Hi All,
Sorry I haven't written for a while. It is hard to sit up with my leg down on the floor. There is a lot of throbbing when it is not elevated. I was at the doctor's office again this morning for wound care. I have an infection in the area of the stitches that needed some attention. I have been on an antibiotic since last week and will need to continue for a little longer. Today I was told I need to pack the area with gauze three times a day. I spend most of my time in the recliner in the family room.
The church has been so helpful bringing meals three times a week, last week and this week. Ken has been amazing doing the laundry, ironing, keeping things picked up and tending to my wounds and everything involved with my care. He is going to take one more week off work and then we will see how well I am getting around by then.
In my last blog I said I wanted to share how God worked in our lives during our stay in Houston. Early on after surgery I was not doing very well. The drugs where causing me to think very negatively. I was even hallucinating. I thought I saw Kaydee and Jonathan in the room. Well, this one evening Ken had already gone back to the hotel room. It was after 10 P.M. and in walks a volunteer. She came to the edge of my bed and started talking to me about the Lord. It was so encouraging. After she left I went to sleep and slept very well. The next day I was talking on the phone with my Mom and she said that the family had been praying that God would send an angel to comfort me. Then another evening the same volunteer came back (Ken was not in the room at the time) and I was able to share with her that she had been God's messenger to me the first evening that she had come to my room. We talked and cried together as we talked more about our love for our Lord and Savior and then she was gone. Ken never met her. I know she was my families answer to their prayers. God is so good. He knew what I needed and He sent someone to encourage me.
Have a good weekend!!
Karen
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I'm Home!!
Hi All,
Ken is done writing on my blog, so this is Karen.
We got up early Saturday morning and started getting ready to leave Houston. We weren't sure how long it would take for me to get ready because I couldn't walk at all. I had the use of a wheelchair so I could get from the bed or chair to the bathroom. Ken did all the packing the night before and it was tight. We were afraid they might charge us more for extra heavy luggage but that did not happen. I had brought a big carry on bag that we had to fill with all of the medical supplies that they were sending home with us. Then we had Ken's C-Pap machine and my laptop to carry on. I'm sure we were a sight coming out of the hotel to get our ride to the airport.
When we got to the airport there was a wheelchair right there for me. We got through security very quickly and then we had a very long 2-hour wait for our flight. I got to ride down the ramp in the wheelchair and then they had to put me on the really narrow chair that would go down the center aisle. During the flight I had to use the restroom a couple of times so I had to hop with Ken's help. What a sight. We were the last ones off of the plane. Matthew Wright was waiting for us at Turnstile 9 when I got wheeled down there. One bag came off right away and the second bag was one of the last. I just don't get it. They both went on at the same time and we didn't change planes. Don't figure. I had a little difficulty getting into the Hummer but it was a very smooth ride home.
Kaydee and Jonathan were here when we got home. Ken and Jonathan carried me to the front porch and then I used the walker from there. We opened the door and we could smell hot Lasagna and baked garlic. Oh, what a delightful aroma after hospital food.
There were fresh flowers in the front bed and on the porch. Kaydee had flowers and balloons inside the house also. I headed for the recliner and was served dinner. It is so good to be home!!!
I will write more later. I want to share with you how the Lord sustained both of us through this whole ordeal.
Love you all,
Karen
Ken is done writing on my blog, so this is Karen.
We got up early Saturday morning and started getting ready to leave Houston. We weren't sure how long it would take for me to get ready because I couldn't walk at all. I had the use of a wheelchair so I could get from the bed or chair to the bathroom. Ken did all the packing the night before and it was tight. We were afraid they might charge us more for extra heavy luggage but that did not happen. I had brought a big carry on bag that we had to fill with all of the medical supplies that they were sending home with us. Then we had Ken's C-Pap machine and my laptop to carry on. I'm sure we were a sight coming out of the hotel to get our ride to the airport.
When we got to the airport there was a wheelchair right there for me. We got through security very quickly and then we had a very long 2-hour wait for our flight. I got to ride down the ramp in the wheelchair and then they had to put me on the really narrow chair that would go down the center aisle. During the flight I had to use the restroom a couple of times so I had to hop with Ken's help. What a sight. We were the last ones off of the plane. Matthew Wright was waiting for us at Turnstile 9 when I got wheeled down there. One bag came off right away and the second bag was one of the last. I just don't get it. They both went on at the same time and we didn't change planes. Don't figure. I had a little difficulty getting into the Hummer but it was a very smooth ride home.
