UPDATES:
Sunday July 5, 2009 Rain
Doug continues to get a little better.
Filling out endless forms has qualified Doug for social security disability starting immediately.
So now Doug is officially not going to return to work....he is also on long term disability through his employer & we've still got alot of stuff to figure out....insurance, retirement....me going back to work....
Our big issue was settled by the doc….Doug wants to drive….I’m afraid he is too weak, light-headed & chemo brained to drive.
The compromise….Doug can drive short distances and no highway!
So one of the first trips he takes is to the Dodge house ( not a dodge house anymore but they will do service, but I can’t pay with dodge bucks) to get the oil changed in my truck….highway necessary…..”no I stayed on the service road”….I think he totally compromised the compromise.
Anyway it is nice that he can drive to physical therapy & walmart & Albertson’s & Edward Jones & the bank & the barber and Ace hardware (he got me the garden cart with bicycle wheels that I wanted)….& maybe church.
He was going to go to church today but didn’t feel good.
He canceled on going to the Ranger game with the guys too.
We did go to an Independence Day barbecue at friends up in Sanger.
Jean was in town staying with us & she went too.
Food was great, watching the skeet/trap shooting was great, visiting with friends was super & the fireworks were spectacular.
We’ve got another busy week ahead....chemo Thursday, PT on MWF.
Tomorrow is wound care, for the MRSA infection on Doug’s bottom….it is healing nicely and looks like the infection was stopped by the antibiotics….but we have to go to wound care 3 times a week….down from every day….since I am capable of changing the dressings etc…see what being a capable person gets me….Nurse Nancy at your service….I can give shots, IV fluids & now wound care.
Wednesday I have to get estimates to get Doug’s truck repaired….in the big storms a couple of weeks ago a neighbor’s tree fell across the bed of the truck.
Didn’t do much damage but the truck has less that 3400 miles on it….it is still so new.
A large limb fell across the front walkway & we couldn’t get out the front door….I sawed it up and got it out of the way all by myself…see what I’m capable of ;)
Gil & Larry & Gil’s electric chain took care of the tree on the truck….Doug & Choco supervised…..I hauled the brush into a big pile that is now killing the grass in the front yard.
I have discovered Facebook…wow….how does it know who to suggest as potential friends…..it has hooked me up with folks that I know, but don’t even have “friends” in common with ?
And Jean has me wanting an iphone….the Koi pond app is addicting….but…no I’m not getting an iphone no way.
Jean did manage to sway me to get a wireless modem and she did the painful set up…..2 long calls to tech support …we lost internet connection during the first call….
So now I can use the computer in all 3 rooms of our little home....& now I can stay up late playing with the computer without bothering Doug….the line is in his bedroom.
Still no knitting but I did finish weaving ends in on 3 potholders and 2 scarves….and I sewed reflective tape to an orange hunting vest so if I get a notion to go walking after midnight I’ll be visible.
That’s all for now.
Love Nancy
P.S. Tufa purrs for Doug now.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
OK, I know I need to get with the blogging again.
Here goes.
Doug’s schedule is keeping me busy.
He has blood tests every Monday at the clinic in Lewisville and Chemo every Thursday.
He was going in on two more days for a liter of IV fluids…but now, finally, I get to administer the fluids at home !!! :) A home health care infusion nurse met with us yesterday and got us set up and trained. Now we will only have to go to the clinic Mondays & Thursdays. He has physical therapy 3 days per week.
Pt is really helping him. The therapist is working on balance, walking, steps, strengthening legs, stretching. He is supposed to be up and walking for 15 minutes at a time….that is still hard….but we’re working on it…..Viki and I sit on the porch and have a glass of wine and watch Doug walk back & forth….I don’t want him to get out of my site, so he walks about 2 houses away in both directions.
In addition to all our clinic and PT appointments we are applying for social security disability and/or retirement as well as long term disability through his employer….I am so sick & tired of forms….but to our surprise so far meeting with social security employees have been pleasant and quick…..not what you would expect when dealing with government employees….they have been very helpful…..now we’ll see if I still feel that way if Doug’s application gets denied and we have to appeal.
I am also dealing with the ever present medical insurance screw-ups….and bills & invoices & explanation of benefits etc….what a drag but I am on first name basis with the insurance gals….they don’t even ask me for all the ID numbers etc….they know who I am.
Even keeping up with all Doug’s meds is challenging as sometimes prescriptions get changed weekly so I run out of pills before the insurance says I can refill and no one pharmacy stocks all the meds so one day this week I had to go to 4 different pharmacies: WalMart, Savon, Walgreens, & Texas Oncology.
Doug really is doing better.
He can stand long enough to cook now…he fixes eggs for himself every morning…..he doesn’t like my cooking or lack thereof…..he made spaghetti & stir fried squash & sausage earlier this week and is making BLT sandwiches tonight.
He invited Viki over to eat with us tonight….Viki will bring the wine…Larry is still working down at their farm.
I have been very, extremely good about the wine intake lately…..went for over a week with out drinking and had one, just one little glass yesterday after mowing the front & back yards….maybe that’s why I haven’t been blogging :)
Well I haven’t been knitting or sewing either…not enough hours in the day.
I have been reading.....magazines....getting to know all the celebrities and beauty tips....and I finally finished the super trashy romance novel.....what a hoot...I would get embarrased reading it all by myself ....I do not recommend it... if this is what women are reading they have no right to complain about the guys reading the articles in Playboy.....haven't read a Playboy magazine lately but it really did have interesting articles and was not nearly as trashy as the romance novel.....I'm going to stick to chemistry and knitting and bird books.
OK that’s all for right now.
I’ll try to write more often.
Love Y’all,
Nancy
Here goes.
Doug’s schedule is keeping me busy.
He has blood tests every Monday at the clinic in Lewisville and Chemo every Thursday.
He was going in on two more days for a liter of IV fluids…but now, finally, I get to administer the fluids at home !!! :) A home health care infusion nurse met with us yesterday and got us set up and trained. Now we will only have to go to the clinic Mondays & Thursdays. He has physical therapy 3 days per week.
Pt is really helping him. The therapist is working on balance, walking, steps, strengthening legs, stretching. He is supposed to be up and walking for 15 minutes at a time….that is still hard….but we’re working on it…..Viki and I sit on the porch and have a glass of wine and watch Doug walk back & forth….I don’t want him to get out of my site, so he walks about 2 houses away in both directions.
In addition to all our clinic and PT appointments we are applying for social security disability and/or retirement as well as long term disability through his employer….I am so sick & tired of forms….but to our surprise so far meeting with social security employees have been pleasant and quick…..not what you would expect when dealing with government employees….they have been very helpful…..now we’ll see if I still feel that way if Doug’s application gets denied and we have to appeal.
I am also dealing with the ever present medical insurance screw-ups….and bills & invoices & explanation of benefits etc….what a drag but I am on first name basis with the insurance gals….they don’t even ask me for all the ID numbers etc….they know who I am.
Even keeping up with all Doug’s meds is challenging as sometimes prescriptions get changed weekly so I run out of pills before the insurance says I can refill and no one pharmacy stocks all the meds so one day this week I had to go to 4 different pharmacies: WalMart, Savon, Walgreens, & Texas Oncology.
Doug really is doing better.
He can stand long enough to cook now…he fixes eggs for himself every morning…..he doesn’t like my cooking or lack thereof…..he made spaghetti & stir fried squash & sausage earlier this week and is making BLT sandwiches tonight.
He invited Viki over to eat with us tonight….Viki will bring the wine…Larry is still working down at their farm.
I have been very, extremely good about the wine intake lately…..went for over a week with out drinking and had one, just one little glass yesterday after mowing the front & back yards….maybe that’s why I haven’t been blogging :)
Well I haven’t been knitting or sewing either…not enough hours in the day.
I have been reading.....magazines....getting to know all the celebrities and beauty tips....and I finally finished the super trashy romance novel.....what a hoot...I would get embarrased reading it all by myself ....I do not recommend it... if this is what women are reading they have no right to complain about the guys reading the articles in Playboy.....haven't read a Playboy magazine lately but it really did have interesting articles and was not nearly as trashy as the romance novel.....I'm going to stick to chemistry and knitting and bird books.
OK that’s all for right now.
I’ll try to write more often.
Love Y’all,
Nancy
Stuff I wrote but didn't get posted - old news.
MondayApril 20th 2009
Stuff
Hi,
We’re still in the hospital.
Since Doug’s K and Mg levels continue to remain below normal a kidney doc was called in.
K & Mg affect heart and muscle.
Doug’s heart continues to do strange things……irregular heart beat, a different regular rhythm each time it recovers, his pulse races sometimes and drops down into the 30s sometimes.
The kidney docs don’t seem to think there is anything wrong with his kidneys, but they put him on a med that is supposed to “spare” potassium, K….and have taken him off of all K supplements oral & IV….to see what happens???
I got a reply from the Myeloma support group and he said it sounds like the docs are throwing a lot of “stuff” against the wall to see what sticks.
Doug is OK today. A little tired, a little nausea….but he is eating and walking and reading and doing his exercises with the 2 and 3 pound weights.
The myeloma support group also recommended I switch to the Medical City docs.
But when we were discussing making the move to bigger hospital, things started picking up here……
The specific myeloma tests were ordered….we don’t have the results yet as it is not a quick test.
The kidney doc started his tests and tweaking of meds.
So we decided to wait and see what results we get.
One of the kidney docs actually said well as far as he was concerned we could go home Tuesday…..not going to happen…..we know we have to wait for the latest withholding supplemental K results…..plus they took Doug off a drug , Florinef, which is one that really perks him up….he is having trouble remembering things today and the master nurse said that’s probably because he is off the Florinef?????
He was taken off the Florinef because it might have been causing the K troubles……
OK now it is Tuesday May 5th, 2009
Doug is back on the Florinef.
We have been home since last Tuesday but I haven’t had time to write.
Since Doug’s electrolytes seem to be stabilized the docs decided to release him to my care L
We still have clinic appointments Mon. & Thur. and chemo on Thur.
Add to that physical therapy on Tues, Wed, & Fri. and I don’t get a day off.
Had the first physical therapy session today.
Doug needs to learn how to walk again….his hips are the weakest points according to the therapist.
