Vacation is Here!!

Vacation has finally arrived and I'm headed to California! One of the most exciting comforts I'm looking forward to is cooler temperatures. After a bit, the 105, 106, 107, 103 daily highs are simply too oppressive, both physically and mentally.

I'm planning to make up some time with young Joshua and get in lots of laughter, hugs, and kisses --- not to mention the rest of the family. I'll have most of Wednesday and Thursday to spend with Holly, Jeff and Joshua before Elizabeth, David and Jeannie arrive home from Ireland. I'm sure they will have some jet lag to overcome. Thursday, August 7 is Joshua's first birthday and we have a day planned in Berkeley to visit his daddy's office, take in a bit of lunch, and discover “Love at First Bite,” a cupcakery (they have a website). His party is to be held on Saturday and I've made surprise favors for everyone.

Today included a bit of drama of its own, but all is well. My blood pressure did not react favorably to a medication change at the end of last week and soared on Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. The majority of Tuesday morning was spent at the doctor's office and tracking down monitors and additional medication to bring it back down and reverting back to the previous medication until after my trip. Additionally, my Dad's affairs were squared away at the VA Center and contact information was given to his head nurse. He has been sleeping quite a bit lately but otherwise he is doing well and was happy for the restocking of pipe tobacco and lighters. (The blood pressure was back down to 133/60 late this evening!)

I'll have my cell phone, so feel free to send a text message as I have planned not to check my OU e-mail account! Maybe I'll get a chance to post before my return...or maybe not! The kitties are in good hands in my absence.

Stay cool, be well, and be safe. Peace!

Good Health Report...Countdown to Vacation

It's been a few days with more than enough to keep me busy before vacation begins on August 6. You might say that I'm counting down to a 10 day escape to cooler temperatures. All is not lost in Oklahoma as the crape myrtles love the warm temperatures and show their splendor along the canal in Oklahoma City. The temperatures have crept into the triple-digit range and there's little respite in sight for the next week or so.

On the health news front, I received my first 3-month report from my physician this week regarding the management of diabetes. The good news could not have come at a better time. My average glucose dropped from 267 to 123 (his goal was to eventually get me near 150); my hemoglobin dropped from 10.8 (very high) to 6.1 (right on target); and, total cholesterol dropped from 184 (not bad to start with) to 156. I was not anticipating results to be this dramatic and the nurse and physician were delighted and very pleased. It's so nice to see your diligence pay off in a positive manner. I was congratulated for skipping a couple of target ranges on the way to bringing numbers down. My physician is also quite good in monitoring and choosing an effective plan of therapy. The only down-side is that I am iron deficient anemic and very low on B12, but we begin therapy on these issues this coming Monday for the next few months.

Did I mention vacation? My plans are for a trip to the West coast in part to celebrate the first birthday of my great nephew, Joshua. How can I resist that smile who can say my name?! I'll be visiting my sister, Elizabeth along with her family and their spouses in the San Francisco Bay area for 10 days. I can't wait to get away and find cooler temperatures.

My dad has recovered very well from his knee replacement surgery and has begun to adjust and make friends at the VA Center. It has been a long road to get to this point, but I'm very grateful that he is embracing the changes.

One of my other passions is scrapbooking photos taken from travels with friends. My current project is volume 2 of 4 for my trip to Spain last summer. I enjoy the research before and after the trips as well as retelling the story through my scrapbooks and reliving the moments captured in the photographs. I'll close this post with a photo from an area north of Barcelona, the second holiest pilgrimage in Spain, Montserrat. We performed a short concert after the Sunday morning mass. This is an overall photo taken just behind the last row in the sanctuary. Hope everyone is doing well and staying cool. Wishing you good health and happy days. Peace until next time...

Quick Update for Monday

Kitties have stomach ulcers too and take the same medicines! If they take their medicine regularly they respond to the therapy as well; a little smoked turkey helps too! All of this to thoroughly confuse and explain that Foster is responding well to therapy for an ulcer caused from the antibiotic taken after his canine teeth were removed. He had lost one pound in two weeks and weighed a mere 8.2 lbs. Thankfully, Dr. Miller was right on with her diagnosis and he has responded with only one protest to taking his medication. Smoked turkey cured that hiccup. He trains quickly and is eager for medication followed by turkey.

On the other side of the care scale, my dad is doing very well and his knee has finally turned around (not literally) and is healing beautifully. My focus for him is to limit my visits to twice weekly and push him to be more independent and eat in the main dining hall. I'm working toward recovering some semblance of a life for myself though my digestive system has let itself be "heard" that the past few weeks were not acceptable and fatigue is not preferred.

I'm looking forward to a trip to California Aug. 6-15 to visit family and celebrate Joshua's first birthday. Hope all of you had a joyous Fourth of July!

Things are settling down a bit

It's been a week or so since the last posting. My Dad is beginning to settle in a bit at the VA Center and his knee is responding to IV antibiotic therapy. The cellulitis is still there but is much improved. As for me, it's been a week of weaning him away from constant contact with me and working to have him rely on the staff of the VA to take care of him rather than expecting me to run out there every time he calls. It has been difficult to tell him "No!" and refuse to come and bail him out or simply to run out just because, but it seems to be working. His physician, nurses and I are in agreement that this is best for him and me in the long run.

