This may be interesting, I'm trying to do this on my phone. The computer is acting up today for some reason and I'm not inclined to spend a lot of time trying to fix it this morning.
This week wasn't quite as long as last week but it was a close second. I talked to Stephanie Monday and she was going to request all of Bill's records from Memphis, and then a couple of days later Katie called and gave us some tentative dates for his annual checkup. We still don't have any appointments set but it looks like it well be May 1st and 2nd. And for those of you wondering if the trip will be too hard on either of us, I don't think it will. Bill is much stronger than he was, he's doing well in therapy and we may just take 3 days to get there so I'm not so tired. He would like to go on down to see his sister but I think we're going to play that by ear.
Whatever sounds Ricky had heard last week are totally gone. He was quite surprised at how clear he sounded. All of his numbers are good, he's still eating well, and moving a little more. He's gotten up earlier and gotten his own coffee and walking more without getting winded and I noticed when therapy had him outside Wednesday he did much better coming up the stairs. The handrail didn't work, it was too flimsy so Ryan and Bryan are working on plan B. But Corey said he did much better coming up and as long as I'm holding on to steady him thinks he'll be ok. He still wants us to have the rail but it's not quite as crucial now.
That's all I can think of right now. It's windy this morning and warm and it's going to rain later today so the running I need to do will need to be timed well. And then this evening we'll hunker down and watch the ballgame, as long as we don't lose the satellite. Remember I've done this on my phone and the computer still hasn't rebooted, so I'm not sure what this will look like. There may be some new words or something that doesn't make sense, so it may get edited later if it's too bad. Otherwise consider it a puzzle to decipher what I'm trying to say if it gets too crazy! See you next week!
Note: this has been edited so you don't have to try to read my mind!
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Saturday, March 23, 2019
This has seemed like the longest week in the history of the world! By Wednesday I thought it would never end! And I wasn't the only one thinking that. But, we finally made it to the week-end. And I don't know why that seemed so important, but it did.
We've had a decent week. Bill's appointment went well. She said he sounded good, although his magnesium was a little low. But I have some mag here at home so just added that to his daily regimen. His prograf level came back lower than it had been, but still not where I think it should be. Stephanie was out of the office this week, so can't talk to her until Monday and we've decided not to play with the prograf, just leave it like it is until I hear from her.
We got confused Sunday night. We got a phone call, actually Emily got the call and relayed it to me, from someone named Mario from the nursing home about Bill's therapy. So I called him back and told him that Kindred was doing the therapy and that his therapist was Corey. He said that he was also with Kindred and that Corey was taking the day off Monday and he was covering. When he got here, it was Mario from the nursing home who had worked with Bill before. He had Bill go through his exercises and then had him walk the circuit of the house WITHOUT his oxygen! It is 163 feet from Bill's chair through the living room, dining room, kitchen, up the hallway, through the foyer, around the back of the couch and back to his chair. He did it twice with a little break in between. The 2nd time he was pretty winded and his O2 had dropped into the 70s but as soon as he put his oxygen on it started coming back up.
Corey came on Wednesday and took Bill outside to see how he did on steps. He said that we definitely needed the handrail (it should be installed today). He said he did fine going down, but coming up was harder for him and he would need the extra help of the rail. He did walk him again, but only with oxygen. He also came back on Thursday and they didn't do as much as Bill's sinuses are really giving him fits now, even with a new nasal spray.
When Ricky came yesterday he said he heard a different sound in his upper lungs. He said it wasn't in the upper airway like it had been, but a little lower. And it wasn't a wheeze, or a crackle, or a rale. And since I don't know the difference, it doesn't matter. He said it was just kind of a weird whoosh. I talked to Connie about it and all she said was if he gets too short of breath, go to the ER.
Bill's sinuses have been plaguing him all week and since we have a high pollen count and then rain and then high pollen count it's not surprising, even though he's barely been out of the house. He's been doing a lot of coughing and when I ask if it's all in this throat or coming from deep in his chest, he says it's from his throat. I'm still inclined to think it's just sinus drainage, but there's still a lot of pneumonias around. Last night he got a breathing treatment and will get 2 more today. He slept better last night (I didn't) so maybe all that has helped. He did get very short of breath when he was going from the bathroom to the bedroom to get ready for bed, but Mouse wouldn't get out of his way and was attacking his tubing. He also got angry when I tried to check his sats, but he had been a little beligerent all evening. And then wanted to know what was bothering me!
He's still eating well. At the dr. he weighted 134 but that was with his jacket and heavy tennis shoes on. I weighted him yesterday and he weighed 134, with clothes and shoes. The one thing that worries me with what he's eating is chocolate. I got him some sugar free candy and I've noticed that he's losing a lot of it from the sides of his mouth. He'll have a chocolate slobber line down his chin. So, it makes me wonder if he's not aspirating a little of it, yet at the same time I think that if it's coming out the sides, it's not going down his throat. But, in light of the new sound Ricky heard, who knows. And the chocolate is one thing that set him off last night. I had asked him to go in and wash his face several times and he just wouldn't move so I went in and got a warm cloth and washed his face and he pushed me away and told me to leave him alone. So, especially after his outburst about his oxygen last night and then him wanting to know what was bothering him, we'll have to talk about it today.
He's trying to get into the old habit of not moving once he's up. He's still eating most things at the table and it he's not at the table, he's sitting up straight. And, we've tried some normal foods. We had pizza one night and he did fine and last night I fixed a little pork tenderloin and he did fine eating that. He ate more of the cheesy hash browns than meat, but that was fine with me.
Ryan is supposed to come and do the handrail today. Monday evening he called after he had left here from doing the light and the hedges, and planting a rosebush that we got from Bill's sister (I hope I don't kill it), and said that he got a job! He had worked on a car for his landlord and knew that he had a few other odd jobs needing done, but he hired him full time for the different companies he owns. Not only do they have 70 rental houses, he also has some kind of ice company, and a scrap metal company, and Ryan will work in all 3 of them. It's not a whole lot of money, but it's more money than he was making. Of course if another job opens with more money and benefits (he doesn't think this one offers insurance) he'll take it probably. So, Mom's little jobs are getting pushed back to the week-ends, but that's OK. Except for the handrail, they aren't anything major. And I can probably get Mistie's husband to do the others as he's out of work again.
I've noticed that I'm not sleeping as well as I had been. I guess it's because I'm back to listening for Bill through the night again. Not that I'm worried that I can't care for him, just that while he was hospitalized, I didn't have to worry that he wasn't being cared for, plus I was always so tired that I went right to sleep most of the time. I'm still usually going right to sleep, but I'm not staying asleep like I was. But, the cats are letting me sleep until between 5 and 5:30 instead of 4:30 now, so that helps.
So, a busy week and usually busy weeks make them seem to go faster, but not this one. Hopefully next week will be better as far as that goes. He will have therapy Monday, Wednesday and Friday with nursing coming Tuesday and Thursday. We have not appointments that I'm aware of. The weather is supposed to be nice for the most part with only a little rain maybe tomorrow night into Monday morning.
All for this week, see you Saturday!
We've had a decent week. Bill's appointment went well. She said he sounded good, although his magnesium was a little low. But I have some mag here at home so just added that to his daily regimen. His prograf level came back lower than it had been, but still not where I think it should be. Stephanie was out of the office this week, so can't talk to her until Monday and we've decided not to play with the prograf, just leave it like it is until I hear from her.
We got confused Sunday night. We got a phone call, actually Emily got the call and relayed it to me, from someone named Mario from the nursing home about Bill's therapy. So I called him back and told him that Kindred was doing the therapy and that his therapist was Corey. He said that he was also with Kindred and that Corey was taking the day off Monday and he was covering. When he got here, it was Mario from the nursing home who had worked with Bill before. He had Bill go through his exercises and then had him walk the circuit of the house WITHOUT his oxygen! It is 163 feet from Bill's chair through the living room, dining room, kitchen, up the hallway, through the foyer, around the back of the couch and back to his chair. He did it twice with a little break in between. The 2nd time he was pretty winded and his O2 had dropped into the 70s but as soon as he put his oxygen on it started coming back up.
Corey came on Wednesday and took Bill outside to see how he did on steps. He said that we definitely needed the handrail (it should be installed today). He said he did fine going down, but coming up was harder for him and he would need the extra help of the rail. He did walk him again, but only with oxygen. He also came back on Thursday and they didn't do as much as Bill's sinuses are really giving him fits now, even with a new nasal spray.
When Ricky came yesterday he said he heard a different sound in his upper lungs. He said it wasn't in the upper airway like it had been, but a little lower. And it wasn't a wheeze, or a crackle, or a rale. And since I don't know the difference, it doesn't matter. He said it was just kind of a weird whoosh. I talked to Connie about it and all she said was if he gets too short of breath, go to the ER.
Bill's sinuses have been plaguing him all week and since we have a high pollen count and then rain and then high pollen count it's not surprising, even though he's barely been out of the house. He's been doing a lot of coughing and when I ask if it's all in this throat or coming from deep in his chest, he says it's from his throat. I'm still inclined to think it's just sinus drainage, but there's still a lot of pneumonias around. Last night he got a breathing treatment and will get 2 more today. He slept better last night (I didn't) so maybe all that has helped. He did get very short of breath when he was going from the bathroom to the bedroom to get ready for bed, but Mouse wouldn't get out of his way and was attacking his tubing. He also got angry when I tried to check his sats, but he had been a little beligerent all evening. And then wanted to know what was bothering me!
