Another week gone. It started out just routine, and ended with a bang!

Sunday we took a drive north into Georgia, getting lost in the process. What was supposed to be an hour drive north and an hour back turned into a 4 hour drive. But, it was a lovely afternoon and we saw lots of boats and crossed lots of bridges. If we had looked at the map a little closer, and then remembered to put it in the car, we would have seen that we couldn't "get there from here" without taking a ferry. We saw the ferry crossing and lots of cars lined up for it, but turned around to find another way!

Bill has not used his walker at all now for a week! His leg is behaving itself and he's much steadier on his feet. He is having a time with the rehab therapists. They want him to continue using it "just in case". But, he's afraid that he was getting too dependent on it.

Wednesday he got good reports from Tina and Dr. Hosenpud. He will start bi-weekly appointments with them now instead of weekly. Makes it one step closer to coming home!

Thursday afternoon was pacemaker check day and everything looked good. She said it looked like he had 1 little episode of v-tach but was paced out of it and it didn't last long. We talked to another couple that are dealing with the LVAD. He's also on dialysis and is listed for heart and kidney transplants. They're really nice and we're finding out we have lots in common, former military and family in Arkansas.

Friday was the kicker day. He had just started to warm-up in rehab and said that his vision wasn't right. It wasn't doubled and it wasn't blurry. He said that it looked like things were split in half, kind of like when your glasses are on crooked (for those of you who wear glasses). He said that one side of things would be up and the other side would be down. Anyway, Laurie called Tina who wanted him to go to ER so they got me and off we went. Tina came down and hooked him to a monitor to see if there was a problem with the pump and it was working fine. All of the neurological tests were fine and the bloodwork was fine. Dr. Hosenpud did increase his coumadin thinking that he could be developing a clot. Everyone was thinking stroke by this point. They did a CT scan and then did another one using dye. But, after 6 hours, they said that the scans were perfect and they could come up with nothing that would have caused the problem! At least we know that he has not had a stroke, which had been a concern after the anesthesia and clot in his arm. And, even though they pre-medicated him for his allergy to the contrast dye, he has turned into a lobster! He's not too uncomfortable and I gave him some Benadryl and he slept all night. So, he got another dose tonight!

We're thinking now that it is a problem with his eyes and he needs to see an opthamologist. He had his eyes checked in August and got new glasses before we came to Florida. We do see Tina and Dr. Hosenpud on Wednesday for a follow-up so maybe they will have some suggestions.

Bill has done quite well this week with appetite and eating. Wednesday we went to Appleby's and had a steak and he ate every bite! He didn't eat all of the mashed potatoes and veggies, but he did eat all the steak and had a small hot fudge sundae for dessert. He didn't eat as well Thursday and Friday we both ate very little with being at the hospital for so long. We didn't get home until after 4 so that meant no lunch. This morning he had lost 4 pounds. But, today he ate 2 pancakes and 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast and then snacked all day. The nutritionist told him Weds. to eat whatever he wanted. So, peanut butter and crackers and peanuts were his snacks. We went to Golden Corral for dinner and he ate 2 plates plus dessert. Hopefully he has turned a corner with that aspect of recovery and will start to put on some weight.

Planning on going to the fitness center tomorrow since he didn't get his rehab in yesterday. Hopefully it will be a nice day to walk.

All for tonight. I think I hit all of the highlights. I'll let you know what the plan is for the eye problem. It hasn't happened since and he has had no pain with it at all. So, since he has turned off the TV and the lamp, I guess it's time to go to bed. Good-night!