eye with the nurse.  She teased him that she thought he was coming in with a pucker and he teased her back that he was…  When they sat him down he was farther down to the end of the bed, so they  were having him scoot to the head of the bed.  While he was scooting, he got two scoots in and close to the middle of the bed, then his left arm went slack and he fell over into the bed and had what appeared to be another stroke.  He was totally non-coherent at that point and couldn’t even respond, or open his eyes.  They were asking him how he was and he responded with a “Fafdlkajdf aadfaf Fafdalfd Hadfasdf safdaf fawerae wafead”… Mom looked at me and said “you know what he was saying don’t you?  Well, of course, typical dad answer – “Fine as Frog Hairs Split Four Ways”.  No one else would have gotten that one, but it was so typical Dad that even though I was rattled and tearing up, I knew he was still “in there”… I did wonder if he knew that this was all going on and if he was in there in his body totally freaking out… or if he even really knew what was going on…  They shined lights in his eyes and you could tell he was saying “bright light”… and he was trying to squeeze hands when asked, but he was using his right hand and he reaching over.  His motions were jerky and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open and slowly stopped responding.  We really thought we were loosing him.

 

The whisked him away to do a CT scan and other tests – and moved him to ICU.  We were moved down there to wait until they were done with him and when we walked in he was speaking again, slightly slurred, but speaking and coherent.  It was a shocking recovery from where he had just been.  He’s lost a little more movement in his left hand, if the sheet is on there, he couldn’t lift it, however he still has sensation in all limbs, just not movement.  He’s still able to wiggle fingers, however limited and can only lift his arm about 6 – 12” off the bed now instead of over his head.  So, setback, but not down and out yet.

 

He’s still in great spirits and teasing the nurses.  He did, however start a strange tick of blinking and opening his mouth.  We did bring this to the nurses attention and she was watching him and evaluating him.  Regretfully there still appears to be nothing that can be done at this point – we’re still in a wait and watch mode as they can’t thin his blood other than with an aspirin.  The good news?  Urine output is good, color is good and he’s in good spirits.

 

I’ll see if he’ll agree to a photo today to show everyone he’s OK…

 

More pantry storage ideas

My pantry is small. Too small until today I have had two white board calendars on the door. Those will need a new home now. The good news? I like the instant access idea. I like the room it gives me on the shelves.

Back entry change up

There has been a change up to the back entry. The hose rules are gone. Let's face it. It our disfunction, no one really followed them ;)

I found this cute iron key holder at goodwill a few days ago and couldn't resist!


And a close up:


I'm thinking brown vinyl above saying "home tweet home". What do you think? Too cheesy?

Meteor shower observation deck

Last night there was a meteor shower and the clouds cleared in time for us to see some. I stayed outside until midnight then the citronella candles did my sinus' in. I did see a few pretty good meteors before I gave up and went to bed :). The older two stayed out much later..and are still sleeping or I would ask them how the peak was. It was to peak between 1 and 2 am. Yeah. I still can't quite do that timeline!

Storms

We've been having a lot of BIG storms lately


I happened to be taking video and captured a big strike close to home!
I can't load video from here but will try to remember to do somewhen I get my computer back up and running - it died this week. As in totally dead now :(

Angela's Birthday!

For Angela's birthday I got the girls out of bed at the crack of noon and convinced them to go to waffle house with me for breakfast - yay me!

Angela wanted to have the girls over for her bday this year... so Grace, Micayla and Angela had a BIG sleep over...  so they came over and swam and had a good time all afternoon!

Then it was time to go to Public's and get some movies.  While there in that shopping center we opted to go to Moo's for frozen yogurt :)  YUM!!  AND Public's for a cake as well - we were going to do this up right!!

Three movies, yogurt, cake and ice cream at the house, what more could a girl want? 

Oh, yeah, more swimming the NEXT day too :D

DCI weekend travels

Lovely Liz rooked me into taking a car load of kids to DCI in Atlanta - what is DCI?  I have no real clue, something about bands and competition and it's HUGE as it's at the Georgia Dome.  Did she leave an open spot in the car for ME to bring someone with me?  Nope.  Did she think *I* would need something to entertain me while she was on her adventures?  Nope.

Sigh.

So Off I head to Atlanta with 7 kids in the car.  Yeah, me.  I drop them off and decided to try the Varsity for the first time.  I have to say I did like the orange shake - just short of a dream-sickle taste... but good.  The person in front of me recommended a chili dog/chili burger combo.  I was surprised at how THICK the chili was - it could stand up and say 'howdy'... it was OK... the onion rings were the bomb and I know why college students like it after drinking all night, that's for sure!  BUT for this (getting slightly (oh and I mean SLIGHTLY) older) woman, I think I'll pass.  it's not a memory from my college days, so the draw isn't there.  I'll go to Hermies instead for fry sauce :)

Project completed...

