Sunday

Life at the JJJ household has settled into a semi routine consisting mainly of eating, drinking, and pumping iron (with a nap here and there).

I have about decided that I need to start visiting at meal time because they are eating some really good stuff (stuffed cabbage aside). Nancy has brought them several meals from restaurants (Dad's less than heart healthy treat) and Jamie III and Ceal grilled filet mignon's the other night. Mom's no slouch at filling the feed bag either (never has been). He is really starting to look more and more like himself and regaining some of the lost muscle tone.

This week is doctor week again. We will see the cardiac surgeon, his PCP, pulmonologist, and maybe the cardiologist if Dad decides it's worth it. He will also have full lab work and possibly a chest xray. I will go with them on Wednesday and Jamie III is coming on Thursday. His leg has almost completely healed which means there will be one less thing his system has to devote extra attention to.

I told Dad that readership of this blog goes up when he produces a sound byte so he is supposed to be putting together some thoughts and will reluctantly go high tech since he writing to you individually is not feasible. So keep checking back, who knows, maybe he will walk the red carpet for you.

I appreciate this quote from Melody Beattie:
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Day after day, your lyrics of prayer, love and concern, engorge our hearts and place a lien on our gratitude. Excuse the redundancy, but we continue to be filled with gratitude and it must be exercised. Thanks to each of you!

God is good!

Wednesday

Dad had PT today and learned how to get up off the floor in case he fell again. Shortly after the PT left and the aide came and went, Dad got to practice what he had learned (the getting up off the floor part). As presented in the video, let's hope that is not all he learned!



I told him that I had heard that speech before, so I made him take the oath on video so that all of you could hold his feet to the fire.

I had not seen Dad since Monday, and he looks like protein is agreeing with him. He is starting to fill out a bit. His face is not as gaunt and he looks like he has put on some weight.

I stayed with Dad while Mom made a drug deal down at the phly-by pharmacy. Dad had talked to some of his siblings and got caught up on the Alabama ailments. Aunt Kitty got a good report from her oncologist, Aunt Margie fell while taking her daily walk and broke her wrist, and Uncle Milton has been in the hospital with what they think is a bleeding ulcer. We send our love and prayers to them tonight.

God is good!

Monday

It has been DIY since Friday. All the Home Health folks have been AWOL. Dad has been using this unstructured time to exercise on his own and rest. He took a sleep aid Friday night and took some cat naps all day Saturday. It was cool and rainy so it was a good day for it. Nancy and Madeline brought lunch in and gave Mom a break.

I was contemplating whether to call WRMC and read the riot act to the Home Health folks who seem to have gone to the low end of 3 to 5 days and remembered a sermon by Dr. John Claypool entitled; "The World is Full of Wonders" dealing with miracles. In it is this paragraph:

"The Anglican theologian, Geddes MacGregor, has written an insightful volume entitled, He Who Lets Us Be. His contention is that God shows His affection for us as much by what He does not do as by what He does do. The book is a reflection upon Simone Weil's statement, "Creation was the moment when God ceased to be everything so that we humans could be something." All of this suggests that there may well be just as much Divine love expressed when problems are not resolved miraculously as when they are. Saint Paul came to the profound conviction that God's refusal to remove his well-known thorn in the flesh resulted in even greater blessing to his life than if it had been removed miraculously. He concluded, "When I am weak, then I am strong," indicating that his spirit was strengthened in ways that it never could have been had God intervened dramatically. (II Corinthians 12)".

I have to keep reminding myself that we have been truly blessed even through being cursed. God knows what He is doing and what He is not doing and Dad is really something!

Sunday I offered to let Mom go to church but they got up late and so we will try again next weekend. Mike and Cindy came Sunday morning and brought lunch with them. They stayed until mid afternoon today.

Dad's favorite PT came by this morning while I was there putting the tiller on the tractor and gave Dad a good workout. I asked him how he was doing and he said that he is getting stronger and just needs to continue to focus on some techniques in walking and standing and sitting. I left to till my garden while they ate lunch. Dad had a shower while I was gone and Mom left Cindy and Mike in charge while she went shopping and ran some errands. Dad looked strong albeit a little drained. The nurse and OT had not been by yet and I don't know if they made it this afternoon. Mike and Cindy were a blessing this weekend and made it home okay.

