Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Sorry I skipped Tuesday's Update!  We didn't get home until late so I just went to bed!
As most of you may already know, Rik was admitted to CMH for pneumonia yesterday afternoon.
APPARENTLY, during her doctors appointment on Friday, she was given some antibiotics but was also instructed to go to CMH to be checked in for a few days.  HOWEVER, she did not tell anyone about that part until yesterday afternoon!  Lani took her to CMH where the orders were waiting for admit.  She is on an antibiotic IV drip along with fluids.  Her health has been a little poor, and she of course, not wanting to call attention to herself, didn't relay the severity.  She hid it well.  Although, over the weekend, she managed to vacuum, clean the bathroom, do the dishes and a few other chores just so they would be done before she checked in.....STRONG WOMAN! 

Hank & his Mom at CMH

Hank and I went down to visit with her last night once she was situated.  Jan, Kevin and Lani were also making their rounds.  Her spirits were up and she was cozy in the bed with a nice toasty blanket fresh from the warmer.  We also let her know that Dudley, their sheltie, was safe and sound at our house playing with Mattie.

This afternoon I made my rounds.  Went to see Rik first, because I knew Al would ask about her.  The night before I had used my new iPad....yep I got one, gotta love the barter system, and took pictures of Rik and Hank and also of Al and I.  Between the two, they loved the pictures.  I really think the iPad is going to be a fun thing for all of us to share with!  You will know what I mean when you see the silly pictures we did!
Anyhow, back to my rounds.......
Went in to see Rik and she was sitting in her chair with a huge plate of fresh fruit and cottage cheese.  As she daintily ate, she told me about her busy morning.  First thing she went and had an Xray of her lungs.  She said that the spots on her left side were present, but small.  her color was definitely better today too.  She also walked around the entire hospital!  She said, "I swear they took me up and down every isle in this building!"  She was a little embarrassed wearing the hospital robe she said.  She thought everyone must thing she was silly.  I reminded her she was in a hospital, and that she should be thankful her buns weren't peering from the back!!  LOL  She quickly agreed!!  As we talked, she continued to eat all of her cottage cheese and fruit....this is probably the most I have ever seen her eat!  She told me about her french toast breakfast and lukewarm coffee.  She ate that too!  Of course her appetite has been next to nothing since Al has been away.  It is just great to see her helping herself for a while.  I brought her one of Al's soft and fuzzy blankets that I had just pulled from the dryer before I came in.  But instead of keeping it, she said I should take it do Al, besides she didn't want to mess up the good thing she had going with the blankets from the warmer whenever the nurse comes in, which is usually often.  This was so cute to hear her say. She slept well last night, and that's when she figured out the "warm blanket system".  Her doctor came by last night and told her he would like her to stay until Friday....of course longer if needed.  I told her to think of it as a hiatus at a spa!!  Nice adjustable bed, (I love hospital beds), cozy warm blankets, room service, walks on an indoor track, cable....RIGHT?  Now that she was finished eating all her fruit and cottage cheese, she noticed another covered plate.  She thought it was the cover for her fruit.....as she opened it, there was a beautiful plate of stir fry veggies with chicken I believe......evidently, she circled both, thinking fruit was for lunch and veggies for dinner....NOPE!  But it did really smell good!  She offered it to me but I declined.  Now if it were chocolate.....I would have jumped right on it!  LOL  We also talked about the movie Murphy's Romance.  She said it was a bit of a chick flick, yes, her words, but I would probably love it.  I really admire Sally Fields.  She is going to have Lani get a copy of it for me.I asked if there was anything she needed before I headed out to visit her other half.  She told me to tell him that she totally understands about the pain in the butt!  "I have only been here for one night and my butt is getting awfully sore!"  I assured her I would tell him and share that they are both having a "pain in the arse." 
On that silly note I then headed out to visit Al.  thankfully the two facilities are close to each other, and close to my house too.....makes it so much easier!  I arrived to see Alvin and he was just finishing up his PT.  He was sitting in the wheelchair and then used a walker and walked over to the bed and sat down.  BEAUTIFUL!!  Again, his strength is better today than yesterday....it IS really that apparent, to me anyway.  He had walked down the hall about 25' before really needing to walk faster to get back to his room.....He needed to commode!  Again, especially with his wonderful chocolate milk high fiber feeding tube diet, knowing and being able to control his stool is a great feat!  Could you do it?  Sorry for the visual, but it is hard to control....with any pride left.  So, HE DID MAKE IT!!  Moving on....his morning too was very busy.  OT first thing at 8:30am, then the SLP joined in while he was upright and had him swallow melting ice chips. His swallowing has gotten much harder, meaning stronger, and he is able to handle about 90% of his secretions without using suction.  Clearing the throat is still kind of hard, but we practice often....
Of course, after getting back into bed he asked about his bride.....I relayed all the good news and showed him the picture of her and Hank from the night before.  We also talked about him not worrying about her.  I told him she is in the best place she could be, with a staff of incredible nurses!! He knew these nurses well when he was in CMH, Hank too for that matter!!  Rik is actually in the same room Alvin was in when he was released from the CCU.  Michael, Jan's boy was also in this same room years earlier with his back injury.  It has been a positive vibe room for this family, so it shall continue!  Alvin was quite tired after the PT and his busy morning so I got him all situated and left him with happy thoughts of Rik being at "the SPA" 

Again tomorrow I will do my rounds and get more pictures.  Hope you are all healthy and happy!

Gotta love the iPad!!
Alvin got a kick out of this!

A little more serious!! 

Dudley hanging around his new favorite bush!