I got Doug one of the 4 wheel walkers with a seat for resting.
He didn’t want one but now that he has used it he agrees it is much easier than the old 2 wheel walker.
We got two handicap hang tags for the trucks.
The nurse told me to go to the DMV…..but after waiting about one hour there I was told you have to go to the tax office.
No problem.
Doug stayed in the truck listening to sports.
Got the Tags and used one immediately at Skaggs.
Doug wanted to get fresh produce so he shopped with me.
I got wine.
Doug got tomatoes, bell pepper and cucumber for salads.
The Doc says the myeloma is under control?
The “M” protein spike is down and the free light chain test is “normal”
So now we are dealing with the effects of chemo on his kidneys and the weakness from being hospitalized so long.
He has an MRI scheduled for his spine, Monday the 11th to check for bone involvement.
We are still planning on consulting for a second opinion at Medical City….but that is a chore for me in addition to all the other medical insurance phone calls I make every day…..how do folks who don’t have someone to handle all the other stuff survive?????
Now in other news:
I got my sewing machine out and stitched reflective tape to a hunting vest so I can go walking after dark.
I actually remember how to use the Bernina machine I bought in ’77.
Tufa the “new” kitty is at home with us now.
I can actually rub his tummy without losing my hand.
He really likes Doug and shares various afgans with him…..Little Kitty tolerates Tufa…..Tufa is keeping the 15 year old active…it just has not been cold enough in the house for Little Kitty to WARM up to Tufa….but summer is on the way…and the thermostat wars are already on….
I had the thermostat set on 75…..went shopping and got home to a humid 79 degrees.
Doug would be happy with 100 degrees all the time…..I think we need a balance just to keep the humidity down.
That’s all for now.
Ok now it’s Saturday May 9th.
I’ve been getting messages about not updating the blog.
Today Doug is sleeping all day. He had Chemo, Velcade and Dexamethasone Thursday so he was really hyper-up Thursday afternoon & Friday….now he will sleep all weekend.
We are babysitting Choco our across the street neighbors “baby” black lab.
Viki & Larry are doing their civic duty and manning the voting at town hall.
Choco was very hyper at first but now she is comfortable….Tufa has been ignoring the fact that there is a very large black dog invading his space.
The first time Tufa met Choco we thought Tufa was going to attack….he was in full panther on the prowl mode…..
They are not friends yet.
Choco was great friends with Kitty Three.
Ok that is all for now.
I hope I’ve caught up.
Thanks for the reminders to keep on writing.
At the clinic I found a poetry book by Jewel Kilcher….you know Jewel the singer….maybe I should start wowing y’all with poetry…..
Love,
Nancy
Stuff
Hi,
We’re still in the hospital.
Since Doug’s K and Mg levels continue to remain below normal a kidney doc was called in.
K & Mg affect heart and muscle.
Doug’s heart continues to do strange things……irregular heart beat, a different regular rhythm each time it recovers, his pulse races sometimes and drops down into the 30s sometimes.
The kidney docs don’t seem to think there is anything wrong with his kidneys, but they put him on a med that is supposed to “spare” potassium, K….and have taken him off of all K supplements oral & IV….to see what happens???
I got a reply from the Myeloma support group and he said it sounds like the docs are throwing a lot of “stuff” against the wall to see what sticks.
Doug is OK today. A little tired, a little nausea….but he is eating and walking and reading and doing his exercises with the 2 and 3 pound weights.
The myeloma support group also recommended I switch to the Medical City docs.
But when we were discussing making the move to bigger hospital, things started picking up here……
The specific myeloma tests were ordered….we don’t have the results yet as it is not a quick test.
The kidney doc started his tests and tweaking of meds.
So we decided to wait and see what results we get.
One of the kidney docs actually said well as far as he was concerned we could go home Tuesday…..not going to happen…..we know we have to wait for the latest withholding supplemental K results…..plus they took Doug off a drug , Florinef, which is one that really perks him up….he is having trouble remembering things today and the master nurse said that’s probably because he is off the Florinef?????
He was taken off the Florinef because it might have been causing the K troubles……
OK now it is Tuesday May 5th, 2009
Doug is back on the Florinef.
We have been home since last Tuesday but I haven’t had time to write.
Since Doug’s electrolytes seem to be stabilized the docs decided to release him to my care L
We still have clinic appointments Mon. & Thur. and chemo on Thur.
Add to that physical therapy on Tues, Wed, & Fri. and I don’t get a day off.
Had the first physical therapy session today.
Doug needs to learn how to walk again….his hips are the weakest points according to the therapist.
I got Doug one of the 4 wheel walkers with a seat for resting.
He didn’t want one but now that he has used it he agrees it is much easier than the old 2 wheel walker.
We got two handicap hang tags for the trucks.
The nurse told me to go to the DMV…..but after waiting about one hour there I was told you have to go to the tax office.
No problem.
Doug stayed in the truck listening to sports.
Got the Tags and used one immediately at Skaggs.
Doug wanted to get fresh produce so he shopped with me.
I got wine.
Doug got tomatoes, bell pepper and cucumber for salads.
The Doc says the myeloma is under control?
The “M” protein spike is down and the free light chain test is “normal”
So now we are dealing with the effects of chemo on his kidneys and the weakness from being hospitalized so long.
He has an MRI scheduled for his spine, Monday the 11th to check for bone involvement.
We are still planning on consulting for a second opinion at Medical City….but that is a chore for me in addition to all the other medical insurance phone calls I make every day…..how do folks who don’t have someone to handle all the other stuff survive?????
Now in other news:
I got my sewing machine out and stitched reflective tape to a hunting vest so I can go walking after dark.
I actually remember how to use the Bernina machine I bought in ’77.
Tufa the “new” kitty is at home with us now.
I can actually rub his tummy without losing my hand.
He really likes Doug and shares various afgans with him…..Little Kitty tolerates Tufa…..Tufa is keeping the 15 year old active…it just has not been cold enough in the house for Little Kitty to WARM up to Tufa….but summer is on the way…and the thermostat wars are already on….
I had the thermostat set on 75…..went shopping and got home to a humid 79 degrees.
Doug would be happy with 100 degrees all the time…..I think we need a balance just to keep the humidity down.
That’s all for now.
Ok now it’s Saturday May 9th.
I’ve been getting messages about not updating the blog.
Today Doug is sleeping all day. He had Chemo, Velcade and Dexamethasone Thursday so he was really hyper-up Thursday afternoon & Friday….now he will sleep all weekend.
We are babysitting Choco our across the street neighbors “baby” black lab.
Viki & Larry are doing their civic duty and manning the voting at town hall.
Choco was very hyper at first but now she is comfortable….Tufa has been ignoring the fact that there is a very large black dog invading his space.
The first time Tufa met Choco we thought Tufa was going to attack….he was in full panther on the prowl mode…..
They are not friends yet.
Choco was great friends with Kitty Three.
Ok that is all for now.
I hope I’ve caught up.
Thanks for the reminders to keep on writing.
At the clinic I found a poetry book by Jewel Kilcher….you know Jewel the singer….maybe I should start wowing y’all with poetry…..
Love,
Nancy
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Black Boogers and Green Fingernails
Black Boogers and Green Fingernails
Today is Monday April 13th, Happy Birthday Jean.
Doug is still in room 114 at Lewisville Medical Center.
He was doing better Thursday & Friday but Saturday he started getting weak again. Jean came and spent the night with me Friday.
Jean and her kids came in from Monroe for Easter.
They dropped Jean off at the hospital so they could visit with Doug, then go on to Lisa’s in Southlake.
Jean & I got “permission” from Doug to leave the hospital early.
We went home and Viki came over and we all had some wine.
Viki left and we had some more wine and played Wii…..we had a great time.
Some of y’all think I am a neat freak….while Jean was at the house I don’t think I saw my counter top or the top of the bed….she travels with a lot of stuff J Sorry Jean J
Saturday Doug’s folks sat with Doug at the hospital and when his buddy Skip visited he got recruited to take Doug for his physical therapy walk around…so I could stay home and get needed stuff done.
Jean & I did yard work and straightened up the garage.
We mowed, weed eated, put the plants out & watered them, picked up fallen limbs, pulled weeds….my gardening glove fingers wore out so my fingernails ended up bright weed green.
We worked hard…my arms are still sore.
Jean says I let her take a break around 2 to eat.
Well we didn’t get started until sometime between 11 & noon.
Jean took the opportunity to sleep late and I took the morning completing and faxing legal info stuff to the Allstate lawyers concerning Doug’s lawsuit related to the accident he had August 10th
I figured how to make copies and send faxes on the printer Daddy got for us.
We also learned you can’t make copies when kitty Tufa is sitting on the document feed. He was just sitting on top of the printer watching the blank paper feed into the machine.
We almost couldn’t get the mower started.
Jean knows some stuff….she twisted the spark plug cover and that did it.
She also lowered the mower to its lowest setting…..my yard is scalped…..she says well you won’t have to mow for awhile.
We got cleaned up and Jean ran to Walmart and Chilis. Mary joined us for Chilis take out supper.
Then they decided to make cookies and fudge….in my kitchen…..It was funny….they don’t think I have a clue when it comes to cooking but I had to find all the stuff they needed….even a veggie peeler…..and I didn’t think I had one…..but there were 3 in the top drawer!
Ok you need to peel & shred carrots to make carrot cake cookies J
They left around 8 and still had time to do more shopping on their way to Lisa’s.
They called me and told me someone’s cows were out on Turbeville lane, but the police were already there.
How neat would that have been….well I found these stray cows in my yard so I decided to keep them…..maybe next time.
I need cows…..first I need fencing….then I need cows.
Now that the land is cleared we can get the property surveys out, find the corner pins and HIRE someone to build some fences.
How did the land get cleared you might ask?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the big fire.
Y’all have probably heard about the wild fires in North Texas. Well when I got home from the hospital Thursday around 11 pm I had phone messages…..1 your barn is not in danger the wind is blowing the fire away from it……2 your barn is in imminent danger….these were around 3 & 4 pm.
We had heard there were fires up in Montague county but didn’t even think they would be on our property! I called neighbor Virginia at 11 and she reassured me the building and trailer were OK.