Charlotte and I are expecting Adalynn and Kelsey tomorrow so I hope we can provide some Great Grandchild therapy for a little while.

God is good!

Wednesday/Thursday

I talked with Mom and Dad this afternoon. Dad slept in again today but was able to have breakfast just before the PT got there. Dad told him he didn't know how much he could do today because he sat around in doctors offices all day yesterday. The PT took it in stride and doubled up on his reps. I have not met this guy but I like him already. He went to leave and found that a clamp on his radiator had failed and so he lost all his coolant. Mom took him to Wal Mart (left Dad by himself) to get a new clamp. He was able to fix it fairly quickly. Nancy, Madeline and Nathan came by to visit just before the aide came to give Dad a shower.

Mom ran me through all the changes in medication and filled me in on what Jamie III left out. I got an update on Dad's calorie and fluid intake. When I talked to Dad, he sounded upbeat and his voice was strong.

Thursday

Dad had a break from the PT and OT today. The nurse did come by and check his vitals etc. Mom said that he has been lethargic all day. I don't know if it is the change in medication or if he is feeling a little depressed. He told me that his legs gave way again last night when he got up to use the bedside toilet. He didn't wake Mom up but somehow managed to wiggle his way back to bed. I am sure that scared him and has to have some emotional and mental effects. I made a suggestion for tonight to give him a more stable hand hold by using the wheel chair because he has been using the hand holds on the toilet and the walker which are not very stable.

I asked him if he had exercised any today and he said that he had and was trying to increase his walking. I was glad to hear that. The endorphins seem to kick in when he exercises. I asked Mom if she could tell if there was any change in his breathing or signs of edema and she said no. Everything seems to be at the same level. Hopefully he will have a good nights rest and will be ready for some good PT tomorrow.

Today I feel like Job, doubting and perplexed...

Job.18

[7] His strong steps are shortened and his own schemes throw him down.

[8] For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on a pitfall.

[9] A trap seizes him by the heel,a snare lays hold of him.

[10] A rope is hid for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.

[11] Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.

[12] His strength is hunger-bitten, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.

May tomorrow bring a song of hope and faith in God's eternal plan...

Ps.37

[23] The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;
[24] though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD is the stay of his hand.
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsake nor his children begging bread.
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

God is good!

Tuesday

Talked with Mom last night and got caught up on the daze doin's. They had the whole HH gang in. His favorite PT came and worked him out. After that the aide came and he got to take a shower. They had a break for lunch and then the OT and nurse came. Mom said he was tired but it was a good kind of tired.

Just talked with Jamie III about the doctor visits today. They did some blood work and have adjusted his meds again. They are tapering the steroid for his BOOP and are taking him completely off Lasix. We will just have to watch for fluid retention and other signs of congestion. Between the 2 doctors and nurses, they took Dad's BP 4 times and all of them were significantly different; as much as 15 to 20 points. So I guess you just have to drive a stake in the ground and bench mark. Jamie III says that he can tell Dad is making progress. I can tell he is getting more confident in standing and getting around, I just hope he doesn't get overconfident. He keeps mentioning that Mom ought to go to the store or church and leave him by himself, "I'll be fine". We are not there yet.

God is good!

Sunday

Hope you all had a good day of worship. After choir practice this morning the thought occurred to me that I should have arranged to stay with Dad and let Mom go to Sunday School. I will arranged that in the future.

Charlotte and I went to see the folks after lunch. I felt guilty after eating greasy pizza with my family. We were celebrating Rachel's significant other's acceptance to several law schools. He is a big Tim's Pizza fan, so we clogged our arteries and watched BB tourney's. Mom and Dad had salmon and veggies. Dad says that no matter how well seasoned, everything tastes the same. He still eats everything but is getting tired of stir fry. He is drinking a quart of water a day as well as milk, tea and coffee, so hopefully he will re-hydrate.

We listened to Andrea Bocelli sing a few numbers on the PBS fund raiser, in hopes that he would sing "Because".

 Because, you come to me, With naught save love, And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above, 

A wider world of hope and joy I see, Because you come to me! 