He's still eating well. At the dr. he weighted 134 but that was with his jacket and heavy tennis shoes on. I weighted him yesterday and he weighed 134, with clothes and shoes. The one thing that worries me with what he's eating is chocolate. I got him some sugar free candy and I've noticed that he's losing a lot of it from the sides of his mouth. He'll have a chocolate slobber line down his chin. So, it makes me wonder if he's not aspirating a little of it, yet at the same time I think that if it's coming out the sides, it's not going down his throat. But, in light of the new sound Ricky heard, who knows. And the chocolate is one thing that set him off last night. I had asked him to go in and wash his face several times and he just wouldn't move so I went in and got a warm cloth and washed his face and he pushed me away and told me to leave him alone. So, especially after his outburst about his oxygen last night and then him wanting to know what was bothering him, we'll have to talk about it today.
He's trying to get into the old habit of not moving once he's up. He's still eating most things at the table and it he's not at the table, he's sitting up straight. And, we've tried some normal foods. We had pizza one night and he did fine and last night I fixed a little pork tenderloin and he did fine eating that. He ate more of the cheesy hash browns than meat, but that was fine with me.
Ryan is supposed to come and do the handrail today. Monday evening he called after he had left here from doing the light and the hedges, and planting a rosebush that we got from Bill's sister (I hope I don't kill it), and said that he got a job! He had worked on a car for his landlord and knew that he had a few other odd jobs needing done, but he hired him full time for the different companies he owns. Not only do they have 70 rental houses, he also has some kind of ice company, and a scrap metal company, and Ryan will work in all 3 of them. It's not a whole lot of money, but it's more money than he was making. Of course if another job opens with more money and benefits (he doesn't think this one offers insurance) he'll take it probably. So, Mom's little jobs are getting pushed back to the week-ends, but that's OK. Except for the handrail, they aren't anything major. And I can probably get Mistie's husband to do the others as he's out of work again.
I've noticed that I'm not sleeping as well as I had been. I guess it's because I'm back to listening for Bill through the night again. Not that I'm worried that I can't care for him, just that while he was hospitalized, I didn't have to worry that he wasn't being cared for, plus I was always so tired that I went right to sleep most of the time. I'm still usually going right to sleep, but I'm not staying asleep like I was. But, the cats are letting me sleep until between 5 and 5:30 instead of 4:30 now, so that helps.
So, a busy week and usually busy weeks make them seem to go faster, but not this one. Hopefully next week will be better as far as that goes. He will have therapy Monday, Wednesday and Friday with nursing coming Tuesday and Thursday. We have not appointments that I'm aware of. The weather is supposed to be nice for the most part with only a little rain maybe tomorrow night into Monday morning.
All for this week, see you Saturday!
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Today is apparently gremlin day in the electronics department. My phone didn't charge in the night, although it was plugged in and the charge light was on. The laptop didn't come on, it again was in an endless loop and the desktop had been unplugged. I suspect the cats had a hand in that one, but the other two, has to be gremlins. So, at least for the laptop, time to do a system restore...again and maybe change a setting or two. But, that was not on my list of things to do today!
We've had a busy couple of days since Bill's been home, and he's doing really well, at least in my opinion. Thursday the home health nurse came and got him re-admitted to them. He told us that they can't just pull up his information from before, so it all had to be redone. But, Ricky is a nice personable guy so we also chatted some during the process. He said that Bill sounds really good compared to before.
Yesterday Ricky was back, just to check up on him and Eric one of the therapists came to evaluate him. Our therapist will be Corey but Eric is the one who will certify him. Right now he will have therapy 3 days a week for 4 weeks and nursing will come 2 days a week for 2 weeks and then once a week for 2 weeks and then he'll be re-evaluated.
We've taken things easy but today, at least I have to get busy and get some things done around here. I also think Ryan is going to come and do some things for us. We've got to get a handrail of some kind up for the steps and the security light on the garage needs changed and we've had so much rain and it's been so warm the hedges are needing the first trim of the year already!
I got a call from the nurse practitioner Thursday that Bill's Prograf level was way too high now so she said to cut it back for 3/2 to 2/1 (which I had already done). I told her that the labs were drawn Monday after he had taken his meds and that could have affected it also. So, Monday since he has an appointment for labs and to see Connie, I'll hold his meds until after his labs.
He's done really well getting around the house with his walker. The part that worries at him is his oxygen tubing. I'm wondering if a couple of big hooks on the side to roll the tubing on and then trail it off and re-roll it would solve the problem. I can't get it completely straight in my mind yet and Bill's engineering mind can't see what I'm talking about. So, may buy the hooks and try it just to see. I'm sure we can find a use for the hooks if it doesn't work out.
His blood pressure is fluctuating some, but since he's still not really active it's staying low. But, not dangerously low, just lower than we would like. And he is taking is blood pressure medicine to raise it.
He's still doing well eating and today is a weight check day, so we'll see how he's done. I really don't expect much change but who knows.
The cats have done well in the night, except for this morning. They gone to bed with us and settled right in and stayed quiet all night. But at 3 this morning, Mouse decided it was time to attack and of course Cat was laying on Bill's legs and then my legs. So they both got booted from the bedroom and closed out. There was some scratching on the door to start with and a few little "I'm sorry" meows, but then they quieted down. I got up a little after 5 and fed them and right now all is quiet. But, I don't know just where Mouse is. Cat is asleep on Bill's blanket on the loveseat but I can't see Mouse so he might be looking out the back window.
Finally got the picture of the flowers to upload! They are actually much prettier and brighter than the picture shows. The cats sit on the floor in front of the mantle and sniff away! We have to put them on the mantle or Mouse will eat them before we know it.
OK, I think you are caught up now. It's almost time to get Bill up for his meds. That's something we're going to have to work on, not letting him lay in bed in the mornings. By this time at the nursing home he was usually up and in his chair waiting for breakfast. But, maybe once therapy starts and I'm hoping they will mostly come in the morning, he'll have to be up and ready. We've had our pj day so now it's time to get into a "normal" routine and for Bill to stay in his pajamas all day keeps him thinking that he can't do anything. So, clothes it is!
Don't know if I'll update after the dr. appointment Monday or wait until Saturday after a week of therapy. Just keep checking back! Have a great week-end!
We've had a busy couple of days since Bill's been home, and he's doing really well, at least in my opinion. Thursday the home health nurse came and got him re-admitted to them. He told us that they can't just pull up his information from before, so it all had to be redone. But, Ricky is a nice personable guy so we also chatted some during the process. He said that Bill sounds really good compared to before.
Yesterday Ricky was back, just to check up on him and Eric one of the therapists came to evaluate him. Our therapist will be Corey but Eric is the one who will certify him. Right now he will have therapy 3 days a week for 4 weeks and nursing will come 2 days a week for 2 weeks and then once a week for 2 weeks and then he'll be re-evaluated.
We've taken things easy but today, at least I have to get busy and get some things done around here. I also think Ryan is going to come and do some things for us. We've got to get a handrail of some kind up for the steps and the security light on the garage needs changed and we've had so much rain and it's been so warm the hedges are needing the first trim of the year already!
I got a call from the nurse practitioner Thursday that Bill's Prograf level was way too high now so she said to cut it back for 3/2 to 2/1 (which I had already done). I told her that the labs were drawn Monday after he had taken his meds and that could have affected it also. So, Monday since he has an appointment for labs and to see Connie, I'll hold his meds until after his labs.
He's done really well getting around the house with his walker. The part that worries at him is his oxygen tubing. I'm wondering if a couple of big hooks on the side to roll the tubing on and then trail it off and re-roll it would solve the problem. I can't get it completely straight in my mind yet and Bill's engineering mind can't see what I'm talking about. So, may buy the hooks and try it just to see. I'm sure we can find a use for the hooks if it doesn't work out.
His blood pressure is fluctuating some, but since he's still not really active it's staying low. But, not dangerously low, just lower than we would like. And he is taking is blood pressure medicine to raise it.
He's still doing well eating and today is a weight check day, so we'll see how he's done. I really don't expect much change but who knows.
The cats have done well in the night, except for this morning. They gone to bed with us and settled right in and stayed quiet all night. But at 3 this morning, Mouse decided it was time to attack and of course Cat was laying on Bill's legs and then my legs. So they both got booted from the bedroom and closed out. There was some scratching on the door to start with and a few little "I'm sorry" meows, but then they quieted down. I got up a little after 5 and fed them and right now all is quiet. But, I don't know just where Mouse is. Cat is asleep on Bill's blanket on the loveseat but I can't see Mouse so he might be looking out the back window.
OK, I think you are caught up now. It's almost time to get Bill up for his meds. That's something we're going to have to work on, not letting him lay in bed in the mornings. By this time at the nursing home he was usually up and in his chair waiting for breakfast. But, maybe once therapy starts and I'm hoping they will mostly come in the morning, he'll have to be up and ready. We've had our pj day so now it's time to get into a "normal" routine and for Bill to stay in his pajamas all day keeps him thinking that he can't do anything. So, clothes it is!
Don't know if I'll update after the dr. appointment Monday or wait until Saturday after a week of therapy. Just keep checking back! Have a great week-end!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
As some of you probably saw on Facebook yesterday, if you could get on Facebook, we are HOME! But, it was quite the ordeal. I was a little late getting there and was surprised that he wasn't up having breakfast. So I got him up and dressed and still no breakfast. Maybe they knew he was leaving and since most leave as early as possible, they took him off the list, so no big deal. There's a Waffle House just down the street and we could have gone there. It finally came at 9:30 and they told us that only 2 people showed up to work in the kitchen.
Got all of his stuff packed up that I hadn't packed the day before and out to the car and then thought I would go down to administration to find out what was going on. I saw the Social Worker in the hall and asked her, and she had no idea that he was leaving! I told her all of the therapies had signed off on Tuesday and there was an order in the system for discharge, so she said she would look into it. She said they still needed to make an appointment with him with the dr. and call Home Health and get the paperwork and on and on and on. She asked Bill if he wanted to stay until she could get that done and he just looked at her. I told her I thought he would start walking if he had to stay.
