Day 16

I did a lot of research last night about pneumonia and talked to my friend who is a nurse....didn't want this to completely derail my mom....I felt a bit better as I read and talked but still worried.  I decided that I would make sure that my mom got some probiotics and vitamin D3 in her to keep her good bacteria in good shape.  So today I showed up with my vitamins in hand and a blueberry Activia yoghurt...I put the vitamins in the yoghurt and had her eat...she ate the whole container.

I arrived today with all 3 kids in tow.  She had been asking when she would get to see the kids and that she wanted to see them so today was the day.  When we got there she was in the hall with the physical therapist...she had walked from her door to the other....knuckle punch...way to go.  So they kept doing their exercises and we delivered See's Candy to the nurse's station and the therapy room.  She had the same look as yesterday...bright eyed and breathing better...but she did complain of shortness of breath - I was told that she could get a breathing treatment she just had to ask.

Lunch arrived and it was fried fish, carrots and packed rice I gave her one carrot and she said "that's it no more" so I left her mango juice and fruit pieces - telling her again that she needed to try to eat.  At the same time I know that being sick with pneumonia makes you lose your appetite and makes you very tired.  So ok hopefully this too will get better after this bout is over.

I had also brought her her down comforter and she was so excited to get back in bed and use cuddle up with her familiar blanket.  After lunch they were getting ready to put her back to bed.  I saw my mom standing better than yesterday, on her own even with her very swollen feet.  Way to go mom

I came back about 3 hours later to find my mom tucked in and watching tv.  She asked them to get her up and sit her in a chair so they did....good up for a 3rd time today.....this time she lasted about 2.5 hours.  Every time she is up is better for her - she even ate a "good" dinner the nurse said.  I reminded them to make sure she had her call button within reach....second day of her not being able to reach it.

Better day...Happy weekend all

Day 15

Today I arrived to find my mom in a dark room asleep...misc. food and drinks on her tray too far away for her to get to.  I looked for her call button and it was hanging down in a place she would not be able to get to.  Ugh...I was just feeling better about this place.  I asked her how she was and she kind of rolled her eyes and said "fine no so uncomfortable."  I asked if she had physical therapy and she said no....OK now I am frustrated....why not? I think, so I go and ask.  Turns out that she was sleeping and so they left her with the intent on coming back later.  They were just getting ready to do a chest xray so a guy came and did it in her room.  After that she said that her chest was hurting..that got those nurses in there...they did her vitals and they were all good....but they kept asking her questions.

Before long it was lunch and my mom said (with much feeling) "I don't want it"...I tell her that she needs the food to get stronger..she rolls her eyes again and tells me that she is just so tired and she will promise that she will start all the hard work on Monday and that I should quit bothering her.  I couldn't help but feel so frustrated, mad and sad....I wanted her to get better more than she wanted to get better, I thought.  So I left to find a grocery store in walking distance so that I could get her the yoghurt she liked..Activia Blueberry....all the grocery stores I knew of had closed their doors....man now what?? off to Walgreens..they had strawberry - that would have to do.

When I return back the electricity was out - they were testing the generator (???? whatever that is).  I gave my mom the yoghurt and she ate the whole thing.......yeah finally she ate something.  Suddenly in walks the physical therapist and my mom says how about tomorrow...luckily the guy says "naaaaa come on....so they get her into a wheel chair and suddenly she breathes better and looks clearer.  I watched part of the session and my mom walked with a walker for about 6 steps and does stretches with an exercise band...I didn't watch the whole session as I was sent to investigate whether or not there was a beauty parlor there....there is...my mom and her roommate were happy to hear that.  After therapy they wanted her to stay sitting up for awhile so I took her for a ride to check ou the place she was staying...we even went outside for 2 minutes but the air was cold so we went in again.  After awhile my mom got tucked in and she was ready for a nap so I left, feeling better and very happy that she was seeing how much better she felt being up...hopefully tomorrow it won't be so hard to get her up.  I was energized.