Because you speak to me in accent sweet, I find the roses waking round my feet,

And I am led through tears and joy to thee, Because you speak to me! 

Because God made thee mine, I'll cherish thee, 

Through light and darkness through all time to be, 

And pray His love may make our love divine, 

Because god made thee mine!

All of us Jones kids remember this song reverberating through our home on many occasions. Dad would serenade Mom out of the blue. I think it may have been sung at their wedding. Anyway, it was on Dad's agenda for the afternoon so we listened to a concert but Bocelli never sang it. I told Dad I would find it a make him a CD. 

We talked about the week ahead and made arrangements to get him to and from the doctor appointments on Tuesday. It is finally getting warmer and I hope I can get Dad outside some this week. I think I will try to rig up a way to pull him behind the lawn tractor in the wheel chair. That ought to get his blood pumping. 

With spring break this week and Nathan saving all his money for his trip to Great Britain this summer, I think some extra PT may be in the offing for Dad. I really think he is doing better and gaining strength a little bit each day. One step at a time.

I will continue to add entries to the blog, but they may be intermittent from here on because the routine will be pretty much the same for a while. I will always add significant events and progress but my daily updates will either be very brief or I may go to 3 times a week. One of the most visited blog entries was Dad's video. I will try to get him to do some more sound bytes. 

I have been a little overwhelmed by how many of you are reading daily or weekly. In the past 2 weeks, 135 of you have visited 898 times and viewed 1378 pages and I know my tracker is not capturing everyone. I told Dad that if that translated into 898+ prayers for him that he better get crackin and do his part in having them answered.

I cannot restate often enough how much we appreciate your prayers and are cognizant that they have been the difference in Dad's recovery much more than any medical treatment or procedure. We  continue to cherish and celebrate your faithful friendship. You are all emissaries and the embodiment of our Messiah, for God has truly been with us.

God is good!

Saturday

Nancy and I accompanied Mom and Dad to the doctor Friday. This was the first visit to his primary care physician since the hospitalization. Dad was glad to see him and they had a lot to talk about. Dad related the medical maze he had been through and the doc gave us a run down on the evolution of how hospitalist came to be and why the doctors in his clinic stopped making hospital rounds. Apparently the administrators are trying to monopolize medical care by recruiting doctors away from clinics and making life miserable for doctors who just want to hang out a shingle and maintain a loyal patient population. So he and his colleagues told the local administrator to take a flying leap.

The doc had familiarized himself with Dads file and basically told Dad that someone was looking out for him. He checked Dad out, found his BP low (which was perfect 10 minutes earlier when his nurse took it). He went through the pharm farm Dad has been cultivating and made some adjustments to his diuretic; Dad is still somewhat dehydrated. He encouraged Dad to eat as much as possible to encourage his body's attempt to repair itself...a lot remodeling is taking place all at once. He told us he would be in contact with the pulmonologist on the BOOP issue and tapering the steroid treatment. He spent about 20 minutes with us which was refreshing and made Dad feel good. Dad asked him if he really needed to see the other doctors and much to his chagrin he said yes. Just before we left, Dad told him that early on, when there was some doubt as to the outcome, there were some folks that came to his mind that he wanted to express his appreciation to for all they had done for him through the years, and he was one of them. I think the doc was touched. 

We got Dad home and Nancy went to get lunch for them and I went to work. Sister Cindy was expected around 1. I had a late night and didn't get a chance to check in on them before bedtime.

Today was cockeyed for me, Friday the 13th on Saturday. By the time I had time to call Mom and Dad, Cindy had left, so I didn't even get to see her. Mom said that Dad had slept in until around 9:30 and probably would have slept longer but the weekend nurse called and wanted to come by. I asked if he had done any exercise and she said that he had done some. I reminded her to feed and water him good and she had already measured out a good quantity of  water and juice for him to drink for the day. She was also making him a high protein shake to drink in between meals. I think they are getting the hang of home life again. If I can get some recipes together, I may try to get Mom some help in preparing meals. I think the care and feeding is keeping her engaged but it is a little overwhelming at this point. 

I am looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow. 

God is good!