I've got to give her credit, she made it happen! I made his dr. appointment with labs for Monday with out dr. I don't know if she called Home Health or not, but I have the contact information and can call and ask them if they got the order. The only problem that was left was his meds. They give each patient the medicine they have on hand, plus an extra week, that way they don't have to go out to get them filled as soon as they get home. I told them I probably had enough at home anyway. I was with the nurse when she called the pharmacy to see why his meds hadn't been delivered since the fax for discharge had been done Saturday or Sunday. She told me that they pay this pharmacy an extra $24,000 a month to ensure they get their meds when they are ordered, but that this was not the first time it happened. She said they could pay her $10,000 a month to deliver them on time and I said Ryan needed a job! When we left we still didn't have the meds. Margo was supposed to call me and then I was going to send Ryan to get them. She said that would be fine.
Before coming home we stopped at the grocery store and Bill stayed in the car while I ran through for a few supplies. Then the fun started. Ryan was going to meet us at the house to help get Bill and everything in while keeping the cat in at the same time, but I told him I thought we could manage. I went in first and turned his concentrator on and then grabbed Mouse and put him in the bedroom. He didn't know what to think!
Bill had a very hard time managing the 3 steps up to the door, even with me holding on to him. And he barely made it to his chair, his legs just gave out. He didn't end up on the floor, but pretty close. He made one last push and I got him turned and sitting down. I asked if they had worked with him on steps and he said no, so that's one thing to go over with Kevin and Tammie for home therapy. I let Mouse out and got the rest of the things in. Right now most of them are still sitting in the middle of the living room floor, but they'll get put away soon enough!
I can tell by how winded Bill is getting that he didn't do much walking during his therapies. So right now he's rather restricted to bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room. Not even to the kitchen yet. There's a urinal beside his chair if he doesn't want to walk to the bathroom, and I can pull the bedside commode in also, but that, to me, just gives him less incentive to walk. So, for now he has to put up with me following him to the bathroom and waiting for him.
I managed to get all of his meds fixed yesterday and it was tough. They had written when they were giving some, and I knew that they were doing them wrong, so I split them up. It was the anti-rejection one they were playing with to get his level up. His level is back to a therapeutic one, but they were giving him the meds all at once in the morning and none in the evening, and I think the labs were being drawn after he had taken them. So I divided them like they are supposed to be and he's having the labs done again Monday and I'll hold his meds until after they draw the blood. I also added some that had been stopped such as his calcium, aspirin, and musinex and zyrtek.
The weather is really bad this morning and last night and his sinuses have been going crazy again. He's also doing a lot of coughing, but I can tell the rattle is all upper respiratory and not deep in his lungs. So I'm sure it's more just from sinus drainage.
We got these lovely flowers yesterday from my mom, step-dad, and extended family to welcome us home. I've been trying to get the picture to upload, but it doesn't want to cooperate. Maybe the next post.
I tricked Bill last night while we were eating. I did tell him what I did and he was OK with it. Since he has lost so much weight, his last weight Tuesday was 129.5, I'm on a mission to fatten him up. We had lasagna last night and usually we eat on breakfast size plates. But, last night I used the dinner plates and he ate 2 helpings! Using the larger plate made the size of the food look smaller, so he ate it all then wanted more. He also said, after I told him what I had done, that if it had been on the smaller plate, he wouldn't have eaten as much. So, we'll see how it goes the next few days. Tonight we're having salmon patties and tomorrow night meatloaf.
I went back to bed this morning after the cats were fed, and we did let them in the bedroom. They went to bed when we did and stayed quiet all night. But, after they were fed, I shut the bedroom door and slept until about 7:15. We're having fierce winds and have a tornado watch until noon. It's also extremely warm. But, the sun has come out now and according to the weatherman our severe threat is actually passed now. All we should have the rest of the day is wind. But, I'm not planning on going anywhere, so it can blow if it wants.
All for now. Bill is still in bed but he's had his meds. I think we're both going to be a little lazy today and just get used to him being home. Kitty has adjusted already, Mouse doesn't know what to think about the walker and the oxygen tubing. He'll get used to it.
I don't know if I'll post anything tomorrow, but I definitely will Saturday morning. There will probably be a few extras thrown in from time to time if necessary, so just keep checking back. I've gotten some comments from folks that have gotten so used to reading it they miss it when there are no posts. They said it's like keeping up with family, and that's part of why I do it. When the family is as large and spread out as ours, a one-time post instead of lots of emails and phone calls gets everyone caught up at once...if they read it. So, thanks to all of you who do read it, family or not.
Got all of his stuff packed up that I hadn't packed the day before and out to the car and then thought I would go down to administration to find out what was going on. I saw the Social Worker in the hall and asked her, and she had no idea that he was leaving! I told her all of the therapies had signed off on Tuesday and there was an order in the system for discharge, so she said she would look into it. She said they still needed to make an appointment with him with the dr. and call Home Health and get the paperwork and on and on and on. She asked Bill if he wanted to stay until she could get that done and he just looked at her. I told her I thought he would start walking if he had to stay.
I've got to give her credit, she made it happen! I made his dr. appointment with labs for Monday with out dr. I don't know if she called Home Health or not, but I have the contact information and can call and ask them if they got the order. The only problem that was left was his meds. They give each patient the medicine they have on hand, plus an extra week, that way they don't have to go out to get them filled as soon as they get home. I told them I probably had enough at home anyway. I was with the nurse when she called the pharmacy to see why his meds hadn't been delivered since the fax for discharge had been done Saturday or Sunday. She told me that they pay this pharmacy an extra $24,000 a month to ensure they get their meds when they are ordered, but that this was not the first time it happened. She said they could pay her $10,000 a month to deliver them on time and I said Ryan needed a job! When we left we still didn't have the meds. Margo was supposed to call me and then I was going to send Ryan to get them. She said that would be fine.
Before coming home we stopped at the grocery store and Bill stayed in the car while I ran through for a few supplies. Then the fun started. Ryan was going to meet us at the house to help get Bill and everything in while keeping the cat in at the same time, but I told him I thought we could manage. I went in first and turned his concentrator on and then grabbed Mouse and put him in the bedroom. He didn't know what to think!
Bill had a very hard time managing the 3 steps up to the door, even with me holding on to him. And he barely made it to his chair, his legs just gave out. He didn't end up on the floor, but pretty close. He made one last push and I got him turned and sitting down. I asked if they had worked with him on steps and he said no, so that's one thing to go over with Kevin and Tammie for home therapy. I let Mouse out and got the rest of the things in. Right now most of them are still sitting in the middle of the living room floor, but they'll get put away soon enough!
I can tell by how winded Bill is getting that he didn't do much walking during his therapies. So right now he's rather restricted to bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room. Not even to the kitchen yet. There's a urinal beside his chair if he doesn't want to walk to the bathroom, and I can pull the bedside commode in also, but that, to me, just gives him less incentive to walk. So, for now he has to put up with me following him to the bathroom and waiting for him.
I managed to get all of his meds fixed yesterday and it was tough. They had written when they were giving some, and I knew that they were doing them wrong, so I split them up. It was the anti-rejection one they were playing with to get his level up. His level is back to a therapeutic one, but they were giving him the meds all at once in the morning and none in the evening, and I think the labs were being drawn after he had taken them. So I divided them like they are supposed to be and he's having the labs done again Monday and I'll hold his meds until after they draw the blood. I also added some that had been stopped such as his calcium, aspirin, and musinex and zyrtek.
The weather is really bad this morning and last night and his sinuses have been going crazy again. He's also doing a lot of coughing, but I can tell the rattle is all upper respiratory and not deep in his lungs. So I'm sure it's more just from sinus drainage.
We got these lovely flowers yesterday from my mom, step-dad, and extended family to welcome us home. I've been trying to get the picture to upload, but it doesn't want to cooperate. Maybe the next post.
I tricked Bill last night while we were eating. I did tell him what I did and he was OK with it. Since he has lost so much weight, his last weight Tuesday was 129.5, I'm on a mission to fatten him up. We had lasagna last night and usually we eat on breakfast size plates. But, last night I used the dinner plates and he ate 2 helpings! Using the larger plate made the size of the food look smaller, so he ate it all then wanted more. He also said, after I told him what I had done, that if it had been on the smaller plate, he wouldn't have eaten as much. So, we'll see how it goes the next few days. Tonight we're having salmon patties and tomorrow night meatloaf.
I went back to bed this morning after the cats were fed, and we did let them in the bedroom. They went to bed when we did and stayed quiet all night. But, after they were fed, I shut the bedroom door and slept until about 7:15. We're having fierce winds and have a tornado watch until noon. It's also extremely warm. But, the sun has come out now and according to the weatherman our severe threat is actually passed now. All we should have the rest of the day is wind. But, I'm not planning on going anywhere, so it can blow if it wants.
All for now. Bill is still in bed but he's had his meds. I think we're both going to be a little lazy today and just get used to him being home. Kitty has adjusted already, Mouse doesn't know what to think about the walker and the oxygen tubing. He'll get used to it.
I don't know if I'll post anything tomorrow, but I definitely will Saturday morning. There will probably be a few extras thrown in from time to time if necessary, so just keep checking back. I've gotten some comments from folks that have gotten so used to reading it they miss it when there are no posts. They said it's like keeping up with family, and that's part of why I do it. When the family is as large and spread out as ours, a one-time post instead of lots of emails and phone calls gets everyone caught up at once...if they read it. So, thanks to all of you who do read it, family or not.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
This is the day! All systems are go for Bill to come home today! All of the therapies have signed off. I've been told what to watch for as far as swallowing problems, him getting too tired while walking, mostly things we've dealt with before.
