Don and I are still both struggling with feeling poorly. And Dane doesn't seem to be quite bouncing back.
We had a Family Reunion of sorts this weekend and were away Friday and Saturday. When we got home Saturday night, in the midst of the pouring rain, lighting, and winds, we all headed quickly to bed. We slept in this morning and went to church late - the 11:30 service. On the way, I asked Don how he was feeling.
"I thought I was feeling fine until I stopped taking pain medicine. Now my throat hurts and I have a headache."
I'm still feeling weak and tired as well, and my stomach's doing strange things. Dane has been doing more sleeping than usual and complained this evening before bed of his stomach and head.
Before we left for West Virginia, my mother-in-law told me that she had been sick and was struggling to get better. She said everyone up there had told her it took about 3 weeks to really feel better. I'm beginning to understand.
Unfortunately, I don't have 3 weeks. This Thursday, I leave with Deanna's Little Sister's group (like Pioneer Girls) for a 3-day trip to Cumberland Island that's the culmination of their 5-year program. This is the last year of Little Sisters for them.
We're all going to have to try to get some sleep the early part of this week so we'll be in a little better shape come next week. Deanna and Dane have both finished their reports now and we celebrated Daelyn's birthday tonight at Chuck E. Cheese, so we should have a LITTLE slack this week, although Dane has baseball practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Maybe, just maybe we'll get some rest and begin to feel better soon.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Around here, we share!
Dane ran a fever all weekend. It started Friday night and kept me from being able to go to the Crosswalk and spend time on Good Friday preparing for Easter. By Saturday night, I was really worried about him. He had broken out in blisters between his top lip and nose that were filled with green pus. His nose was nasty and he seemed to need to blow it every 20 seconds. I called the nurse on call for my pediatrician and she told me her guidelines read that I need only be concerned if his fever was for 72 hours. I missed out completely on Easter.
Don arrived home from England on Friday night to a very happy Mommy. So, Daddy took his oldest and youngest to church on Easter and I stayed home with sick boy. By Sunday night, Daelyn's throat was REALLY red and was hurting, so I kept both boys home from school on Monday and scheduled appointments for all three - Deanna was sporting a nasty cough.
Turns out, Deanna has a sinus infection. Dane has a very severe sinus infection and Daelyn has strept throat. Our pediatrician started all three on antibiotics and the boys couldn't go back to school until Wednesday.
Around Monday, Don mentioned that he was feeling poorly. By Tuesday, I had a sore throat and a headache. Tuesday night, I got the shakes and couldn't stop shivering. I ran the bath as hot as our water will run and stepped into it, hoping to scald the fever out of me. No luck. As soon as I stepped out of the bath, I began to shiver and shake again.
By Wednesday morning, I was in rough shape. My throat and neck were killing me, I was sore and stiff all over, and my head pounded. I was running a temp of 101.9. By the evening, it peaked at 102.4. Last night, Don and I got the kids to bed rather late, then headed to bed ourselves at 9 p.m. My fever broke during the night and I woke up dripping with sweat.
Don and I are both feeling better today, but not quite up to running speed. Dane has a state report on Washington due tomorrow that he was assigned the day before Easter break and wasn't reminded about since he hadn't been at school. Deanna's big 5th grade state report was due two days ago, her huge test for which she had to know every state capital, the great lakes, the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi River locations, and be able to write the names of every state on a map of the U.S. was today. Tomorrow, she has to dress in her state costume (which she's decided will be ski bibs since her state is Colorado) and take in a state food (salsa - there's a HUGE Hispanic population in Colorado - the 5th largest of any state in the country, and Colorado holds an annual Chile Festival), so I've had a little bit to do around here.
To add to our stress, we have to leave after school tomorrow for a weekend celebration out of town. We're not exactly prepared.
I'd better get to bed. I just realized I haven't made any arrangements for Donovan for the weekend. I'm going to need lots of energy tomorrow.
Don arrived home from England on Friday night to a very happy Mommy. So, Daddy took his oldest and youngest to church on Easter and I stayed home with sick boy. By Sunday night, Daelyn's throat was REALLY red and was hurting, so I kept both boys home from school on Monday and scheduled appointments for all three - Deanna was sporting a nasty cough.
Turns out, Deanna has a sinus infection. Dane has a very severe sinus infection and Daelyn has strept throat. Our pediatrician started all three on antibiotics and the boys couldn't go back to school until Wednesday.
Around Monday, Don mentioned that he was feeling poorly. By Tuesday, I had a sore throat and a headache. Tuesday night, I got the shakes and couldn't stop shivering. I ran the bath as hot as our water will run and stepped into it, hoping to scald the fever out of me. No luck. As soon as I stepped out of the bath, I began to shiver and shake again.
By Wednesday morning, I was in rough shape. My throat and neck were killing me, I was sore and stiff all over, and my head pounded. I was running a temp of 101.9. By the evening, it peaked at 102.4. Last night, Don and I got the kids to bed rather late, then headed to bed ourselves at 9 p.m. My fever broke during the night and I woke up dripping with sweat.
Don and I are both feeling better today, but not quite up to running speed. Dane has a state report on Washington due tomorrow that he was assigned the day before Easter break and wasn't reminded about since he hadn't been at school. Deanna's big 5th grade state report was due two days ago, her huge test for which she had to know every state capital, the great lakes, the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi River locations, and be able to write the names of every state on a map of the U.S. was today. Tomorrow, she has to dress in her state costume (which she's decided will be ski bibs since her state is Colorado) and take in a state food (salsa - there's a HUGE Hispanic population in Colorado - the 5th largest of any state in the country, and Colorado holds an annual Chile Festival), so I've had a little bit to do around here.
To add to our stress, we have to leave after school tomorrow for a weekend celebration out of town. We're not exactly prepared.
I'd better get to bed. I just realized I haven't made any arrangements for Donovan for the weekend. I'm going to need lots of energy tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Good in So Many Ways
Time for an update on Amanda. It's almost all good news.
She still is having a lot of pain and they can't quite figure out why. She suspected for a while that it was a result of the pain killers in suppository form, but now has ruled that out. There are a number of different things going on with her that are difficult to identify.