Kaydee and Jonathan were here when we got home. Ken and Jonathan carried me to the front porch and then I used the walker from there. We opened the door and we could smell hot Lasagna and baked garlic. Oh, what a delightful aroma after hospital food.
There were fresh flowers in the front bed and on the porch. Kaydee had flowers and balloons inside the house also. I headed for the recliner and was served dinner. It is so good to be home!!!
I will write more later. I want to share with you how the Lord sustained both of us through this whole ordeal.
Love you all,
Karen
Friday, October 5, 2007
You're Outta Here!
We're in the midst of baseball playoffs and as you all know the umpire rules. Have you ever seen a contested call on an out where the coach or player won? I haven't. First the umpire calls the player out and then, when the coach gets carried away, the umpire says to the coach, "You're outta here".
Karen and I waited yesterday for the umpire (AKA Discharge Nurse) to say those same words, "You're outta here". We waited, and waited, and waited until finally at 7 PM she was tossed. It's a good thing we didn't have tickets taking us home today. I wouldn't have wanted to go back to the room, pack, and make sure we were ready to go today. As it is we have used today to do laundry, change hotel reservations (we now have to come back in December instead of January), and figure out how to do the shower routine with a regular tub and stuff. I also got to do the honors with the new wound dressings.
Sleep for me was interupted several times during the night (I never knew how often Karen p--d at night ... now I know). The interupted sleep made for a late morning. We worked out the shower thing and got to the restaurant in time for the start of the lunch buffet. "Any chance we could get something off the breakfast menu"? True to form they were gracious and we got breakfast. We will definately get an earlier start tomorrow. Thankfully I picked a later flight so we don't get picked up until noon. We should have time to get ready and have breakfast.
I'm looking over at Karen right now and she's "outta here". She's over in the recliner sleeping. I think she will do that for awhile. I don't blame her. She's been through a bunch and has weathered it better than I would have. She didn't have the energy to do anything on the blog last night and she doesn't have the energy today. I've got some time on my hands so I thought I would do this one more time. This is the last time from Houston though because tomorrow ...
Karen and I waited yesterday for the umpire (AKA Discharge Nurse) to say those same words, "You're outta here". We waited, and waited, and waited until finally at 7 PM she was tossed. It's a good thing we didn't have tickets taking us home today. I wouldn't have wanted to go back to the room, pack, and make sure we were ready to go today. As it is we have used today to do laundry, change hotel reservations (we now have to come back in December instead of January), and figure out how to do the shower routine with a regular tub and stuff. I also got to do the honors with the new wound dressings.
Sleep for me was interupted several times during the night (I never knew how often Karen p--d at night ... now I know). The interupted sleep made for a late morning. We worked out the shower thing and got to the restaurant in time for the start of the lunch buffet. "Any chance we could get something off the breakfast menu"? True to form they were gracious and we got breakfast. We will definately get an earlier start tomorrow. Thankfully I picked a later flight so we don't get picked up until noon. We should have time to get ready and have breakfast.
I'm looking over at Karen right now and she's "outta here". She's over in the recliner sleeping. I think she will do that for awhile. I don't blame her. She's been through a bunch and has weathered it better than I would have. She didn't have the energy to do anything on the blog last night and she doesn't have the energy today. I've got some time on my hands so I thought I would do this one more time. This is the last time from Houston though because tomorrow ...
... we're outta here!
Ken
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Last Night.
I’m going to make this short because I need sleep tonight. Karen is getting out tomorrow. Her CK enzymes are at 1200 and still dropping. They also popped the blister. Ouch! It is quite a relief to know we finally get to come home. Having said that you need to know our tickets home are for Saturday. I’m not going to bother changing them (it would be the third or fourth time). Probably the best part of Karen getting out is that you will get to hear from her for a change. Praise the Lord.
Goodnight and thanks for putting up with me on Karen’s blog.
Ken
Goodnight and thanks for putting up with me on Karen’s blog.
Ken
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
What's in a name ... anyway?
One thing I've always thought would be fun to have is a nickname. I've never really ever had one, not really. Mom, if asked, I'm sure could tell you a pet name she had for me when I was little but still, I've never had a nickname. Once I started school it's always been Ken, Kenneth, or Kenny. Nothing exciting there at all. I always envied those who did have them. Maybe it was Spike or ... you know ... something masculine. Nope, never had one. What's in a name ... anyway?