Thursday

Mom and Dad have not transitioned to DST so they are sleeping in every morning until 8:30 or 9. This compresses the routine that we were used to while in the asylums. The morning is almost over by the time Dad gets dressed, has breakfast and swallows all the pills. It is fortuitous that the home health crew has been coming late in the morning or early afternoon. They didn't expect anyone to come on days that Dad has a Dr.'s appointment, but Wednesday a nurse and an OT called and came by before noon. The nurse checked Dad out and changed the dressing on his leg and the OT did a few exercises with Dad and made some suggestions about how to handle the shower. Jamie III arrived a little after noon and had lunch with Mom and Dad. 

Jamie III assisted Dad to the car and got Dad to the surgeon without any problem. I got there just as the nurse was taking vitals and checking the leg wound. It has healed up quite a bit since the last time we were there and shows no new signs of infection. The doc that did the surgery saw Dad today and basically gave Dad a pep talk, more talk than pep, and told Dad to stay patient and vigilant with the rehab. He doesn't have to go back for 3 weeks. Dad is getting used to transferring to the van from the wheel chair and it seems to get easier each time. We got home and Jamie and I did some chores and did our own assessment of the safest and most efficient way for Dad to take a shower. Nathan (pep and talk, mostly pep) came by and we sat around and shared ignorance, and put Dad to sleep. The busy routine has been cutting into his nap time. 

Today, Dad had another full day of home rehab. He had a new PT come today and he worked Dad hard. He started with some exercise on the bed and Dad said he was cold. The PT said, "You won't be cold very long." Dad said,"He was right!" Dad liked this guy and asked if he could petition for him to be the lead PT during his recovery. He said that would be fine but he couldn't assure him that it would always be him. About the time he was finishing up, the aide came and took over. She was very experienced and had the shower thing figured out posthaste. The shower was good therapy. Refreshed, Dad was ready for lunch and the afternoon round with the OT and nurse. He was tired when I got there at 8 pm but he looked robust and his voice was strong and he was engaged. He had even done some extra work on his own.

He has the first appointment with his primary care doc tomorrow. This will be the first time he has seen him since the heart attack. I hope that the plethora of doctors will be winnowed down to 1 or 2. I really don't know why he needs to see the surgeon again or even the cardiologist for that matter, unless symptoms arise that would direct him there. At any rate, the choir is now a trio and there are fewer voices to listen to. 

Nancy and I will accompany Mom and Dad tomorrow and Cindy will be coming for the weekend. 

Dad got several cards today including, one from a boy who had heard Dad's name over and over as someone who needed prayer. He told his mother he wanted to send Dad a card to let Dad know he was praying for him. Another came from some folks who had just learned about Dad's ordeal. The cloud of witnesses continues to synthesize. God continues to be faithful in bolstering our hope and strengthening our resolve.

Ps.36

[5] Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
thy faithfulness to the clouds.

God is good!

Tuesday

Monday the nurse came and assisted Mom in organizing and tracking all of Dad's meds. She also looked at Dad's wound and changed the dressing as well as taking vitals and drawing blood for lab work for Dr appt. later this week.

The PT came and assessed Dad and "asked a ton of questions". She took a tour of the house to see what we are dealing with as far as barriers. Mom said that she was very helpful. She worked with Dad on walking and transferring in the home environment. She will be there every day that Dad does not have a Dr.s appt. this week.

I work on Monday nights but am only 2 to 3 minutes from the house and I have repeatedly told Mom and Dad to call me if they need anything. Monday night around 8 pm Dad got up to go to the bathroom with Mom assisting and his legs gave way after about 2 or 3 steps. He "crumpled" to the floor, with Mom hanging on to his belt. She probably kept him from hitting the floor hard thus the term crumpled vs fall. They were able to get him to the couch but because it is soft and low to the ground, he could not stand. Instead of calling me, (they were afraid I would hurt my ribs...another story) they called Nathan who was at the U of A library studying. It took him about 20 minutes to get there and he was able to get Dad up, to the bathroom and then to the bed. He had tried to call me but I had my phone on vibrate and didn't feel it. Needless to say, I was not happy with my "children". I scolded them and reinforced the fact that late in the day when he is not at his best, they have to be extra cautious in what they attempt. I have repeated the fact that the bedside commode is portable and late in the day it can be brought to him instead of risking rushing to it. If any of you prayed to keep Dad safe from harm last night, raise your hand(s), your prayers were answered. He didn't even get a bruise (so they say) which is remarkable with all the blood thinner he is on. I worry more about internal bleeding than a broken bone.

