Monday, September 9, 2013
9/9/13
Top of the evening to ya! I hope all has been well with you since I last blogged! It's funny how time gets away from you - especially when you're having fun! I can't really think of anything really exciting that we've done since being home, but I definitely haven't been letting the grass grow underneath me! Gemmie and I have been super busy helping mom with laundry - you know like me clotheslining Bot with the washer and dryer doors, emptying our dressers and closets as soon as mom looks away, and the occasional meltdown!
Aside from laundry, there's office work, house work, you name it, but mom and dad have found time to play with us - momma took us to the park today and oh my, was that fun!
Before we hit the park, I had to have another radiograph of my chest to check for effusion and some harpooning to check my blood! Both went rather well, everyone was very gentle and good at their job - kudos ladies! Unofficially, my chest X-ray was clear and my labs looked swell - COULD I GET A HECK YEAH?! I'm going to see Dr. Pope tomorrow for an examination and the official results, but as far as I know, all is well? I believe there will be another followup later this week but am not for sure as to the tests that they will run? I wouldn't be surprised if they repeat the ray with a subsequent stick.
I'm doing great except for my sleeping schedule. I have to make several pit stops during the night and have a little anxiety in regards to the dark on occasion. I woke the whole dang house up this morning a little before 6am - rooster should've been crowing anyways, right?!
Alright, I better get some zzz's before I gotta pee, need a drink, light check, monster extermination, socks repositioned, blanket tucked just right, etc! You all take care and thank you again so much for your thoughts and prayers - they work.
I love each and everyone of you.
Cheers,
Bean
Thursday, September 5, 2013
September 5, 2013 - THE BEST THURSDAY EVER.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreetings blog readers, from Hays, Kansas! Prayers
have been answered, and we got home around 3 pm! As you can already
guess, I had a good night, obviously! Granted, I summoned for water and
pit stops on a couple of occasions but we're used to that by now! My
O2 sats held throughout the night without any supplemental O2, the x-ray
was clear this morning, and my lab #'s were on the money!
After
me and the fam talked yesterday about how ready we were to leave, it
was kind of unsettling when we stepped back and looked at the
situation! We had been all but ready to leave on a couple of occasions
in the preceding month, but had encountered a couple of hiccups. Glad
we got the hiccups there and not after we arrived home, which is where
the unsettling part comes in - OMG, are we really ready to go home?!
The easy, obvious answer is HECK YES, but what if............?! A wise
man once said you can spend your whole life worrying about the what
if's, live for the moment.
They'd been saying all along about
how they'd have us outta there by 10am if we were in fact dismissed and
danged if the train wasn't running early! Don't know too many
incidences of early that go on in a ginormous joint like that, but I
wasn't complaining! Next it was off to the Donho to pack the rest of
our belongings and give her a scrub before checking out. Gemmie and I
hammered down some mid morning snacks before hitting the road. By 11am
we were west bound and down. We had a layover in Topeka with some lunch
to go before napping the rest of the way home!
Never, ever had I been so excited to see Bosco - and man was he glad to see us! After we had unpacked the family truckster, it was time to fire up the barbie. For the past two or three days, I had repeatedly asked the rents to grill us some steaks, with shaw shaws (Gemmie lingo for french fries), salad, and ice cream for a meal. We had the best meal ever, mostly because it was at home with my family - no nurses, care assistants, doctors, etc! We could've eaten a stale sandwich of expired lunchmeat and moldy cheese and it still would've been the best meal ever, just cause we were home!
As Dorothy said, "There's no place like home!" I hope you all are well, I love you, and I will continue to keep you updated! I have a chest x-ray and labs next Monday and Friday here in good old Hays, America! Gotta get my rest, so I can roughhouse with Gemmie and Bosco! Peace, out, Beanie
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
9/4/13
Celebrate, it's hump day! I had a great one! Last night was great, my tests went great, and my day was great! The docs rounded mid morning and said that everything was...well, great - I'd probably be released on Friday! I know they sensed the anger and sadness in all our eyes, so after they'd reconvened outside, they came in and said that if everything looked satisfactory tomorrow morning - we could go tomorrow! We all expressed how we understood and appreciated everything they were doing for us but we wanted to go home in the world's worst way! However, if we needed to stay - we needed to stay, we understood? They switched my remaining lasix med over to the oral version today so it will all just depend on how the night goes and what the tests show in the morning!
We did get a day pass to go to the park! I don't know who was more excited, Gemma or me - at least we got to blow the stink off! I can't wait to go home and see Bosco and roughhouse with Gemmie on our own turf! Our bathrooms, our beds, and mom says - our germs (she's moderately-severely germaphobic, but shhhhh - keep that on the DL)! Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful place, but I'm ready to wind down this chapter of my life!
