The Difference of a Day

The difference of a day; lots of changes...good changes! Eleven days ago it was the difference of a day. On Wednesday, January 28, we were ready for Dad to get out of the hospital the next day. That day came with a change of plans. We took a walk with God back to ICU, not sure what kind of change for Dad the next day would bring. Each day has been a challenge full of new information, but promising reports all along the way. Infections, defective appliances, fevers and coughs have consumed our moments. Dialysis, medications, ventilators, scans and ex-rays have filled our days. Nurses, techs, respiratory and dialysis specialists, and doctors from every field of play marvel our minds with information.

With our bible in hand and knees worn from prayer we give it all to God. His answer is not always clear. We lean strongly for more understanding. Yesterday was our first challenge. We were reminded we are not in control. Dad was very relaxed after the new trach went in Sunday night. I noticed an overwhelming odor upon entering his room. All the garbage cans were full so Nurse Elizabeth and I were not sure of the source at first. Since the trach surgery was performed right in his room, it could have been from any number of things. We soon realized it was coming from his trach. Pseudomonas and other bacteria are a common side effect with trach care. It was noted. I asked about the GPC and c Diff bacteria cultures. They were negative. They still changed his pic line to his left side. Dad rested comfortably most of the night. I actually slept pretty well. His fever was being maintained for the most part. He makes attempts to reposition himself and moves his legs frequently. Mom arrived about 9:30am. A couple of days this past week she has arrived with a Speedway Mountain Dew slushie for me :) She laughed and said she is the only person at Speedway buying MD at that time of the morning! She said normal people drink coffee or cappaccino, yet she is a tea drinker who comes in with a Coke! When I leaned over to tell Dad I was leaving, he puckered his lips and I gave him a smooch. An 'awe' was elicited from the nurses and tech.

I got home after noon, rattled Courtney into gear(no college classes this day), snagged the 1994 Audi instead of the beastly 2004 Expedition, and headed to Grandville. I needed to stop at Calvin to drop of meds and orchestra clothes for Kelsey and Courtney and I had errands at Rivertown Crossings. My hubby had ordered the wrong size of UGG boots at Christmas for the girls so we made a quick check of the stores for available sizes. Big surprise...a $20 price increase...Bah! We headed to the southeast end of town to JW Pepper for violin and piano music for Courtney. She is playing violin dinner music on Thursday night for the MOPS family dinner at church. We ventured to Woodland Mall. She had a nice smelling cologne spritzed on a card so she could share it with me. Did I like it? This audience approved. She will try and buy it online. I picked up a much needed second hard-drive for my iMac. I have about 20,000 or more photos eating up space! Courtney and I got home and took care simple kitchen stuff, like dishes and cooking pasta for supper. Kelsey stayed in Grandville, heading to Christopher's after school until Poms practice, then she shuttled her and fellow dancer, Katie to their orchestra concert at the Godwin Heights High School Auditorium. I arrived during the 7th & 8th grade performance. After hugs and kisses following the concert I was off to the hospital and she headed home. Courtney had gone up to the hospital about 8pm so Grandma could leave a little earlier.

I joined Courtney about 9:15pm. Whenever arriving at the hospital after 9pm, one must park in Emergency in the ramp, check in with security, and make a mile long trek, at least it seems like it, through the back of the hospital and back around to the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. Needless to say we try to park in the main ramp so we can make a quick walk across the bridge and right into the Heart Center. Dad was very alert and trying to talk. I am disappointed and ashamed of myself for NOT learning 'lip reading' long ago. When I was a travel agent a friend of mine had several clients that she 'read lips' with. I didn't follow through with that plan of action. When Nurse Jerri and tech gave Dad his bath I walked Courtney out to her car. There is a security guard on duty at the bridge/parking ramp from 10:45-11:30pm, unless they get a call. Well, last night he got a call to the next floor with 'strange people'. That was rather unsettling, since he locks down the doors. Everyone leaving was saying, "Thank you", as I stood holding the door. "You're Welcome!", but I stood there holding the door open watching my daughter walk to her car, talking with each other on our cell phones, with the anticipation of shutting the door and running to Courtney's car if some 'creepo' came down the stairs to 'enter' the hospital!!! The guard returned as she was pulling out.

I sat and put together a few more puzzle pieces of a community work effort by a few families in the lounge. Nurse Jerri came out and got me to say they were done. She was excited because she was able to give Dad a nice, complete shave. Wow, Mom will hardly recognize him come morning! Thinking he would be tired out from all the moving around that he had been doing, not to mention the repositioning the staff assists with, we thought he would be ready to snooze. Not so! He was agitated and very alert. Wouldn't you be if you woke up with wrist restraints, tubes & wires connected to all parts of your body and UNABLE to talk? His mouth was moving a mile a minute, but I could not understand him. Since his vocal chords are not able to function with the new trach and he is still weak, his lips kind of slur the words. Jerri and I told him to say one word at a time. He resorted to hand motions and a stink eye with a scoul for me! I told him I was sorry and that I loved him. He puckered up for a smooch :{} It was a very unsettling night for different reasons. I feel inferior not being able to communicate with him, rather not understanding his questions. Jerri brought in some word & picture cards to use with him. That didn't go so well. So it went ALL night. His temperature was very good, but did spike to 38.7º-39º in the night. We did try turning the TV on. He settled briefly after some frustrating battles of word play. The normal 6-7:00am ex-ray crew arrived, along with a couple of doctors following them. Nurse Brett and tech Nicolette cleaned him up around 9:00am. I snoozed intermittently from 9:30am until Mom arrived at 10:30am. After talking with the ICU doctor I left Mom with this new battle at about 11am. I headed for a haircut with Zachary at Salon Lark on Ionia Street. A little pampering felt good. Dad was scheduled for an echocardiography about 4pm today.

I am leaving soon for the night shift. Pray for patience, perseverence, and understanding for all of us.