I picked up this clock a while back.. I should have taken a before picture - I'm getting to be very bad about that, aren't I?  Well, it was a brown stained bamboo color - dark, not light.

I didn't like it, it had some nicks in the body of the clock (one near the foot), so I patched it all up with some Spackle, hit it with some Kilz and painted it ....

 Purple... this picture makes it look a shade lighter than it looks in person... but it really is purple.  If you look above, you can see why I did purple - to play into the painting above (wisteria) and the curtains in the room... what do YOU think?  Too much?

Threes.. Why three?

Well. Because its just that way... The third was NOT my car it was - drum roll please. The upstairs A/C unit. Yep belly up and blowing HOT air like a heater. Not good. Not good at all! I had known there were bad noises from it and had nudged Butch to fix it - he said the bla bla bla needs a bla bla. So... Do it? Nope. So now it's blowing hot air. The girls had stayed upstairs earlier in the week and knew it was hot up there - another case of NOT telling the parental units. Sigh. So I start calling to check lead times on a technician. I finally found one with Keadle Air. He came out that afternoon and fixed it. Yeah!!! There is a freon leak, however - boooo. That, however will have to be a morning call as our other unit is in the attic. It's WAY too hot to do that job in the afternoon!!

So there you have it...and MY car has still not made it to the shop to see about its sticky lock yet either. Maybe it really doesn't come in threes? Maybe it's 4's and 5's around here? Scary thought! I only say this because that was the trend last year...

Let's hope not!

Someone Jinxed me... saying I hadn't posted in a while.

Why do I say that is a jinx?  I don't post until I have something to say... and regretfully, I have something to say now...

It all started... kidding, kidding - its not that long of a story (or maybe it is!)

I'm working on my three expenses this year that will break me.  The Truck - I offered sweetly like a LOON to have Butch's truck in the shop for a MUCH needed brake job since it hops down the road like a bunny when you are braking - always a fun experience.  Anyway, his comments when I offered this - he's on his way to the Tortuga's when this offer was made via phone - his words?  Well, while you have it there get the transmission service and the 100,000 mile check.  Me, stupidly, had NO idea what that would cost.  Let's see, Ford thinks they are now in a league with Mercedes... $900 for the 100,000 check with transmission flush and coolant, because lets face it I don't think this truck has seen much "servicing" in it's life... THEN the $500 for the brakes and rotors.  OUCH.  So, $1500.00 and it drives (and STOPS) like a top!  Damn well should for that cost!

So... I get the truck home at 6pm (I'm walking a bit funny from loosing part of my a$$ on that one)... I go to the computer - THIS computer... #$%^&*() computer.  It will NOT talk to my iPad nor iPhone anymore... %^&*() yes, I'm NOT happy with this thing... and it won't load the updated drivers - Say's the are just fine... yeah, right.  So, anyway, I'm working on it until 10pm when the girls (Clair and Liz) get home... first solo drive to and from practice... I'm happy to see them - UNTIL.... Until when you say?  Until I go towards bed at 10:30 - remember fighting computers, girls not home until 10... yeah... it's late... I hear a noise... not a good noise... I follow it and the outside upright freezer is SQUEALING... yeah.. and it's THAWING!!!  OK, it had not been doing this when I came in.. however I also didn't notice that the freaking door was OPEN either... ALL DAY. 

OK, so you can tell my language skills are now gone and reverted to four letter words and a LOT of them... "just who is this everyone knows the doors close on their own on fridges and freezers?"  Really????   REALLY???  No, they do NOT close on their own... MORE four letter words... oh, yeah, I'm THRILLED to discover this at 10:30 on the way to bed... NOT.  So... I drag out three coolers and toss all the non-thawed fish into the coolers and have Liz call Mom and Dad in Utah to see if we can stuff their freezer with our fish... LOTS of fish... I stuff our inside freezer with all we can.  I chuck all that is soft and thawed... fast, fast, fast - all coolers full to the brim with fish... dash to mom and dad's house, STUFF their freezer with fish... and I mean it's full.  They also inherited the LARGE box of corn dogs ... I left the candy in the freezer and booked.

So... it's now midnight and I'm dragging butt home.  I decided there was no smoke and maybe just maybe it's squealing for an alarm, and when it gets to temp it will shut up - it has been thawing all day while running... we'll see if it will ever catch up.  Nope.  All night squealing and nada - more melting.  Sigh.  The girls were left with the job of get all the candy out and put it into the cooler in the laundry room...

Now here is the "hello my name is Donna and I'm a hoarder..."

No, your eyes do not deceive you... that is TWO coolers in the laundry room  In my very weak defense, there is probably a tub of margaritas in there as well - the ones you add booze and freeze... yeah, I didn't specify to NOT put that in there and just chuck it.