I don't know what else to say? I appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers even if I am dismissed this week, because I still have some recovering to do! God and everyone knows once I leave, I only want to come back for check ups - inpatient is for the birds! Tomorrow night I'd like to be home watching the Ravens beat, I mean play, the Donkeys, I mean Broncos - WOW, I really need to go to bed, I played harder than I thought today! XOXO, Bean.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
September 3, 2013
Good day, peeps! I hope your first day back to work treated you well! Mine went very well, thank you very much!
I found myself peeing throughout the night with never ending thirst and losing track of that dang binky - at least one of the above every couple hours. I call upon my butler and he helps me work through these "situations"! The night nurse was a ninja vampire - she snuck in under the radar, doped me with lasix, and stole some blood without me even knowing! My chest X-ray continues to look even better, lets pray that continues now that I'm extubated! Oh yeah, as I was throwing back some pickles at lunch, they came in and got her yanked! Dads on my poop list for constraining me and helping rip tape and flesh offa me, while my my nurturing mommy consoled me! I don't know what us girls would do without that lady?
They're also changing one of my two lasix meds to the oral version today. If my lab values continue to hold then we'll switch the other one tomorrow. Most likely that means they'll observe me throughout tomorrow if everything goes as planned. As long as no problems or setbacks arise, I pray to God I get discharged on Thursday. It's all just going to depend on the following X-rays, lab values, and I'm sure an echocardiogram. PRAY FOR CLARITY AND STABILITY ON MY TESTS; PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY PLEASE - at this point I'll do just about anything to get outa this place!
I had a great day being unchained from that stinking tube, it sucked - in every aspect! Us girls went shopping at the gift shop today cause, well, we're girls and we like to shop! Gemmie and I found the cutest little dolls we just couldn't live without! Dad knows that it's been hard on all of us, especially me and Gemmie, so he and mom bought us some babies! I'm pretty sure next year we won't take a month's vacation and it won't be to CMH...hopefully!
That's all I really know from KCMO. You all have sweet dreams and don't let the bed bugs bite, love, Kaylee
Monday, September 2, 2013
Labor Day '13 (9/2)
What up blog dogs? Hope everyone is ready to tackle the 4 day week! I know I am - all in all I had a productive holiday weekend without having to labor much at all! I had another great night besides having to pee and needing to wet my whistle occasionally - my little kidneys gotta be smokin with all this lasix! My X-ray, labs, and tube output were all stellar again this morning!
I hesitate to blog this but if you're gonna hang em, hang em high I always say! If all goes well tonight and with my tests in the morning, it's bye, bye chest tube! If this is the case, they're planning on switching my lasix to the oral version and watching me for a day - just to make sure that I handle the transition ok and the fluid doesn't come back. All goes well, and it's hello, Hays! If the fluid starts to come back, I'll have a Blake drain installed and then be sent home at some point.
I'm not getting my hopes up, who the heck am I kidding - it's December 23rd in my world! We've been this close on a couple of occasions here lately, so disappointment I understand but everything happens for a reason! Lets pray that the tube does in fact come out in the mañana and the fluid does not reaccumulate! The tweaking of the meds I can live with, but this all kinda goes hand in hand.
I feel like a broken record, blogging the same old story day after day! Bot, mom, dad, and I have explored about every square inch of this hospital that they will let us and we've even set off an alarm or two trying to access areas we're not supposed to. We're a little bored but we're making the best of it - today was family planking day at CMH! Get some rest, you gotta go to work in the morning! I love you all, I'm out, Beanie
Sunday, September 1, 2013
9/1/13
Never did I think I'd still be here in September!
Good news, I had vascular put in a new IV yesterday that pushes and pulls like a dream - no tourniquet required! That made me rest a little easier last night knowing there wouldn't be a stick this morning! Having all that fluid off, I satted in the low to mid 90's w/out any supplemental O2. Mom suggested to dad that we pray for a clearer chest film today and I'll be danged, it was MUCH clearer! That lady is not only pretty, but witty! I believe that I drained about 60mL's off during the night shift and today has been even less...so far! Lets just keep our fingers crossed that it's because there's not much fluid left to drain and my body's adapting to my new physiology! At this point, all we can do is be patient...and pray.
We are adding another lasix today that I could possibly go home on, if it works. They're wanting to keep my blood a little dry in general, that way if there is any fluid that starts to accumulate around the lungs again, hopefully, my blood will carry it off! We'll see how I tolerate it by checking my lab #'s and monitoring the tube output as well as my daily chest film. I just hope I don't glow after all this radiation!