Thanks be to God who is good!

Today, they had a lot of visitors. Neighbors continue to do all the small things that make a HUGE difference. The nurse, aide, and the PT all came back today. The aide made suggestions concerning bathing and using other aids to help Dad stand up more easily. The PT worked Dad pretty hard, not only walking and standing but also started working Dad's upper body.

I could tell Dad had had a workout when I went by this evening. I reiterated the cautions and suggestions I had made yesterday. I offered to come assist when they were ready to go to bed but was rebuffed. They did promise to call "me" if they got into trouble but, I haven't gotten a call tonight so I guess, unless they called Nathan, they managed to make it to bed without incident.

Jamie III is coming back tomorrow to make the cardiac surgeon visit at 3 pm. I will probably let them handle it and try to take a full day off (it is hard to let go of your kids).

Luke.7
[31] "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?
[32] They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, `We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.'
[35] Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

Don't you hate it when you pipe your heart out and nobody dances?

I would quote the Proverb about train up a child, but I am afraid that it would say more about me than it does about them, they are stubborn.

Ps.81
[12] So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels.

God is good!


P.S. One of the features of a blog is that you can subscribe to it and any time it is updated, you receive an alert. I have had 1 follower(s) for most of the duration of the blog until today. I had another join but because the identity was cryptic I blocked it. If you subscribed today and got blocked, let me know who you are and I will remove the block. There are well over 100 unique visitors reading on a regular basis and I don't want to alienate anyone.

P.P.S. Forgive me if I don't write everyday or late in the day, Dad is not the only one who is trying to get back some normalcy.

Sunday

God is good!

Saturday

Dad stayed up to watch the news last night. That is the latest he has been up since the surgery. He was energized and glad to be home. He slept really well and even slept some on his side. He seems to be reverting back to home sweet home.

He had a good breakfast and Mom and Suzanne fed him is scripts dessert. He volunteered to do his chair exercises on his own and walked around the house with his walker. 

We got a call from the home health nurse and set up an appointment for the afternoon. Adam came up from Ft. Smith to see Dad and go the the U of A baseball game. Adam was about to take Dad outside for a stroll when the nurse showed up so we will postpone our nature walk for later.

The nurse was very gregarious and professional. She spent about 2 hours with us and went over everything from scheduling to explaining all the medications and answered all of our questions. She told Mom that if we wanted a nurse to draw Dad's blood for the lab work on Monday instead of having to take Dad into the clinic, they could do that. Mom was very relieved. She is apprehensive about having to take Dad to all the different doctors appointments.

At the end of her interview after she had been talking about diet, Dad broke in and said that he appreciated the efforts to keep him alive, but he was 86 years old and had had a good life, so all this talk about healthy foods was great but a piece of bacon occasionally would improve the quality of what time he had left and probably wouldn't sabotage all the efforts to any degree. The nurse laughed and said that she agreed, as long as he used some common sense and practiced some discipline there was no reason not to have some treats occasionally, in fact it might even be good for him to add some more fat with a balanced diet. She told Dad that anyone who had lived through 3 heart attacks, 5 graph surgery, and 2 vicious infections ought to have some latitude and exercise some choice in his menu. I think Dad was surprised that he didn't get a debate. She checked Dad's vitals and looked at his leg wound and went on her way. After she left Dad said that he thought she was the most thorough care giver he has had.

Dad was ready to get up and walk around after the nurse left, so he maneuvered through the house. He seemed get fatigued fairly quickly this time and he was breathing more heavily. We sat him in the wheel chair and wheeled him back to the den. I asked Suzanne to keep an eye on his breathing and make sure it didn't gravitate to panting.