When I woke up the next morning I was a little fuzzy…I know there was something else besides Doug, the lawsuit etc…. that I was supposed to be worried about…..took me a cup of tea then I remembered…..the fires !!!!
Well the barn & Avion travel trailer didn’t burn…..pretty much everything else did.
I went to check on things Friday.
There were still active fires burning and smoldering.
I had to wait for fire trucks and equipment for awhile before I was allowed to proceed on Dye Mound road.
There were helicopters dropping water on the fires.
It is sad and neat and exiting at the same time.
I drove around the black moonscape and took some pictures….forgot once and started driving with the truck window down…..my hair and clothes got full of ashes….the truck still has a dusting of ash inside….I washed the outside off….but when you breath in black ashes well you get black boogers….gross….
Large trees are still OK, but places that were once impenetrable briar and scrub are now clear.
The entire top of the hill and the whole north side are black.
I really won’t have to mow much out there for a while.
Some folks pay to have property cleared with a controlled burn….Mother Nature did ours for us.
The big oak tree over the kittycat sacred piles of rocks graveyard was spared. Down by the tank I found a burned turtle.
I did a few country chores, no mousies in the building or the trailer.
I visited the neighbors. They are picking up the mail for us. Jim says all our mailboxes were knocked down last week, he put mine back up.
Jim just got a new dozer last week and he used it to help control the fires….he dozed a vegetation free fire brake around the barn and trailer…thank you, thank you, thank you…..
Virginia suggests she & I need dozer driving lessons in case something comes up when Jim is not available.
Then I headed back to the hospital….I had to wait again as smoke and fire equipment blocked the road so I went the long way around.
Easter Sunday was busy.
I went to Wanda’s for the Graff family get together.
Ate a great breakfast and made a plate to take to Doug & watched the kids hunt Easter eggs.
Went to the hospital and spent some time with Doug.
We did two laps around the nurses’ station, but Doug is again very weak and out of breath.
Then I went to the Mee family get together.
Then back to the hospital.
In spite of how bad all the following sounds Doug is alert but weak & sleepy. He is eating and completed the income taxes today.
Doug is having heart issues…..his heart rate is fluctuating…..and setting off alarms in telemetry when the rate drops too low.
He had fever and he just doesn’t feel good at all.
I need to talk to the cardiologist….the nurses & the doctor on call are suggesting Doug needs a pacemaker. In addition I think without saying the exact words they are hinting that Doug may not be getting the care & attention he needs here….”he is in a hospital….why don’t they do something about his symptoms along the lines of finding out what is causing them instead of just treating them and doing the “let’s wait & see””
So now I am really freaking out……I have requested to meet the cardiologist…..I have written a letter to the Dallas Myeloma support group asking for advice…..
The next step is to get in touch with the oncologists at medical city who did his stem cell transplant to get a “second opinion” to see if they think I should move him over to them?????? But they are part of the same Texas Oncology group…..Do I need to go out of the group???? I don’t know what to do.
I am not going to “jump” today but it is 5 pm and we have not seen the cardio doc…..and I need to see what Doug’s doc says this evening….there has been some indication today that something was said on our behalf to the doc last night or early this morning…..or Doug’s vitals and the tele reports and nurses notes have caused increased concern and action.
That’s all for now.
Keep in touch.
Love,
Nancy
Today is Monday April 13th, Happy Birthday Jean.
Doug is still in room 114 at Lewisville Medical Center.
He was doing better Thursday & Friday but Saturday he started getting weak again. Jean came and spent the night with me Friday.
Jean and her kids came in from Monroe for Easter.
They dropped Jean off at the hospital so they could visit with Doug, then go on to Lisa’s in Southlake.
Jean & I got “permission” from Doug to leave the hospital early.
We went home and Viki came over and we all had some wine.
Viki left and we had some more wine and played Wii…..we had a great time.
Some of y’all think I am a neat freak….while Jean was at the house I don’t think I saw my counter top or the top of the bed….she travels with a lot of stuff J Sorry Jean J
Saturday Doug’s folks sat with Doug at the hospital and when his buddy Skip visited he got recruited to take Doug for his physical therapy walk around…so I could stay home and get needed stuff done.
Jean & I did yard work and straightened up the garage.
We mowed, weed eated, put the plants out & watered them, picked up fallen limbs, pulled weeds….my gardening glove fingers wore out so my fingernails ended up bright weed green.
We worked hard…my arms are still sore.
Jean says I let her take a break around 2 to eat.
Well we didn’t get started until sometime between 11 & noon.
Jean took the opportunity to sleep late and I took the morning completing and faxing legal info stuff to the Allstate lawyers concerning Doug’s lawsuit related to the accident he had August 10th
I figured how to make copies and send faxes on the printer Daddy got for us.
We also learned you can’t make copies when kitty Tufa is sitting on the document feed. He was just sitting on top of the printer watching the blank paper feed into the machine.
We almost couldn’t get the mower started.
Jean knows some stuff….she twisted the spark plug cover and that did it.
She also lowered the mower to its lowest setting…..my yard is scalped…..she says well you won’t have to mow for awhile.
We got cleaned up and Jean ran to Walmart and Chilis. Mary joined us for Chilis take out supper.
Then they decided to make cookies and fudge….in my kitchen…..It was funny….they don’t think I have a clue when it comes to cooking but I had to find all the stuff they needed….even a veggie peeler…..and I didn’t think I had one…..but there were 3 in the top drawer!
Ok you need to peel & shred carrots to make carrot cake cookies J
They left around 8 and still had time to do more shopping on their way to Lisa’s.
They called me and told me someone’s cows were out on Turbeville lane, but the police were already there.
How neat would that have been….well I found these stray cows in my yard so I decided to keep them…..maybe next time.
I need cows…..first I need fencing….then I need cows.
Now that the land is cleared we can get the property surveys out, find the corner pins and HIRE someone to build some fences.
How did the land get cleared you might ask?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the big fire.
Y’all have probably heard about the wild fires in North Texas. Well when I got home from the hospital Thursday around 11 pm I had phone messages…..1 your barn is not in danger the wind is blowing the fire away from it……2 your barn is in imminent danger….these were around 3 & 4 pm.
We had heard there were fires up in Montague county but didn’t even think they would be on our property! I called neighbor Virginia at 11 and she reassured me the building and trailer were OK.
When I woke up the next morning I was a little fuzzy…I know there was something else besides Doug, the lawsuit etc…. that I was supposed to be worried about…..took me a cup of tea then I remembered…..the fires !!!!
Well the barn & Avion travel trailer didn’t burn…..pretty much everything else did.
I went to check on things Friday.
There were still active fires burning and smoldering.
I had to wait for fire trucks and equipment for awhile before I was allowed to proceed on Dye Mound road.
There were helicopters dropping water on the fires.
It is sad and neat and exiting at the same time.
I drove around the black moonscape and took some pictures….forgot once and started driving with the truck window down…..my hair and clothes got full of ashes….the truck still has a dusting of ash inside….I washed the outside off….but when you breath in black ashes well you get black boogers….gross….
Large trees are still OK, but places that were once impenetrable briar and scrub are now clear.
The entire top of the hill and the whole north side are black.
I really won’t have to mow much out there for a while.
Some folks pay to have property cleared with a controlled burn….Mother Nature did ours for us.
The big oak tree over the kittycat sacred piles of rocks graveyard was spared. Down by the tank I found a burned turtle.
I did a few country chores, no mousies in the building or the trailer.
I visited the neighbors. They are picking up the mail for us. Jim says all our mailboxes were knocked down last week, he put mine back up.
Jim just got a new dozer last week and he used it to help control the fires….he dozed a vegetation free fire brake around the barn and trailer…thank you, thank you, thank you…..
Virginia suggests she & I need dozer driving lessons in case something comes up when Jim is not available.
Then I headed back to the hospital….I had to wait again as smoke and fire equipment blocked the road so I went the long way around.
Easter Sunday was busy.
I went to Wanda’s for the Graff family get together.
Ate a great breakfast and made a plate to take to Doug & watched the kids hunt Easter eggs.
Went to the hospital and spent some time with Doug.
We did two laps around the nurses’ station, but Doug is again very weak and out of breath.
Then I went to the Mee family get together.
Then back to the hospital.
In spite of how bad all the following sounds Doug is alert but weak & sleepy. He is eating and completed the income taxes today.
Doug is having heart issues…..his heart rate is fluctuating…..and setting off alarms in telemetry when the rate drops too low.
He had fever and he just doesn’t feel good at all.
I need to talk to the cardiologist….the nurses & the doctor on call are suggesting Doug needs a pacemaker. In addition I think without saying the exact words they are hinting that Doug may not be getting the care & attention he needs here….”he is in a hospital….why don’t they do something about his symptoms along the lines of finding out what is causing them instead of just treating them and doing the “let’s wait & see””
So now I am really freaking out……I have requested to meet the cardiologist…..I have written a letter to the Dallas Myeloma support group asking for advice…..
The next step is to get in touch with the oncologists at medical city who did his stem cell transplant to get a “second opinion” to see if they think I should move him over to them?????? But they are part of the same Texas Oncology group…..Do I need to go out of the group???? I don’t know what to do.
I am not going to “jump” today but it is 5 pm and we have not seen the cardio doc…..and I need to see what Doug’s doc says this evening….there has been some indication today that something was said on our behalf to the doc last night or early this morning…..or Doug’s vitals and the tele reports and nurses notes have caused increased concern and action.
That’s all for now.
Keep in touch.
Love,
Nancy
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Guess Where We Are????????
Guess where we are ?
Monday, March 30, 2009, after passing out and getting an ambulance ride to ER, we are back with all our old friends in the oncology floor at the Lewisville hospital :(
Today is Thursday April 2, 2009.
Doug’s blood pressure was in the gutter….64/44 for example…& his pulse is high….stays in the 90’s.
He is very very weak, just eating a few bites or taking pills tires him out and gets him out of breath.
After more tests the docs still don’t know what is causing his decline.
His symptoms are not typical for multiple myeloma or for chemo side effects.
He got Mg, Magnesium, and K, Potassium, and is getting 3 units of blood today.
He is slightly better today, was able to take a few steps with the physical therapists assistance.
But he is in no shape for me to have him at home.