On the upside, however, she finally received a visit from the pelvic surgical specialist, Dr. Rosenblum. He told her and her mother that he's been monitoring her case and that he's pleased with the position in which her pelvis has begun to heal AND that he's ready to remove the Fixator, the tinker-toy contraption that has been moving her pelvis, pulling it slowly back together. He has her scheduled for surgery tomorrow or, if she's bumped because of a trauma, for Thursday to remove the pins, the fixator, and get a good look inside her. Once the fixator is removed, she can begin heavy therapy in preparation for moving to a Rehab facility. He also told her that he believes any rehab hospital will take her once the fixator's off.
Everytime, through this whole ordeal, when we've felt that we've reached the end of the rope, the Lord has thrown out a new lifeline. EVERY TIME, without fail! It's just unbelievable to go back and track the various situations and see God's hand guiding, providing, protecting. He must have a plan for Amanda. He's spent a considerable amount of time dealing with her health.
We've been talking recently about why the initial pelvic surgery never happened. It's become obvious to me that the Lord blocked it. We don't know why, but it could have been something like that Amanda would not have survived the surgery or that the Lord knew it wouldn't be necessary. In any case, we're now very thankful that surgery was never done.
We still have a roller-coaster ride on our hands. We never move consistently forward without getting knocked back, but we were warned about that from the very beginning. And Amanda really IS doing much better.
We need to keep praying for God's intervention and protection and for the perfect place and situation for Amanda. He's done so much work now, I'm convinced he will continue to answer our prayers.
It's a little overwhelming to think about the whole situation and how close we came to losing her. On Easter, her trauma doctor came to see her and told her that they had gotten another patient in with similar pelvic injuries to Amanda's, but without the abdominal involvement. He lived only 2 hours. The doctor stressed that patients with Amanda's injuries don't survive. But there she is - sitting up in bed, using the straight iron on her hair to get it looking pretty before Alex gets to the hospital to visit, fussing at me to move out of the way of her mirror. OUR Amanda. The same girl we loved before that Friday night accident that nearly claimed her.
God is good. He is merciful. And He has a plan for our precious girl.
Thank you, Lord.
She still is having a lot of pain and they can't quite figure out why. She suspected for a while that it was a result of the pain killers in suppository form, but now has ruled that out. There are a number of different things going on with her that are difficult to identify.
On the upside, however, she finally received a visit from the pelvic surgical specialist, Dr. Rosenblum. He told her and her mother that he's been monitoring her case and that he's pleased with the position in which her pelvis has begun to heal AND that he's ready to remove the Fixator, the tinker-toy contraption that has been moving her pelvis, pulling it slowly back together. He has her scheduled for surgery tomorrow or, if she's bumped because of a trauma, for Thursday to remove the pins, the fixator, and get a good look inside her. Once the fixator is removed, she can begin heavy therapy in preparation for moving to a Rehab facility. He also told her that he believes any rehab hospital will take her once the fixator's off.
Everytime, through this whole ordeal, when we've felt that we've reached the end of the rope, the Lord has thrown out a new lifeline. EVERY TIME, without fail! It's just unbelievable to go back and track the various situations and see God's hand guiding, providing, protecting. He must have a plan for Amanda. He's spent a considerable amount of time dealing with her health.
We've been talking recently about why the initial pelvic surgery never happened. It's become obvious to me that the Lord blocked it. We don't know why, but it could have been something like that Amanda would not have survived the surgery or that the Lord knew it wouldn't be necessary. In any case, we're now very thankful that surgery was never done.
We still have a roller-coaster ride on our hands. We never move consistently forward without getting knocked back, but we were warned about that from the very beginning. And Amanda really IS doing much better.
We need to keep praying for God's intervention and protection and for the perfect place and situation for Amanda. He's done so much work now, I'm convinced he will continue to answer our prayers.
It's a little overwhelming to think about the whole situation and how close we came to losing her. On Easter, her trauma doctor came to see her and told her that they had gotten another patient in with similar pelvic injuries to Amanda's, but without the abdominal involvement. He lived only 2 hours. The doctor stressed that patients with Amanda's injuries don't survive. But there she is - sitting up in bed, using the straight iron on her hair to get it looking pretty before Alex gets to the hospital to visit, fussing at me to move out of the way of her mirror. OUR Amanda. The same girl we loved before that Friday night accident that nearly claimed her.
God is good. He is merciful. And He has a plan for our precious girl.
Thank you, Lord.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Slip of the Tongue
Deanna and I sat at the kitchen table tonight finishing dinner. Dane had already finished and was running his bath. Daelyn was playing and Don took Donovan out to tinkle while he put the garbage can at the curb. I was just putting a peach slice in my mouth when Don walked by the kitchen windows.
Says Deanna, "Daddy sure looks at lot like the Count of Monte Crisco, doesn't he?"
As I snorted, trying to keep from swallowing my peach whole, I reminded her that the name of the movie I bought Dane for Easter was, "The Count of Monte CRISTO" and, yes, Daddy looked very much like the Count, but very little like the big tub of vegetable shortening in the pantry.
Deanna strikes again.
Says Deanna, "Daddy sure looks at lot like the Count of Monte Crisco, doesn't he?"
As I snorted, trying to keep from swallowing my peach whole, I reminded her that the name of the movie I bought Dane for Easter was, "The Count of Monte CRISTO" and, yes, Daddy looked very much like the Count, but very little like the big tub of vegetable shortening in the pantry.
Deanna strikes again.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good News, Good News
My nephew, Russell Edward Barnes II, or Russy as we've always called him (Amanda's younger brother) is engaged!
He asked his girlfriend of 2 years, Ashley, to be his wife and she accepted.
We're very excited. She's wonderful and we're thrilled to have her in the family. They came to see me a few minutes ago to give me the good news.
A spot of brightness that we so desperately need.
He asked his girlfriend of 2 years, Ashley, to be his wife and she accepted.
We're very excited. She's wonderful and we're thrilled to have her in the family. They came to see me a few minutes ago to give me the good news.
A spot of brightness that we so desperately need.