I would hope that by the middle of this week, we are going to have an idea of when we might return home. If not, then mom's gonna have to wash us up some more drawers - any bets on how many times Gemmie will lock them outta the room next go around? Lets hope to heck we don't have to fight that round! I figure that if the drainage remains slowed, X-rays look clear, and my meds are adjusted correctly, the tube will get yanked and we could get our walking papers shortly thereafter. On the other hand, if the drainage continues but everything else is good, then I'll undergo another procedure to change out this tube for one I can go home with, then we'll go home. Absolute worst case scenario, this stupid tube stops draining, X-rays cloud, then we either gotta nurse this tube along, again, or change it out so we can leave! I'll run this by mom as momma hit the nail on the head last night, but I think we should pray for continued, diminished tube output, continued clear X-rays, continued high O2 sats, stable lab values, and increasing energy as I need to play off a little steam with Gemma! I know she misses me oh so much, and I would like nothing more than to go to the park with her! Well, I take that back, we all want nothing more than to spend the night together as a family...at home preferably! This is the only time I've ever stayed away from my mommy or Bot and it's starting to weigh on us all...ALOT!
I'll be back tomorrow, but you all had better have had a ginormous Sunday funday! Football season, dove season, no work tomorrow! If anyone needs to get a hold of me, I'll be here! I love and pray for you all as I appreciate everyone "scratching my back" as well! Until the next time, Go Chiefs, Heart, Bean
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Saturday Night's Alright (8/31/13)
Happy Labor Day weekend, it is upon us! I'm kinda perturbed at dad - he kept saying before this ordeal how he couldn't wait for this holiday weekend b/c he thought this would be far behind us! He jinxed us again, he just doesn't know when to keep his big piehole shut!
Now that I'm done griping about him blabbing, I'm hesitant to share the good word, but I can't help it! Last night was ok. I needed a little blowby O2 to hold my sat #'s a little more steady. I also needed a little OxyContin cause my tummy and chest were a little painful around 2am but I've needed a little help the previous nights also. You try getting comfortable with a tube jammed thru the side of your chest vacuuming out fluid - believe me, it's easier said than done! I slept from then on until my 5am meds and then a little bit til my X-ray at 6 bells.
Good news, my chest X-ray looked better b/c of another round of pachyderm lasix yesterday and MAYBE a LITTLE help from the tube. Then it was lab time, oh how I hate the four letter word labs. I can be totally zoned into max and ruby until I hear someone at the nurses station mention labs, and I start to freak a little! This lady was money though, she came in and took care of business after dad bull dogged me down in the recliner! I ain't kiddin ya, it's like I got fire ants in my panties when I see that tourniquet. We had no more than ordered my bacon, sausage, and apple for breakfast when the np came in to drain some more fluid. Overnight, I think I drained a whopping 40mL - whoopty doo Basil! She started pulling with the syringe and sucked out 95 mL in about 2 mins - now we're getting stuff done! She wanted to go talk to the surgeon to see if he wanted her to pull more cause it was still drawing relatively easy when she had filled all her syringes!
Waiting, waiting, waiting for her return and then the breakfast bell rings. The lady delivered my grindage and I was set - dad even requested that they make my bacon soft and not crispy for me, which they did! He and I have had many a conversation about bacon - we LIKE it! As I was eating, dad was drooling all over the floor! He happened to look at the puddle of drool on the floor and noticed that not only could he give Bosco a run for his money, but my tube was cranking out fluid!
I don't understand this tube. Initially, it took off draining like a bat outta you know where, then shifted into Moses gear, and has once again taken off draining like a banshee! I don't care at this point! Since this morning, I've drained out about 300mL of fluid. The drainage slowed considerably after lunch but I'm just hoping it's cause there ain't much left in there?!
Just think how fat my sats are gonna be tonight! I'm also really looking forward to this X-ray in the morning. The labs, well, I held my #'s today like a big girl, so I'm sure they'll be fine, but I'm anticipatin a stickin on the horizon! Don't worry, I'm controlling my excitement...somewhat, so if I jinx myself, so be it. I just couldn't help but share my sweet little Saturday news with you! Have a safe rest of the holiday weekend. XOXO from KCMO, Beanie
Friday, August 30, 2013
8/30/13
TGIF, I guess?! You know the saying : same stuff, different day? Welcome to my life! Ah, it's not that bad I guess, it's temperature and climate controlled in here! It's funny how during my first experience here some dang near four years ago, my family and I thought this cafeteria food is tasty! The second surgery about 6 mos after the first it was kinda like well, I guess we can go eat in the cafeteria? With this surgery, I would rather eat finger nail clippings dipped in toejam than the cafeteria. I'm sorry for the graphic content, I guess I just lost my "G" rating!