About 5pm my phone rang and it was Eskaton.....I thought "what's wrong?" the nurse said nothing.... but that the xray showed that my mom has pneumonia - shit!!!  Now what??  The Eskaton doctor has ordered antibiotics and I will be there with vitamin D3 and probiotics.  I think that it is a good thing that she does not yet have a temperature....good luck mom...you can beat this too

Sonia and Leif were there this evening and my mom was sitting up and eating a little food..they worked on a danish song and Leif harassed my mom...sounds normal to me

2 Week mark

7pm two weeks ago is where it all started.  It is hard to believe that it has been so long but at the same time it feels like just yesterday.  My mom seems stronger then yesterday, standing more (with support), scooting and moving herself on her bed.  She still is not eating very much but she needs to in order to get stronger.  I know she is worried about that which goes in must come out.  I did bring her a mocha milkshake from Baskin and Robbins and she drank about half, not sure how to convince of the food need.  I am waiting for her nurse to call me so I can talk to them about that among other things.

After visiting today I did feel a bit better about the place.  My mom says that everyone is very nice to her but I think she forgets about her call button and just yells out.  She gets a bit upside down on her time of day... I know the doctor told me that she would be a little "off" for awhile but sometimes it seems like she is getting pain meds although I think it is more related to when she gets really tired then she can not think straight.

Today my mom got evaluated by physical therapy and occupational therapy...she will be getting therapies 2x a day 7 days a week.  I spoke with the therapy office there at Eskaton and she told me that we visit and she isn't in her room we will probably find her in the therapy room and we are welcome to be in there with her.  The plan is to do one session in the am and one in the pm.  Maybe working out a little will make her more hungry.  I talked to them about "making her" participate in her therapies if she ever says "no" they said that they can not make her go that it is her "right to refusal" - I thought uh-oh and then I asked if they would call us and they said yes...that will be something I ask them each day.  My mom still gets the days mixed up thinking that it is the next day every time she sleeps.

The doctor came in just before I left this afternoon to do her first assessment of my mom.  My mom was so tired that she was dozing off but the doctor just kept talking right to her - nice I thought but funny.  Her feet are really swollen and a little blue area on one foot....the dr.  said that it is normal because of all the fluids she has received - that this happens even weeks after surgery as well as bruising from the amount of blood she got.  And her breathing...she assured me that she is checked often and her oxygen is adjusted as needed.  The oxygen tank is so big...it looks like a missel and my mom catches a glimpse of it and thinks someone is standing there.  As I finish this I am waiting for her nurse to call.

It is back to work for me tomorrow...thank goodness I have all next week off for spring break.  Intrigued to see what tomorrow brings.

Day 13 part 2

Ok so we moved my mom to Eskaton Greenhaven 455 Florin Rd. for rehabilitation.  She needs to get her stamina up and strength back.  I know visiting hours are between 7am-7pm...she is in the B wing room 17 bed A..she is sharing a room.  I am hoping now that she can be helped to a wheelchair and taken outside when we are there....they said that there would be a wheelchair assigned to her.  Deborah (my friend who is an awesome nurse) told me that the sunshine is the best way to get her vitamin D and help her internal clock re-set itself so she can get back to good sleep at night and working during the day.

I would like to see her appetite increase now...she is not eating much but I hope that they make better food so that she will start eating better.  She is not on any restrictions so maybe it is time for a protein shake to get her started.

While I was there I felt a little frustrated but had to keep reminding myself that she had just arrived and the staff had to get acquainted with her and she needed to be assessed before they could truly do the right thing by her.  I hope that when she needs something they help her help herself, I don't think that is too much to ask.

I see her getting a bit stronger each day...I witnessed her scooting herself along her bed and Sonia told me that she sat at the side of her bed unassisted.  I realize that I sometimes have high expectations of the staff and know that, much like teachers, they are caring for and protecting someone else's "precious cargo" and that they work for shit money BUT also, just like teachers, it is their duty to do their best job for that "precious cargo".  I also know that bribery can be a "beautiful" thing.....See's Candy here I come.....BECAUSE I fully expect that my stubborn mother will get back to the feisty woman she was before....and she deserves their time and attention and a little ass-kicking to get there.

Thanks again for all your well wishes and cards....I will take more over there today and decorate her room.