Complications
One of Amanda's pin sites that is holding the fixator in place against the hipbone (the fixator is attempting to bring her pelvis back together again and is attached to Amanda's hips with steel pins) is infected. Before I left for WV, it was infected but, while I was gone, it got very swollen and very red. Everytime Amanda moves, the pins tear at the skin and the hole in the skin is getting bigger and bigger. While I was gone, I called back to check on her and was told that they had taken her for an MRI to determine if the infection was in the bone. It wasn't. The bone was still clear. But they have determined that the infection is the antibiotic-resistant strain of staff that's so prevalent in hospitals these days. She's on IV antibiotics to knock out the infection which is pretty tenacious.
They also got the news yesterday that all the other hospitals that Amanda could transfer to have refused to accept her case. She's not yet well enough for rehab but so much improved that the other hospitals don't feel she still needs round-the-clock nursing care. She is going to have to leave the hospital soon and has nowhere to go.
She'll have to be moved home, but she can't yet get into a wheelchair, her family lives in the country down dirt roads, 25 miles from the hospital. She would have to be moved back and forth by ambulance for all of her doctor's visits and her home isn't handicapped accessible. There are huge issues that, at this point, seem insurmountable.
One thing is certain: the hospital will not keep her much longer. They will insist on her leaving. When that happens, things around here are going to get pretty harried.
The Lord has guided their every step so far and we believe he will continue to guide. But please pray for peace for the family and clarity from all the confusion that seems to be constantly surrounding this situation.
She is having a lot of pain and is pretty sick from the infection. She seems to have taken a downturn emotionally, and all this stress about moving doesn't help.
Things are looking pretty grim once again. We just have to keep remembering that God is in control. He is. He has been. He will continue to be.
He is.
They also got the news yesterday that all the other hospitals that Amanda could transfer to have refused to accept her case. She's not yet well enough for rehab but so much improved that the other hospitals don't feel she still needs round-the-clock nursing care. She is going to have to leave the hospital soon and has nowhere to go.
She'll have to be moved home, but she can't yet get into a wheelchair, her family lives in the country down dirt roads, 25 miles from the hospital. She would have to be moved back and forth by ambulance for all of her doctor's visits and her home isn't handicapped accessible. There are huge issues that, at this point, seem insurmountable.
One thing is certain: the hospital will not keep her much longer. They will insist on her leaving. When that happens, things around here are going to get pretty harried.
The Lord has guided their every step so far and we believe he will continue to guide. But please pray for peace for the family and clarity from all the confusion that seems to be constantly surrounding this situation.
She is having a lot of pain and is pretty sick from the infection. She seems to have taken a downturn emotionally, and all this stress about moving doesn't help.
Things are looking pretty grim once again. We just have to keep remembering that God is in control. He is. He has been. He will continue to be.
He is.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Coming and Going
We got home yesterday from West Virginia. We had a wonderful visit with Don's parents and it was very relaxing, despite the continuous rain. On my birthday, Monday, Deanna and I had some errands to run, so we picked up some crafts for the boys to keep them occupied in case of rain. We were very pleased the next day that we had taken the plunge when we woke up to a monsoon.
We also made incredible time traveling - both directions. We left home right about 4 a.m. last Friday morning and arrived at my in-law's at 1:30, having had lunch even. It usually takes us about 12 hours and it's not unheard of to stretch the trip to 14 hours. The children, the dog and I made it in 9 1/2! We did even better on the return trip. I wanted to avoid traffic so I attempted to leave even earlier - at 3:30. However, Don wanted me to call him before we left and, when I did, he was driving to work and couldn't take down my cell phone number, so I had to wait for him to get to work and call me back. We pulled out of the driveway at 3:45 a.m. and arrived home at 12:20 - a miraculous 8 hours and 35 minutes later.
The children are becoming so much better at traveling. We only stopped once - for them to dress and go to the bathroom and so I could get gas. Then we drove through a Burger King and got a biscuit for me and cheesy tots for the kids to go with their cold cereal and milk. When they began getting bored, they'd entertain each other. We sang songs, listened to a CD, visited, and they played with the dog. It was a very pleasant drive with no grumpies or fussies.
We were prepared to pick Don up from the airport at 9 tonight. At 6:16 a.m. (why has this week involved so many early mornings? The children are out of school! Can I not PLEASE sleep?) the phone rang. Knowing it had to be Don, I quickly answered with the question, "What's up, honey?"
"They've overbooked the flight and want me to delay my travel until tomorrow."
"What are they offering?" I asked, willing my fuzzy brain to work.
"They'll fly me Business Class tomorrow (which means more perks than just the flight - he can board early and avoid the long lines, he can use the Business Class lounge in Manchester AND Atlanta for his lay-overs and they'll actually page him in the lounge to let him know when it's time to go board the plane, but, more importantly, they allow 30 more pounds per piece of luggage for all that English stuff he's bringing me!), they'll put me up overnight tonight, they'll give me 200 pounds in cash (English money, not weight), and a voucher for a future Delta flight."
I really didn't want Don to delay his flight by one day. When he first asked me about going back to England and told me they promised to have him home by Easter, I asked him to please get home before Good Friday so he could join me and the children for the meaningful activities that prepare us for Easter. I really wanted him back in time for Good Friday. Now, here he was calling, asking me if he could delay his return one day, missing Good Friday. I was very conflicted.
"What do you want to do, honey," I asked.
"Well, it's a pretty good deal."
"Tell them 'yes' and I'll see you tomorrow night."
These last 39 hours are, by far, the hardest. I've missed him more today than I have for days at a time. But soon. He'll be home soon.
Still have that wine . . .
We also made incredible time traveling - both directions. We left home right about 4 a.m. last Friday morning and arrived at my in-law's at 1:30, having had lunch even. It usually takes us about 12 hours and it's not unheard of to stretch the trip to 14 hours. The children, the dog and I made it in 9 1/2! We did even better on the return trip. I wanted to avoid traffic so I attempted to leave even earlier - at 3:30. However, Don wanted me to call him before we left and, when I did, he was driving to work and couldn't take down my cell phone number, so I had to wait for him to get to work and call me back. We pulled out of the driveway at 3:45 a.m. and arrived home at 12:20 - a miraculous 8 hours and 35 minutes later.
