Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Grandparent’s Day

Today students at Creek View Elementary (Cayla’s school) honored their grandparents.  Last  year at this time Dad had just been released from the hospital, and he was unable to make a trip to College Station.  Mom came to represent the grandparents, but Dad vowed that this year he’d be there too.  He definitely held up his end of the bargain and today they both joined her for lunch.  I picked up Chinese food for the group, which included some “Wonton-less” Wonton Soup for Pawpaw.  Smile

IMG_2080IMG_2082IMG_2084IMG_2085

Cayla thanks you so much for coming today, Mimi and Pawpaw! 

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Home Again, Home Again

Dad made it home yesterday afternoon.  Tuesday Dr. Young surgically inserted a new line, but that proved to be quite difficult. I guess Dad has had so many lines, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get them in.  Thankfully they were able get it done, and now we're just hoping it lasts... a long time. Dad's sore, but very happy to be back home!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Comings and Goings

To say nothing has been going on is not exactly true.  Up until a week ago, there really was not much going on.  With us - no news is good news!  Dad managed to stay pretty healthy and he'd been able to get out of the house quite a bit driving around and visiting some friends. 

Last weekend he was admitted to the hospital in El Campo with pancreatitis.  Hospital stays aren't exactly fun, but the stay in EC wasn't bad at all.  It was practically like being at home.  To say Mom and Dad were "happy" to not be sent back to Houston is a huge understatement.  We've had two hospital stays in Houston this year (one in March and one in August), and each short stay stretched on much longer than ever anticipated.  It really is impossible to get discharged from that place!  This time (in El Campo) Dad stayed for a few days then was released (just in time to watch Game 1 of the World Series).  The Ranger's poor performance was quite possibily more disappointing than the hospital stay itself.

As of today they are back at ECMH with a line infection.  Antibiotics were started, the line was removed and a temporary one was inserted.  Monday or Tuesday they will surgically insert another.  It looks like he will be there for at least the next few days. 

Luckily because things had been going so well, Mom and Dad both were able to make it to College Station for Cayla's birthday a few weeks ago.

 Last year Dad really wanted to make it to Cayla's birthday party, but he wasn't discharged yet.  Last year at
that time we were on the count down.  However, one year ago today, he was loaded up and taken home.  

Blast from the past - 10/29/09

 
Sometimes it seems like ages ago, sometimes it seems like not so long at all, but it's amazing how far he's come.  We have so very much to be thankful for!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Pictures I Promised

I’m sure this is already long forgotten, but if you go back a couple of posts you’ll see I promised some pictures from Leslie and Gary’s wedding.  Here they are!

 P8060575

P8060574

Saturday, August 14, 2010

He's Home!

Who would have thought that a battle with pancreatitis could last practically a week?  Getting into Hermann is fairly easy.  You can come by helicopter, ambulance, car, or just walk on in off the street.  Of course I'm not recommending it as some place to book your next outing, but if you need to - you can get there. Getting discharged is nearly impossible.  After they determined the pancreatitis earlier in the week, mom and dad started pressing them about his release.  He was so ready to go home, but each day came and went and at the end of the day he was still there.  The main treatment for pancreatitus is "Nothing By Mouth", and REST!  What part of that can't be done from home?  Actually, what part of that doesn't he already do?  Finally, we got word that he might be able to go home on Friday. Boy was he ready!  However it looked like Friday might turn to Saturday with still no release.   Last night around 11 he made it back to El Campo.  THANK GOODNESS!  Another night in the hospital might have landed him in the Psych Ward!   He's encountered these same hold ups each time he's been released.  The first time, I wanted to blame it on the fact that he'd been there for 9 months.  I don't know what excuse I can give for the other times, but I do know that next time something pops up he'll fight that trip to Hermann tooth and nail!  He's surely glad to be back home, and some healthier days ahead are definitely in the plan. How nice it would be to not have to go back until the next round of surgeries?

**The next round of surgeries are still some time away.  Duke did an evaluation during this stay, and determined that it's just not ready.  We were really hoping that the next surgeries would be soon, but unfortunately the waiting continues.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Detour

A trip back to Hermann was in order this weekend.  Some vomitting followed by tightness in his sides made him worry that something was amiss.  Yesterday morning they headed to Houston.  They could have taken their time (and packed more than just the TPN), because Sunday's turned to Monday and no assigned room, much less diagnosis.    All day was spent back in Emergency, but after midnight they were finally moved to Jones 6.  The X-Ray showed nothing, and we're still waiting on the official results of the CT Scan. 

More to follow when a definitive answer is reached.  Dad's ready for that definitive answer, because he's ready to head back home.  He clearly remembers just how hard it is to get released from that joint. 

On happier note:  Friday, Mom and Dad headed to the Magnolia area for Leslie (Greg's daughter) and Gary's wedding.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon! 

Friday, August 6, 2010

Road Trip to Forney

Another family get together attended!  This time all the way to Forney to attend Rose and Karl’s Pool Party and finally meet cousin Logan!
P1010113P1010072 P1010085

Monday, July 12, 2010

Happy to be in New Braunfels for the 4th of July

How nice is it is to have all of us back there together.  We’ve been making this annual trip (with aunts, uncles, cousins, and even second cousins) for over 20 years.  The first time I remember going was the year I graduated from kindergarten… so maybe we’ve been doing this for closer to 25 years.  We were so glad to have Mom and Dad join us again this year. All of the hours spent packing countless medical supplies was well worth it, and Dad even got to hit the golf course to ride along with the guys.  DSC02092 DSC02117 DSC02054 DSC02071 DSC02073

On the medical front, no news these days.  He’s just trucking along and waiting for what the next step may be.  All’s well! 