I wasn't able to go over what I wanted to with the nurses, but they did make sure we had the medical equipment we will need, including a nebulizer for breathing treatments, glucose monitor, and everything else we can think of. I'm going to check with our oxygen supplier to see if they have the cylinder slings that go over the back of a wheelchair that we've been using. That will be so useful when we are at appointments. Usually Bill holds it in his lap or squeezes it in beside him. But, if it can hang on the back it will be much easier.
Most of his "stuff" was brought home yesterday. I have to take an extra bag today for the rest, and it's mostly small things, plus his blanket. His small oxygen tanks are already in the car. I haven't decided if I'm going to throw his walker in or not, the chair is already there. They will wheel him out to the car in their chair and he won't need the walker going into the house, so will probably just leave it here.
I'm excited and a little apprehensive at the same time. I'm not scared of having to do all his care myself, there's no "care" to really do. I suppose is like someone who has been single for a long time getting married. For nearly 4 months, 119 days, I've had the house to myself with the cats. No sharing the bed, no sharing the bathroom, no sharing the remote for the TV. I could yell at the cats in the middle of the night if they were fighting, I could talk out loud to them early in the morning, and a myriad of other things. That all changes today...I'll have to stay on my side of the bed, not turn a light on when I get up in the morning until I leave the bedroom, close the bedroom when I get up. Just little things.
One thing that will have to be addressed, and soon, is Bill's weight. Hopefully they'll go over that today. As of yesterday he only weighed 129.5 pounds. I see a lot of milkshakes in his future, yet it takes so little to fill him up. So, I'm planning on him eating 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger ones. I think that's part of his problem with not eating, they give him so much food he's overwhelmed just looking at it. I've got some meals planned so that I don't have to chop meat, but the way speech talked yesterday, as long as the meat is very tender and won't take a lot of effort to eat he shouldn't have a problem. She's not worried about his swallow as much as his oxygen level dropping because of the effort it takes to chew. So, we'll take it easy these next few days as far as meats go.
We're supposed to get severe storms this evening. The rain is supposed to start mid-afternoon so I'm hoping all the rest of the paperwork gets done this morning and we can be home by noon.
I may give an update tomorrow to let you know how the transfer home went, but then will probably go back to the weekly Saturday posts. We'll play it by ear for awhile I'm sure, so just keep checking in! OK, gotta get the last things done here, new O2 tubing connected to the concentrator, sheets in the wash, just little things!
I wasn't able to go over what I wanted to with the nurses, but they did make sure we had the medical equipment we will need, including a nebulizer for breathing treatments, glucose monitor, and everything else we can think of. I'm going to check with our oxygen supplier to see if they have the cylinder slings that go over the back of a wheelchair that we've been using. That will be so useful when we are at appointments. Usually Bill holds it in his lap or squeezes it in beside him. But, if it can hang on the back it will be much easier.
Most of his "stuff" was brought home yesterday. I have to take an extra bag today for the rest, and it's mostly small things, plus his blanket. His small oxygen tanks are already in the car. I haven't decided if I'm going to throw his walker in or not, the chair is already there. They will wheel him out to the car in their chair and he won't need the walker going into the house, so will probably just leave it here.
I'm excited and a little apprehensive at the same time. I'm not scared of having to do all his care myself, there's no "care" to really do. I suppose is like someone who has been single for a long time getting married. For nearly 4 months, 119 days, I've had the house to myself with the cats. No sharing the bed, no sharing the bathroom, no sharing the remote for the TV. I could yell at the cats in the middle of the night if they were fighting, I could talk out loud to them early in the morning, and a myriad of other things. That all changes today...I'll have to stay on my side of the bed, not turn a light on when I get up in the morning until I leave the bedroom, close the bedroom when I get up. Just little things.
One thing that will have to be addressed, and soon, is Bill's weight. Hopefully they'll go over that today. As of yesterday he only weighed 129.5 pounds. I see a lot of milkshakes in his future, yet it takes so little to fill him up. So, I'm planning on him eating 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger ones. I think that's part of his problem with not eating, they give him so much food he's overwhelmed just looking at it. I've got some meals planned so that I don't have to chop meat, but the way speech talked yesterday, as long as the meat is very tender and won't take a lot of effort to eat he shouldn't have a problem. She's not worried about his swallow as much as his oxygen level dropping because of the effort it takes to chew. So, we'll take it easy these next few days as far as meats go.
We're supposed to get severe storms this evening. The rain is supposed to start mid-afternoon so I'm hoping all the rest of the paperwork gets done this morning and we can be home by noon.
I may give an update tomorrow to let you know how the transfer home went, but then will probably go back to the weekly Saturday posts. We'll play it by ear for awhile I'm sure, so just keep checking in! OK, gotta get the last things done here, new O2 tubing connected to the concentrator, sheets in the wash, just little things!
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Yesterday was progress notes day for all of the therapies and as far as I know, Bill has met at least the minimal standards. Speech wants to watch him eat one more time, occupational wants to watch him in the bathroom using a walker since that is what he will use at home. She also taught he a trick for putting on a button down shirt that may make it easier for him.
His prograf level has finally come up to a therapeutic level again. It's back over 7 and he's on either the dosage that Mayo had set or .5 mg more than that. We'll go over all of his meds before he leaves. I'll also get to take what ever meds are left in case we don't have something. The only one I'm not sure of is the lasix.
We had some visitors yesterday. Good friends Floyd and Bambi came by after they had some dr. visits and George and Shirley, former church members and good friends also came by. We had a good visit with everyone. I didn't realize until I was on my way home thinking about the afternoon how much I've missed a "George Miller prayer". His prayers are so heartfelt and simple, not pompous like some pastor prayers are. It was a good afternoon.
I'm going to start packing Bill's things today. We've kept things to a minimum, but some things can be taken out to the car today and most of his clothes can be packed into his suitcase and be ready to go. Technically I can take him at 12:01 am, as soon as the calendar changes to the 13th...but I'm not going to do that. I figure that I'll get there at my usual breakfast time and by the time we go over everything it will be mid-morning. There won't be any therapy tomorrow so today is the last day for it. I do have some questions for the nursing staff that hopefully we'll be able to go over today, things like how do I care for his feeding tube, even though it's not being used.
The weather is supposed to be bad tomorrow with rain and then storms so hoping to get home before then. Ryan has offered to meet me at the house to help get Bill in and the cats corralled. I know that Mouse will try to escape while I'm holding the door open for Bill to come in so he'll have to be shut into either the bedroom or bathroom. He won't like that much but it will be for just a short time so hopefully he won't get into too much trouble.
I'm really looking forward to Thursday morning. I've already decided that when the cats wake me at 4:30 they will get fed and then I'm going back to bed...with the bedroom door closed! We're looking forward to enjoying our morning coffee together. Now if I can just get a cook hired to bring us breakfast in bed!
His prograf level has finally come up to a therapeutic level again. It's back over 7 and he's on either the dosage that Mayo had set or .5 mg more than that. We'll go over all of his meds before he leaves. I'll also get to take what ever meds are left in case we don't have something. The only one I'm not sure of is the lasix.
We had some visitors yesterday. Good friends Floyd and Bambi came by after they had some dr. visits and George and Shirley, former church members and good friends also came by. We had a good visit with everyone. I didn't realize until I was on my way home thinking about the afternoon how much I've missed a "George Miller prayer". His prayers are so heartfelt and simple, not pompous like some pastor prayers are. It was a good afternoon.
I'm going to start packing Bill's things today. We've kept things to a minimum, but some things can be taken out to the car today and most of his clothes can be packed into his suitcase and be ready to go. Technically I can take him at 12:01 am, as soon as the calendar changes to the 13th...but I'm not going to do that. I figure that I'll get there at my usual breakfast time and by the time we go over everything it will be mid-morning. There won't be any therapy tomorrow so today is the last day for it. I do have some questions for the nursing staff that hopefully we'll be able to go over today, things like how do I care for his feeding tube, even though it's not being used.
The weather is supposed to be bad tomorrow with rain and then storms so hoping to get home before then. Ryan has offered to meet me at the house to help get Bill in and the cats corralled. I know that Mouse will try to escape while I'm holding the door open for Bill to come in so he'll have to be shut into either the bedroom or bathroom. He won't like that much but it will be for just a short time so hopefully he won't get into too much trouble.
I'm really looking forward to Thursday morning. I've already decided that when the cats wake me at 4:30 they will get fed and then I'm going back to bed...with the bedroom door closed! We're looking forward to enjoying our morning coffee together. Now if I can just get a cook hired to bring us breakfast in bed!
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Yesterday was a day of absolutely nothing! We didn't do a thing. I helped Bill get dressed and that was pretty much that. We watched the storms come in and lost power once, but within 3 seconds the generator had kicked in and then kicked back off a few minutes later. When the tornado watch was issued I asked for a new oxygen tank since his was on red, just in case we had to hit the hallway. I didn't want to wait until the staff was going nuts trying to get all the patients to safety. Of course they just brought the tank, didn't take the old one out, so it defeated the purpose to have it.
After that we watched TV and more TV.
We will both be glad when the next 3 days are over. And yes, I know, then it all falls on me. But, I'm doing everything for him now anyway, or helping him do for himself. I'm tired of having to get up and out of the house every day, whether it's in the morning or later in the day. At least when he's home, I don't have to get dressed if I don't want to and can sit and enjoy my coffee in the morning instead of sucking down a couple of cups before hitting the door. I can go back to bed after feeding the animals if I want, or take a nap in the afternoon. All the little things that people don't think about doing...until they can't do them.