Day 13

So I know a lot of you read this faithfully in the mornings so I wanted to write to say that today was a very busy and full day....but my bed is calling me so I will write more details tomorrow.  Everything is alright and my mom was asleep when I checked on her at 8:15pm.  Thanks all.

Day 12

Today my mom had a few visitors...nice.  When I arrived she was sitting up in bed trying to eat her yummy breakfast...the food is a bit drab but they really do try to make the patient happy.  Prune juice has found its way to every meal tray and prune juice is not my mom's friend...the first day she thought it was coffee and took a mouthful and promptly spit it out...she has told the nurses and doctor that prune juice can be taken out of her diet...yuk.  She seems to be leery of stuff they bring as she had been looking forward to a milkshake and she got a soy based formula type thing...nasty she said - so today when they brought ice cream she said no way...it's soy, I assured that is was "real" so she ate some..and some yoghurt and some fruit otherwise she still doesn't feel super hungry.

She still is getting her days confused but after talking to the doctor that is just a side effect of being in the hospital and he also said a bit of it is from the surgery too.  He said that mentally she wouldn't completely feel like herself for a few...there was a name for the syndrome...but it escapes me right now.  Her doctor did come in and check on her and talk about moving.  He is "watching" her 2 smaller incisions because that still show signs of infection so as long as she doesn't spike a fever and her white blood cell count continues to decline then she will move tomorrow.  It seems to be a "hurry up and wait" situation...trying to be patient.  I will post the place where she will be as soon as I have the exact place.

The cards you have been sending are decorating her walls and she reads all of them.  She always asks "how does so and so know?" because they care about you that is how....she really likes them.

She is still very tired especially after a session with the physical therapist.  Today I watch her session and Dan is so good with her....he doesn't take her stuff...when she sat down and said "I'm done" he said "ok for a minute" and after that minute she was up again.  Today she stood quite well supporting herself with one hand on a cane and Dan held her under the arm...he did say that a couple of times she "did it all herself".  Today's task was to march in place...she did it for a little while and he pushed her a good bit...then she plopped back into the chair and said "ok that's it"....he said "well you plopped down and that is not good sitting so we have to do it again" she said "just once" he said "well until you get it right".  I found myself laughing many times because of the look on her face.  We talked afterwards and she told me that I can not imagine how hard it is....and I that I could imagine and I know it is hard....but she is going to have to go through some hard times to get to the ultimate goal.  I am hoping that she gets new inspiration when she moves and I hope that they don't just let her sit around, that they push her too.  We have been assured that there are many therapists there and that she should get a lot of pushing.

I know my mom can do this she just has to feel better to really get motivated.  I believe that if she could eat some more protein and good food that her stamina will increase....it will come.

Day 11

I have to keep reminding myself that my mom is only 11days from a very serious surgery...I think I am (and she) is expecting that she would be a lot farther.  She gets very frustrated with her situation and she is totally turned upside down with her days...it seems that whenever she sleeps she thinks that it is the next day.  I talked with the doctor about this and he assured me that she would get better and better....he said that people who are in the ICU and then in the hospital get turned around on their days and nights and forget where they are...he used the example of walking up in the dark at a hotel room...totally disoriented.

Today she got the IV out of neck and another put in her arm...it is still not the "right" PIC line that she needs so they will be trying again to get.  She found out today that her left wrist is fractured (hair line) and she is wearing a soft splint, he wants it so that he can make sure she gets the right antibiotics for her incision as it is "oozey, red and angry".  I hope they stay on top of it....for her sake.

They are talking about moving her and it may happen tomorrow, not totally sure yet, the decision will be made tomorrow.  When she does get moved she will be at Eskaton in Greenhaven on Florin Rd.  Her nurse today said that she used to work there and they have a lot of therapists that keep them moving around.  I think the fact that she can get in the fresh air too will make a difference.  I plan on being there for the move and am wondering if she will need her own things from home or is it an extension of the hospital???  I hope all they have said is true as she has been told that this is temporary so that she can get home.  My mom has to work hard before this will happen...she is not thrilled with doing the work hopefully that will change...my brother and I have told her that she needs to make the decision to fight and get mad and get it done.  I know that my mom has the ability.

