Buzzed

What a surprise to see John with his hair buzzed. He hasn't done that since he was a kid playing baseball. Now I'm wondering if Jacob will do the same.

Busy Morning

It is now 9:00 AM and already Mike has been to the hospital and had the PICC line removed. No problem whatsoever. The line came out without incident, although I did gasp again at just how much line was in there. Wow.  When we finished at the hospital we went through the drive-thru at McDonalds, Scottsdale Road and Thomas. Mike ordered a breakfast burro and an orange juice. We used the excuse that he would have missed breakfast here at the care center but both of us knew he really wanted something that tasted fresh(er). Not that the food here is bad, it just isn't quite what we'd normally eat. Their menu is far more suited for the elderly patients here, rather soft and bland.

After returning to the care center, Mike noted his PEG tube had come out about two inches. I rounded up a nurse to take a look at it. She said it didn't look to be a problem but went to get someone else to check on it, too. I held the tubes steady at Mike's abdomen while he turned to lay back in the bed. As his tummy tensed to make the move, the remainer of the tube pushed out. The nurses came in at that moment and said, "Good." They checked the end of the tube, looking to make sure it hadn't broken and wasn't discolored with blood or anything. It all checked out fine and they trashed it.

So now, the PEG tube also is removed. Hooray! The drain tubes will be removed over the next little bit, too.

Two different nurses, at different times, have said something about being discharged on Friday so we asked his nurse about it. She confirmed, Mike is scheduled to be released on Friday, tomorrow. We knew it was coming but what a surprise. We are so ready for this. :)

Final Dose

Mike is now receiving his final dose of Cipro. It has taken so long to get to this day but we are here!

Speaking of Commercials

I love the new Weber grill commercials. They just make me smile. :)

Appointments

Mike has an appointment at Scottsdale Osborn Hospital tomorrow morning to have his PICC line removed.  That means tonight's IV's of antibiotics are the last scheduled. After 73 days of the most potent antibiotics known, and up to five different antibiotics being administered at the same time, Mike is finally going to be free of his IV tubes. Hooray!

He has an appointment with his surgeon, too. We just don't know specifics on that just yet, whether it will be at his office, at a hospital or whatever. They'll get started removing the tubes for the JP drains, gradually each day. The PEG tube (food) will need to be removed, too.

We are anxious to get this transition moving along.

Breakfast

Guess who had breakfast with me? Such a sweetie!

Sour Candies

Candace, the nurse from Gilspar (insurance), suggested we try some lemon or other sour hard candies for Mike to nibble on for stimulating his taste buds...and hopefully able to taste and enjoy foods again. Everything tastes bland, and just generally tasteless, to him right now. Hats off to Lemonhead!

On another sour note, today is the 17th. We had been hopeful Mike would be released on the 18th. That isn't happening. His release date isn't too far off, just it isn't tomorrow. He'll be on both antibiotics through tomorrow and then the surgeon wants him to be watched for another couple days to make sure nothing odd happens, and to make sure no temperature increases are noted, before releasing him from the care center. So, a few more days. We're still on pins and needles with excitement. :)

Laying Blame

Over the past half century or so, I have been able to state with clarity, "I don't like chocolate" and handle the looks of shock and awe that have been directed at me over such a statement. All that has changed. Lindor White Chocolate truffles have laid full claim to me. There's no side-stepping the clear fact that I do (now) like chocolate, a very special (and yummy) chocolate. New Zealand is to blame here. That is where this delightful confection first found its way to my lips and it will live forever on my hips.

Little Reminders

 

We are Verizon customers but this T-Mobile commercial caught Mike's attention this morninng, "My mom used to sing that song all the time," he said as the commercial ended. I  knew it was important to locate the video and record the memory...especially since today is also his mom's birthday.  What a special way for his heart to be touched with memories of his mom.

CT Scan

I can hear Mike shaving in the bathroom. It is such a basic thing but my heart dances knowing he is strong enough to stand that long and motivated enough to care about his appearance. Love this guy!

The blood clot in his arm has remained stable and has been slowly reducing in size and impact.  His arm is still swollen but nothing like it had been.

Mike will be getting a new CT scan today. This is the first step in trying to identify how and where pancreatic fluid is leaking into his abdomen. The next step will be consulting a gastroenterologist and Mike will be put under to have a scope inserted down to his pancreas for injecting dye to determine the source and severity of the leakage. Oh what fun. Not.

Happy Birthday

Wishing you the best on your special day, Maria. I love and appreciate you so very much. It was great spending time with you today and I'm so glad you and your little family were able to be there with Aunt Zena on such a special day.

Hiding the Hurt

Life really isn’t at all what we dreamed it would be at this stage of our lives. And, on so many levels, we anguish over the reality of our lives. Especially me. I carry the burden of failure so much more intensely. It cripples me emotionally and weighs so heavily on my heart. Hiding the hurt is harder and harder as my eyes swell from tears looming so close to the surface and my throat chokes off precious air from entering my lungs. Sometimes, it just hurts so very much.
5/11/2012

Melancholy

mel·an·chol·y
   noun, plural -chol·ies, adjective

–noun

1. a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
3. Archaic .
     a. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.
     b. black bile.

–adjective
4. affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood.
5. causing melancholy or sadness; saddening: a melancholy occasion.
6. soberly thoughtful; pensive.

It is one of those days.

Quick Trip

Well, that didn't take long. We left the care center and went to the hospital - across the street - and was told upon arrival the procedure had been canceled. Nice.

So, Mike and I decided to come back to the care center and get his 4:00 meds so we could go out to John's and have dinner with the family.

They said no, that isn't doable.

He isn't able to leave for a short time. Nice.

Not.

Here A PICC, There A PICC

There's so much catching up to do but it will have to wait just a bit. Mike and I are getting ready to go over to the hospital where he'll be getting a new PICC line set-up in his right arm then having the PICC in his left arm removed. They had planned on doing it here, with a team coming in to take care of the procedures. I am sooo glad the team coming in decided they couldn't do it afterall. With a DVT (deep vein thrombosis, clot) in his arm they felt he needed to be in a hospital. Mike and I have thought that all along.

Off we go.

Far Too Soon

Someone sent me a note on Facebook. They were asking if I knew details of Darcy Ryan’s death. It was the first I knew of her death. It stung to read those words. It stings now to write those words. Darcy wasn’t just someone I knew, she was a friend. Mike and I were married in Darcy’s backyard. She was that kind of friend. Darcy’s funeral is Saturday in Prescott. Zena’s track meet is Saturday in Mesa. Zena says, “I’ll be doing this again. That is a farewell, a final farewell.: I don’t know what I’ll do. Farewells should be far into the future. This one is far too soon.