I threw the cats out of the bedroom last night. I went to bed early and when they decided to join me, Mouse was in attack mode. It wasn't so bad when they were at my feet, but when they were on my pillow behind my head, that was it. I made sure after I pushed them off the bed that they were both out of the room and then shut the door. I was surprised not to hear a lot of meowing and hitting the door but did not. I opened it some time later when I went to the bathroom and they came in and settled down. I have a feeling they are going to spend a lot of time out of the bedroom when Bill gets home. That's not really fair to Kitty since she's always been allowed to sleep with us, but Mouse is just too wild. So, one of the first things on the list for when we return to normal is to get him fixed and maybe he will calm down some. He's nearly a year old now and I will have the time to take him and pick him up. Hopefully that will make a difference.
That's all I've got for today and I have a feeling the next post will be more of the same. If there isn't a post tomorrow, think nothing of it. Sunday's are usually pretty boring.
After that we watched TV and more TV.
We will both be glad when the next 3 days are over. And yes, I know, then it all falls on me. But, I'm doing everything for him now anyway, or helping him do for himself. I'm tired of having to get up and out of the house every day, whether it's in the morning or later in the day. At least when he's home, I don't have to get dressed if I don't want to and can sit and enjoy my coffee in the morning instead of sucking down a couple of cups before hitting the door. I can go back to bed after feeding the animals if I want, or take a nap in the afternoon. All the little things that people don't think about doing...until they can't do them.
I threw the cats out of the bedroom last night. I went to bed early and when they decided to join me, Mouse was in attack mode. It wasn't so bad when they were at my feet, but when they were on my pillow behind my head, that was it. I made sure after I pushed them off the bed that they were both out of the room and then shut the door. I was surprised not to hear a lot of meowing and hitting the door but did not. I opened it some time later when I went to the bathroom and they came in and settled down. I have a feeling they are going to spend a lot of time out of the bedroom when Bill gets home. That's not really fair to Kitty since she's always been allowed to sleep with us, but Mouse is just too wild. So, one of the first things on the list for when we return to normal is to get him fixed and maybe he will calm down some. He's nearly a year old now and I will have the time to take him and pick him up. Hopefully that will make a difference.
That's all I've got for today and I have a feeling the next post will be more of the same. If there isn't a post tomorrow, think nothing of it. Sunday's are usually pretty boring.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Yesterday was one of those humdrum days that happen. I went to the eye dr. after going through clothes and leaving them piled on the bed. Then from the eye dr. (eyes have actually improved some, I guess some things do get better with age) a quick drive through the post office parking lot, and the drive thru at the bank and I was on my way to see Bill.
It was nasty, misty and foggy, so instead of getting on the bypass which is the faster way to go, I went through town. I didn't want to try to merge into lunch time traffic with so much fog and people not using their headlights.
Bill had just gone to occupational therapy when I got there and Tom was packing and gathering his belongings. I walked down to the therapy room to let him know I was there but didn't stay long. He gets distracted so easily I don't want him to stop what he's doing to talk to me. I did ask the therapist about leaving Wednesday and she said she didn't know anything about that. But, she did tell me when she brought him back to his room that she did ask someone else "more important" than her and we are still on target.
I left to get lunch and didn't think I would find a drive-thru that wasn't already around the building. By the time I got back Bill had eaten ALL of his fish (I forgot it was Friday) and almost all of his fries. And then the physical therapist came in. It was Manu from the Philippines. Bill told him he was still eating and made him come back, which was fine with me. The trays don't get to the rooms until 1, if they're running on time, and he was ready to get him at 1:15. That would be OK if he ate in the dining room at 12:30, but not when he eats in the room. We took his apple pie and tea off the tray for a snack later and off they went to PT.
Tom left about 3, against doctors orders. But, he wasn't there for the same conditions as Bill and he said he could do the same exercises at home that he was doing there. We got back into our routine of just watching TV and going over the dates for leaving.
I left earlier than I had wanted, but the fog was thickening again and I didn't want to be driving in it in the dark. I got better closer to home but it took longer to get home, mainly because I could use cruise and had to drive slower than usual.
Bill called before his dinner came and then called again to let me know that he had had a couple of visitors! Brianna and David had stopped by to see him! He was really surprised, but said they probably thought he was lazy because he was already back in bed when they got there.
I told him I would be there at the usual time today, or pretty close to it. I've got to check my gas and see if I can get there and then get some on the way home, or if I need to get it before leaving town. We're supposed to have storms this morning and they could get severe as the line comes through. I would rather be home than there, but only 3 more days after today, so I think we can stick it out.
That's it for now. As usual, I'll either post again tonight or in the morning. Have a good week-end. Stay safe if you're in the path of the storms.
It was nasty, misty and foggy, so instead of getting on the bypass which is the faster way to go, I went through town. I didn't want to try to merge into lunch time traffic with so much fog and people not using their headlights.
Bill had just gone to occupational therapy when I got there and Tom was packing and gathering his belongings. I walked down to the therapy room to let him know I was there but didn't stay long. He gets distracted so easily I don't want him to stop what he's doing to talk to me. I did ask the therapist about leaving Wednesday and she said she didn't know anything about that. But, she did tell me when she brought him back to his room that she did ask someone else "more important" than her and we are still on target.
I left to get lunch and didn't think I would find a drive-thru that wasn't already around the building. By the time I got back Bill had eaten ALL of his fish (I forgot it was Friday) and almost all of his fries. And then the physical therapist came in. It was Manu from the Philippines. Bill told him he was still eating and made him come back, which was fine with me. The trays don't get to the rooms until 1, if they're running on time, and he was ready to get him at 1:15. That would be OK if he ate in the dining room at 12:30, but not when he eats in the room. We took his apple pie and tea off the tray for a snack later and off they went to PT.
Tom left about 3, against doctors orders. But, he wasn't there for the same conditions as Bill and he said he could do the same exercises at home that he was doing there. We got back into our routine of just watching TV and going over the dates for leaving.
I left earlier than I had wanted, but the fog was thickening again and I didn't want to be driving in it in the dark. I got better closer to home but it took longer to get home, mainly because I could use cruise and had to drive slower than usual.
Bill called before his dinner came and then called again to let me know that he had had a couple of visitors! Brianna and David had stopped by to see him! He was really surprised, but said they probably thought he was lazy because he was already back in bed when they got there.
I told him I would be there at the usual time today, or pretty close to it. I've got to check my gas and see if I can get there and then get some on the way home, or if I need to get it before leaving town. We're supposed to have storms this morning and they could get severe as the line comes through. I would rather be home than there, but only 3 more days after today, so I think we can stick it out.
That's it for now. As usual, I'll either post again tonight or in the morning. Have a good week-end. Stay safe if you're in the path of the storms.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Bill got moved to a new room yesterday and he's not happy about it! It's just across the hall and he now has a roommate, who will either go home this afternoon, or next Friday. From the way he sounded he's supposed to go today, but a therapist said he's been extended a week. I hope they don't wait until the last minute with Bill.
I did not go yesterday morning. I stayed home and started getting the house ready for him. You know, he's been gone since November 15, and other than make sure I have clean clothes for 3-4 days and getting the litter boxes empty and the trash taken out, no cleaning has been done. So, yesterday was the day to start that. And I had to make sure that Bill could move around easily with his walker so some things had to be moved. I did take his walker after I thought there was space and walked around and have to tweak a couple of spots but I think we're good.
Anyway, that's when they called and said that he was being moved across the hall. I asked if he was OK with it and they said he hadn't been told yet. I told them how agitate he got when he was moved for the day so that they could redo his floor and her response was a surprised "Oh". So, I told her I would be there by lunch and stopped cleaning and got ready and hit the road. He had been moved by the time I got there and was with Erica the speech therapist. She had helped them move everything and the only things they left were his shoes (they were under the end of his bed) and his urinal.
I talked to the nurses and they said it was because they were getting 3 women in so they moved Bill to free up a room, but they said there were already 3 available rooms for women. They said none of the patients react well to change like this.
Bill and Tom, the new roommate, are not as compatible as he and James were. They liked the same TV shows, but Tom likes watching all the home improvement shows and Bill doesn't care for those much. Maybe they reached a compromise in the evening. I didn't stay long as I had a headache, probably from the stress of the move myself and still wanting to be working, so when Bill left for occupational therapy I came home...and then didn't do anything. From being on my feet so much in the morning, in just my slippers, my heel and ankle were extremely sore and I could barely walk by evening. They are somewhat better this morning, but I don't have my slippers on, I put on my memory foam tennis shoes. They look really good with my pjs and robe!
I'm not going until this afternoon again today. I have an eye dr, appointment this morning. I also feel a little yucky. I cooked last night for the first time since Bill left (makes it sound like we're separated or something) and woke up in the night with acid reflux and early this morning with diarrhea. I think it's just because it was something different, like "real" food and not something prepackaged or picked-up at a drive through. My sinuses are also draining constantly. The weather is changing again, already had a little rain in the night and by tomorrow supposed to get a line of storms through.
I realize this post is more about me than Bill. I did talk to him a couple of times after I got home. He also had physical therapy after I left and he said he was pooped. He did mostly walking and some leg exercises with weights. They brought his dinner and he said it was some sliced meat. I asked if he meant chopped and he said no it looked like sliced steak so I told him to just take little bites of it and not to cut big pieces. Maybe they are trying to get him ready to transition to home. He called to tell me goodnight and said he had eaten all of it but I don't know whether to believe him or not!
Maybe we'll find out something this afternoon about a definite date. Hopefully it will be Wednesday since that's what he has circled on his calendar. He'll be very disappointed if he has to stay longer, roommate or no roommate! When we know, you'll be the first to know!
I did not go yesterday morning. I stayed home and started getting the house ready for him. You know, he's been gone since November 15, and other than make sure I have clean clothes for 3-4 days and getting the litter boxes empty and the trash taken out, no cleaning has been done. So, yesterday was the day to start that. And I had to make sure that Bill could move around easily with his walker so some things had to be moved. I did take his walker after I thought there was space and walked around and have to tweak a couple of spots but I think we're good.