The doctor talked to me at length today about her situation...I asked him his professional opinion about her outcome...he told me that when my mom came in he really did not think that she was would make it (she almost didn't) and she has....he thinks her outcome looks good but she has a haul ahead of her.  I told him that I had read that recovery for this was about 3 months (according to the internet)...he said that she would feel better at 6 weeks and he thought the estimate was more like 6 months before she will feel more like herself and not be so tired.  Hope he is right

I think it is time for short visits...like 10-15 mins...it will help to keep her awake more and get her mind off of things...the nurses are busy with her a lot of the time and we all have to leave the room while they do what they are supposed to do.  She is in room 431B at Kaiser South.  Like I said she will be moving at some point and I may not be able to post it prior.  She shares a room and there isn't a lot of room for many guests.  That is all for now.....thanks for the positive thoughts I truly appreciate it as does my brother and mom - it really means a lot.

 

Day 10

Today I arrived at my mom's room and my brother Christian was there and so was the "patient coordinator" Leila.  Leila came to me on the first day and told me that she was worker on her discharge - what?  She just got here and had a very big surgery and you are talking about discharge - weird.  But I have never been in this situation before and was caught off guard.  I have been very happy with my mom's care but the admitting department and the discharge department are another story.  I don't really understand the pressure that they put on a family for money and discharge plans.  Frustrating.  I just want to make sure my mom is where she needs to be before they discharge her.

She is in another room, out of ICU, and she still has the central line IV in her neck - we were told that she would not be moved until it was out because it was dangerous (because of infection)..the doctor was even upset that she still had this line in.  She did get her catheter out and today she wanted a frapachino so I brought her one.  She drank a bit but otherwise she said that she has very little appetite.  But she is drinking lots of water and sprite.  I talked to her about trying to eat so that she can get stronger.  She sat in a chair today for 2+ hours and is supposed to sit at every meal so hopefully she is getting up even though she doesn't always want to......I think it is sinking in that my mom has a lot of work to do so that she can get to herself and be at home again.

I have redecorated her room with all the pictures and cards that people have sent...the nurses comment on them and how happy they make the room.  I am right now on hold to talk with her nurse to check on her...nurse Jeanine said that she had a good day and that Jeanine has been making her move a lot and she ate a little dinner.  Sleep well all

Saturday Day 9

Called this morning to check on my mom to find out that they had moved her...."what?"......they said that they weren't doing that until this early afternoon....oh well...can't control everything - right?  Talked with her on the other floor and she said that my mom was awake and doing good...I told her I would be there when my babysitter arrived about 10...when I got there my mom where I had been....Christian was there.  I got there just as Christian was leaving.  My phone rang and it was the admitting department that wanted to talk to me.  I thought that they probably just wanted money....I was right that is exactly what they wanted.  I have been so happy with the care my mom has received and how friendly and helpful the medical staff has been but it makes me crazy that they keep bugging me for money....you will get your money I told the admitting clerk and walked out.

I noticed that she still had her central line (the IV in her neck) which they are not supposed to have on that floor....the PIC nurse (she specializes in this new IV) was there prepping my mom for this procedure..she told me that I would have to leave and it would take about 45 mins.  So I went and got a coffee and a milkshake for my mom.  I arrived back at the hospital to find my mom with many new bruises and no PIC line...the specialist was not able to do and they would have to wait for radiology to put it in with a microscope....and that it would happen sometime today.  I left at 4pm and it still hadn't happened.

She is on a regular diet but doesn't eat much....she says that she is not hungry but I told her that the food will help her get stronger so she has to try.  She ate some grapes that's it.  She seems like she is handling her pain ok not so much groaning and saying owwwww.  She asked for lipstick and the newspaper.  Her swelling has gone way done but she still has swelling in her "purple" left arm...the doctor told me that the IV got put into the tissue rather than the vein so her arm is bright purple.  It was interesting hearing the nurse explain her arm to the other nurse at shift change...she said that my mom had fallen at home and did that....I quickly corrected her that it had happened in the ER.

