Move to Rehab

     He is breathing for 5 hours twice a day on his own. He talked again for 20 min.

He is very sleepy and his eyes are closed a lot. Waiting to move, no word yet.

They won't do the swallow ice test until he is more alert.

    I asked the owner if I could take a photo of her license plate and she said yea. I asked her if there was a story behind it. She said her husband's name is Bob and he gets teased about it. Bob is the same forward as it is backwards and What About Bob? the movie. we have a Grandpa Bob in our family.

     Okay so the insurance approved the transfer, now we are waiting for approval for a vehicle. Sigh 

      

     Stopped at the hospital library and the lady there said they mostly have journals. She gave me this website for more information and said it doesn't have ads: medlineplus.gov I looked up spinal cord info and it was very helpful. It has a lot of other medical info too.

We got transport permission at 3:30 pm. He was ready to go at 4:30pm. He is hooked up in his new room and was sleeping peacefully. Visiting hours are 8 am to 8 pm. 

The address is SW ID Advanced Care Hospital 

6651 W. Frwnklin Rd.

Boise, ID 83709

I am sure they will forward any cards. I'll ask tomorrow.

 We looked this up and the initials could stand for Best Friend Yet Bug.

   You think this is a gasoline store?

Code

 I hope this doesn't sound melodramatic. This is scary, so please preview it before you share it with your children. I will try to tell it like I remember how it happened.

     Got two calls last night one at 10:16 and one at 10:40. Must have slept through the first call. Both from ICU, awoke to a nurse telling me to get to ICU that it was an emergency anhusband had gone down hill. I told Brandi and she said she would drive me as I was in no shape to drive. I called Ben and he said to remain calm and keep him informed. I called Brooke Thompson (a family friend that works at St Als) hoping he would be at work but he must have conked out at home. They have 24 hour shifts.

    Arrived at the emergency room and they told me they would be with me in a minute. I told the receptionist my husband was in ICU and had gone down hill. She got Jim to show us how to get there, while in elevator to third floor the nurse called and said he was stable. He had flatlined.

   The nurse Josh, explained, every night they give him a suppository at the same time to help get him regular. (Grape nuts works for me) Apparently the rectum is attached to the nervous system and that simulated heart failure. Alarms went off, his heart had stopped, the nurses called "code" which means everybody come. They started compressing his chest. They had an injection and the pads ready to spark him but they weren't needed, his heartbeat slowly returned. 

    I arrived breathless at his room to find the monitor stable, his color was good and his breathing normal. The nurse was explaining this was not an uncommon occurrence. I was just very pleased to see my husband. I called Ben and had the nurse explain all over again to him what had happened. Talked to Ben and he said good luck trying to sleep. Bruce was peacefully sleeping. Trying to sleep after an Adeline Rush is next to impossible. Needless to say my eyes look like puffy watermelons with baggy dark circles underneath. 

     Today was a slow day, I am beginning to appreciate slower days. He is up to four hours breathing on his own and the warm mist spray that goes with it. 

   They put an umbrella filter in his right leg. He has a blood clot which is not uncommon for someone who hasn't been moving for two and half weeks. Bruce had to sit for four hours with his legs down and head up. They gave him blood thinners to help get rid of the clot.

      The nurses shaved him. He is pretty handsome when he gets cleaned up. I put Chapstick on his lips and he puckered up for me. 

    Didn't get to move him to rehab today. When I called the insurance company they said they were waiting for the Drs report from the nurse and then the nurse said she waiting for the insurance okay. Bah humbug. 

   The nurse figured he won't be moved tomorrow before ten am and it will take two hours to move him two blocks away. (All the equipment) So that means I won't make it back in time to see our youngest son Andrew honored with the other Senoirs on the soccer field.  My heart is breaking, I need a clone. Is that a scary thought? Two Karen's?

Here's one for Bruce. Go Ducks! (the lovely finger in the corner is the photographers accent line) ahem

  

Ups and Downs

     Some friends dropped by a dozen crispy creme donuts last night. Sugar, sugar, sugar, I had one for lunch today and shared them with my host family.