I left to come home and see my wife and kids and to grab a bite to eat. I don't know if I am catching something or if all of this is just catching up with me, but I am exhausted. I called a few minutes ago to check the home front and they were about to finish with the night time meds and start the nocturnal preparations. One of the things Dad has missed the most is a good flossing. His hands have not been strong enough to grip the floss and he gets tired during the process. Last night, he was determined to finish his long time habit and it took about 30 minutes, but he felt like he had finally gotten a thorough dental cleaning.  Hopefully, he will have another good night. Suzanne will be going back to Conway tomorrow, and we will see how our new support system falls into place. Her visit was a gift for all of us.

Thank you for all of your comments, emails, and cards this week, they mean so much to all of us. 

God is good!

Friday

One thing about HS, if it is on the schedule it happens and usually right on time. Mom and I got there around 9:00 and Dad was dressed and ready to go. Mom and I began packing up all the stuff you accumulate. It is at pack up time you start to realize how much Medicare got billed. Dad wanted to go hunt down his PT Jennifer and tell her thanks, so we wheeled down to the gym and found her with 3 patients at once, one of who Dad recognized. They talked a while and we said our goodbyes and went back to the room and waited for the nurse to come give us final instructions. The new furniture arrived, wheel chair, bath transfer bench, and the best, bedside commode. Nathan showed up about the time the nurse came in so we all got to listen and try to assimilate how and when to administer 16 prescriptions, and 2 over the counter medications. We have 4 appointments with 3 doctors next week. After we asked all our questions, we were outta there. Of course they announce your departure over the intercom and any staff around claps as you are wheeled down the hall. Dad transferred to the van fairly easily and we headed home. 

Home sweet home...Mom managed to back into the carport okay, only hit the garbage can, and Dad navigated to the back step and fortunately the new hand holds I installed this morning held up and he made it in easily. He sat in his chair and looked plum natural. We unpacked the van and Nathan and I ran the obstacle course with the wheel chair. We determined, as I expected, that it will not fit through one of the main bathroom doors. Dad wanted to take a tour and get the lay of the land with the walker.  He struggled to get out of the recliner (fix #1) but he made it up with a little help and he was off, the step up to the kitchen (fix #2) was not too tough but it is an obstacle to use extra caution with, then we went to the primary bathroom door, no problem, into the bathroom but we got stuck in the door to the bedroom (fix#3) because that door is only 22" wide and the walker won't go through unless it is turned sideways, not safe. We backtracked and got through into the bedroom. He navigated to the second bathroom okay and came back to the bed. He transferred to the bed okay but transferring back to the walker was a struggle (fix #4) because the bed is too low. We went back through the sun room and living room and back to the den. All in all he did real well. He got back to his chair and I went to get his meds while Mom and Dad ate. I loaded the the cart with all the drugs and came back to sort and verify. We got out the list and started separating the ones he has to take once, twice, and three times a day. Turns out they charged us for 16 but we only had 15 not to mention the over the counter ones. So I called and we determined which one it was and I went back to pick them up.

Dad made some phone calls and did his inhaler and then Suzanne arrived from Conway for the weekend and we went over all the procedures she would need to know. Dad decided it was time for a nap and so he walked back to the bedroom with Suzanne's assistance and laid down for a siesta. I left for lunch and to re-tool for some of the fixes.

God is good!

Thursday

We all got an early start this morning. I got there about 9:15 and Dad had already had a PT session. Mom and I went to meet with the case worker to ask some final questions and determine what time we would check out on Friday. While we were meeting, Jamie Ellen and Eric went with Dad to the next OT session. We found them in the gym and Dad was trying to convince them he was too tired to finish. We didn't let him wimp out and so he got his full session in. Mom went home to fix lunch for Jamie Ellen and Eric. While Dad was resting for the final push, Jamie Ellen and Eric said their good-byes and left for lunch and then drove back to Little Rock. I stayed with Dad and got him back to the room for his lunch. After all the activity of the morning, he woofed down everything on his tray including some Ensure pudding. He only had about an hour before the next OT session, so I let him take a nap and ran home and ate a bite.

I got back in time for the afternoon sessions and they didn't let up one bit. He was very tired by the time it was over. The staff left him with me so I took him to the bathroom and told him to call me when he was ready to get back in bed. I made a phone call and while I was talking I hear the bathroom door open. Dad had transferred to the wheel chair by himself, which is a huge break in the rules, and wheeled himself to the bed. I helped him into bed and he almost immediately went to sleep. 

