Saturday May 9

When I went to see dad this morning I noticed that his hands weren't restrained anymore. The nurse said he was doing great. Most of the confusion was gone and he was eating. The surgeon walked in and asked the nurse if dad was ready to be moved upstairs. I go what? Dr B said they were moving dad to a regular room! WOO HOO

Dad is still really week but he has such a better attitude and is trying. He knows that he has to get his strength back and learn to walk all over again. He knows he has to try to eat. He still has a long way to go but he is doing so good!

Happy Dance:




Dad is on the 9th floor in room 9447.

I still can't believe all the progress dad has made in just this past week!!!!

another dance:



I am not sure what exactly comes next for dad. How long he will be in the hospital when he will move to a rehab place or whatever. But right now I don't care. I am just so happy to see how well he is doing and that he is out of ICU.

Last happy dance:




















Keep those prayers going up for dad and me!!!!

Kathy

Wednesday May 6

Today they put a plug in dad's trachea tube and now he can talk. It's not the same as before I guess it will take a little while to get the vocal cords used to working.

They still have dad's hands restrained. I am not sure for how much longer. I do know that dad hates it.

Dad's memory is horrible right now. He doesn't remember the day before. I hope the Aricept soon kicks in and his memory starts working better. He doesn't remember pulling his trach tube out the other day.

Now he is just getting oxygen through that thing they place up your nose. This is a huge difference from the ventilator and trachea collar. Almost back to normal.

The nurses are suggesting that dad may soon (in the next few days) get moved down to TICU (transitional intensive care). This is great news. That is one step closer to a regular room and to rehab. Right now dad feels like he is never going to get out of the hospital. I keep telling him that if he listens and works with the nurses and therapist the sooner he will be able to get his strength back and the sooner he can get home.

Tomorrow will be week number seven (7) for dad being in ICU. That's a long time.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy

Wednesday April 29

When I called to check on dad early this morning the nurse said he had had a good calm night but early this morning he got across that he wanted to go home and he started messing with the bandages on his stomach. They had to give him a little sedation and restrain his hands once more. He had the restraints off for 2 or 3 days.

The nurse didn't say I could not come see dad today but suggested maybe I needed to take a day off to rest. I think what she was really saying is that they finally got dad calmed down and maybe seeing me would get him all riled up again. That's ok, I totally understand.

I called to check up on dad several times today. The last time Nurse A said that dad had been calm and then agitated. Finally she had to give him a mixture of Versed and Fentanyl. (I am not sure when they stopped the Fentanyl drip so I was a little surprised when she mentioned this.) Nurse A couldn't tell if dad was just agitated or in pain so that is why she gave him some sedation and pain medicine.

I totally forgot to ask if they had dad off the vent and on oxygen today. I'll try to remember to ask when I call and check up on dad tonight.

Since dad was making it clear that he wanted to go home I would say that he is getting better. I am hoping that once they are able to take the trachea out and he can talk it will be easier to calm him down. And who doesn't blame him for wanting to come home?

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy

Momday April 27

When I went to see dad today the first thing I noticed was they had taken off his hand restraints! And then I noticed how the swelling had gone down in his hands! Majorly down! His patient arm band had been really snug and today I could put my hand through it, I could probably slipped it off dad's hand if I had tried.

Dad was on CPAP for 9 hours today. This is really great.

The nurses cut back on the "feeding" and the feeding tube has quit leaking. Yay!

I didn't stay too long today because while I was there dad starting getting really agitated, his blood pressure was already up but then heart rate went up to the 130's even hit 140 so I called the nurse and she had to give him some Versed to get him calm. As he started calming down I decided maybe it would be best if I left. I don't know if I was the cause of the agitation, the nurse said it wasn't me that some patients just get excited when family comes to visit. I don't know. I'll go back tomorrow and see how he does.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy

Thursday April 2

This is going to be fast and to the point. No extras, I need to get to the hospital.

Last night I got a call, dad needed emergency surgery. His bowels were coming out of the incision.

Dr B operated put everything back where it belonged. He also went ahead and put the trachea in.

Dad's open wound is now bigger than before. Don't know how much bigger as I haven't seen it yet.

I called the hospital around 4AM this morning, nurse said they were having problems with dad's blood pressure but think they finally have it under control. It was high and then it got pretty low.

I called again around 6AM and the nurse said they had to put hand restraints on dad. He was trying to pull the trachea tube out. So I am guessing he is waking up a bit.

Gotta feed his cats, pick up a biscuit for me and get to the hospital. More updates later.

Keeping praying for daddy and me.

Kathy