Friday, May 21, 2010

Going to the Chapel – June 2011

Dad get ready, you have another daughter to walk down the aisle. 

Congratulations Bonnie and Michael!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Road Trip

media1

He’s driving!  I would say “watch out El Campo”, but Lord knows he’s a better driver than most.  His first trip was to Nada to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Happy Mother’s Day Mom; it looks like you have your chauffer back.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Trip to Aggieland

There hadn't been much to report.  Things continue to go pretty well.  Last Friday a trip to College Station was in order to see Suzanne receive her Aggie Ring. This was Dad's first trip back Aggieland and boy were we excited to have him back!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter.  Dad is doing well, and it was so great to have him celebrating with us this year. It wasn't hard to beat last year's Easter spent in the STICU conference room.   

The kids were happy to hunt eggs out in the yard; rather than the hospital's ground floor lobby.  :)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Home

Mom and Dad made it back home last night around 11. The plan for a Friday discharge did not work out after Dad's fistulas were not draining properly. That was resolved on Friday and after another night of observation Duke agreed he could go home on Saturday. Saturday turned into quite a waiting game, but they made home (just significantly later than they hoped).

Thursday, March 18, 2010

All's Well

Surgery went well, and Dad made it back to his room. He was nauseous, but so happy he could talk. Thanks to everyone for the prayers.

Out

I don't know how it went, but it's finished and he's been in recovery since ~2:30. Dr. Duke was going to go in a cauterize some more of the area around the fistulas which is probably why it took a little longer. That's just speculation... maybe it was always going to take a few hours. Mom's heard that he should be back in the room in 30 minutes.

Surgery #96

Dad will go to surgery today at 11. Keep him in your prayers, and I update later when he's out.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Waiting

THe waiting continues.  The surgery to close the trach area is finally set.  It will be done Thursday at 11.  Dad will stay at least until Friday (hopefully not any longer).  He's tired of being there, but glad that a plan is finally in place.  This hospital is kind of like a jail cell... it's a lot easier to get in than to get out.  :)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Moved to the Floor

Well this stay has turned out to be a little longer than we hoped. He's moved out of IMU and back to Jones 6.  The room is pretty small, but again we're hoping for a pretty short stay.  Duke did a bedside procedure the other day to cauterize some vessels around the fistulas, and the bleeding has completely stopped.  At this point they are trying have the trach surgery done while he's there.  The area where the trach formerly was is scheduled to be closed on 3/31.  This procedure will be done at Hermann and require an overnight stay. Now that the bleeding is no longer causing concern, it would be nice to just have this done and not have to return anytime soon.  Hopefully it will all work out.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Very Brief Update

Some tests were run yesterday and the source of the bleeding could not be found. However the bleeding did stop or at least slow considerably. Today they will try again to find the source. If he is not actively bleeding today it will make it difficult to find where he once was bleeding. The IMU stay doesn't seem so bad; hopefully it will be a short one. :) Thank you all for your prayers.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

ENT turns into IMU

Louie went back to Houston to his ENT follow-up appointment.  The last procedure went well and they've scheduled the trach hole to be closed in another surgery (03/31/2010).  This will require an overnight stay, but sounds fairly simple.

That brings us to the here and now.  Louie has had some bleeding from the abdomen area that started this morning.  After his ENT visit he headed to the Hermann ER where Dr. Duke was paged.  Dr. Duke has put him in IMU to run some tests.  I don't believe this to be too alarming, but he needs to find the source of the bleeding and ultimately make it stop.  I'll try to post an update when I know a little more.  If anyone still reads this, send a short prayer up for him this afternoon. 

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Out

He's out of surgery and all is well. He's currently sleeping in recovery.

#95

Thankfully it's been a while since we've had a numbered post. Today, however, remember Louie in your prayers as he goes to Houston for a day surgery (#95). An ENT will do some work where his trach previously was. I'll update later when he's out.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIE!

Putting 56 candles in Jello sounded a bit risky so we opted to go this route instead. We still had to sing rather quickly as dessert melted.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Appointment with an ENT

Add another Dr. to the list - an ENT.  The area where his trach once was has not closed.  This makes it it difficult for him to speak - hence why he puts a hankie (or folded pillowcase) over the opening when he talks.  This particular ENT was recomended by Denise, and today they headed to Houston for their first appointment.  The ENT saw some granulation in the area, so before they work on closing this area dad will have a short surgery.  This procedure will be on March 2nd, and then at a later date he'll possibly have a second procedure to close the hole if the steri-strip method does not work.

While they were in the Med-Center, a trip to Jones 6 was in order (the Pavillion and Floor where they resided for so long).  It was great to be back... JUST FOR A VISIT!  Of course everyone thought that dad looked amazing!  I have to agree... he does.  :)

Not a whole lot going on this week, but on the 28th Dad turns 56.  Since he slept through his 55th birthday, we'll have to really celebrate number 56!

Monday, February 1, 2010

KC Family of the Year

This weekend we were awarded K.C. Family of the Year.   The entire evening was quite amazing.  Bonnie, Suzanne, and I had been given some insight that this award was coming.  We came to El Campo to secretly be there when Mom and Dad's names were called.   The honor came as a complete surprise to them, but apparently Dad had another surprise of his own.  Upon receiving the award he motioned for a song to be played (something he'd arranged earlier in the evening).   The music started (That's the Way Love Goes - "their song" from when they were dating) and he asked mom to dance.   Who knew he was such a romantic?  :)  Being able to dance again is something that they talked about in the hospital (dating back as early as the ICU days).  They always said they would dance again, even when Dad was not yet able to even walk.  Saturday night was so sweet.  They danced, and they danced very well.   The K.C. officers and their wives circled around them as if it were the first dance of their wedding.  There weren't many dry eyes in the hall.