I ran to my mom's house as she is worried about her bills....while I was away the doctor came in to see her....of course I was out - I always like being there when the dr. comes in I learn so much.  I guess the doctor told that she was doing really good and did she want to get out of there??  WHAT?  didn't she just get out of ICU and you are already talking about getting out??  She would have to move to a skilled nursing rehab for awhile but he thought that she would be ready to go in 2-3 days....crazy.  I start worrying because she is so weak but I have to trust that they know what they are doing.  Sonia called the (possible) care home and said that the woman was so nice and explained it all to her and she to me...I feel better.  It would be a temporary move just until she was strong enough to get back to her home...I really want her to able to get back to herself.....that is my personal goal for her and I know it is hers.  She just will have to work really hard physically to make it happen....no just sitting around.  Move - Move -Move....oooooowa!!!!!!

Friday Day 8

It has been one week since my mom entered the hospital - wow!  In her 77 years she has only been the hospital to give birth to Christian and myself but this time she is there for the fight of her life...I was interested to see how she would be as a patient...pretty good I must say although she doesn't always want to do what they tell her but she does.  She always asks them if she really has to do it...."I don't want to" she says.  The nurses just say "too bad do it anyways".   She has to do this breathing thing...where she has take a deep breath it is funny because she has a hard time doing it mostly because she blows instead.

It is hard to believe that 8 days have passed....it feels like so long ago and yet it also feels like yesterday.  Her surgeon came in today and told her that she would be moving out of ICU and into a "normal" room...she told him that she did want to, that she liked it in there, did she really have to leave "paradise" (her words) and he told her that he learned in medical school that more you stay in the hospital...the more you stay in the hospital.  It turned out that because she had to get a new IV and there was only 1 nurse who could do a PIC line...she will be staying in ICU one more night.  Tomorrow at sometime she will move to a regular room.

Today the nurse and I got her up and into a chair, not that easy, so that she could eat real food...she wasn't that hungry but she tried it and she ate a little bit of a sandwich (saying how boring the food was) but she drank a lot of water and juice.   Deborah (my friend and the mother of the girls I nannied years ago) has been very helpful.  Today she came in and talked to me about making sure I don't let the nurses get lazy with my mom when she gets to the next room...make sure that she moves a lot - transferring herself from the bed to a chair and walking whenever she can...she told me to make sure the nurses get her out of bed for all her meals and that she not sit in bed and eat but instead sit in a regular chair.  Right now she is still really weak and as Deborah told us both for every 1 day in bed it take 3 days to recover.  So my mom asked Deb for her opinion on where to go when she is discharged....and Deb said a rehab hospital for 7-10 days so that she could get even stronger before she goes back to living alone.  I could see that this was hard for my mom but Deborah kept assuring her that it is temporary just until she is stronger...this place would be used to insure she receive physical therapy and 3 meals a day.  We will cross that bridge when we get there.

I have been there everyday...I am grateful that my job encouraged me to take this week to figure it all out.  I can not imagine juggling my kids, my life, my moms' situation and a job...thank goodness I didn't have to add my job.  So I am off to bed....thank you again for all the well wishes - we are certainly headed in a positive direction.

ps my brother has really stepped up and it is a relief for me that he is there to help.  And I am grateful for Shirley, Leif and Sonia, and Ann and Ray-helping me so I can get to pick up my troops.

Thursday 6:30pm

The day started with a new nurse Brie - I am learning so much about the nursing profession and all the different types of nurses - and my mom giving her a bad time....Brie was telling my mom what to do and all along my mom would say "I don't want to" and Brie would just come back with "you have to"...the staff is very good about stopping me from "helping" my mom...she must do it herself but sometimes it is just easier (the mom in me) but I am making her do things and she is not always happy about it.

 Today the intern came in and told her that she could try to have some juice...if my mom could have jumped she would have she was so excited but that just meant that the order had to be written before she would get it and she must have asked 5 times where that frickin juice was....it's coming I told her.  She told my mom that she is doing very well, and that she is one lucky lady to still be with us.