He pretty much continued to get worse after we were discharged after our last stay.
I was finding it increasingly difficult to handle him.
He was only able to crawl about the house, and it was a big deal to get him into the truck for clinic visits.
He spent most of his time in bed or on the couch and I spent most of mine continuing the manic housekeeping :(
I am now officially off for the rest of the spring semester as well as the summer so we can fight the cancer as well as learn how to manage & care for Doug when he gets home….that said I am hoping he gets much better….at least walking and doing some things for himself.
I am so relived to be back in the hospital with the docs and nurses and hospital staff caring for Doug.
Even though I am here with him I don’t have to be up & on call 24/7
Who would have thought a hospital stay would give me time to catch up on e-mail etc.
I even finished 3 cotton garter stitch pot holders and an eyelash yarn scarf.
The kitties got spoiled having us home most of the time so Monday when we were gone all day & I didn’t return home till around 1 am Tufa had dragged all his stuffed animal toys from the bedroom into the family room….guess he needed company.
I have set up kitty entertainment centers out most windows….bird feeders….Tufa gets nose to nose with the squirrels through the glass.
The hummers have arrived so I’ve put out a few feeders for them too.
Tufa’s first birthday is April 14th. Little Kitty turned 15 Jan. 1, so I have kitties with a generation gap….the old man Little Kitty just looks at Tufa as if to say where do you get all that energy and why don’t you just settle down and snuggle up with me to keep me warm.
They pretty much get along, but snap at each other occasionally over who knows???
They share the food dished politely….they have completely different preferences for toys….
Tufa has large stuffed animals that he attempts to drown in the water bowls then finish the kill by chewing their heads off.
I bought a few dog stuffed toys at Walmart and they were headless and leaving soggy stuffing everywhere after only one day……no more inexpensive/cheap toys.
Round toys with no necks have a greater survival rate.
Little Kitty likes fur mousies and my hair bands and to strike all writing instruments off the counter and desk to the floor where they then require no more interest:)
I think Tufa prefers Doug for naps and laps….maybe he is just the one who is quiet & still and available most of the time…..Little Kitty has always been my lap Kitty.
They have wild games of chase and hide & seek.
I am hoping they will eventually be curling up together….maybe I need to turn off all the electric throws and blankets and put the AC on blizzard :)
Monday, March 30, 2009, after passing out and getting an ambulance ride to ER, we are back with all our old friends in the oncology floor at the Lewisville hospital :(
Today is Thursday April 2, 2009.
Doug’s blood pressure was in the gutter….64/44 for example…& his pulse is high….stays in the 90’s.
He is very very weak, just eating a few bites or taking pills tires him out and gets him out of breath.
After more tests the docs still don’t know what is causing his decline.
His symptoms are not typical for multiple myeloma or for chemo side effects.
He got Mg, Magnesium, and K, Potassium, and is getting 3 units of blood today.
He is slightly better today, was able to take a few steps with the physical therapists assistance.
But he is in no shape for me to have him at home.
He pretty much continued to get worse after we were discharged after our last stay.
I was finding it increasingly difficult to handle him.
He was only able to crawl about the house, and it was a big deal to get him into the truck for clinic visits.
He spent most of his time in bed or on the couch and I spent most of mine continuing the manic housekeeping :(
I am now officially off for the rest of the spring semester as well as the summer so we can fight the cancer as well as learn how to manage & care for Doug when he gets home….that said I am hoping he gets much better….at least walking and doing some things for himself.
I am so relived to be back in the hospital with the docs and nurses and hospital staff caring for Doug.
Even though I am here with him I don’t have to be up & on call 24/7
Who would have thought a hospital stay would give me time to catch up on e-mail etc.
I even finished 3 cotton garter stitch pot holders and an eyelash yarn scarf.
The kitties got spoiled having us home most of the time so Monday when we were gone all day & I didn’t return home till around 1 am Tufa had dragged all his stuffed animal toys from the bedroom into the family room….guess he needed company.
I have set up kitty entertainment centers out most windows….bird feeders….Tufa gets nose to nose with the squirrels through the glass.
The hummers have arrived so I’ve put out a few feeders for them too.
Tufa’s first birthday is April 14th. Little Kitty turned 15 Jan. 1, so I have kitties with a generation gap….the old man Little Kitty just looks at Tufa as if to say where do you get all that energy and why don’t you just settle down and snuggle up with me to keep me warm.
They pretty much get along, but snap at each other occasionally over who knows???
They share the food dished politely….they have completely different preferences for toys….
Tufa has large stuffed animals that he attempts to drown in the water bowls then finish the kill by chewing their heads off.
I bought a few dog stuffed toys at Walmart and they were headless and leaving soggy stuffing everywhere after only one day……no more inexpensive/cheap toys.
Round toys with no necks have a greater survival rate.
Little Kitty likes fur mousies and my hair bands and to strike all writing instruments off the counter and desk to the floor where they then require no more interest:)
I think Tufa prefers Doug for naps and laps….maybe he is just the one who is quiet & still and available most of the time…..Little Kitty has always been my lap Kitty.
They have wild games of chase and hide & seek.
I am hoping they will eventually be curling up together….maybe I need to turn off all the electric throws and blankets and put the AC on blizzard :)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Catch-Up
Hi All,
It's been about a week since I've had time to sit down with the laptop.
When Doug was cared for by the hospital staff I had lots of time to surf the internet, shop on ebay and write the blog.
Well we are home....and I have my hands full :)
Keeping track of all Doug's pills and care is a full time job.
We go to the clinic every day for IV fluids to keep him hydrated....we just have to keep our fingers crossed over the weekends.....Doug asked if I could administer IV fluids since he has a pic line and I am responsible for it's care anyway.... why couldn't I also give him fluids.....I gave the cat fluids for 4 years.....well the answer was no....something about our government working for us?.....I think the doc & I are like minded.....he likes Ruger products too :)....I guess I've been wearing my camo t-shirts alot because the pharmacy tech asked why I was out of uniform today ???
When he doesn't get enough fluids and loses too much fluids due to diarrhea he gets so weak he cannot even walk.
The diarrhea is totally debilitating.
Besides having mountains of laundry he gets pills every two hours.....I set my phone alarm and get up at least every two hours and get the pills....imodium and lomotil.
Got a diaper rash creme recommendation from the nurses...Boudreaux's Butt Paste....it's a good thing :)
Had a doc appointment today and the doc decided to stop the Revlimid chemo pills!
That is what seems to be causing all Doug's problems....and doesn't seem to be helping the cancer.
Now he will get Velcade and dexamethasone once per week to see how he tolerates it then we may increase this regime to twice per week......time and blood work will tell if it works.
The new kitty Tufa is adjusting nicely.
Mama calls him tofu and Doug calls him something that sort of sounds like King Tut????
Tufa really really liked the pic-line nurse that visited Sunday when we had a problem with one of the caps...
Tufa also likes the screened porch.
Little Kitty is establishing his seniority....good for Little Kitty......Tufa is keeping him young.
I did get a chance to get out on my own.....went to TJ Max....looking for a spare mattress pad.....didn't have one but I did score some $7.00 Ugg pink slippers and some of the discontinued face lotion I can't live without....shopping therapy is so much better than chemo therapy
While Doug was getting his Aridia Bone treatment I went to Best Buy and got us a Wii with the exercise attachment.....Doug suggested it so I got it :)
I was supposed to be shopping for a laptop computer.
Our only computer is my BHC school issued laptop....that you can only have one window open at a time due to less than a meg of memory:(
And I spilled Chardonnay into it last week.
Even before the unfortunate loss of a good glass of Yellowtail Chardonnay the laptop lost it's "C" "D" and up arrow keys......even though I am not a keyboarding wiz....it is surprisingly hard to communicate when you are missing "C" and "D"....plus Tetris is difficult without the up arrow key :(
Time for bed or pills I'm not sure which....I'm on Barefoot Cabernet.
It was such a nice day....warm....I may have to sleep on the porch or out in the truck with the AC on :)
Doug is always sooooo cold......he has always been like that....the chemo just makes him even colder.....thank heavens for electric blankets and throws.
Keep on e-mailing me....let me know what's going on.
Later,
Love,
Nancy and Doug & Little Kitty & Tufa
It's been about a week since I've had time to sit down with the laptop.
When Doug was cared for by the hospital staff I had lots of time to surf the internet, shop on ebay and write the blog.
Well we are home....and I have my hands full :)
Keeping track of all Doug's pills and care is a full time job.
We go to the clinic every day for IV fluids to keep him hydrated....we just have to keep our fingers crossed over the weekends.....Doug asked if I could administer IV fluids since he has a pic line and I am responsible for it's care anyway.... why couldn't I also give him fluids.....I gave the cat fluids for 4 years.....well the answer was no....something about our government working for us?.....I think the doc & I are like minded.....he likes Ruger products too :)....I guess I've been wearing my camo t-shirts alot because the pharmacy tech asked why I was out of uniform today ???
When he doesn't get enough fluids and loses too much fluids due to diarrhea he gets so weak he cannot even walk.
The diarrhea is totally debilitating.
Besides having mountains of laundry he gets pills every two hours.....I set my phone alarm and get up at least every two hours and get the pills....imodium and lomotil.
Got a diaper rash creme recommendation from the nurses...Boudreaux's Butt Paste....it's a good thing :)
Had a doc appointment today and the doc decided to stop the Revlimid chemo pills!
That is what seems to be causing all Doug's problems....and doesn't seem to be helping the cancer.
Now he will get Velcade and dexamethasone once per week to see how he tolerates it then we may increase this regime to twice per week......time and blood work will tell if it works.
The new kitty Tufa is adjusting nicely.
Mama calls him tofu and Doug calls him something that sort of sounds like King Tut????
Tufa really really liked the pic-line nurse that visited Sunday when we had a problem with one of the caps...
Tufa also likes the screened porch.
Little Kitty is establishing his seniority....good for Little Kitty......Tufa is keeping him young.
I did get a chance to get out on my own.....went to TJ Max....looking for a spare mattress pad.....didn't have one but I did score some $7.00 Ugg pink slippers and some of the discontinued face lotion I can't live without....shopping therapy is so much better than chemo therapy
While Doug was getting his Aridia Bone treatment I went to Best Buy and got us a Wii with the exercise attachment.....Doug suggested it so I got it :)
I was supposed to be shopping for a laptop computer.