So there you have it... all my Halloween candy stash - in ONE spot - there is no denying how much there is now, is there?  hahahaha

AND this is WHY the freaking door to the freezer was left open - CANDY raiding.

Guess my savings on the candy cost bit me in the butt, eh?

They come in three's - did I mention I need to take MY car to the shop again because the drivers side lock will not engage via remote anymore.. it's like it's sticking... yep... my third.  Let's just stop there on the expenses please!!

TDY to Dayton

I didn't want to have to go, but it all worked out in the end. 

I took this picture for Liz as the XM radio I had contained Korean music and talk shows.  She would have LOVED it - me?  I sat on the channel long enough to see this and take a picture for her!

 Pretty sunset one night

 the photo's don't really do it justice it GLOWED bright pink - the camera on my phone just wasn't enough to do it... but it was all I had.

 AND regretfully the ONLY phone I had for the dinner photo op as well - we went to dinner one other time after this one too!

This is Doug (DJ), Wendy and Tess.  Tess is the same age as Lizzie and they were bath buddies in Aviano growing up - too bad they have NO memory of all that!

It was SO good to see them again!

 went to Red Robin for lunch while there too - hadn't been to one of these in ages.

 

 Rainy day departure.  I sat in the airport watching the rain and eating breakfast the day I left town... quite relaxing.

 check this - I got UBER leg room on my flight home.  I did have to play footsie with the flight attendant when she was sitting in the jump seat, however that wasn't for much of the trip.  Talk about an AWESOME seat to be in!!

Children and growth

 

Measurements from the beginning of June.. Wow is all I have to say!

Living a "Charmed" life...

After getting back from this trip, I realize I live a very good and adventurous life.

Really, how many people can say they have been to all the places that I have been?  I had traveled more than most by the time I was 29.  I had been to Australia and New Zealand when I was 25.  I then went to Europe with my cousin a few years later and backpacked from Paris, France to Sorrento, Italy and back again.  At 29 I was lucky enough to have gone to Europe to live and was able to travel to Egypt while there to dive in the red sea as well as go to the Netherlands to see the tulips… and many places in between with Oktoberfest and all the things that go naturally with living in Europe.  After putting or traveling shoes back on over the last few years we have been to St. Thomas, Alaska as a family and I was able to take a solo trip to the United Arab Emirates to see friends there. 

After we had moved back state side after living overseas, things did calm a bit on our travel, however to our defense we did have two small children by then. 

Liz was lucky enough to be dragged all over Europe as an infant as we didn’t let her age deter us – she was able to see London and parts a little north at the military base there.  She has played in the dirt of Pompeii and swam in the ocean near Pisa.  How many kids can say that? 

This last trip was fun to take her back to those places and let her see the things she has no memory of as we left when she was 2.

I believe she has the wanderlust in her blood and will want to see more of the world… I sure hope so – it’s a mighty big world out there!

Where do I want to go next?  India… or Greece.  Debby talked to me while we were there about a house rental  on a small Greek island.  Now THAT sounds like a true vacation. J

Still on the bucket list (and has been for YEARS) is an tour of the Rio Negro via boat.

Job hunting

Air Force Materiel Command	TRAINING ADMINISTRATOR	eligible
	Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist (Emerging Leader Program)	eligible
	Supervisory Logistics Management Specialist (Emerging Leader Program)	eligible
Air Force Materiel Command	Operations Research Analyst, DR-1515-2/3/4
Military Sealift Command	IT SPECIALIST (SYSANALYSIS/CUSTSPT)
Forest Service	Program Specialist
U.S. Air Force - Agency Wide	MANAGEMENT ANALYST

 

Well, I was shot down on a few more jobs while I was gone… sad, but true.  I’m down to those seen above.  I was kicked out of the training leadership job possibility – however, qualify for a job there still .  Strange.

So, time is still marching on and things are a-changing at work.  We’ll see what happens on the rest of this for the guys.  They have something worked out with our local contractor and headquarters, so I should still have support, but less of it if they move up to support all three Centers,…. Oh wait, we’re complexes now.  Sigh… things are sure in an uproar all over the place, eh?

Did I mention I’m ‘oh so happy’ to be back at work after two weeks away?  Hahahaha!

 

And I'm back...

I had three foot of growth on the wisteria. I had to have Butch get out a ladder so I could get up to reach the top and weave the new growth through the top rungs of the pergola.
The grapes are fuller and have more grape shape in the fruit.
And regretfully Butch's lawn mower had an engine blow up on him while I was gone. So here he is zooming around the backyard on his new mower. ;)
And the triple deck planter that didn't survive my absence :) Small price to pay for a wonderful two weeks :)