Wednesday 6/29

*6:15 pm update
Dad has been soo alert the past hour. We have been carrying on conversations with him. He's been smiling (and crying) and we couldn't be happier.

Sorry for the lack of updates after my pity party I had!!!! We were told Monday afternoon that Dad would have to leave this unit. Since then, they noticed some oozing from his peg tube site, so he will have that replaced and evaluated this afternoon. Dad has had periods of alertness, but this afternoon he is not. He became very agitated earlier and we had to restrain him. We did find out yesterday afternoon he was accepted into another unit in Baptist Rehab, so that is good. We aren't sure when he will be moving..... They just started him on antibiotics for the infection on his stomach.
Caroline made it back his afternoon as well. She was so glad to see Dad. Hopefully he will be more alert tomorrow and she can visit with him some.


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Monday 6/27

I just got to the hospital this morning. Dad looks rough. I haven't had a chance to talk to the nurse yet to see how his night was. He hasn't recognized any of us the past couple days. This makes it soo sooo sooooo hard. I keep asking "Why, Why, Why..... why is all of this happening???????" I know I cant think like that but it's hard. I hate to be a "Debbie Downer" and I'm afraid I have been, especially to some of my close friends. It hurts cause many have stopped calling and others have just stopped asking how things are going. I know they are tired of hearing me gripe and complain and some just don't know what to say. It's getting hard for all of us. I miss my crazy, hectic life at home! We were always go go go. This has made me realize how you just have to take one day at a time and enjoy and appreciate life. I miss being at home with my hubby and baby girl, but I am where I need and want to be. I'm so thankful I have such a loving, supportive husband that makes it possible for me to be here. It definitely makes it a little easier!!!!
We do know that they have rescheduled Dads AVM procedure for July 11th. Seems sooo far away.
We cant thank everyone enough for all the thoughts and prayers. They all mean soo much to us!

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Saturday 6/25

We found out this morning that dad has MRSA in his sputum (strand of staph that's resistant to a lot of antibiotics, but treatable). He is not showing any signs of infections and DRs are not treating at this point, but gown and gloves have to be worn in his room now.



Ha!!!! Glad I look good in blue!!!!!! (yes..... I'm bored!!! Lol)

Also, today is my brothers 34th Birthday!!!!!!! Gracie wants to wish her Uncle B a Happy Happy Birthday!!!!



We hope he has a wonderful, fun filled day!!!!

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Friday 6/24

Dad's procedure was canceled today. The DR had an emergency at Children's Hospital, so they have rescheduled for July 11th. That
seems sooo far away!!
They did do a Bronch (sp?) today. They put a scope down the trach to look. Dad has been having a lot of secretions. They sent some off a couple days ago and it had some "bugs" on it but they were afraid it had been contaminated, so they wanted to get another culture to send off. Hopefully he does not have staph.
He wasn't too alert today. They gave him some sedation meds when they did the "bronch" so he has been sleeping since mid afternoon and probably will for the rest of the night.


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Wednesday 6/22

Today has been a day!!!!!!!!!!! Dad was supposed to have his swallow test at 8:30 this morning. He slept from 4:30 yesterday afternoon until 1 pm today. He woke up soo alert. He got to see Gracie for a bit and they played ball! Lol!! Luckily they were running behind and didn't take him down for his swallow test until 3 today. Unfortunately he failed the test. =(
Later this afternoon he became very irritated. He was trying to pull out his tubes. Mom and I had to hold both of his hands down. I have never seen him like this before. He was digging his fingernails into our hands. We had to double restrain him..... Just breaks my heart. He had calmed down some before we left for dinner....we are just hoping he stays calm.
They have scheduled his 2nd procedure for his AVM on Friday afternoon around 1. He will have to stay in ICU for at least 24 hours after, but possibly more. Please say a lil prayer for my Daddy, our family, the nurses and the (hot) doctor, that all goes well with the procedure on Friday.
Can't believe it has been 2 months today.............


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Field Trip

Dad got to take a little trip outside today!!!!!!! His nurse today is a hoot.....we love her!!!! She loaded him up and we went down by the ER entrance. Dad loved it!!! He smiled so much while we were outside. There was a nice breeze, so that made it even better!!!! Those of you that haven't seen Dad since all of this happened will enjoy seeing this picture of him!!!!


His nurse snapped this picture as we were coming back in just a bit ago! We are now back in his room and I think he is worn out from his little field trip.... his eyes are now closed!!! =)

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Tuesday 6/21

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!!!!!!!
I wrote an entry yesterday but now I'm seeing it didn't post. Ughhhhh. Let's see if I can do this again!!!!
Dad pulled his PEG tube (stomach feeding tube) out during the night Sunday/early morning Monday. They took him down yesterday afternoon to put it back in. We thought he would be pretty out of hit from the meds, but he was pretty alert mid afternoon. He became very agitated early afternoon yesterday. He was pushing Moms hand away and telling people to leave????? We don't know where this is coming from. They have capped his trach back off but he isn't talking. He will mouth words, but we can't understand what he is saying. He would talk some when his trach was capped before, so I'm hoping he will start back up again soon.
They will be doing a swallow test tomorrow morning. Hopefully he will pass so he can begin having liquids.
Gracie did get to see her Pop on Fathers Day. He smiled sooo big when he saw her and it looked like he kept reading the card she gave him! =). I hope all the Fathers, Grandfathers, etc had a wonderful day!!!!!