Ok, moving on. I slept rather well while dad stayed at the hospital with me. I think mom knew the needle stick was coming and thought she'd just let dad deal with it?! My sats held well even though the nurse started the O2 immediately. Evidentially she buttonhooked us while the chaplain was in saying prayers with us? This didn't set too well with my dad so he smothered the mask btw two pillows to see how I did on my own? I know what you're thinking, harsh and cruel of my old dad! His OCD can come in handy - I overheard mom say something about a "monitor nazi", so I rest easy knowing that he's keeping a watchful eye over me. Not that my mom doesn't, but daddy can be pretty protective of his girls! Where was I, oh yes, my sats were back up into the low 90's for the night, w/ O2, ;);)!
The X-ray showed unchanged from yesterday, at least the e-F-usion isn't accumulating! Then came the lab draw. I pretty much flipped a breaker when I caught a glimpse of the man carrying the tackle box of torture. This dude might want to consider helping the custodial tech dept rather than the phlebotomy team! He's 0/3 on hitting one of my veins, he has a potty poor bedside manner, and dad thinks his lumbosacral area could use a little adjusting, along with his attitude, because of the way he kept stretching and arching his back between attempts! He was going to send for the ultrasound machine and vascular team but instead two ladies from his team came up and got the job done no problemo! Don't get me wrong, it was still dramatic and traumatic, but at least it was mission accomplished.
Before the docs rounded, the nurse practitioner that drained the tube via syringe yesterday came back and drained off another 30 mL of fluid. She said that we might continue to drain it at regular intervals, it depended on what the surgeon wanted to do? The docs rounded and pretty much said that we're going to continue to let the tube drain and possibly draw off extra w/ syringe periodically. My lab #'s looked good, my sodium had dropped just a couple points but we're going to continue the 3x's /day lasix instead of just 2x's/day and add a little enhancer to see if the situation at hand is still manageable?
I can't imagine anything major is going to happen over the holiday weekend, so we'll remain patient until Monday or Tuesday. Then it's going to be go time for the rest of the week because dads starting to drop hints about our departure next Friday whether we have their blessing or not! He says he's joking about it, but lets just hope we've got the situation handled by then!
Enough! It's a 3 day weekend, and you all had better do some L - I - V - I - N for me! Go, do, eat, drink, play - just don't do anything I wouldn't do! Peace, Love, and Popsicle sticks! Over and out, The Bean, schtt...
Thursday, August 29, 2013
8/29/13
Greetings blog readers, paperbackwriter - not so much these days! Hope everyone's Thursday went well! I really won't know exactly how mine went until the X-ray in the morning and the dreaded blood draw. Y's that u ask? K, here we go.
Mom and I slept well - there's just something about the comfort of ones mamma! My sats weren't as good as the night before, dropping into the high 80's, which required a little O2. The #'s weren't terrible but we were scratching our heads as to why? Low and behold; the chest X-ray, echo, and lack of drainage pointed their fingers toward the chest tube as to the culprit. My chest xray showed mild effusion on my right lung compared to the previous day and the echo confirmed. Member how I blogged that pop had a little OCD when it came to checking the tube? Yeah, well, no chance in hades that it was an external kink! So what then is the deal you ask? The docs said that it was either clotted on the inside, kinked on the inside, pushed itself against my chest wall, or any / all the above! Intervention #1, flusher out and hope she drains - ride this thing out and check X-ray and labs in the morning to monitor progress. #2, if not satisfactory results, increase lasix and see if I can rid this effusion w/out the tube doing much. Lastly, #3, pull the tube and put in a tube that I can go home with for a period of time so I can get the heck outta here.
Mid morning we flushed out the tube and pulled ~20mL of fluid off my lung with a syringe. We also pulled a hunk of hide outta the tube that definitely wasn't conducive as far as flow was concerned! Dad asked about trying to pull more fluid off with the syringe while we were there but they said it should drain on its own. In my almost 4 years of existence, I've learned that what's supposed to happen and what actually happens aren't always the same! I really didn't drain much at all after the flushing but we're just going to pray that my body is taking care of business on its own! Time will tell! Either way, the good Lord is on our side and with him we will all be taken care of.
I just had an epiphany - what if we just asked the carni to stop the roller coaster at the top of the loop and then the remaining fluid would run out my mouth, nose, and ears?! OK, maybe not the best idea I've had but if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears! Well my friends, I don't have much else to say. I hope you all have a good friday and an awesome weekend! Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers! Love from Kansas City, Kaylee
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
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