Our only computer is my BHC school issued laptop....that you can only have one window open at a time due to less than a meg of memory:(
And I spilled Chardonnay into it last week.
Even before the unfortunate loss of a good glass of Yellowtail Chardonnay the laptop lost it's "C" "D" and up arrow keys......even though I am not a keyboarding wiz....it is surprisingly hard to communicate when you are missing "C" and "D"....plus Tetris is difficult without the up arrow key :(
Time for bed or pills I'm not sure which....I'm on Barefoot Cabernet.
It was such a nice day....warm....I may have to sleep on the porch or out in the truck with the AC on :)
Doug is always sooooo cold......he has always been like that....the chemo just makes him even colder.....thank heavens for electric blankets and throws.
Keep on e-mailing me....let me know what's going on.
Later,
Love,
Nancy and Doug & Little Kitty & Tufa
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
We're Home
Hi all,
YEA!!!!
Doug came home from the hospital yesterday around 4:30.
I know being home makes him feel better....sleeping in your own bed, sitting in your own recliner......napping on your own couch.....having your adoring Little Kitty to rub and meeting Tufa the psycho terror new kitty.
As we drove around the corner on our street Jerry saw us and came over to help Doug get into the house.....Doug did OK ....I think having Jerry there just in case was great moral support :)
Shortly thereafter, Ray showed up with the walker complete with bicycle horn to toot.....Ray says to call Nancy ! Again I think the walker is more for just in case to make Doug feel safer.
Doug's platelets are low so he has to be careful not to bump into anything he will bruise, and he can't shave because if he nicks himself he won't stop bleeding....he is sporting a very salt & pepper very scraggly beard.
He is Neutropenic, low white cells, so he has to wear a mask if he goes out...he can't have fresh fruits or veggies....everything has to be cooked :)
He is on Fluid restrictions 1500mls per day = 50 ounces, because he retains fluids and that makes his sodium level low....and sodium it IT with the bod....if Na is off everything even your mind goes haywire.
I had 3 new med prescriptions to get filled......took about two hours and I only got two of them :(.....went to 2 pharmacies and they called many more looking for the missing med.....the platelet med!!!!
Needless to say I was a total mess trying to be patient....I read the whole People magazine 2008 yearbook in Walgreen's while waiting!
Then pick up a meatball sub from Subway on the way home for Doug's supper ....didn't get home till after 7 :(
It may have been a mistake on my part to show Doug we can look up menus on-line and just call in to-go orders....he wants every meal out, but he can't go out so the meals have to come in.
The new prescriptions are:
Megase - appetite stimulant
Midodrine - blood pressure...to keep it up not down
Amicor - platelet helper so he won't bleed to death
Oh well I'm attacking the missing med problem today.
Now I am not just " manic Susie homemaker" I am Nurse Nancy, chef, chauffeur,.....in the hospital Doug had a nurse, nurse tech, charge oncology nurse, food services, housekeeping and other staff etc.....
now I get to be all those in one :)
I learned how to flush his Pic-line with NaCl....twice a day.
Labeled and divied up his meds into the pill reminder boxes.
Inflicted the Metamucil in Instant Breakfast on him with the pills in applesauce......
One comment from Doug.....the hospital has better pain meds :(
We have a clinic chemo appointment tomorrow at 10 am.
Viki and Larry get back from their farm today and I hope the 4 of us get to sit in the sun on their porch and have wine and beer.... Sharps nonalcoholic for Doug of course.....I guess I can poke a hole through the mask for a straw :)
It is good not to be on any prescribed meds so I can have wine again.
It is good to be home.
Thank y'all for all the prayers, thoughts, alcoholic toasts, and happy dances.....keep it up.
Love Nancy
YEA!!!!
Doug came home from the hospital yesterday around 4:30.
I know being home makes him feel better....sleeping in your own bed, sitting in your own recliner......napping on your own couch.....having your adoring Little Kitty to rub and meeting Tufa the psycho terror new kitty.
As we drove around the corner on our street Jerry saw us and came over to help Doug get into the house.....Doug did OK ....I think having Jerry there just in case was great moral support :)
Shortly thereafter, Ray showed up with the walker complete with bicycle horn to toot.....Ray says to call Nancy ! Again I think the walker is more for just in case to make Doug feel safer.
Doug's platelets are low so he has to be careful not to bump into anything he will bruise, and he can't shave because if he nicks himself he won't stop bleeding....he is sporting a very salt & pepper very scraggly beard.
He is Neutropenic, low white cells, so he has to wear a mask if he goes out...he can't have fresh fruits or veggies....everything has to be cooked :)
He is on Fluid restrictions 1500mls per day = 50 ounces, because he retains fluids and that makes his sodium level low....and sodium it IT with the bod....if Na is off everything even your mind goes haywire.
I had 3 new med prescriptions to get filled......took about two hours and I only got two of them :(.....went to 2 pharmacies and they called many more looking for the missing med.....the platelet med!!!!
Needless to say I was a total mess trying to be patient....I read the whole People magazine 2008 yearbook in Walgreen's while waiting!
Then pick up a meatball sub from Subway on the way home for Doug's supper ....didn't get home till after 7 :(
It may have been a mistake on my part to show Doug we can look up menus on-line and just call in to-go orders....he wants every meal out, but he can't go out so the meals have to come in.
The new prescriptions are:
Megase - appetite stimulant
Midodrine - blood pressure...to keep it up not down
Amicor - platelet helper so he won't bleed to death
Oh well I'm attacking the missing med problem today.
Now I am not just " manic Susie homemaker" I am Nurse Nancy, chef, chauffeur,.....in the hospital Doug had a nurse, nurse tech, charge oncology nurse, food services, housekeeping and other staff etc.....
now I get to be all those in one :)
I learned how to flush his Pic-line with NaCl....twice a day.
Labeled and divied up his meds into the pill reminder boxes.
Inflicted the Metamucil in Instant Breakfast on him with the pills in applesauce......
One comment from Doug.....the hospital has better pain meds :(
We have a clinic chemo appointment tomorrow at 10 am.
Viki and Larry get back from their farm today and I hope the 4 of us get to sit in the sun on their porch and have wine and beer.... Sharps nonalcoholic for Doug of course.....I guess I can poke a hole through the mask for a straw :)
It is good not to be on any prescribed meds so I can have wine again.
It is good to be home.
Thank y'all for all the prayers, thoughts, alcoholic toasts, and happy dances.....keep it up.
Love Nancy
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Blogger Got Sick :(
Hi everyone.
Well the intent was to keep everyone informed every day.
I got home Friday night and spent the whole night throwing up and down if you know what I mean....if you don't well good don't ask:)
This continued a little Saturday.......I stayed in bed all day afraid to move......but now, Sunday evening, I am fine.
I started reading a book someone brought for Doug, a Robin Cook medical mystery, Critical, about MRSA infections in hospitals....probably not a good thing to read while in the hospital ???
So far it is OK....but it does seem it is written with the intent of becoming a movie starring Brad Pitt, and the other blond guy...leo something....as the two blond doctors.
Oops I got off topic.....
Nurses say I probably had intestinal flu?
I think I ate some bad food that someone brought for Doug....I heated it up....a chicken soup....it tasted OK...but....
Or the antibiotic I'm taking caused it....one of the side effects I was warned about was diarrhea....wow....I know I'm supposed to take all 15 days of the anti cat bite stuff but no way...it is called Augmentin.
Maybe it is just a coincidence but that was rough :( Plus after all that I probably did not lose a single pound.
I did call Doug and tell him I wouldn't be able to come to the hospital Saturday.
He got worried about me and called our neighbor Viki.
Well she of course came over and is calling me on the phone while ringing the doorbell.....I knew couldn't just lay there and pretend I was out to the world....she said her next move was to go knock on the bedroom window....she didn't know I had done the Mad Hatter tea party thing and moved on to the clean sheets in the front bedroom :).....I knew it had to be her or the boyscouts....so I grabbed a t-shirt and answered the door....good thing it was not the boyscouts.....I don't think there is a badge for getting a sick person out of bed....or for having the door answered by a large woman in only a T-shirt !
We visited for a few minutes before my tummy grumbled.
She got to meet Tufa the terror.
Tufa is still a kitten even at 10 months he is into everything.
So far he has not broken or damaged anything except Little Kitty's feelings.
They are battling over the front bedroom bed.
I've been sleeping there since I started changing the big bed and never finished....so now I have two unmade beds...even if Little Kitty is under the covers and Tufa gets on the bed Little Kitty crawls out and swats at him then gets right back under the covers....Little Ingrate...
They are not snuggle buddies yet but they do have some wild games of chase and are not fighting over food....and they get close enough to each other that I cat pet one with each hand.
When it is not about the bed they follow each other around the house and Little Kitty does his I'm so cute rolly poly flipflops right in front of Tufa.
I think I will order one of those floor to ceiling carpeted cat trees from the Dr Foster & Smith pet supplies catalog....
Oh idea....I should have had a new baby shower and registered for kitty toys etc...since so many folks thought our new Burmese boy was an actual human baby....wonder how much loot we could have scored :)
Someone even asked me to send pictures of the nursery.....It was Jean I think that said well you should have sent a picture of the kitty litter pan....
Lets see we had company today.
Doug & Brenda brought us Chilis hamburgers.
The doc came by and says maybe Doug can go home tomorrow if he continues to do better.....it will be late tomorrow but that's OK.
He is still neutropenic, low white cells, so visitors will have to wear masks even at home :( and he is not allowed to shave with a blade because his platelets are low and if he nicks himself it won't stop bleeding.....Brenda says he looks like a street person....he has a salt & pepper scraggly beard and still has bruises on his forehead from falling the first week we were here :(
A new med for the low platelets was added today.
And the doc is recommending/prescribing prune juice and Metamucil.....what a fight I'm going to have on my hands when we get home.
Well I'm off to join all the other weirdos who shop at wally world after hours....And I've decided to self medicate....no more Augmentin or Celexa....maybe Cabernet :)
Later,
Love,
Nancy
Well the intent was to keep everyone informed every day.