Over 34 years of marriage you learn a lot about the woman you are married to. A story I've heard Karen tell time and time again is about how she used to disappear when she was little. I'm not talking about just wandering off somewhere. She had a purpose in her disappearance. She had to go potty. Most kids would just go home ... right? Not Karen. Karen would use the bathrooms of homes in the neighborhood. No, she didn't knock and ask permission. She just walked in. For whatever reason she had a fascination with bathrooms that belonged to other people. Her mother often had to phone neighbors to ask if Punky was at their house. Could they please check their bathroom. Now there's a name for you, Punky. How or why was Karen tagged with Punky? In later years she was called Patty. That one was easy, her middle name is Patricia. Where did Punky come from though? Hmmm ... inquiring minds want to know. Maybe Karen or her mother will enlighten us at a later date.
In Karen's hospital room there is an information board. The board contains lots of information, date, room number, phone number for room, preferred name, target discharge date, goals/needs, nurses name, et cetera. It's a convenient way for communication between staff and provide information for the patient.
Karen's been in the hospital eight days now. I've been there with her most all day everyday. I go back to the hotel to sleep and ghost write this blog. While with Karen we can visit, watch television, I can read, or sleep, and the last two days we've played cards. In other words I've experienced a little boredom now and then. So what does a husband do when he's bored out of his skull?
You will note Karen's preferred name (Punky), target discharge date (Last Week), and I hope I didn't offend anyone with the daily goals (at least the first two). Karen laughed. She's used to me. The nursing staff wasn't very amused. Oh well ...
Over 34 years of marriage you learn a lot about the woman you are married to. A story I've heard Karen tell time and time again is about how she used to disappear when she was little. I'm not talking about just wandering off somewhere. She had a purpose in her disappearance. She had to go potty. Most kids would just go home ... right? Not Karen. Karen would use the bathrooms of homes in the neighborhood. No, she didn't knock and ask permission. She just walked in. For whatever reason she had a fascination with bathrooms that belonged to other people. Her mother often had to phone neighbors to ask if Punky was at their house. Could they please check their bathroom. Now there's a name for you, Punky. How or why was Karen tagged with Punky? In later years she was called Patty. That one was easy, her middle name is Patricia. Where did Punky come from though? Hmmm ... inquiring minds want to know. Maybe Karen or her mother will enlighten us at a later date.
In Karen's hospital room there is an information board. The board contains lots of information, date, room number, phone number for room, preferred name, target discharge date, goals/needs, nurses name, et cetera. It's a convenient way for communication between staff and provide information for the patient.
Karen's been in the hospital eight days now. I've been there with her most all day everyday. I go back to the hotel to sleep and ghost write this blog. While with Karen we can visit, watch television, I can read, or sleep, and the last two days we've played cards. In other words I've experienced a little boredom now and then. So what does a husband do when he's bored out of his skull?
You will note Karen's preferred name (Punky), target discharge date (Last Week), and I hope I didn't offend anyone with the daily goals (at least the first two). Karen laughed. She's used to me. The nursing staff wasn't very amused. Oh well ...I suppose I had better give everyone an update on Karen. Her creatine kinase levels continue to drop. The last count we received today was about 2480. That quite an improvement from the high of 7800. They told us today that they will keep Karen until Thursday now. They still want to see the numbers drop some more.
I've told you about Karen's leg swelling from the procedure. She also gets blisters from all the fluid in her leg (the fluid has to go somewhere). The doctor told Karen today they will lance a blister that is on her foot. It's gotten to the point where she can't walk well at all. Karen wanted to memorialize the thing with a photo. Why I don't know. I decided to share it with you. It gives me another chance to show you a picture of ...
The ol Blister
What's in a name ... anyway?
Ken
Monday, October 1, 2007
What goes up ... must come down ...
I’m happy to report that Karen’s Creatine Kinase level was down to 4000 this morning. This afternoon it dropped another 200 down to 3800. Praise the Lord. The doctors are still watching and the meds are still flowing to bring it down to a normal level.
In case you can’t tell I’m running out of energy. This last two weeks has been something else. I think I could sleep for a week. Once I get some sleep maybe the creative juices will start flowing again in regards to the blog but alas … it’s Karen’s and she will be taking over soon. Kaydee suggested this morning that I do some guest appearances. I don’t think so but then again who knows. Have a good night.
Ken
In case you can’t tell I’m running out of energy. This last two weeks has been something else. I think I could sleep for a week. Once I get some sleep maybe the creative juices will start flowing again in regards to the blog but alas … it’s Karen’s and she will be taking over soon. Kaydee suggested this morning that I do some guest appearances. I don’t think so but then again who knows. Have a good night.
Ken
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