I went to Mom and Dad's to do a walk through to determine what I could do to improve the accessibility and look for hazards. Mom and I determined that they needed to switch bedrooms because there is so much more room to move around and the bathroom is so much more accessible. I did some creative, however, bad engineering at the back door and took everything back to Lowes and started over. I think I came up with a simple but effective solution for a one step hand rail. So ready or not we will be leaving institutional life at 10:30 tomorrow morning. We will give home life a try with home visits by PT, OT, and an aide. If it doesn't work out then we will pursue another avenue, but Dad needs to get away from anything resembling a hospital, we all do. 

With this huge move, there are a lot of concerns and angst for all of us. We covet your continued prayer.

2Cor.5

[5] He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 
[6] So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 
[7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. 
[8] We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 
[9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

God is good!

Wednesday

Nathan and Jamie III spent the morning tormenting Dad today. They harassed him during his PT session and made him double up on his reps. Dad got so mad at the end that he took off with the walker and double timed it back to the room.

This afternoon Dad had an appointment with the cardiac surgeon to check the leg and get some info on moving home. His leg looks better but the tunnel has not closed to any great extent. All the drugs Dad is taking to counter act the other drugs he is taking is making it a slow go. The infection seems to be responding to the antibiotics. We talked about some practical things to watch for when he goes home. Dad doesn't like waiting on the wheelchair shuttle so we loaded up in the van and headed back to HS. This was good practice for the realities ahead.

I came back to see Dad later in the evening and he had just awaken from a nap. Jamie Ellen and Eric had dropped by to visit but Dad was so tired and sleepy they left and went to eat with Nancy. they spent the night with Mom which was good for her. Dad and I revisited the events of the day and he got his meds and was ready to hit the sack for the evening. We had prayer together and I went home.

God is good! 

Tuesday

I got a text message from Nathan around noon today. He was there with Dad again today for his PT session. They have modified the quarantine, so Dad got to go to the gym. He walked from station to station and got a good workout. He walked up 4/ 8" steps and back down. He rested a while and Nathan said, "Lets do it again". Dad tried to wimp out, but Nathan would have none of it. He said, "Pawpaw, you aren't even winded". So Dad did it again. He then continued by stepping up one step and back down five or six more times. They did some leg exercise on the mat table and walked some more and then went back to the room for lunch. Nate had to go to school but left Dad a note on the slick board to remind him spring practice is over, it's time for the game.

I went to see Dad around 7:30 tonight expecting to find the lights out and Dad asleep. I had forgotten that Jamie III was coming to town and found them entertaining a good friend. We shared some laughs and served up some hospital hi-jinks at the staff's expense, which was very uplifting and invigorating. Dad had a full dose of the Jones boys today and will probably need a new wonder drug to get over it. Infirmary fun may be an oxymoron, but I think I got a picture of what Patch Adams discovered tonight. A good time was had by all.

I have purposefully tried not to mention people by name here because I don't always know who has visited and don't want to inadvertently miss mentioning the many friends who have been so supportive over the last 60 days. You have all been servants, deacons, and Barnabus (sons and daughters of encouragement) to our family.

Whether you have provided a meal, manned a chainsaw or rake, sent a card, email, or comment, shared a visit with Dad or Mom, done their taxes, or been faithful in prayer, our hearts cannot express the appreciation and love we have for each of you.

So whether your name is Rick, Bill, Tom, Steve, Leslie, John, Jim, Larry, JoAnn, Mary, Ann, Liz, Otto, Ken, Rita, Paul, Darrel, Melonie, Linda, Randy, Jesse, David, Eddie, Kim, Jane, Jo Beth, Don, Cindy, Dana, Suzan, Carolyn, Jo, Randall, Barbara, Travis, Jamie, Ruth, Betty, Ellen, Frank, Doug, Mike, Dale, Lisa, Edith, Millie, George, Arlis, Bill, Jim Pat, Kitty, Brison, Marilyn, Sarah, Gail, Theresa, Lynn, Laura, Chuck, Julia, Kristen, Doris, Layne, Marcia, Darcie, Luther, Candy, Dean, Lowell, Eric, Joel, Andy, Cathy, Connie, Greg, Carrie Beth, Allison, Janna, Luke, Daniel, Jawanda, Kay, Tim, Burt, Vickie, Ron, Thomas, Drew, Bart, Ryan, Sue, Mathew, Betty, Pat, Jolene, Dianne, , , , we know that I AM sent you to us.