The children are becoming so much better at traveling. We only stopped once - for them to dress and go to the bathroom and so I could get gas. Then we drove through a Burger King and got a biscuit for me and cheesy tots for the kids to go with their cold cereal and milk. When they began getting bored, they'd entertain each other. We sang songs, listened to a CD, visited, and they played with the dog. It was a very pleasant drive with no grumpies or fussies.
We were prepared to pick Don up from the airport at 9 tonight. At 6:16 a.m. (why has this week involved so many early mornings? The children are out of school! Can I not PLEASE sleep?) the phone rang. Knowing it had to be Don, I quickly answered with the question, "What's up, honey?"
"They've overbooked the flight and want me to delay my travel until tomorrow."
"What are they offering?" I asked, willing my fuzzy brain to work.
"They'll fly me Business Class tomorrow (which means more perks than just the flight - he can board early and avoid the long lines, he can use the Business Class lounge in Manchester AND Atlanta for his lay-overs and they'll actually page him in the lounge to let him know when it's time to go board the plane, but, more importantly, they allow 30 more pounds per piece of luggage for all that English stuff he's bringing me!), they'll put me up overnight tonight, they'll give me 200 pounds in cash (English money, not weight), and a voucher for a future Delta flight."
I really didn't want Don to delay his flight by one day. When he first asked me about going back to England and told me they promised to have him home by Easter, I asked him to please get home before Good Friday so he could join me and the children for the meaningful activities that prepare us for Easter. I really wanted him back in time for Good Friday. Now, here he was calling, asking me if he could delay his return one day, missing Good Friday. I was very conflicted.
"What do you want to do, honey," I asked.
"Well, it's a pretty good deal."
"Tell them 'yes' and I'll see you tomorrow night."
These last 39 hours are, by far, the hardest. I've missed him more today than I have for days at a time. But soon. He'll be home soon.
Still have that wine . . .
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Missing Don
I'm really starting to miss Don. Truthfully, though, it has been a little easier this time - possibly because I've just been so busy and, also, having Nicki living with us means I'm not alone all night. But the resolve is wearing thin and I'm starting to feel like I'm going to tear up everytime I talk with him.
I missed speaking with him yesterday. I tried to call once and couldn't get through. By the time I got back around to it, it was too late in England. I needed to hear his voice and just have a chance to visit with him today, but he was having dinner with some co-workers/friends when I called and didn't really have time to talk. He encouraged me to call back later, but I have to take the children to choir practice during the time that he should be moving towards home for the night. I may just try and call him during the day tomorrow, although I have tons to do to get ready for our trip to West Virginia.
My mother-in-law wrote and said they had 4 inches of snow on Sunday. The children are ever so hopeful it'll snow again while we're there. I bought Dane and Daelyn both new winter coats while we were out shopping for Easter after school yesterday. They both needed warmer coats (Dane's is just a shell with no lining for warmth) and K-Mart had them at 50% off the final clearance price. I got them both really nice coats for $10 each.
Dane was ecstatic and kept commenting that they might need heavy coats in West Virginia. If they had snow at my in-law's on Sunday, Virginia will probably be quite cold. It's usually about 15 degrees colder in parts of Virginia through which we must drive than in West Virginia. Once, coming home during Holy Week, we hit a blizzard in Virginia and there was quite a bit of snow and ice. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat and were afraid we wouldn't be able to get back out of the parking lot.
When I chokingly told Don today that I was missing him terribly, he said, "Only a little while now, Mommy, and I'll be home." That's true. He's halfway through his trip. And this time, things seem to have gone a little smoother for him. He's much more comfortable this time and has a vehicle to drive.
I can't even begin to imagine how I'd function if my husband worked out-of-town routinely. I suppose our life would be very different, but I'd hate to give up my dependence on Don. I was single for so many years, waiting to marry and be able to rely on another person. I'm not quite willing to give it up after only 12 years.
One more week. I can do that. I've got a big bottle of wine.
I missed speaking with him yesterday. I tried to call once and couldn't get through. By the time I got back around to it, it was too late in England. I needed to hear his voice and just have a chance to visit with him today, but he was having dinner with some co-workers/friends when I called and didn't really have time to talk. He encouraged me to call back later, but I have to take the children to choir practice during the time that he should be moving towards home for the night. I may just try and call him during the day tomorrow, although I have tons to do to get ready for our trip to West Virginia.
My mother-in-law wrote and said they had 4 inches of snow on Sunday. The children are ever so hopeful it'll snow again while we're there. I bought Dane and Daelyn both new winter coats while we were out shopping for Easter after school yesterday. They both needed warmer coats (Dane's is just a shell with no lining for warmth) and K-Mart had them at 50% off the final clearance price. I got them both really nice coats for $10 each.
Dane was ecstatic and kept commenting that they might need heavy coats in West Virginia. If they had snow at my in-law's on Sunday, Virginia will probably be quite cold. It's usually about 15 degrees colder in parts of Virginia through which we must drive than in West Virginia. Once, coming home during Holy Week, we hit a blizzard in Virginia and there was quite a bit of snow and ice. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat and were afraid we wouldn't be able to get back out of the parking lot.
When I chokingly told Don today that I was missing him terribly, he said, "Only a little while now, Mommy, and I'll be home." That's true. He's halfway through his trip. And this time, things seem to have gone a little smoother for him. He's much more comfortable this time and has a vehicle to drive.
I can't even begin to imagine how I'd function if my husband worked out-of-town routinely. I suppose our life would be very different, but I'd hate to give up my dependence on Don. I was single for so many years, waiting to marry and be able to rely on another person. I'm not quite willing to give it up after only 12 years.
One more week. I can do that. I've got a big bottle of wine.
Monday, March 10, 2008
News
Dane had his gastroendoscopy this morning at the same hospital where Amanda now resides. While we were waiting to get called back for pre-op, my mother walked over to Amanda's room and returned with my sister. She said Amanda was downright perky this morning, for the first time since the accident. This was very good news.