Anyway, that's when they called and said that he was being moved across the hall. I asked if he was OK with it and they said he hadn't been told yet. I told them how agitate he got when he was moved for the day so that they could redo his floor and her response was a surprised "Oh". So, I told her I would be there by lunch and stopped cleaning and got ready and hit the road. He had been moved by the time I got there and was with Erica the speech therapist. She had helped them move everything and the only things they left were his shoes (they were under the end of his bed) and his urinal.
I talked to the nurses and they said it was because they were getting 3 women in so they moved Bill to free up a room, but they said there were already 3 available rooms for women. They said none of the patients react well to change like this.
Bill and Tom, the new roommate, are not as compatible as he and James were. They liked the same TV shows, but Tom likes watching all the home improvement shows and Bill doesn't care for those much. Maybe they reached a compromise in the evening. I didn't stay long as I had a headache, probably from the stress of the move myself and still wanting to be working, so when Bill left for occupational therapy I came home...and then didn't do anything. From being on my feet so much in the morning, in just my slippers, my heel and ankle were extremely sore and I could barely walk by evening. They are somewhat better this morning, but I don't have my slippers on, I put on my memory foam tennis shoes. They look really good with my pjs and robe!
I'm not going until this afternoon again today. I have an eye dr, appointment this morning. I also feel a little yucky. I cooked last night for the first time since Bill left (makes it sound like we're separated or something) and woke up in the night with acid reflux and early this morning with diarrhea. I think it's just because it was something different, like "real" food and not something prepackaged or picked-up at a drive through. My sinuses are also draining constantly. The weather is changing again, already had a little rain in the night and by tomorrow supposed to get a line of storms through.
I realize this post is more about me than Bill. I did talk to him a couple of times after I got home. He also had physical therapy after I left and he said he was pooped. He did mostly walking and some leg exercises with weights. They brought his dinner and he said it was some sliced meat. I asked if he meant chopped and he said no it looked like sliced steak so I told him to just take little bites of it and not to cut big pieces. Maybe they are trying to get him ready to transition to home. He called to tell me goodnight and said he had eaten all of it but I don't know whether to believe him or not!
Maybe we'll find out something this afternoon about a definite date. Hopefully it will be Wednesday since that's what he has circled on his calendar. He'll be very disappointed if he has to stay longer, roommate or no roommate! When we know, you'll be the first to know!
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Busy, busy day yesterday. Almost as soon as I got Bill out of bed, and I was a little late getting there, Physical Therapy was at the door...even before breakfast! I heard later that he was only there 1/2 day so wanted to get going early. Unfortunately, Bill was not ready to get going early. He did do some leg exercises while he was waiting for his breakfast tray and then the therapist waited impatiently while he slowly ate. I think he wanted him to eat it fast so they could continue, but one of Bill's requirements is to eat slowly and small bites. Sometimes he takes it too far with the small bites, but that's usually when he's pouting about having to eat at all.
He finally finished and they took a walk. He said they only had to stop twice and they went a good distance. Almost as soon as he left, meds were brought and then occupational therapy showed up and whisked him off. Then, as they were coming back she said that the aide was on his way as it was shower day. Bill did not want a shower but, he got one anyway.
He got to rest a little after that and speech came in. I had brought Bill's tablet/notebook as requested and they placed a little hidden object game. He and I played a word search game later.
When lunch came he started in with the "I'm not hungry and don't need to eat right now" which leads to "If you don't eat they are going to start the tube feedings again" and I need to ask them today how much more weight they are going to let him lose. He's down to 133.8. Of course when I get him home, I can fatten him up with some empty calories. His blood sugar has been wonderful since he's off the Glucerna. Funny how that's supposed to control blood sugar yet raised his.
I left after lunch. Since there is so much to do here to get things ready for him I told him as much as he wants me to be there with him, because he gets bored and lonely, I have to get the house ready for him to come home. So, I came home and for awhile was a whirlwind. I brought his dirty clothes home and threw them and a few things of mine in the wash and then grabbed me some lunch. Then, cleaned off the dining room table and picked up cat toys and emptied all the trash cans and cleaned the litter boxes and got all of that mess outside and to the curb for pick-up today. When the clothes were done I folded them, put his back in the laundry bag and put them in the car so I won't forget to take them back. Got the dining room ready to sweep today and then...poof I was done in.
This morning I already have all the throws in the wash, they're probably ready to go into the dryer, I'm going to finish some tax returns before I forget them and miss a business deadline and then get busy again. I told Bill I wouldn't be there until this afternoon, but since most of the time he has therapy in the mornings, I just sit and knit or crochet all morning anyway. At least today I'll be productive.
Tomorrow I have an eye dr. appointment at 10 so I won't go until afternoon then either and I'm not sure about the week-end. We have to have a handrail installed at the front steps and Ryan is supposed to do it tomorrow or Saturday, if I get it ordered.
Even though I'm going to be working here at home and not curled up with a book or the cats, it feels like a day off, and I guess it is in a way. But, it felt good yesterday doing "normal" things and I think I'm going to enjoy vacuuming, sweeping and mopping today. I think I am, at least I tell myself I am. And with that, I'd better go check the laundry!
He finally finished and they took a walk. He said they only had to stop twice and they went a good distance. Almost as soon as he left, meds were brought and then occupational therapy showed up and whisked him off. Then, as they were coming back she said that the aide was on his way as it was shower day. Bill did not want a shower but, he got one anyway.
He got to rest a little after that and speech came in. I had brought Bill's tablet/notebook as requested and they placed a little hidden object game. He and I played a word search game later.
When lunch came he started in with the "I'm not hungry and don't need to eat right now" which leads to "If you don't eat they are going to start the tube feedings again" and I need to ask them today how much more weight they are going to let him lose. He's down to 133.8. Of course when I get him home, I can fatten him up with some empty calories. His blood sugar has been wonderful since he's off the Glucerna. Funny how that's supposed to control blood sugar yet raised his.
I left after lunch. Since there is so much to do here to get things ready for him I told him as much as he wants me to be there with him, because he gets bored and lonely, I have to get the house ready for him to come home. So, I came home and for awhile was a whirlwind. I brought his dirty clothes home and threw them and a few things of mine in the wash and then grabbed me some lunch. Then, cleaned off the dining room table and picked up cat toys and emptied all the trash cans and cleaned the litter boxes and got all of that mess outside and to the curb for pick-up today. When the clothes were done I folded them, put his back in the laundry bag and put them in the car so I won't forget to take them back. Got the dining room ready to sweep today and then...poof I was done in.
This morning I already have all the throws in the wash, they're probably ready to go into the dryer, I'm going to finish some tax returns before I forget them and miss a business deadline and then get busy again. I told Bill I wouldn't be there until this afternoon, but since most of the time he has therapy in the mornings, I just sit and knit or crochet all morning anyway. At least today I'll be productive.
Tomorrow I have an eye dr. appointment at 10 so I won't go until afternoon then either and I'm not sure about the week-end. We have to have a handrail installed at the front steps and Ryan is supposed to do it tomorrow or Saturday, if I get it ordered.
Even though I'm going to be working here at home and not curled up with a book or the cats, it feels like a day off, and I guess it is in a way. But, it felt good yesterday doing "normal" things and I think I'm going to enjoy vacuuming, sweeping and mopping today. I think I am, at least I tell myself I am. And with that, I'd better go check the laundry!
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
I got quite a surprise yesterday morning as I was getting to the nursing home. As I get off the highway, I go right past the home and then have to come around from another direction to actually get to it. When I looked over at it, coming off, in the parking lot where I park is an ambulance with lights flashing. So I know something has happened. Just as I pull into the parking lot, another ambulance arrives with lights and sirens. So now I know something big is happening!
As I start walking up the sidewalk I see one of the maintenance men holding the door open and looking at the ambulance so I just step in between the 2 sections of the generator to be out of the way. But, the guy waves me to come on in.
I was met then by someone in administration who asks me who I was visiting and when I told her so asked to wait where I was and then was told to go into the small dining room where we had Bill's birthday party. The knitting maintenance man and another patient were in there and as soon as I was in, the door was closed. A few minutes we heard a gurney go racing by and we were given the all clear.
Since Bill's room is so close, it took just seconds to get there and open the door and he was laying in bed. I think all the commotion woke him up because the TV wasn't even on. So, I helped him out of bed, again he seemed very weak and it took him a couple of tries. Of course looking at his bed it is so low in the middle that it would be hard for most people to stand. Got him in his chair and got his tray cleaned off and my coat hung up and Miranda brought his breakfast. The ambulances are both still in the parking lot and she tells me, against HIPPA rules I'm sure, that it was a new patient who had just arrived and was in the room across the hall, and they were still working on him in the ambulance. She didn't think he was going to make it. So, it was rather subdued for the morning.
When Priscilla brought his meds in she said his white count was back up and since I had been sick, she was going to tell the nurse practitioner to see him. He ate most of his breakfast and then got dressed. He was congested with lots of sinus drainage, like he had had before.
We had a talk about me not being able to be there as much this week to get things ready for him to come home. I told him if I come early in the morning like I have been, then I have to leave at lunch time so I can work at home in the afternoons. Or, I can stay home in the mornings and go in the afternoon and stay a little later, even if it means driving that part of the road I hate in the dark. Or, split it up, come mid-morning, stay until mid-afternoon. That's the one he liked the most. It didn't matter to me which option, it's going to be making myself do the things I need to do since I've used my home time as my decompress/down time. I was going to come in later this morning, but I have to take Bill's little tablet in time for speech therapy. She wants to engage him in something other than his puzzle books for at home. We also talked with speech about him not being so dependent on me for everything. She does like that I don't tell him the answers to the questions, but will only give him a prompt if necessary.