Ever since this happened I have been curious about her memories...so I have asked her what she remembers.....she has spotted memories about the whole thing starting....severe stomach pains at 7pm while she was fixing a drink...she dropped the drink.  I asked her what made her wait unti 3:40am to call for help....she said that she just kept thinking that it was nothing serious and that it would go away but eventually she knew that it was more than she could handle....thank goodness Shirley answered her phone.....my mom remembers the ambulance ride and pretty much nothing else..which is good.  Yesterday the surgeon asked her if she could remember anything from the operating room - that they were not able to give her enough sleep medication, because her blood pressure was so low, and they had to start the surgery anyways...she assured him that she has no memories of being cut - he looked relieved (that was his biggest worry after the surgery - that she would have bad memories) he even told her that they had to do a few chest compressions...but by the look on her face I don't really think she got that.  She does remember that one of the doctors was Danish and spoke to her in Danish before they put her out...small world.

My mom still has not sat on her own unless in a special chair and she has not stood alone - I get worried when they talk about moving her to another floor (out of ICU) there is such a sense of security knowing that she is being watched closely there is a 2 to 1 ratio patients to nurse and on the other floor there is a 5 to 1..but moving means that she is progressing right??!!  So for now that is the next step...to move to another floor.  Sometimes I find myself thinking farther into the future and wondering what will happen when the stay at Kaiser is done....will she go home???!!!  I sure hope so for her sake - she said that many times today.....she wants to go home.  So I use that (and so do the nurses) whenever she says she doesn't want to do something, hopefully that will keep motivating her to work hard.

Again thank you for all the well wishes and positive energy going her way.

Wednesday pm

Arrived at the hospital to my mom sitting up in bed and I could see her hair had been washed she was talking at an audible level, her voice a little shaky but she was talking and making fun with the nurse.  So far the nursing staff has been soooooo nice and and they are right there to give the sarcasm back at my mom.  I wanted to know why she hadn't slept very well the night before and she couldn't tell me - the nurse had told me that she tried to ask her and she didn't know.  I know my mom to be very sensitive when she sleeps...no noise of any kind....but as I watched her today I could see that she was restless and groaning...so I kept showing her how to push the pain button - I think it is interesting that she wasn't also getting it automatic because she was really completely unaware of that button and would just fall out of her hand.  So I really think that the lack of pain meds last night was the culprit.  Hopefully she will get a better night sleep tonight.

When it rains it pours...as I was sitting there my brother called to tell me that my dad's mom (Marna) had fallen - like a tree - and he was on his way to Methodist to meet the ambulance...I almost laughed - really???  She was checked out and sent home...she is 99 and will be 100 in September.

they did manage to get Lis into a special chair....she was not thrilled about being moved but she tolerated it reasonable well.  Her nurse told her that tomorrow will be longer...as I left this afternoon the physical therapist was in to do an assessment to see where to go from here.

My mom told the doctor that she is hungry....he told her that although that was a good sign she was only able eat ice chips.....I don't think that ice chips have ever tasted so good.  She did wake up and tell me that she had a carmel in her mouth.....in her dreams.  She is still in ICU and did not hear any plans to move her yet....her nurse told me that she still needs monitoring so that this was the best place for her.  She needs to be able to maintain good oxygen levels and the machines check that constantly.

Things continue to go in a positive direction....I find myself just thinking about right now and trying not to go negative about the future....she has a haul ahead of her and I know that she will get through it.  Thank you again for your positive thoughts.....it means a lot to her - we told her today about all the well wishes.  

Wednesday 6am

Spoke with my moms' nurse this morning and she told me that my mom has not slept much all night but has been "really funny" making the nurse laugh - her blood pressure has stayed under control and she has been doing her breathing exercises NOT happily.  The nurse had no real reason why she hasn't been able to sleep as my has not really given her a reason....I suspect that it is her sensitive ears....she DOES NOT like any noises (not even the ticking of a clock) when she sleeps so I suppose that without the sleep meds she is hearing everything...and it is VERY loud in the ICU.  Happy Wednesday all I will post this evening

Tuesday 3/20 pm

arrived home from the hospital after an eventful day.  I arrived to my mom very awake and alert....sitting up with the support of the bed still on the ventilator....the room was abuzz with people trying to determine when to get this tube out.....my mom was very ready as it was very annoying to her especially being that she was awake.  The decision was made to remove the tube after a blood test and x-ray...blood test done waiting for x-ray....everything takes longer in the hospital so 2 hours later x-ray arrives.  I was not allowed in the room while they were x-raying so I went out to text Christian when I came back in my mom's room was very busy because something was bothering her and they couldn't figure out what....turned out that some how the tube had started to come out by itself - so that just expedited the process and out it came...so 2nd big hurdle DONE.  Now it is onto strengthening her lungs so that she can maintain good oxygen.  There is work involved...it is not going to be easy and I invision some frustration from my mom as we progress.  But we keep telling her that she has to do the work or get the tube back in.  Not an option by the look on her face.