I called Don in England today and he didn't answer his cellphone, which I found puzzling. A few minutes later, he called me back and told me that he was driving at the time and couldn't negotiate the roads on the wrong side of the car, the wrong side of the street, shifting on the left, and answer his phone at the same time (not to mention the fact that it's illegal to talk on your phone while driving in England). It seems the Company has given him a minivan to drive for the two weeks he's there. Hallelujah! Maybe that means he'll get to a grocery store and pick up some Tate & Lyle's Golden Syrup and crumpets for me and the kids. It's still a little surprising to me how hooked we got on some English foods.
I got the children in bed at 6:00 tonight. We're all overtired and, with the time-change and Dane's procedure today, everyone needed a little extra rest. I laid down with the boys and fell asleep, waking up chilled to the bone. Time for a nice cup of hot tea.
The news about Amanda was so encouraging and, now that we're through the meal I had to prepare for the Vestry at my church yesterday and Dane's procedure today, I think I might be able to sleep - not too well, though, without my honey next to me. And, no, Donovan doesn't count.
So, there's lots for which to be thankful tonight. The Lord saved my niece and is working on healing my son. Life is full, but good. I feel sorry for people who get bored. I'd love to have the opportunity - just for two weeks or so. Get caught up on all my mending and cleaning, menu planning and laundry, organizing and sorting, cleaning out closets and the attic, and then have time to just relax! Isn't that a wonderful thought.
But this is good, too.
I called Don in England today and he didn't answer his cellphone, which I found puzzling. A few minutes later, he called me back and told me that he was driving at the time and couldn't negotiate the roads on the wrong side of the car, the wrong side of the street, shifting on the left, and answer his phone at the same time (not to mention the fact that it's illegal to talk on your phone while driving in England). It seems the Company has given him a minivan to drive for the two weeks he's there. Hallelujah! Maybe that means he'll get to a grocery store and pick up some Tate & Lyle's Golden Syrup and crumpets for me and the kids. It's still a little surprising to me how hooked we got on some English foods.
I got the children in bed at 6:00 tonight. We're all overtired and, with the time-change and Dane's procedure today, everyone needed a little extra rest. I laid down with the boys and fell asleep, waking up chilled to the bone. Time for a nice cup of hot tea.
The news about Amanda was so encouraging and, now that we're through the meal I had to prepare for the Vestry at my church yesterday and Dane's procedure today, I think I might be able to sleep - not too well, though, without my honey next to me. And, no, Donovan doesn't count.
So, there's lots for which to be thankful tonight. The Lord saved my niece and is working on healing my son. Life is full, but good. I feel sorry for people who get bored. I'd love to have the opportunity - just for two weeks or so. Get caught up on all my mending and cleaning, menu planning and laundry, organizing and sorting, cleaning out closets and the attic, and then have time to just relax! Isn't that a wonderful thought.
But this is good, too.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
God's Promise
A rainbow - God's promise of hope to us.
Amanda will be moving to a Rehab facility, hopefully, in 2 weeks. Her other injuries are almost 90% healed. The goal at this point is to get her sitting up and well enough to move into rehab. This is all great news and now, at least, we feel like we understand where we're moving.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Wash Dog
A little challenging to strip the bed. When I picked up the covers to dump them in the wash, it seemed they were a little heavy. I laid them back down and this is what I found.
There's a family meeting with the medical team working on Amanda in her room this morning at 10 a.m. Hopefully, some issues will get worked out. Please pray for clarity and peace.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
My Eldest Son
Okay, I found a few of Dane - with his puppy the day we got Donovan, a very green Dane celebrating his mother's St. Patrick's Day birthday, and tuxed out as the Ring Bearer in his oldest cousin's wedding in California on a golf course several years ago. I added that one, even though it's really old, because he looks so handsome. Don't you agree? He's available, for a small fee.
My Babies - or two, at least
A couple more pictures to share with you. I need a distraction from writing about the hospital.
The first is Mr. Mischief. Can't you just see it? This was Daelyn on the first day of Kindergarten. He was thrilled to be sitting with all his best buddies.
The next is my beautiful ballerina. I'm still searching for a great picture of Dane. I have one of him sitting at a grand piano after his Piano Recital, but someone else took it and I'll have to scan it, so that won't happen today.
The first is Mr. Mischief. Can't you just see it? This was Daelyn on the first day of Kindergarten. He was thrilled to be sitting with all his best buddies.
The next is my beautiful ballerina. I'm still searching for a great picture of Dane. I have one of him sitting at a grand piano after his Piano Recital, but someone else took it and I'll have to scan it, so that won't happen today.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Day 40 Update
Today was the 40th day. Amanda's accident was on January 26, my brother's birthday and my parent's anniversary.
Things really are improving. She IS doing better. There have been a lot of baby steps to bring us to this point. She's conscious (a miracle), her pelvis is fusing into an acceptable position, her bladder is working, and the other trauma to her abdomen seems to have mostly resolved.
The issues at present are: she has a sore on the back of her head from never being off it, she has a significant friction rash, she has gaps in her skin going down the whole front of her body where her skin was just tacked together rather than really sewn up, the skin around her belly button is infected, she has pins in both hips that are tearing through the skin and one pin site is infected, she is just recovering from a bladder infection, she has a bedsore on her back, she has a large (about 6 in. in diameter) hole in her leg where dead tissue was excised, she has some stitches in the other leg that are infected, her blood pressure is extremely low (84 over 68), she is having constant severe pain in her back suddenly, she's getting nauseated everytime she eats now, and she seems to need an inordinate amount of sleep. She has yet to incline over 45 degrees, but they daily talk about getting her in a chair. The step-down hospital has refused to take her because she's "too well" and the rehab hospital says they probably won't be able to take her because she's not well enough. Meanwhile, MCG can't seem to get rid of her fast enough and the doctors are daily asking when she's going to another hospital, making everyone feel like they just want her to vacate their bed.
Do I sound a little frustrated? She's ready for it all to be over and has said several times, "Just put me in an ambulance and take me home!" Of course, there's no way we can do that. She needs more care than my sister can handle alone at this point and, obviously, she needs daily care from a doctor.
It's SO-O-O-O-O frustrating! It doesn't seem like the doctors are even operating in the same world as us. It's as if they don't even see the whole picture anymore. I'm sure there's things they know that we don't, but doesn't this sound like someone who needs a hospital?