Exod.3
14] God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'"

We are all blessed. God is good!

Monday

I am playing catch up today (Tuesday) just to keep everything chronological.

I visited Dad this morning just after breakfast. Dad was in the bed and was venting about the lack of attention to detail in his schedule. They had scheduled him to go to the Wound Care Center again even though the cardiac surgeon had specifically cancelled the appointment. He was not happy about the incompetence. While I was there the physiatrist came in and Dad unloaded on him. He got defensive and was being impudent and mocking and Dad got hot. I jumped in trying to bring the conversation back to a civil adult level and began to explain the history of the events and was interrupted by the "good" "doctor" and I erupted with "May I talk?" He shut up and acted like the teenager he was trying to be while I explained the farcical idiotic way his institution and others went about treatment of patients whose literal lives they are entrusted. I then asked some medical questions which I knew he couldn't answer without having to check the record and call another doctor. I needed him out of the room for blood pressures to subside.

Before I go on about what this blog is really for, I will at some point summarize the alarming nature of the medical maze that seems to be pervasive in Fayetteville and probably elsewhere. I truly fear for those who do not have an advocate.

When the "doctor" left, I told Dad that we needed to forget about all the grievances and concentrate on doing everything we can do to get better and be positive and complementary. He agreed. Enter Nathan...He changed the environment and energized the ions. He robed up and came in ready for action. Five minutes later the PT came in and said let's get busy! We determined that we couldn't leave the room due to the infection, so she said let's work on practical skills. Dad transferred from the bed to the walker and walked to the bathroom where he did a mock #2, changed his "britches" and transferred back to the walker, went to the sink, washed his hands and combed his "hairs" all three of them. He walked back to the bed and transferred a couple more times and the PT went to get some exercises that he could do sitting down. I had to leave to go to work but Nathan stayed a made sure he got his 45 minutes worth. Dad got some OT as well and had a good day. It is hard for me to think of my son as an angel, especially since he has so many on his shoulder, but he was a shot in the arm for me and Dad.

I have to keep reminding myself how far Dad has come with all the obstacles he has had to deal with. God is good!

I know the novelty waned long ago, and sometimes I wonder if anyone is still reading my non-sense, so I added a tracker a couple of nights ago and apparently I need to get back to paying attention to what and how I write with more cerebral content. In the past 3 days, 61 unique readers from 12 states have visited the blog a total of 242 times. I don't know whether to tell you to get a life or to add a "contributions are welcomed" link. Your contributions of concern and prayer and well wishes are as much a part of Dad's therapy as anything done at the rehab hospital. THANK YOU!

Heb.12

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

God is good!

Sunday

I saw Dad about 7:30 tonight and he was napping and watching CSPAN. Charlotte and I robed up and put on our gloves and entered the quarantine zone. We chatted for a while until the nurse came in to give Dad his meds. Now I am no genius but if I am only visiting one room and one patient with no other contacts and have to put on bib and tucker, wouldn't you think that a nurse who is passing out meds to several patients, taking vitals and who knows what else, might need to do the same?

It is our last week in HS and Dad wants to make as much advancement toward the practical everyday types of activities he will need to do when he gets home. His regular PT will be off this week, so on top of that and not knowing whether he can go to the gym due to the infection we are not too sure how much this last week will be worth. Dad says that he plans to take the bull by the horns and map out his intentions in the morning with who ever is in charge of his therapy this week. 

Jamie III will be back in town Tues. evening and part of Wed. and Jamie Ellen (grand) and Eric (grand-in-law) will be in on Wed. to visit for a day or so. 

I will be concentrating on getting the home environment as Dad friendly as possible. I am sure some carpentry and engineering will be involved. I guess institutional barriers are not Dad's only obstacles. If I have to carry him in, I will. I am thinking a bungee sling thing with carabiners in a ceiling mounted track system throughout the house might work. 

We need a miracle...

God is good!