She can talk at a whisper and has her sarcastic comments for us all.  Today her blood pressure was high and they are working to keep that down as the graph needs more time to heal before it gets all that abuse.

Again today I was reminded how lucky my mom was to have made it this far....I found my self thinking that my mom must have met my dad again on that operating table and I could hear him tell her "Lis get your ass back there.....this is not your final final"...and tonight my son Michael said that he thinks that his morfar sent my mom back so that she could keep teaching how to cook the danish good food - so cute.
I know my mom has a long road ahead of her but I also know that she is a feisty lady who doesn't take too much shit from anyone...so I think that she will get through this bitchin along the way and fighting the nurses on all the exercises she is going to have to do.  It is a journey...

Tuesday 3/20 6am

called this morning to find out that they have woken my mom up.....as he said trying to decide if she is ready to get this tube out...this must be the "test" that the respiratory therapist (RT) talked about but I can not help but feel guilty not being there for her....but then I think maybe they have done this every morning without me knowing.....maybe not knowing is a good thing??.  My curiosity has been peaked wondering if I will find her without they tube when I arrive there this morning once I can get my family to all their destinations.  This is when I really appreciate my job - there is no pressure from my bosses to return just that I do what is right for me and my family.  I am for sure taking today off and shall see the rest of the week.  I just really like being there when this tube is in although being that she is mostly asleep......it is a double edge sword.  Christian has really stepped up and is spending a lot of time there....we have a sort of system worked where I handle the days (with help) and he the evening about bedtime to see the doc again or just check in....teamwork is a beautiful thing...I will write more later when I get home from the hospital.  Have a good day

Monday 3:40pm

Arrived at the hospital about 8:30 to meet Leo my moms nurse with an arm full of donuts for the hard working ICU staff...they were all happy - and I learned that a bit of kindness for the nurses brings perks for the patient and us.....Leo went and got ahold of the surgeon so I could talk with him as I had not yet seen him since the surgery....when I thanked him he thanked me letting me know that it meant a lot to them...so perks for the nurses it is.

Today my mom was very comfortable and peaceful, she slept most of the time but would open her eyes when i spoke to her and even looked and smiled at a picture that my son Michael had made for her.  She reacted with her sarcastic smirk when we would ask if she was comfortable and when asked if she was in any pain she shook her head no and put the OK sign up.  I was told that she is on a ventilator weaning protocol so that at each visit of the respiratory therapist things are adjusted so that my mom is doing more and more....each morning they put her through a few tests to see if they should try to remove it completely and so far she is not completely ready.  I asked the doctor and the RT and nurses about the amount of time that was safe and they said about 2 weeks but they were a long way away from any trouble.  Her lungs sound good and they want her really comfortable so that she will tolerate the removal of the tube.  I also talked to 3 outside people who are long time nurses and they assured me that this is NOT too long to be on the tube and that her body has sustained such trauma that time is good.  So I have to trust that they know what they are doing.  The doctor is thrilled with her pee out put and the #'s that matter in urine are where they should be so right now dialysis is seeming like it's not going to happen...let's keep our fingers crossed.  Cards and pictures are great - the nurses let me tape them up so feel free to send cards if you like or have your kids draw a picture....you can mail them to me 4304 Vulcan Dr  Sac, CA 95864 and I will make sure she gets them

Again I appreciate all your positive thoughts and well-wishes....my mom is a tough old bird and seeing her feisty personality today made me feel really good.