My sister has the patience of Job. I've already blown my stack several times and I'm only there for a couple of hours a day. She's dealing with the doctors, nurses, technicians all day long everyday.
I've decided that I've got to focus on the positive, but it's very hard to do when the negative at this point seems to run roughshod over the positive. It's as if the insurance company said, "We're not paying anything else!" so the medical community is bowing out. In fact, that may be close to the truth. The whole issue of moving her is being driven by the insurance company. Medical care in this country is no longer managed by physicians - it's managed by the insurance industry. If they refuse to pay the bills, doctors don't want to treat and hospital administration scurries to make amends.
Perhaps I'm just raving but the situation seems so unnecessarily difficult. This girl has been through so much - why are they putting her through all this stress?
We don't have any answers - just tons of questions. Prayer, it seems, is the only solution.
Pray . . . please!
Things really are improving. She IS doing better. There have been a lot of baby steps to bring us to this point. She's conscious (a miracle), her pelvis is fusing into an acceptable position, her bladder is working, and the other trauma to her abdomen seems to have mostly resolved.
The issues at present are: she has a sore on the back of her head from never being off it, she has a significant friction rash, she has gaps in her skin going down the whole front of her body where her skin was just tacked together rather than really sewn up, the skin around her belly button is infected, she has pins in both hips that are tearing through the skin and one pin site is infected, she is just recovering from a bladder infection, she has a bedsore on her back, she has a large (about 6 in. in diameter) hole in her leg where dead tissue was excised, she has some stitches in the other leg that are infected, her blood pressure is extremely low (84 over 68), she is having constant severe pain in her back suddenly, she's getting nauseated everytime she eats now, and she seems to need an inordinate amount of sleep. She has yet to incline over 45 degrees, but they daily talk about getting her in a chair. The step-down hospital has refused to take her because she's "too well" and the rehab hospital says they probably won't be able to take her because she's not well enough. Meanwhile, MCG can't seem to get rid of her fast enough and the doctors are daily asking when she's going to another hospital, making everyone feel like they just want her to vacate their bed.
Do I sound a little frustrated? She's ready for it all to be over and has said several times, "Just put me in an ambulance and take me home!" Of course, there's no way we can do that. She needs more care than my sister can handle alone at this point and, obviously, she needs daily care from a doctor.
It's SO-O-O-O-O frustrating! It doesn't seem like the doctors are even operating in the same world as us. It's as if they don't even see the whole picture anymore. I'm sure there's things they know that we don't, but doesn't this sound like someone who needs a hospital?
My sister has the patience of Job. I've already blown my stack several times and I'm only there for a couple of hours a day. She's dealing with the doctors, nurses, technicians all day long everyday.
I've decided that I've got to focus on the positive, but it's very hard to do when the negative at this point seems to run roughshod over the positive. It's as if the insurance company said, "We're not paying anything else!" so the medical community is bowing out. In fact, that may be close to the truth. The whole issue of moving her is being driven by the insurance company. Medical care in this country is no longer managed by physicians - it's managed by the insurance industry. If they refuse to pay the bills, doctors don't want to treat and hospital administration scurries to make amends.
Perhaps I'm just raving but the situation seems so unnecessarily difficult. This girl has been through so much - why are they putting her through all this stress?
We don't have any answers - just tons of questions. Prayer, it seems, is the only solution.
Pray . . . please!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Confusion
I stayed home from the hospital yesterday to get the laundry done and try to get the house put in order or, at least, begin the process. I planned to go to the hospital once Don got home from work.
I did my Blog Post after talking with my father. Later in the morning, my sister called and began to fill me in on the latest. My father had a few of the details . . . uh, make that ALL the details . . . wrong. They hadn't toured the other hospital. My sister and brother-in-law went over to talk with the people and were told by the hospital administration that they didn't have time. Several other facts were incorrect, as well, and there seems to be a tremendous amount of confusion swirling around Amanda.
Her doctor has told her that she will continue to treat Amanda and that the other hospital will take her back and forth so she can attend clinic. The pelvic specialist is supposed to have his Georgia license tomorrow and then will get to work on coming up with a plan to get Amanda walking again. He will also ring in on Amanda's treatment and will see her in Clinic.
Apparently, none of that is correct. The other hospital does NOT shuttle their patients and their patients are seen by their staff doctors, not physicians from another facility. Furthermore, because of the severe trauma to Amanda's pelvis, they're not sure their doctors are willing to sign onto the case. REALLY? What a surprise. We've waited for this pelvic specialist and now, just as he finally gets his credentials and can actually help, they plan on removing Amanda from the facility where he practices.
This is all unbelievable! And now there's serious concern over Amanda's care again. What if the orthopedic people at this other hospital decide to try but, further into the process, are incapable of dealing with the extent of Amanda's injuries. What then? Nobody seems to have any clear answers to these questions.
Apparently, the move is driven by insurance. But how can an insurance company require her to move to a facility that can't care for her medical needs? I told my sister last night that she needs to find out if Amanda's case has been referred to a Major Case Manager who works for the insurance company. Since my career was as a Human Resources Generalist Specialist, I know a little about how insurance functions. However, this isn't medical insurance. It's vehicular insurance, and I know nothing about this arena. I suggested that Trina call the Insurance Commissioner to get some straight answers. She said she thinks she'll just wait, that they're not rolling Amanda's bed out the door just yet and lots more may happen before they do.
In addition, Amanda currently is trying to heal from 5 infections. She's trying to minimize the amount of pain medication she takes because the narcotics stop her up so badly, leading to other problems. The pins in one hip are causing her a great deal of pain. At first, the site around the pins was red, now the redness has moved in a much larger circle out from the pins and is spreading up her back. Her doctor told her yesterday that she may be having an allergic reaction to the pins, but the other side is fine. It seems that, if it were an allergic reaction, her body would respond the same way on both sides. Her doctor told them yesterday morning that she was calling in ortho to look at the pin site. They didn't show up yesterday.