I got home Friday night and spent the whole night throwing up and down if you know what I mean....if you don't well good don't ask:)
This continued a little Saturday.......I stayed in bed all day afraid to move......but now, Sunday evening, I am fine.
I started reading a book someone brought for Doug, a Robin Cook medical mystery, Critical, about MRSA infections in hospitals....probably not a good thing to read while in the hospital ???
So far it is OK....but it does seem it is written with the intent of becoming a movie starring Brad Pitt, and the other blond guy...leo something....as the two blond doctors.
Oops I got off topic.....
Nurses say I probably had intestinal flu?
I think I ate some bad food that someone brought for Doug....I heated it up....a chicken soup....it tasted OK...but....
Or the antibiotic I'm taking caused it....one of the side effects I was warned about was diarrhea....wow....I know I'm supposed to take all 15 days of the anti cat bite stuff but no way...it is called Augmentin.
Maybe it is just a coincidence but that was rough :( Plus after all that I probably did not lose a single pound.
I did call Doug and tell him I wouldn't be able to come to the hospital Saturday.
He got worried about me and called our neighbor Viki.
Well she of course came over and is calling me on the phone while ringing the doorbell.....I knew couldn't just lay there and pretend I was out to the world....she said her next move was to go knock on the bedroom window....she didn't know I had done the Mad Hatter tea party thing and moved on to the clean sheets in the front bedroom :).....I knew it had to be her or the boyscouts....so I grabbed a t-shirt and answered the door....good thing it was not the boyscouts.....I don't think there is a badge for getting a sick person out of bed....or for having the door answered by a large woman in only a T-shirt !
We visited for a few minutes before my tummy grumbled.
She got to meet Tufa the terror.
Tufa is still a kitten even at 10 months he is into everything.
So far he has not broken or damaged anything except Little Kitty's feelings.
They are battling over the front bedroom bed.
I've been sleeping there since I started changing the big bed and never finished....so now I have two unmade beds...even if Little Kitty is under the covers and Tufa gets on the bed Little Kitty crawls out and swats at him then gets right back under the covers....Little Ingrate...
They are not snuggle buddies yet but they do have some wild games of chase and are not fighting over food....and they get close enough to each other that I cat pet one with each hand.
When it is not about the bed they follow each other around the house and Little Kitty does his I'm so cute rolly poly flipflops right in front of Tufa.
I think I will order one of those floor to ceiling carpeted cat trees from the Dr Foster & Smith pet supplies catalog....
Oh idea....I should have had a new baby shower and registered for kitty toys etc...since so many folks thought our new Burmese boy was an actual human baby....wonder how much loot we could have scored :)
Someone even asked me to send pictures of the nursery.....It was Jean I think that said well you should have sent a picture of the kitty litter pan....
Lets see we had company today.
Doug & Brenda brought us Chilis hamburgers.
The doc came by and says maybe Doug can go home tomorrow if he continues to do better.....it will be late tomorrow but that's OK.
He is still neutropenic, low white cells, so visitors will have to wear masks even at home :( and he is not allowed to shave with a blade because his platelets are low and if he nicks himself it won't stop bleeding.....Brenda says he looks like a street person....he has a salt & pepper scraggly beard and still has bruises on his forehead from falling the first week we were here :(
A new med for the low platelets was added today.
And the doc is recommending/prescribing prune juice and Metamucil.....what a fight I'm going to have on my hands when we get home.
Well I'm off to join all the other weirdos who shop at wally world after hours....And I've decided to self medicate....no more Augmentin or Celexa....maybe Cabernet :)
Later,
Love,
Nancy
Friday, February 20, 2009
Good & Bad in the Same Day ??? Is Chemo Brain Contagious
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wow what a response I’ve gotten to my blog attempts.
Sorry I got a little carried away with the kitty and knitting stuff….but that’s what happened. …I was tired and waiting for the doc and playing with the computer.
We are both experiencing “chemo brain.”
Back to the real important stuff “DOUG”
Doug did really great yesterday…chemo was started up again……Revlimid/Dex/Velcade accompanied by anti nausea med that is supposed to last several days ??? it doesn’t
Doug is still doing OK today, but he has the hiccups.
Overall yesterday was a little better.
Doug feels good enough to complain about wanting to go home.
He walked a lot yesterday and this morning the physical therapist let him walk without the walker and he did fine so physical therapy is done with him. (for now) ( for good I hope )
He is not connected to any continual IV fluids.
He has a dual port in his arm called a “pic line” so when he does need IV meds they just connect him to the pump or inject the meds into the port.
The dexamethasone steroid doses as part of his chemo treatment always give him hiccups, but when you are in the hospital I guess you are more focused on your symptoms and they are more painful and annoying.
Talked to Dr. Costa last night after midnight.
Since Doug is feeling better he wants to make sure it lasts….and try adjusting/ tweaking a few things this weekend before any talk of going home….plus we have to see how he reacts to the chemo….& hope it doesn’t reverse the improvement.
There are several things that could have contributed to Doug’s improvement.
Antibiotics were stopped…the doc commented that it is amazing how sick antibiotics can make one.
Marinol, was switched for a different appetite stimulant, Megase…it seems to work :)
Doug got two units of blood.
Plus Doug’s sodium is still low so he is on fluid restrictions, only 1000 mls per day…so I try to make those fluids count….gatorade, whole milk, V-8….since he won’t drink the nutritional supplements L
His platelets are low so he has lots of bruises even though he has not fallen lately….I accidentally nicked his big toe nail while trimming his nails and I thought he would bleed to death….it took forever and many stacks of gauze pads before it finally stopped…..I thought the nurses were going to kick me out for injuring his toe…..plus I felt really bad :(
His white blood cells are low so he has to be careful of infection etc….he has to wear a mask if he walks out of the room…and we’re supposed to wear masks while in the room……but not everyone follows that rule…..I don’t…..I just make sure I wash my hands before I touch him and don’t cough or sneeze in his direction….the nurses take care of us….they really did send me home for a day because I “looked like I had fever”
He had a CAT scan of his sinuses this morning to see if that is the source of a constant nagging headache….no results yet…..but if it is like all the other tests and retests they have done the result will be nothing of significance :) so he will continue to get Morphine when he complains about his head.
I think he requests the morphine as a sleep aid since they took the Ambian off the list when he was in ICU.
The explanation was that it is a depressant and would interfere with everything else they were trying to accomplish…..getting him back “on his feet”
I wish they would take the morphine off the meds list !
He is on so many pills and injections even I can’t keep track of them all: sodium tablets, magnesium, Midodrine, Megase, protonics…..
The hiccups &/or the chemo are making him nauseated….so I guess he won’t be sending me out to get a Chili’s supper to go today…..I thought we might try Olive Garden to go this evening….oh well.
Plus he begged for the hiccup medicine and the nurses gave in and gave him phenergan the stuff that makes him hallucinate and makes him so weak he can’t stand….I negotiated a smaller dose by mouth instead of by IV…..but it has him knocked out now….. He also started complaining about the nausea & pain…an “8” and so he is back on IV Zofran, phenergan and morphine.……what a step backwards :( what a way to end what started out looking to be a good day :(
We’ve had company today: Judy, Tommie & Sharon, Ray & Wanda so far.
They were all amazed at what an improvement Doug has made. And Doug was really “Up” while they were here.
So keep on visiting, we both love seeing everyone.
Later,
NMG
Wow what a response I’ve gotten to my blog attempts.
Sorry I got a little carried away with the kitty and knitting stuff….but that’s what happened. …I was tired and waiting for the doc and playing with the computer.
We are both experiencing “chemo brain.”
Back to the real important stuff “DOUG”
Doug did really great yesterday…chemo was started up again……Revlimid/Dex/Velcade accompanied by anti nausea med that is supposed to last several days ??? it doesn’t
Doug is still doing OK today, but he has the hiccups.
Overall yesterday was a little better.
Doug feels good enough to complain about wanting to go home.
He walked a lot yesterday and this morning the physical therapist let him walk without the walker and he did fine so physical therapy is done with him. (for now) ( for good I hope )
He is not connected to any continual IV fluids.
He has a dual port in his arm called a “pic line” so when he does need IV meds they just connect him to the pump or inject the meds into the port.
The dexamethasone steroid doses as part of his chemo treatment always give him hiccups, but when you are in the hospital I guess you are more focused on your symptoms and they are more painful and annoying.
Talked to Dr. Costa last night after midnight.
Since Doug is feeling better he wants to make sure it lasts….and try adjusting/ tweaking a few things this weekend before any talk of going home….plus we have to see how he reacts to the chemo….& hope it doesn’t reverse the improvement.
There are several things that could have contributed to Doug’s improvement.
Antibiotics were stopped…the doc commented that it is amazing how sick antibiotics can make one.
Marinol, was switched for a different appetite stimulant, Megase…it seems to work :)
Doug got two units of blood.
Plus Doug’s sodium is still low so he is on fluid restrictions, only 1000 mls per day…so I try to make those fluids count….gatorade, whole milk, V-8….since he won’t drink the nutritional supplements L
His platelets are low so he has lots of bruises even though he has not fallen lately….I accidentally nicked his big toe nail while trimming his nails and I thought he would bleed to death….it took forever and many stacks of gauze pads before it finally stopped…..I thought the nurses were going to kick me out for injuring his toe…..plus I felt really bad :(
His white blood cells are low so he has to be careful of infection etc….he has to wear a mask if he walks out of the room…and we’re supposed to wear masks while in the room……but not everyone follows that rule…..I don’t…..I just make sure I wash my hands before I touch him and don’t cough or sneeze in his direction….the nurses take care of us….they really did send me home for a day because I “looked like I had fever”
He had a CAT scan of his sinuses this morning to see if that is the source of a constant nagging headache….no results yet…..but if it is like all the other tests and retests they have done the result will be nothing of significance :) so he will continue to get Morphine when he complains about his head.
I think he requests the morphine as a sleep aid since they took the Ambian off the list when he was in ICU.
The explanation was that it is a depressant and would interfere with everything else they were trying to accomplish…..getting him back “on his feet”
I wish they would take the morphine off the meds list !
He is on so many pills and injections even I can’t keep track of them all: sodium tablets, magnesium, Midodrine, Megase, protonics…..