Monday 3/19 5am

just spoke with her nurse, a new male, he said that she had a restful night and was following all commands (I chuckled as she doesn't normally like to be told what to do) and her vitals are stable and good.  He thought that they would probably start the weaning process again to take the tube out but that the doc had not been there yet to make that call.  I am hoping to be there by then so I can watch and stop them if she is in too much pain.  I have been told that she could stay on this at the most 2 weeks but the thought is the sooner the better...but I keep reminding them that her body has taken a major hit and I am fine with one more day of quiet rest....I am no doctor but I know time is a great healer and the trauma that she sustained was hugh.  Both Christian and I would rather have her comfortable and not hurting then to do this too soon.  The hardest part is when they mess with her and I can see how much she hurts.....they were really good yesterday about upping pain meds before they messed with her..so maybe they have that more under control and today will work.  I so appreciate all the well wishes - someone asked me about sending things to the hospital at this point there can not be flowers or balloons in the ICU but once she gets moved then she can have things and visitors.  That is all for now....more later this evening after I have been there.  Happy Monday

Sunday March 18

Just got home from the hospital.  I spent 4 hours with my mom today for the most she was sleeping very comfortably no alarms going off today at all (yesterday alarms were blaring all day).  The started with Christian waiting to see the elusive doctor, who didn't come while we were there, the decision being made not to attempt to remove the breathing tube today...I was happy about that.  It is hard to watch your mom when you know that she is in pain.  Today she also had a female nurse after 30 hours of male nurses...it is funny the difference....today she was lotioned and soft music was played for her to drown out all the loud noises of the ICU and her room was totally straightened up - nothing like a women's touch.

Her ventilator was turned down so that she is initiating the inhales and today she was given a diuretic to see if her kidneys would work and they..........did....it is funny but Sonia and I were clapping like the first time our kids pee'd - but right now this are great steps as the surgeon had told us that she was in kidney failure and that she might need temporary dialysis something I know my mom would have hated.  The nurses work hard to keep her meds up and I have learned that it is a very fine balance of pain meds and sleep meds.....you learn a lot just sitting in the room.

All in all a good day hopefully for her too

3/18/2012 am

Talked with Tony, her same nurse from yesterday, and he said she did good through the night but theat they were keeping her pain meds up so she would be comfortable and that they did not think that they would try to remove the vent tube today either....that she was just still in too much pain.  Relief for me..I just want her to be comfortable.

Yesterday I spoke with them about this tube and how long that it would be ok to leave it in...he told be 2 weeks....the nurse and respiratory therapist said that Kaiser is very good at trying to get them off quickly BUT I do not want her to be so uncomfortable.  I did tell all of them that this is the FIRST time my mother has been a patient in her 77 years..so I think that this will be a process.

3/17/12 am

hi everyone,

just wanted you to know that i spoke with Kelly, her 3pm-11pm nurse, and she said that my mom was doing amazingly well and that it was a shear miracle that my mom made it through all of this.  At 530am I talked with Anthony, her night nurse, and he said that she slept all night and was still sleeping and that she was doing well.  

Last evening while I was talking with Kelly my mom was very agitated while I was on the phone so I called Christian to go back and see what is happening maybe he could calm her down.  He called to tell me that he felt my mom was shaking her head "no" when asked if she is in pain when she meant yes....because as soon as she got the dose she relaxed and fell asleep.  His thought is that if we see that too to get them to give her a dose so that she can calm down.

Still the biggest issue is urine output but Christian and I are hoping to be there when the doctor makes his rounds this morning.  I will keep everyone posted.  

today 3/17/2012

Today they tried to take my mom off the ventilator (we were told that this would not happen until Sunday) while I was there I could see that as they backed off the medication (to get her to wake up) she was very uncomfortable and seemed to be in pain.  After awhile the staff could see that she was not tolerating it and I asked them to please not do this today and so the reverse it and she then was so much more comfortable and slept peacefully.  She is fully aware of our presence and will reach out a hand toward us.

The doctor and nursing staff are very pleased with where she is at this point and we all know that this is a bit of a miracle that she is still with us....she is a touch lady.

She is still in ICU and unable to receive company.  I will keep you all posted as to when company will be very welcome.  My brother and I appreciate all the well-wishes, prayers and good thoughts you are sending.