It does seem that Amanda is getting better, but a chronic illness carries with it lots of other types of problems. Now we're dealing with these peripheral problems as we wait for the pelvis to heal enough that she can move to the next stage of healing.
Please pray against confusion. I don't know how my sister doesn't go crazy! She DID have a migraine for 4 days. It finally went away yesterday, but it's left her weak and frail, which she certainly doesn't need right now. Some answers to all these questions would set everyone's minds more at ease.
Today, I'm running errands for my sister and beginning to look for clothes for my family for Easter and the weddings of my two nephews one week apart in April. Oh, and I need to begin packing Don. He's working today to book a flight for Thursday. He finally got all the necessary approvals for the trip yesterday.
When I went up to the hospital yesterday evening, Amanda was asleep and Trina was gone. My brother-in-law was sitting with his daughter, so we had a nice visit, but I want to SEE Amanda, so I plan on spending some time up there during the day today. So . . . I better get moving. Maybe tomorrow we'll know more.
I did my Blog Post after talking with my father. Later in the morning, my sister called and began to fill me in on the latest. My father had a few of the details . . . uh, make that ALL the details . . . wrong. They hadn't toured the other hospital. My sister and brother-in-law went over to talk with the people and were told by the hospital administration that they didn't have time. Several other facts were incorrect, as well, and there seems to be a tremendous amount of confusion swirling around Amanda.
Her doctor has told her that she will continue to treat Amanda and that the other hospital will take her back and forth so she can attend clinic. The pelvic specialist is supposed to have his Georgia license tomorrow and then will get to work on coming up with a plan to get Amanda walking again. He will also ring in on Amanda's treatment and will see her in Clinic.
Apparently, none of that is correct. The other hospital does NOT shuttle their patients and their patients are seen by their staff doctors, not physicians from another facility. Furthermore, because of the severe trauma to Amanda's pelvis, they're not sure their doctors are willing to sign onto the case. REALLY? What a surprise. We've waited for this pelvic specialist and now, just as he finally gets his credentials and can actually help, they plan on removing Amanda from the facility where he practices.
This is all unbelievable! And now there's serious concern over Amanda's care again. What if the orthopedic people at this other hospital decide to try but, further into the process, are incapable of dealing with the extent of Amanda's injuries. What then? Nobody seems to have any clear answers to these questions.
Apparently, the move is driven by insurance. But how can an insurance company require her to move to a facility that can't care for her medical needs? I told my sister last night that she needs to find out if Amanda's case has been referred to a Major Case Manager who works for the insurance company. Since my career was as a Human Resources Generalist Specialist, I know a little about how insurance functions. However, this isn't medical insurance. It's vehicular insurance, and I know nothing about this arena. I suggested that Trina call the Insurance Commissioner to get some straight answers. She said she thinks she'll just wait, that they're not rolling Amanda's bed out the door just yet and lots more may happen before they do.
In addition, Amanda currently is trying to heal from 5 infections. She's trying to minimize the amount of pain medication she takes because the narcotics stop her up so badly, leading to other problems. The pins in one hip are causing her a great deal of pain. At first, the site around the pins was red, now the redness has moved in a much larger circle out from the pins and is spreading up her back. Her doctor told her yesterday that she may be having an allergic reaction to the pins, but the other side is fine. It seems that, if it were an allergic reaction, her body would respond the same way on both sides. Her doctor told them yesterday morning that she was calling in ortho to look at the pin site. They didn't show up yesterday.
It does seem that Amanda is getting better, but a chronic illness carries with it lots of other types of problems. Now we're dealing with these peripheral problems as we wait for the pelvis to heal enough that she can move to the next stage of healing.
Please pray against confusion. I don't know how my sister doesn't go crazy! She DID have a migraine for 4 days. It finally went away yesterday, but it's left her weak and frail, which she certainly doesn't need right now. Some answers to all these questions would set everyone's minds more at ease.
Today, I'm running errands for my sister and beginning to look for clothes for my family for Easter and the weddings of my two nephews one week apart in April. Oh, and I need to begin packing Don. He's working today to book a flight for Thursday. He finally got all the necessary approvals for the trip yesterday.
When I went up to the hospital yesterday evening, Amanda was asleep and Trina was gone. My brother-in-law was sitting with his daughter, so we had a nice visit, but I want to SEE Amanda, so I plan on spending some time up there during the day today. So . . . I better get moving. Maybe tomorrow we'll know more.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Many fronts
Deanna and I got home around 8 p.m. last night. We went to Stone Mountain, Ga for our retreat and had a wonderful time. We stayed at a Marriott Resort where I had stayed once on Company business. I purchased a package deal that included two 2-day tickets to the park and the Resort had a shuttle that took us back and forth, so it was quite nice.
After tucking the boys in and kissing Don, I called my father. He said that Amanda will be moved on Tuesday to a step-down, chronic-care hospital. My sister and her husband went over and toured the facility over the weekend and visited with some of our friends from the ICU waiting room who have also been moved there. They both felt good about the hospital and have agreed to the move. It seems it's a positive step forward - Amanda no longer needs the care of an acute hospital, which means she's improving.
She currently has 5 different infections that she's fighting. That's all the more reason to get her out of this hospital. There should be less bugs floating around the chronic care hospital.
Daelyn climbed in bed with me this morning after Don left for work and is coughing quite a bit. I'm a little concerned about him. He had pneumonia two weeks ago, and it seems to me he may not be completely over it. He has a recheck with his pediatrician on Thursday.
Don went to see his doctor again on Friday for the second time in a week. They put him on more antibiotics and steroids. He seems to be feeling better although he was up during the middle of the night. I hadn't yet fallen asleep (I have a love-hate relationship with Starbuck's) when he jumped out of bed and didn't return. This morning, I asked him why he didn't come back to bed. He said I was snoring too loud. I didn't put on my sleep apnea mask last night - I was just too tired to bother with it. So my husband paid the price. I'm going to have to do better about that.
I'm actually feeling pretty good, although I didn't sleep well last night or Friday night in the hotel. Don will be leaving for England, which means I won't sleep well for two weeks, either, so I'm going to need to go to bed early a few nights this week before he leaves to get caught up.