When Tammy the practitioner saw him, he had no fever, and only a little cough. But, she thought she might start him on some amoxicillan as a precaution and check it again Friday. She said his heart rate was nice and steady at right at 100, which is a good rate, and that his lungs sounded clear! They haven't been clear in forever, and she listened for a good long time. We also went over his Prograf level and it is still low so we're just going to put him back on the last dosage Mayo had him on and see what that does. It could also be that because the level is low, and even though he's getting the Cellcept, his immune system is trying to work to get rid of "things". We don't think he's trying to go into any kind of rejection, but maybe he's trying to fight the pseudomonas that has colonized. I read more on that yesterday and that just means that it will always been in his body, just dormant.
He did do all of his therapies but didn't want much lunch and then had a breathing treatment. He didn't want to do physical therapy, but the therapist wouldn't take no for an answer. He had the little Filipino guy again. He just went to the gym and got some weights and resistance bands and a walker and did the therapy in the room. Bill didn't want to walk, but just as he was protesting, housekeeping wanted to come in and mop, so out he went. They are really fast and Bill said they only walked to the nurses station and part of the way back. But, he got it in.
I ended up leaving around 3. About 1 I got an alert from the alarm system that the power was out and it was running on backup battery. Then I got an alert that from the power company confirming it and it was estimated to be back on at 3, but at 3 I got another one that said the new eta was 8. So, I told Bill I needed to go home and start the generator. He wasn't happy about it, but understood. It came back on about 5.
Bill called about 5:30 and was back into the pitiful stage, saying he had to get out of there, no one came in, he was all alone and he needed me there. For every reason he had for hating it, I had an answer and I did not baby him. I know part of it is he doesn't feel well and hopefully the antibiotic will kick in faster for him that it did for me. He called me about 8 and sounded much better. He had gotten his pajamas on and then had them help him to bed. They turned most of the lights out, left the one over the empty bed on, but it's mostly shielded by the dividing curtain and he was watching TV. He sounded much better than he had earlier. but he did want to make sure I was coming this morning and when I would be there. So, we'll have to talk again about coming and going.
When I got home and opened the door, usually both cats are waiting right there, but I couldn't find Mouse. I looked down the hallway and the bedroom door was closed and when I opened it, there he was waiting. The way they greeted each other was like it had been a long time since they had seen each other, so at some point after I left I suspect they had one of their little fights and when Kitty ran out of the room she hit the door and shut him in. And, if it was right about the time the heat came on, that would have shut the door all the way instead of leaving it cracked enough for him to get out. He was quite happy to be free!
I'm going to find something to prop it open with today so that it won't happen again.
I think that catches everything up. We'll see how things are this morning, hopefully no ambulances!
As I start walking up the sidewalk I see one of the maintenance men holding the door open and looking at the ambulance so I just step in between the 2 sections of the generator to be out of the way. But, the guy waves me to come on in.
I was met then by someone in administration who asks me who I was visiting and when I told her so asked to wait where I was and then was told to go into the small dining room where we had Bill's birthday party. The knitting maintenance man and another patient were in there and as soon as I was in, the door was closed. A few minutes we heard a gurney go racing by and we were given the all clear.
Since Bill's room is so close, it took just seconds to get there and open the door and he was laying in bed. I think all the commotion woke him up because the TV wasn't even on. So, I helped him out of bed, again he seemed very weak and it took him a couple of tries. Of course looking at his bed it is so low in the middle that it would be hard for most people to stand. Got him in his chair and got his tray cleaned off and my coat hung up and Miranda brought his breakfast. The ambulances are both still in the parking lot and she tells me, against HIPPA rules I'm sure, that it was a new patient who had just arrived and was in the room across the hall, and they were still working on him in the ambulance. She didn't think he was going to make it. So, it was rather subdued for the morning.
When Priscilla brought his meds in she said his white count was back up and since I had been sick, she was going to tell the nurse practitioner to see him. He ate most of his breakfast and then got dressed. He was congested with lots of sinus drainage, like he had had before.
We had a talk about me not being able to be there as much this week to get things ready for him to come home. I told him if I come early in the morning like I have been, then I have to leave at lunch time so I can work at home in the afternoons. Or, I can stay home in the mornings and go in the afternoon and stay a little later, even if it means driving that part of the road I hate in the dark. Or, split it up, come mid-morning, stay until mid-afternoon. That's the one he liked the most. It didn't matter to me which option, it's going to be making myself do the things I need to do since I've used my home time as my decompress/down time. I was going to come in later this morning, but I have to take Bill's little tablet in time for speech therapy. She wants to engage him in something other than his puzzle books for at home. We also talked with speech about him not being so dependent on me for everything. She does like that I don't tell him the answers to the questions, but will only give him a prompt if necessary.
When Tammy the practitioner saw him, he had no fever, and only a little cough. But, she thought she might start him on some amoxicillan as a precaution and check it again Friday. She said his heart rate was nice and steady at right at 100, which is a good rate, and that his lungs sounded clear! They haven't been clear in forever, and she listened for a good long time. We also went over his Prograf level and it is still low so we're just going to put him back on the last dosage Mayo had him on and see what that does. It could also be that because the level is low, and even though he's getting the Cellcept, his immune system is trying to work to get rid of "things". We don't think he's trying to go into any kind of rejection, but maybe he's trying to fight the pseudomonas that has colonized. I read more on that yesterday and that just means that it will always been in his body, just dormant.
He did do all of his therapies but didn't want much lunch and then had a breathing treatment. He didn't want to do physical therapy, but the therapist wouldn't take no for an answer. He had the little Filipino guy again. He just went to the gym and got some weights and resistance bands and a walker and did the therapy in the room. Bill didn't want to walk, but just as he was protesting, housekeeping wanted to come in and mop, so out he went. They are really fast and Bill said they only walked to the nurses station and part of the way back. But, he got it in.
I ended up leaving around 3. About 1 I got an alert from the alarm system that the power was out and it was running on backup battery. Then I got an alert that from the power company confirming it and it was estimated to be back on at 3, but at 3 I got another one that said the new eta was 8. So, I told Bill I needed to go home and start the generator. He wasn't happy about it, but understood. It came back on about 5.
Bill called about 5:30 and was back into the pitiful stage, saying he had to get out of there, no one came in, he was all alone and he needed me there. For every reason he had for hating it, I had an answer and I did not baby him. I know part of it is he doesn't feel well and hopefully the antibiotic will kick in faster for him that it did for me. He called me about 8 and sounded much better. He had gotten his pajamas on and then had them help him to bed. They turned most of the lights out, left the one over the empty bed on, but it's mostly shielded by the dividing curtain and he was watching TV. He sounded much better than he had earlier. but he did want to make sure I was coming this morning and when I would be there. So, we'll have to talk again about coming and going.
When I got home and opened the door, usually both cats are waiting right there, but I couldn't find Mouse. I looked down the hallway and the bedroom door was closed and when I opened it, there he was waiting. The way they greeted each other was like it had been a long time since they had seen each other, so at some point after I left I suspect they had one of their little fights and when Kitty ran out of the room she hit the door and shut him in. And, if it was right about the time the heat came on, that would have shut the door all the way instead of leaving it cracked enough for him to get out. He was quite happy to be free!
I'm going to find something to prop it open with today so that it won't happen again.
I think that catches everything up. We'll see how things are this morning, hopefully no ambulances!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
I only lasted for 1/2 day yesterday with Bill...and he's such a faker! All week-end, actually from the day I got sick, he did very well on his own and with the shorter visits from the kids. Eating breakfast in the dining room was major! I don't know if he ate all of his meals there, I suspect not, but at least he did a little socializing. He even admitted that it was probably a good thing that I wasn't there all the time so he couldn't depend on me so much for things.
Well, I got there a little earlier than usual yesterday and he was still in bed. The first thing I did was turn his phone on. That's top of the list for when he gets out, he's got to have a new phone. Anyway, he said he felt so weak that he didn't think he could get up by himself, so I helped him sit up. And once he was in his chair the first thing he said was that he didn't think he could eat his breakfast, he just wasn't hungry.
I stopped him right there, because that's what he was saying before every meal and then he would eat all of it, or most of it. So, I told him that just because I was there didn't mean he could go back to the "poor me" stage.
He did have a little problem at breakfast. One of his anti-rejection pills are very small capsules, and one got stuck on/behind his upper denture. I thought when he told me something was stuck to the roof of his mouth it was a bite of pancake so I told him to just take the plate out, and when he did he gagged and vomited, just a little. It was all phlegm and a little milk. I had to check it really well since he had just had his meds, but the only one I found was a half dissolved little capsule, so I think that's what was stuck. Of course that stopped breakfast right there.
I talked to Erica, the speech therapist, about it and since it wasn't a choking incident she wasn't concerned about that so much, but it was another hazard to watch for that could lead to a choking incident. From the way she talked, he's meeting all of his set goals for speech, or at least improving enough that it won't delay his release. They are still saying next week, so we'll see as the week gets closer.
Miranda came to take him for his shower and he didn't want a shower, but I made him go. Since they only shower twice a week, and his days are Monday and Wednesday, he needed one.
It wasn't long after that that I ran out of steam and said I really needed to go back home. I had planned to go to Walmart and then pick up some popcorn chicken from Sonic. I had ordered a salad from Dominoes Sunday night and wanted to put some chicken in it. But, felt so weak again that I knew I couldn't do Walmart. I just needed to lay down.
I finally got back with Tri-care yesterday and was told that all of the denied claims had been sent back through for re-processing. I had an email this morning that a claim had been processed, and several of the denied ones had finally been paid. So maybe I won't have to contact Sen. Boozman after all!