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Saturday 6/18

Please Please PLEASE forgive me for the lack of updates! There hasn't been too much to report on and I've been spending some quality time with my little family! =)
Dad was running fever some at the beginning of the week and just pretty much slept. They changed his meds and did a CT scan and EEG. Neither showed anything new. He is finally staying awake for longer periods and not getting as agitated as he was before.
I am so thankful for my Daddy this Father's Day. I can't help but think back to the night he was airlifted to UAMS. They didn't give us much hope for Dad to make it through surgery. I remember praying and begging and pleading for him to make it through surgery. Of course Dad shocked them all and pulled through. He is a fighter and he is still fighting. I try not to be too selfish, but I just want my Daddy back. I miss being able to pick up the phone and call him. There are soo many things I want to tell him. I mean he doesn't even know Bin Laden is dead!!!! Lol. We have some major catching up
to do with news and politics. Not to mention I miss getting the sweet replies back when I email him Gracie's latest pictures. Her Pop sure does love her! If you've ever been to his office, you've seen the shrine of Gracie pics on his door!!! ( Thanks Annette)
We will just have baby steps now and I keep reminding myself we just have to be patient...... although it is pretty hard!!!!

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Saturday 6/11

Not too much going on. Dad's trach has been capped off since Thursday and he hasn't had any problems!!! His Occupational and Physical Therapy nurses were very impressed with him on Friday and said he had improved over the last two days! YAY!!! He is however, very confused and disoriented. He also gets very agitated from time to time. I told Mom we have to start writing down the things he says/does, because he will get a laugh out of some of this stuff one day!!! =)
For instance... Thursday night I asked Dad who I was. He looked at me and said, "Ruby". LOL Not sure where he got Ruby from!!! I am still laughing about that! Today, Caroline asked him what her name was and he said, "Joyce". LOL!! Sooo.... I'd like to introduce to you... Joyce and Ruby!! HAHAHAHA

We have laughed soo much over this! Where he got that, I haven't a clue!! We don't have any Joyce or Ruby's in our family. In fact, my best friend's dog's name is Ruby... so that is all I think of when I hear the name!!! LOL!! Also, today Mom and Caroline were sitting in the room with Dad. All of a sudden he took both hands and reached up and grabbed his Trach (when we aren't in the room he has to be restrained because he likes to pull at EVERYTHING). Mom screamed and a nurse came running in. After they got his hands away from his trach and face and the nurse walked out, Dad looked up at Mom and said, "I had nothing to do with that" HAHAHA! Ahhhh.... our time spent at the hospital with Dad is definitely eventful. He keeps us on our toes and we just never know what to expect!

Thursday 6/9

9:00 am
Dad's trach was capped all day yesterday!!! He is not on any oxygen.... just room air!!!! =)
He was a little more alert yesterday afternoon. He sat up on the edge of the bed with the help of the Physical Therapists. We can't understand everything he is saying, but we did make out that he wanted to get up and walk! Lol. We told him he was too weak and he made a disgusted face at us and said, "Well, let me try". Lol!!! He had us laughing quite a bit yesterday afternoon.
We are hoping for another good day.

Wednesday 6/8

Dad had a swallow test yesterday, but he did not pass. They will repeat in 2 weeks. If he passes, he can begin having liquids.
Respiratory capped his Trach off for a few hours yesterday. This means he has to breathe out of his mouth and nose. He did well. They capped him again about 10 mins ago... So far so good!!!!!!
He is still pretty disoriented. We are waiting for a neurologist from UAMS to come see him. Hopefully we will have more answers after seeing them. He did smile at me this morning. Makes me feel sooo good, cause he did not recognize me Sunday and pushed my hand away. Broke my heart, but I know my Daddy is in there and he knows who I am.
They have been working with Dad alot. Mom and I watched him with the occupational therapist on Monday and it really made me realize we have a long way to go. I just can't believe this has happened to us. Dad is such a strong, intelligent man and it is soo hard seeing him so weak and clueless. I am willing to do whatever it takes to have my Daddy back. I miss him soo much.

Let's end on a happy note....... Gracie snuggling with her DeDe!!





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Monday 6/6

Sorry I've been MIA lately. There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done. Dad has been pretty disoriented these past few days. This makes it so hard on all of us. He is on 28% oxygen..... Praise!!!!! (He was on 100% when he went to Heber ER last Saturday night and on 80% when he came to LR last Tuesday) They put the cap on his trach yesterday so he could talk to us. His first word was phonebook!??! He didn't make sense with anything else he said.
We have to have to realize it's just going to be baby steps for awhile.
We can't thank all of you enough for all the thoughts and prayers.


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Wednesday 6/1

Dad is now in the long term acute care at Baptist hospital in Little Rock. He will stay here until he is strong enough for rehab. He still has his ups and downs. One minute he is alert and 10 minutes later he is not. We have a long recovery road ahead of us, but I know he can do it.
A couple of his college buddies stopped by today and he smiled and shook their hands!!!!! =) He will mouth "I love you" to us and I got several winks from him!



Gracie and Pop chowing down!!!

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