The hiccups &/or the chemo are making him nauseated….so I guess he won’t be sending me out to get a Chili’s supper to go today…..I thought we might try Olive Garden to go this evening….oh well.
Plus he begged for the hiccup medicine and the nurses gave in and gave him phenergan the stuff that makes him hallucinate and makes him so weak he can’t stand….I negotiated a smaller dose by mouth instead of by IV…..but it has him knocked out now….. He also started complaining about the nausea & pain…an “8” and so he is back on IV Zofran, phenergan and morphine.……what a step backwards :( what a way to end what started out looking to be a good day :(
We’ve had company today: Judy, Tommie & Sharon, Ray & Wanda so far.
They were all amazed at what an improvement Doug has made. And Doug was really “Up” while they were here.
So keep on visiting, we both love seeing everyone.
Later,
NMG
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Our Burmese Kitties
I wrote this tonight as an introduction to a Burmese cat lovers group on the knitting site Ravelry, Feb 19, 2009
Hi,
I share my home with 2 Burmese, Little Kitty is 14 and Tufa is 10 months.
I have had Burmese since I was in High School 1976.
I love cats but Burmese are special.
They are so loving and soft...and I don't think they shed as much as other cats.
The first was Miiko, she lived to 21. She moved in with my husband before I did and turned a non cat guy into a cat friendly kitty care giver. Miiko loved Doug. Turns out she loved most men, what a flirt.
The next two were Bubba and Gurley, after Helen Gurley Brown editor of Cosmopoliton.
Gurley lived to 18 and she was very much like Miiko... a real flirt around men....and absolutely head of the household. At one point I had 6 cats....Gurley was senior female and she ruled...all the other kitties knew to bow and kiss the queen...and they did....when she was getting on in years and being treated for kidney failure, subcue ringers lactate twice a day for 4 years,....the other kitties would check on her and kiss her while she slept....even the cats she looked down on while she was awake :)
Bubba was a lover, snuggler, retriever of toy mousies....but he was terrified of everyone but Doug & I to the point of becoming physically shaking and impaired around company...I came home from work one day and Gurley met me howling at the door....Bubba was very sick....I took him to the vet....and he died before they could do anything :( Doug & I think he scared himself to death...it was a horrible loss.
So I got Little Kitty so Gurley would have a companion....she adopted him immediately when we brought him home and they slept together that first night :)
Then I ended up caring for 4 more cats that were left in our neighborhood....and discovered 6 cats & 2 people on a king size bed with the electric blanket is too many ....we didn't use the central heating so they all got in bed with us.
Two of the cats, Baby Maynard and Paws went to loving homes, Max and Three died of cancer..... For years it was just Gurley, Little Kitty and Three.... Gurley died 3 years ago......Three just last month, Jan 2009 :(..leaving me with only Little Kitty.......till Feb 15th.....I found Tufa on the Burmese Breeders rescue site and now he is home adjusting to life in Little Kitty's home....They are slowly beginning to warm up to each other :)
Oh Yeah, I do try and knit with Little Kitty in my lap....I can't sit down with out him in my lap.....he loves to be held and carried around.....he would be perfectly happy for is little feet to never touch the ground.
Tufa has not had a chance to experience knitting yet....but I can tell he is going to be a very paws on participant.
Later,
NMG
Hi,
I share my home with 2 Burmese, Little Kitty is 14 and Tufa is 10 months.
I have had Burmese since I was in High School 1976.
I love cats but Burmese are special.
They are so loving and soft...and I don't think they shed as much as other cats.
The first was Miiko, she lived to 21. She moved in with my husband before I did and turned a non cat guy into a cat friendly kitty care giver. Miiko loved Doug. Turns out she loved most men, what a flirt.
The next two were Bubba and Gurley, after Helen Gurley Brown editor of Cosmopoliton.
Gurley lived to 18 and she was very much like Miiko... a real flirt around men....and absolutely head of the household. At one point I had 6 cats....Gurley was senior female and she ruled...all the other kitties knew to bow and kiss the queen...and they did....when she was getting on in years and being treated for kidney failure, subcue ringers lactate twice a day for 4 years,....the other kitties would check on her and kiss her while she slept....even the cats she looked down on while she was awake :)
Bubba was a lover, snuggler, retriever of toy mousies....but he was terrified of everyone but Doug & I to the point of becoming physically shaking and impaired around company...I came home from work one day and Gurley met me howling at the door....Bubba was very sick....I took him to the vet....and he died before they could do anything :( Doug & I think he scared himself to death...it was a horrible loss.
So I got Little Kitty so Gurley would have a companion....she adopted him immediately when we brought him home and they slept together that first night :)
Then I ended up caring for 4 more cats that were left in our neighborhood....and discovered 6 cats & 2 people on a king size bed with the electric blanket is too many ....we didn't use the central heating so they all got in bed with us.
Two of the cats, Baby Maynard and Paws went to loving homes, Max and Three died of cancer..... For years it was just Gurley, Little Kitty and Three.... Gurley died 3 years ago......Three just last month, Jan 2009 :(..leaving me with only Little Kitty.......till Feb 15th.....I found Tufa on the Burmese Breeders rescue site and now he is home adjusting to life in Little Kitty's home....They are slowly beginning to warm up to each other :)
Oh Yeah, I do try and knit with Little Kitty in my lap....I can't sit down with out him in my lap.....he loves to be held and carried around.....he would be perfectly happy for is little feet to never touch the ground.
Tufa has not had a chance to experience knitting yet....but I can tell he is going to be a very paws on participant.
Later,
NMG
Silent "K's" & Why Do I Knit ?
I wrote this before I know what a blog even was - May 5th 2005
Knaughty Knancy Knightly Knavishly Knits Knots for her Knight with Knifelike Kneedles Kneeling on a Knapsack
Why Do I Knit?
Because it is the trendy craft of the moment?
No.
Maybe that is why I initially became interested in learning how to knit.
I knoted that certain celebrities knitted and that sparked my interest.
{knitting really fast with wool and metal needles can cause sparks to fly}
In the recent past I have tried to crochet and my attempts were met with total confusion and polite laughter when I presented my work to qualified crocheters for error analysis.
What I had done was make a knotted mess by carefully following instructions in a how to book, and viewing instructions, with pictures even, on line.
My mama-in-law and her sisters, my two best friends, my mama, my aunt are all very good at crochet.
Aunt Jeanie turns out many beautiful afgans, large ones.
My mama-in-law makes the whole family Christmas ornaments, angels, snowflakes, bells etc. from cotton thread from Grandma Graff’s stash.
Even my husband was able to learn crochet, but he didn’t continue.
He also has made loom placemats and pot holders.
So I started collecting finished crochet products:
Hugh stacks of afgans in 70’s colors…{ we can survive a power failure during a freeze :) }
Small drawer fulls of 50’s doilies, pot holders, coasters, pin cushions, little sewing kits…
Pot holders in all sorts of animals and objects…
Aprons for dish soap bottles, Barbie doll dresses…
Even my Dad’s mom crocheted.
She crocheted a great black shawl with a border of pom-poms for Mama to wear over square dance skirts and petticoats….I want it !
But she was a knitter.
So, do I knit because my grandma taught me?
No.
I think one of the reasons I knit is to honor her memory.
She did teach Jean & me to knit when we were little.
I vaguely remember knitting rectangular garter stitch Barbie shawls, more because I still have little hand knitted wool & cotton Barbie shawls, but I am not sure which one of us made them?
I don’t even have knitting needles saved from my early knitting experience, and I save nearly everything.
I also don’t have any of the Norman Rockwell memories of grandma in the rocker by the fireplace, with Jean & I at her knee, teaching us how to knit, while playful kittens bat balls of yarn…
Grandma Mac knitted mittens, hats, slippers, scarves, little purses, doll clothes, sewing kits, Christmas decorations, bun covers, shawls… I still have them.
{ the slippers really hurt the bottoms of my feet so I didn’t wear them?}
Every Christmas we would get a matching hat and mitten set and a flannel nightgown.
I loved the flannel granny nightgowns and wore them until they were falling apart.
I still wear flannel granny gowns.
A friend tells me you can get really good heavy weight flannel by shopping where it gets cold in the winter, like Colorado. The flannel sold in Texas is too lightweight.
Daddy has saved items his mom knit for him including a turtle neck sweater of very small fine stockinet stitch.
Maybe years from now I will be able to knit like grandma and feel a connection to her, like inheriting the family knitting gene.
My sister quilts. My country neighbor quilts. My nieces quilt.
I do not feel compelled to quilt.
I have a box of sentimental scraps in case the quilting bug bites.
For some reason I do feel compelled to knit.
I do not knit for relaxation or to calm my nerves as many knitters will tell you they do.
Knitting has an almost opposite effect on me?
It requires intense focus on my part and I grip those needles till my hand cramps and keep on going…on into the wee hours, { especially if I can sleep till noon the next day J }
If I was using small size Brittany needles they would snap like pick–up-sticks.
I try to approach knitting scientifically and understand how it works and I don’t want to make mistakes! I have learned several ways to rip out my work back to an error, including knitting in reverse.
I will persevere.
I have been a knovice knitter for about three years now and can even do lace patterns.
I still use Wall-Mart yarn because I am not accomplished enough to use the good “Viki” yarn.
I rarely finish a project due to fatal errors that the perfectionist and penny pincher in me compels me to rip it completely out…don’t want to see my mistakes and certainly don’t want to waste yarn on an imperfect creation.
I did manage to complete several garter stitch scarves for family.
I decided to choose a craft and stick with it.
Pottery is so inviting.
Occasionally I walk through the pottery/sculpture studio and want to play in the mud, and own my own kiln and potters wheel…I keep a little notebook of my pottery ideas…I have just recently started having knitting ideas….
Leg warmers with pockets for knee pads
I even day dream about how I could incorporate knitting and pottery…..and raising my own sheep & alpacas, and spinning my own yarn…
But I am committed to knitting.
Knitting is more affordable than pottery.
Knitting is portable.
Projects have definite beginnings and ends.
People are always amazed at seeing a person knitting and usually relate memories of family members who knitted, so knitting in public is a knifty conversation starter.
Friends and family love hand “knitted with love” gifts made with trendy feathery yarns.