Bill said he did do the rest of his therapy when I talked to him last night. I would like to talk to him today about me actually spending less time there now and more time here at home getting it ready for him to come home. Some things have to be rearranged to accomodate his walker that he will definitely have to use this time, at least for awhile. We're also going to have to eat at the dining room table, for his safety. And since all I've done since December is come home, drop everything, and do it all again the next day, this place needs some serious work. Some of it can be done after he gets home, but some before he can get here. So, that's a discussion we may have today.
I talked to our oxygen supplier yesterday. Jeryn has been so good to keep checking on us. I asked if the tanks we've had that are still sealed still good and he said yes, they are designed to stay just as they are for an indefinite period of time. So, we should be good to get him home at least. And since they have reduced his flow back to 2 liters, they will last longer now. So, that was something I could mark off my to-do list.
That's about it, I think. I'll get back into the swing of things before long, I hope. It will be easier when he's home and I can get up, feed the cats and go back to bed. Or just not have to get dressed in the morning, or at all if the mood strikes. Hopefully the weather will start getting warmer, and more stable. Storms the day of Bill's birthday, snow Sunday morning, and forecasting severe storms for this coming week-end. And with the time change, I'll be able to stay later in the evening since it will be light later, so maybe can go a little later in the morning. All things to consider in the coming days. But for now, it's time for another cup of coffee and a little breakfast so that I can take my antibiotics and get ready for the day.
See you tomorrow!
Well, I got there a little earlier than usual yesterday and he was still in bed. The first thing I did was turn his phone on. That's top of the list for when he gets out, he's got to have a new phone. Anyway, he said he felt so weak that he didn't think he could get up by himself, so I helped him sit up. And once he was in his chair the first thing he said was that he didn't think he could eat his breakfast, he just wasn't hungry.
I stopped him right there, because that's what he was saying before every meal and then he would eat all of it, or most of it. So, I told him that just because I was there didn't mean he could go back to the "poor me" stage.
He did have a little problem at breakfast. One of his anti-rejection pills are very small capsules, and one got stuck on/behind his upper denture. I thought when he told me something was stuck to the roof of his mouth it was a bite of pancake so I told him to just take the plate out, and when he did he gagged and vomited, just a little. It was all phlegm and a little milk. I had to check it really well since he had just had his meds, but the only one I found was a half dissolved little capsule, so I think that's what was stuck. Of course that stopped breakfast right there.
I talked to Erica, the speech therapist, about it and since it wasn't a choking incident she wasn't concerned about that so much, but it was another hazard to watch for that could lead to a choking incident. From the way she talked, he's meeting all of his set goals for speech, or at least improving enough that it won't delay his release. They are still saying next week, so we'll see as the week gets closer.
Miranda came to take him for his shower and he didn't want a shower, but I made him go. Since they only shower twice a week, and his days are Monday and Wednesday, he needed one.
It wasn't long after that that I ran out of steam and said I really needed to go back home. I had planned to go to Walmart and then pick up some popcorn chicken from Sonic. I had ordered a salad from Dominoes Sunday night and wanted to put some chicken in it. But, felt so weak again that I knew I couldn't do Walmart. I just needed to lay down.
I finally got back with Tri-care yesterday and was told that all of the denied claims had been sent back through for re-processing. I had an email this morning that a claim had been processed, and several of the denied ones had finally been paid. So maybe I won't have to contact Sen. Boozman after all!
Bill said he did do the rest of his therapy when I talked to him last night. I would like to talk to him today about me actually spending less time there now and more time here at home getting it ready for him to come home. Some things have to be rearranged to accomodate his walker that he will definitely have to use this time, at least for awhile. We're also going to have to eat at the dining room table, for his safety. And since all I've done since December is come home, drop everything, and do it all again the next day, this place needs some serious work. Some of it can be done after he gets home, but some before he can get here. So, that's a discussion we may have today.
I talked to our oxygen supplier yesterday. Jeryn has been so good to keep checking on us. I asked if the tanks we've had that are still sealed still good and he said yes, they are designed to stay just as they are for an indefinite period of time. So, we should be good to get him home at least. And since they have reduced his flow back to 2 liters, they will last longer now. So, that was something I could mark off my to-do list.
That's about it, I think. I'll get back into the swing of things before long, I hope. It will be easier when he's home and I can get up, feed the cats and go back to bed. Or just not have to get dressed in the morning, or at all if the mood strikes. Hopefully the weather will start getting warmer, and more stable. Storms the day of Bill's birthday, snow Sunday morning, and forecasting severe storms for this coming week-end. And with the time change, I'll be able to stay later in the evening since it will be light later, so maybe can go a little later in the morning. All things to consider in the coming days. But for now, it's time for another cup of coffee and a little breakfast so that I can take my antibiotics and get ready for the day.
See you tomorrow!
Saturday, March 2, 2019
My fever finally broke about 20 minutes ago. And, I tried going to bed and can't sleep! But, since I've slept the better part of 2 days, that's understandable. I told Bill on the phone tonight that it will be Monday before I can come back, mainly because I still couldn't keep my fever down, plus tomorrow morning it's supposed to be rainy and then change to snow, so I think it best to stay in.
Emily and the girls went to visit him this afternoon and he did something new today...he ate his breakfast in the dining room! He said they just came and got him and took him in there, and he enjoyed it. I know his trays are classified as meal assist, but I think as long as I was there, they let him eat in his room. Or maybe they just decided he needed to get out of his room. Em and the girls also took him to the sitting area by the nurse's station and he sat on one of the couches instead of his wheelchair. She said the nurses told her that they've cut his oxygen from 3 liters to 2 liters and they only bump it up for therapy. So he must be maintaining his sats better now.
Ryan is going to go over again tomorrow after church to visit. I know Bill does get lonely when there is no one there. Maybe they will take him to one of the church services tomorrow. They have one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Whenever I've asked if he wanted to go he would say no, so I don't know if he will or not.
So, another short post, but at least there is some good news, from both fronts. Now if I would just get sleepy!
Emily and the girls went to visit him this afternoon and he did something new today...he ate his breakfast in the dining room! He said they just came and got him and took him in there, and he enjoyed it. I know his trays are classified as meal assist, but I think as long as I was there, they let him eat in his room. Or maybe they just decided he needed to get out of his room. Em and the girls also took him to the sitting area by the nurse's station and he sat on one of the couches instead of his wheelchair. She said the nurses told her that they've cut his oxygen from 3 liters to 2 liters and they only bump it up for therapy. So he must be maintaining his sats better now.
Ryan is going to go over again tomorrow after church to visit. I know Bill does get lonely when there is no one there. Maybe they will take him to one of the church services tomorrow. They have one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Whenever I've asked if he wanted to go he would say no, so I don't know if he will or not.
So, another short post, but at least there is some good news, from both fronts. Now if I would just get sleepy!
Friday, March 1, 2019
I did not make it over to visit Bill today. At 3 this morning I knew that it was not going to happen. I sent Emily a text at 6:30 and said I needed to come to the dr. and then a bit later sent one to Ryan asking him if he would go sit with him. He left almost immediately and when it was close to the time that our dr. would be arriving at the office, Em sent Brianna after me.
I don't have the flu, which was our fear. I do have bronchitis and my chest x-ray showed a little cloudiness, but not enough for her to say that it was pneumonia. So, I have 2 antibiotics and some cough beads and can't go back to Bill until I don't have any fever. It's only low-grade, or was this morning.
So far all I want to do is sleep and I've slept off and on all afternoon. I did finally eat something and I'm staying hydrated, and I'm ready to go back to bed.
Ryan said that Bill had a good day. He did get his toenails trimmed and he said they are pretty short so hopefully it will be awhile before he will need another trim. I have the name of a podiatrist to call when we need to. He did say that he wasn't hungry for his lunch, but the aide told Ryan he ate a big breakfast so Ryan didn't push him to eat.
I haven't talked to him since this morning but probably will before long. He should be eating right about now so I don't want to call. He may call me when he's finished. I need to tell him that Emily and the girls are coming tomorrow afternoon, and depending on how fast the meds kick in and the fever goes away, I may be able to go Sunday, or Ryan will go back.
Bill's sister also has this and actually sounds worse than I do, so it could be we picked something up at a restaurant or something. The only place the 2 of us were alone to eat was at the hotel for breakfast, other than that Don was with us too, and he seems to be fine. So, it's a mystery.
And, now that this is up to date, I'm going to say goodnight!
I don't have the flu, which was our fear. I do have bronchitis and my chest x-ray showed a little cloudiness, but not enough for her to say that it was pneumonia. So, I have 2 antibiotics and some cough beads and can't go back to Bill until I don't have any fever. It's only low-grade, or was this morning.
So far all I want to do is sleep and I've slept off and on all afternoon. I did finally eat something and I'm staying hydrated, and I'm ready to go back to bed.
Ryan said that Bill had a good day. He did get his toenails trimmed and he said they are pretty short so hopefully it will be awhile before he will need another trim. I have the name of a podiatrist to call when we need to. He did say that he wasn't hungry for his lunch, but the aide told Ryan he ate a big breakfast so Ryan didn't push him to eat.
I haven't talked to him since this morning but probably will before long. He should be eating right about now so I don't want to call. He may call me when he's finished. I need to tell him that Emily and the girls are coming tomorrow afternoon, and depending on how fast the meds kick in and the fever goes away, I may be able to go Sunday, or Ryan will go back.
Bill's sister also has this and actually sounds worse than I do, so it could be we picked something up at a restaurant or something. The only place the 2 of us were alone to eat was at the hotel for breakfast, other than that Don was with us too, and he seems to be fine. So, it's a mystery.
And, now that this is up to date, I'm going to say goodnight!
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