Dane is scheduled for gastroendoscopy next Monday. It's a surgical procedure that they'll do in the hospital under general anesthesia (twilight sleep). I'm a little concerned about going through this without Don. Please say a little prayer for me. I'm hoping to take advantage of the sleepless nights without Don to get some things done in that house that are sorely behind schedule.
Other than that, life is very typical this fine, almost-spring Monday morning. The laundry awaits me, so I will sign off for now.
Maybe I can manage another cup of coffee (instant, decaf) after switching laundry loads.
After tucking the boys in and kissing Don, I called my father. He said that Amanda will be moved on Tuesday to a step-down, chronic-care hospital. My sister and her husband went over and toured the facility over the weekend and visited with some of our friends from the ICU waiting room who have also been moved there. They both felt good about the hospital and have agreed to the move. It seems it's a positive step forward - Amanda no longer needs the care of an acute hospital, which means she's improving.
She currently has 5 different infections that she's fighting. That's all the more reason to get her out of this hospital. There should be less bugs floating around the chronic care hospital.
Daelyn climbed in bed with me this morning after Don left for work and is coughing quite a bit. I'm a little concerned about him. He had pneumonia two weeks ago, and it seems to me he may not be completely over it. He has a recheck with his pediatrician on Thursday.
Don went to see his doctor again on Friday for the second time in a week. They put him on more antibiotics and steroids. He seems to be feeling better although he was up during the middle of the night. I hadn't yet fallen asleep (I have a love-hate relationship with Starbuck's) when he jumped out of bed and didn't return. This morning, I asked him why he didn't come back to bed. He said I was snoring too loud. I didn't put on my sleep apnea mask last night - I was just too tired to bother with it. So my husband paid the price. I'm going to have to do better about that.
I'm actually feeling pretty good, although I didn't sleep well last night or Friday night in the hotel. Don will be leaving for England, which means I won't sleep well for two weeks, either, so I'm going to need to go to bed early a few nights this week before he leaves to get caught up.
Dane is scheduled for gastroendoscopy next Monday. It's a surgical procedure that they'll do in the hospital under general anesthesia (twilight sleep). I'm a little concerned about going through this without Don. Please say a little prayer for me. I'm hoping to take advantage of the sleepless nights without Don to get some things done in that house that are sorely behind schedule.
Other than that, life is very typical this fine, almost-spring Monday morning. The laundry awaits me, so I will sign off for now.
Maybe I can manage another cup of coffee (instant, decaf) after switching laundry loads.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Amanda
Amanda's case is getting very confusing. They've decided once and for all to not do a big pelvic surgery due to the trauma to her abdomen. Now, we're just waiting. The new pelvic guy at MCG is supposed to get his credentials to practice in GA on March 5. Then he is to come up with a plan of action, laying out each step to get Amanda walking again - according to the Trauma doc, her attending physician.
They've told my sister that she won't be going home until that plan is clearly laid out. Meanwhile, (in another part of town) they received a visit from a hospital Social Worker who informed Amanda that she'll be moving from this hospital which is an Acute Care Hospital to another one in town, a private hospital, that is a Chronic Care hospital. When my sister explained what the trauma doc had told her, she flipped her lid. It seems that it's unheard of for someone to be in the hospital for 6 weeks these days. As soon as they are no longer acute, they're moved to a different facility.
However, Amanda still has some huge issues, not to even mention her 5 pending surgeries. She still has infection in her sutures as well as several other infections. She isn't getting enough calories so they're feeding her at night via her feeding tube, but she's having trouble tolerating it and is getting sick. She cannot keep her bowels moving. She'll go 4 or 5 days in a row without being able to void. She has no abdominal muscles to help with this process and this is a very significant issue.
There are many more issues, several of which have the potential to be life-threatening, but they still want to move her along to a different hospital. She's very frightened by this, particularly after her trip to Columbia.
This situation still needs tons of prayer. Pray for peace, against confusion, and for clarity for all the situations swirling around Amanda.
I'm leaving now to take my daughter on a retreat. We have a book and workbook by James Dobson on preparing for adolescence that we'll be working through this weekend.
Don will be going to England again soon. The paperwork is waiting for the necessary approvals. The next couple of weeks will be challenging with him gone.
On a lighter note, below are pictures from our vacation to Vail last summer. The ski slopes were unbelieveable as was the beautiful scenery. The last two pictures are from Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs - one at Whit's End (a ice cream shoppe) and the wardrobe from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", through which we walked into Narnia.
Hope you enjoy the pics. It's sure taken me long enough!
They've told my sister that she won't be going home until that plan is clearly laid out. Meanwhile, (in another part of town) they received a visit from a hospital Social Worker who informed Amanda that she'll be moving from this hospital which is an Acute Care Hospital to another one in town, a private hospital, that is a Chronic Care hospital. When my sister explained what the trauma doc had told her, she flipped her lid. It seems that it's unheard of for someone to be in the hospital for 6 weeks these days. As soon as they are no longer acute, they're moved to a different facility.
However, Amanda still has some huge issues, not to even mention her 5 pending surgeries. She still has infection in her sutures as well as several other infections. She isn't getting enough calories so they're feeding her at night via her feeding tube, but she's having trouble tolerating it and is getting sick. She cannot keep her bowels moving. She'll go 4 or 5 days in a row without being able to void. She has no abdominal muscles to help with this process and this is a very significant issue.
There are many more issues, several of which have the potential to be life-threatening, but they still want to move her along to a different hospital. She's very frightened by this, particularly after her trip to Columbia.
This situation still needs tons of prayer. Pray for peace, against confusion, and for clarity for all the situations swirling around Amanda.
I'm leaving now to take my daughter on a retreat. We have a book and workbook by James Dobson on preparing for adolescence that we'll be working through this weekend.
Don will be going to England again soon. The paperwork is waiting for the necessary approvals. The next couple of weeks will be challenging with him gone.
On a lighter note, below are pictures from our vacation to Vail last summer. The ski slopes were unbelieveable as was the beautiful scenery. The last two pictures are from Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs - one at Whit's End (a ice cream shoppe) and the wardrobe from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", through which we walked into Narnia.
Hope you enjoy the pics. It's sure taken me long enough!
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