Gift washcloths are proclaimed to be too pretty to actually scrub anything with.
So I guess I knit because I am stubborn, and I like the attention.
The end.
Knaughty Knancy Knightly Knavishly Knits Knots for her Knight with Knifelike Kneedles Kneeling on a Knapsack
Why Do I Knit?
Because it is the trendy craft of the moment?
No.
Maybe that is why I initially became interested in learning how to knit.
I knoted that certain celebrities knitted and that sparked my interest.
{knitting really fast with wool and metal needles can cause sparks to fly}
In the recent past I have tried to crochet and my attempts were met with total confusion and polite laughter when I presented my work to qualified crocheters for error analysis.
What I had done was make a knotted mess by carefully following instructions in a how to book, and viewing instructions, with pictures even, on line.
My mama-in-law and her sisters, my two best friends, my mama, my aunt are all very good at crochet.
Aunt Jeanie turns out many beautiful afgans, large ones.
My mama-in-law makes the whole family Christmas ornaments, angels, snowflakes, bells etc. from cotton thread from Grandma Graff’s stash.
Even my husband was able to learn crochet, but he didn’t continue.
He also has made loom placemats and pot holders.
So I started collecting finished crochet products:
Hugh stacks of afgans in 70’s colors…{ we can survive a power failure during a freeze :) }
Small drawer fulls of 50’s doilies, pot holders, coasters, pin cushions, little sewing kits…
Pot holders in all sorts of animals and objects…
Aprons for dish soap bottles, Barbie doll dresses…
Even my Dad’s mom crocheted.
She crocheted a great black shawl with a border of pom-poms for Mama to wear over square dance skirts and petticoats….I want it !
But she was a knitter.
So, do I knit because my grandma taught me?
No.
I think one of the reasons I knit is to honor her memory.
She did teach Jean & me to knit when we were little.
I vaguely remember knitting rectangular garter stitch Barbie shawls, more because I still have little hand knitted wool & cotton Barbie shawls, but I am not sure which one of us made them?
I don’t even have knitting needles saved from my early knitting experience, and I save nearly everything.
I also don’t have any of the Norman Rockwell memories of grandma in the rocker by the fireplace, with Jean & I at her knee, teaching us how to knit, while playful kittens bat balls of yarn…
Grandma Mac knitted mittens, hats, slippers, scarves, little purses, doll clothes, sewing kits, Christmas decorations, bun covers, shawls… I still have them.
{ the slippers really hurt the bottoms of my feet so I didn’t wear them?}
Every Christmas we would get a matching hat and mitten set and a flannel nightgown.
I loved the flannel granny nightgowns and wore them until they were falling apart.
I still wear flannel granny gowns.
A friend tells me you can get really good heavy weight flannel by shopping where it gets cold in the winter, like Colorado. The flannel sold in Texas is too lightweight.
Daddy has saved items his mom knit for him including a turtle neck sweater of very small fine stockinet stitch.
Maybe years from now I will be able to knit like grandma and feel a connection to her, like inheriting the family knitting gene.
My sister quilts. My country neighbor quilts. My nieces quilt.
I do not feel compelled to quilt.
I have a box of sentimental scraps in case the quilting bug bites.
For some reason I do feel compelled to knit.
I do not knit for relaxation or to calm my nerves as many knitters will tell you they do.
Knitting has an almost opposite effect on me?
It requires intense focus on my part and I grip those needles till my hand cramps and keep on going…on into the wee hours, { especially if I can sleep till noon the next day J }
If I was using small size Brittany needles they would snap like pick–up-sticks.
I try to approach knitting scientifically and understand how it works and I don’t want to make mistakes! I have learned several ways to rip out my work back to an error, including knitting in reverse.
I will persevere.
I have been a knovice knitter for about three years now and can even do lace patterns.
I still use Wall-Mart yarn because I am not accomplished enough to use the good “Viki” yarn.
I rarely finish a project due to fatal errors that the perfectionist and penny pincher in me compels me to rip it completely out…don’t want to see my mistakes and certainly don’t want to waste yarn on an imperfect creation.
I did manage to complete several garter stitch scarves for family.
I decided to choose a craft and stick with it.
Pottery is so inviting.
Occasionally I walk through the pottery/sculpture studio and want to play in the mud, and own my own kiln and potters wheel…I keep a little notebook of my pottery ideas…I have just recently started having knitting ideas….
Leg warmers with pockets for knee pads
I even day dream about how I could incorporate knitting and pottery…..and raising my own sheep & alpacas, and spinning my own yarn…
But I am committed to knitting.
Knitting is more affordable than pottery.
Knitting is portable.
Projects have definite beginnings and ends.
People are always amazed at seeing a person knitting and usually relate memories of family members who knitted, so knitting in public is a knifty conversation starter.
Friends and family love hand “knitted with love” gifts made with trendy feathery yarns.
Gift washcloths are proclaimed to be too pretty to actually scrub anything with.
So I guess I knit because I am stubborn, and I like the attention.
The end.
Code Red in Room 112
Doug feels a little better today.
He is up talking and walking and even eating.....amazing....he was switched from Marinol to a different appetite stimulant....I think it works :)
He requested supper from Chilis....the Triple Play appetizer selection....we thought it would just be one each of the 3 choices.....no it was 3 of each....he did not eat it all....but he did eat a little which is more than he has had in months ')....really probably more in total caloric intake than he has had for the last two months....the doc mentioned possibly starting him back on IV nutrition- Clinimix, a mixture of electrolytes and amino acids and lipids.
We had some fun today.
A fire drill.
The facilities guy came by and told us about it so we knew what was going on...the "Fire" was in our room :)
At first we thought he was joking because Doug keeps the thermostat on surface of the sun fusion degrees and when you just walk past the room in the hall you can feel the heat :)
So when the facilities guy told the nursing tech there is a fire she thought he was kidding too.
When he explained it was a drill and asked her what she would do she said save the patient....wrong...the fire is in our room and we are all burned up......she was supposed to pull the alarm.....so he had her actually find and pull the alarm.......wow......."code red in room 112"..... all the doors close automatically and people come running....someone is supposed to turn off the oxygen.....someone is supposed to bring the fire extinguishers......they all had to answer questions and sign a roster. I don't think they passed :)
He asked some questions they didn't know the answers too...
I am so glad Doug is "up"....I thought I would be able to relax....but I don't want to leave while he is feeling so good.....I'm afraid he will crash again....
Especially since chemo was started up again today, Revlimid, Dex, and Velcade.....we'll see what tomorrow brings ......
Later,
NMG
He is up talking and walking and even eating.....amazing....he was switched from Marinol to a different appetite stimulant....I think it works :)
He requested supper from Chilis....the Triple Play appetizer selection....we thought it would just be one each of the 3 choices.....no it was 3 of each....he did not eat it all....but he did eat a little which is more than he has had in months ')....really probably more in total caloric intake than he has had for the last two months....the doc mentioned possibly starting him back on IV nutrition- Clinimix, a mixture of electrolytes and amino acids and lipids.
We had some fun today.
A fire drill.
The facilities guy came by and told us about it so we knew what was going on...the "Fire" was in our room :)
At first we thought he was joking because Doug keeps the thermostat on surface of the sun fusion degrees and when you just walk past the room in the hall you can feel the heat :)
So when the facilities guy told the nursing tech there is a fire she thought he was kidding too.
When he explained it was a drill and asked her what she would do she said save the patient....wrong...the fire is in our room and we are all burned up......she was supposed to pull the alarm.....so he had her actually find and pull the alarm.......wow......."code red in room 112"..... all the doors close automatically and people come running....someone is supposed to turn off the oxygen.....someone is supposed to bring the fire extinguishers......they all had to answer questions and sign a roster. I don't think they passed :)
He asked some questions they didn't know the answers too...
I am so glad Doug is "up"....I thought I would be able to relax....but I don't want to leave while he is feeling so good.....I'm afraid he will crash again....
Especially since chemo was started up again today, Revlimid, Dex, and Velcade.....we'll see what tomorrow brings ......
Later,
NMG
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
31 days in the hospital
Well Doug was admitted to Medical City of Lewisville on Sunday January 18th with pain and nausea.
He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in March, 2006 so his immune system is compromised.
He gets sick easily.
Turns out this time he had Chicken Pox.
The Chicken Pox is gone, but he is still very sick.
Has at least 6 doctors working on him and they are stumped
: oncologist, cardiologist, pulmonary, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease, endocrinologist.....
Oncologist thinks now it may just be the Myeloma making him so sick so the plan is to start chemo again, Revlimid, Dexamethasone and Velcade and see if aggressively attacking the cancer brings him around. We need Dr. House or the docs over at Pine Valley Hospital :)
I am sitting here while he sleeps off the morphine and benedryl while getting blood transfusions.
He won't eat. I don't remember to eat.
He has the temperature up so high in the room it is like a sauna.
I am on leave from teaching to be with him.
This is very stressful, more stressful than my real job, more hours than my real job, more emotional, tiring....
Took my first Celexa anti depressant pill today.
And went to the doc myself....new kitty bit me and so I've got antibiotics now too....the new kitty, Tufa, is fine.
OK this is my first blog.....more later.
NMG
He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in March, 2006 so his immune system is compromised.
He gets sick easily.
Turns out this time he had Chicken Pox.
The Chicken Pox is gone, but he is still very sick.
Has at least 6 doctors working on him and they are stumped
: oncologist, cardiologist, pulmonary, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease, endocrinologist.....
Oncologist thinks now it may just be the Myeloma making him so sick so the plan is to start chemo again, Revlimid, Dexamethasone and Velcade and see if aggressively attacking the cancer brings him around. We need Dr. House or the docs over at Pine Valley Hospital :)
I am sitting here while he sleeps off the morphine and benedryl while getting blood transfusions.
He won't eat. I don't remember to eat.
He has the temperature up so high in the room it is like a sauna.
I am on leave from teaching to be with him.
This is very stressful, more stressful than my real job, more hours than my real job, more emotional, tiring....
Took my first Celexa anti depressant pill today.
And went to the doc myself....new kitty bit me and so I've got antibiotics now too....the new kitty, Tufa, is fine.
OK this is my first blog.....more later.
NMG
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