Thankfully, Elizabeth arrives later in the day on Wednesday afternoon for a visit until Saturday evening. Her visit is a welcome respite for me and we plan to enjoy each other's company and share in that with our Dad, especially on Friday. While my father has been anxious for me to come take him out or bring him over to my house, the doctors agree that it is too soon. He is still receiving IV antibiotics daily and his knee is just not strong enough to navigate without assistance on a flat surface, much less steps and any uneven surfaces.

We are hoping to share a picnic lunch with him on Friday at spend time visiting before we take in a baseball game in Oklahoma City and enjoy a fireworks display after the game.

Here's wishing each of you a happy and safe Fourth of July. Thanks to our veterans for the sacrifices that make this holiday possible.

Doctor visit moved up a couple of days

What was scheduled as a visit to the knee surgeon for Wednesday was moved to Monday afternoon. The PA and physician at the VA Center phoned the orthopedic surgeon regarding my dad's knee and increased redness and fever. The surgeon asked to see him this afternoon. After making a mad dash to the Center and picking up my dad (complete with wheelchair) we kept the appointment.

Upon examination, the doctor discerned that it was cellulitis around his knee and incision. X-rays revealed the joint replacement is perfectly in place, pain medication was adjusted along with blood thinner, staples removed, and we were on our way back. The doctor stressed that my dad should be sure to keep the knee moving.

En route we made a quick Sonic stop for liquid refreshment. When we returned to the VA Center I suggested that he use the walker to get around and he would be more sure of himself. He did so without incident and made it out to the patio to smoke his pipe. Dinner arrived and I came home for a peaceful evening.

I'm headed for an early night to bed.

Patience, patience, patients . . .

My father's recovery is progressing now that he is back in residence at the Norman VA Center. The weekend has been a little bumpy but the staff has handled is beautifully. His blood pressure has been taking dips below 100 over the weekend and he developed a fever on Saturday prompting the medical director to give him IV antibiotics. The best of all is that he has been able to rest and sleep the past couple of days, hopefully making up for some of the sleepness and busy nights at the hospital.

His evening nurse (Mary) called me around 6 p.m. on Sunday stating that he had been asking for me and she promised to give me a call. We agreed that I would wait until Monday to visit unless his condition warranted me coming out. When I phoned her around 9 p.m., Mary indicated that he was "perturbed that I didn't rush right out to visit" but we agreed that this is precisely why I did not. Behavior change can be very difficult and he is having to re-socialize with others --- that is a very good thing.

The laugh for the evening was this. When I phoned her, she relayed that the staff had a busy evening. Just prior to my phone call, one of the other residents could not locate his call button so he called 911! Thankfully, the staff was laughing but it certainly broke up a somewhat routine evening. We must always remember to laugh at ourselves and with each other. We visit his knee doctor on Wednesday.

Discharged from Hospital . . . Back at VA Center

Thursday was a monumental day of sorts with my father being discharged from the hospital back to the Norman Veteran's Center to continue his recovery and rehabilitation. As with any process these days, it's never as simple as one would think and there is more than enough paperwork to cover our walls and everyone's backside! Daddy was very confused when I arrived at the hospital though he had been very clear, especially so with the neurologist, on the day before. Change is always difficult and brings on confusion --- I think much is triggered by fear.

We finally got to the VA Center and they were ready and available to check him in. The first order of business was getting him some lunch and me unloading his belongings and unpacking. Of course, the staff there was required to do a skin assessment, etc. and all was well. The CPM (continuous passive movement) machine was a source of anxiety as it had been during the stay in the hospital. When physical therapy came up to check it out and put him in the machine my dad's anxiety hit with a vengeance.

I was the brunt of his anger at bringing him to "this place full of strangers" and "pulling a dirty deed" in checking him in without explaining it to him, etc. etc. (None of which is true.) At this point, with four nurses, one physician's assistant, and two physical therapists, he continued to yell and I told him to "Stop", to which he replied "No, you stop." I did so; I walked out of the room and he has not seen me since.

In the meantime, the PA gave him an injection to calm him down and he cooperated with the staff and has done so ever since. I did speak with him by phone this morning and he was fine. My dad had requested that I try to locate a different room for him with someone who does not watch TV 24/7 plus the doctor preferred he be closer to the nurses' station. In speaking with the RN on the unit, one bed was open that is 3 doors closer to the station and a very quiet roommate. This room is in the very center and is closer for him to access the dining room on the unit as well as his patio balcony to smoke his pipe. The move was completed without incident or my presence on Friday.

His nurse this evening gave me a rundown of his status when I called to check on him. (The plan is for me to stay away for several days at the suggestion of the neurologist and PA.) His blood pressure dropped late this afternoon and an IV has been started with fluids and his vital signs will be checked every two hours. His BP has risen and all is well, though he did pull the first IV out and another was started. I've been assured that if his condition warrants, the nurse will notify me.

Pray for a continued transition back into life at the VA and continued healing. We visit the doctor again to recheck his incision on Wednesday, June 25.