     Got another care package from a friend with two fleece blankets in them, and some snacks. The note said when I need a hug to curl up in the blanket. I slept with it last night. 

     Went to sacrament meeting at 8:30 this morning. One of the speakers was a sister missionary. She said she was from Utah and had an awesome accent where she would sometimes repeat her words. She proceeded to tell the story of Ammon and the Kings sheep, where Ammon cuts off the arms of the robbers and the arms are gathered up and taken to the king. The king is amazed and Ammon gets to tell him the gospel of Christ. (My boys loved this story and acting it out) This sister was amazing telling the story with her stuttering accent. She was strong and could stand in front of a congregation of 250 and did not falter. That's faith, confidence and strength. You can read Ammon's story Alma 17: 20 - 39. Google it as I can't make a connection...

    The host family I am staying with has a  three year old son, he asked me if I could crack my nipples. I was kinda dumbfounded for a sec and then he said like this, and was showing me how to pop his knuckles. So no I can't pop my nipples, I don't like the sound it makes.... And I don't even want to try it.

      Bruce is sitting up, he had trouble breathing with the cpap this morning. He had too much moisture and it was making him gag. The nurse explained when he is turned it loosens things up and that causes the liquids to move around and because he can't cough it up it clogs the tubes which makes it harder to breathe. She came and pushed another tube that made him cough/gag and then it was easier on him. He finished his three hours. 

  They tried to have him swallow a small ice cube this morning and that didn't work. He choked on it. So no talking today.

      They are doing the paper work for the move tomorrow. Dr. Morgan said as soon as we get the go ahead he could be moved in a couple of hours. That fast, sure seems slow to me. Everything is in slow motion lately.

   His right leg is swollen which could be a sign of a blood clot, so they will do an MRI to see what is going on. 

       I can't stand watching him gag and grimace in pain. It breaks my heart.

     Jean Secl and her daughter Carrie stopped by for a visit with me. Jean recently lost her husband Dave to cancer and is adjusting to that. She agrees it is mind numbing.

      Lee Flower stopped in for a short visit. Bruce squeezed his hand. He is really tired and not very responsive today.

       

     For all the Donnas out there.

He Talks!

     The nice nurse shaved Grandpa K. He was being a rascal and moving the washcloth off his face. The nurse put it there to soften his face for shaving.

     He is talking! They let him talk for 15 min, he kept going for 20 min.

He is worried about his grapes in the garden. I told him Jean Rogers was going to juice them for him and he can make them into jelly later.

His said his voice was his life to teach the children. They gave him ice chips to swallow. He wanted apple juice. They said they would begin with water and ice chips and that it could be absorbed into the body if it wasn't swallowed correctly. He wants to get out of here. He said he wanted me to talk to Pres Chadwick about getting released from his church calling. I patiently explained that wasn't his decision, we shall see. 

    Ate lunch outside on a picnic table with the grandchildren. After potty breaks and hugs they left to return to their busy lives in Utah. Not too much whining and the grandchildren were good too. 

     This is the outdoor garden at the hospital, lovely family models. Notice how father sets the example of staying off the wall. He gets it from his fathers side of the family... My side would probably be hanging off the fence.

     Bishop Brent Baxter and Jay Blackburn stopped in for a visit, with a giant handmade card (I love the sunflowers) from the high school and a bag of goodies, games and cards to keep us outta trouble. It was good to see them and hear of the love and good wishes from the high school staff. They gave Bruce a blessing of peace and strength for the days ahead.

     

     Ray and Diane Anderson stopped by with a book for me to read to Bruce. The Lincoln Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard. It looks like a good choice. I have always liked reading books about Lincoln.

     This is an unusual plant in the front yard of my host family. I think it looks like an alien species of some sort. Will have to find out the name.

      Went for a walk. It feels good to move my muscles, must remember that when I move Grandpa K's legs for him. The PT showed me some moves I can use on Bruce's legs to stretch them out; the snow angel, and twinkle, twinkle little star for the hands. Must do it two or three times a day. 

     

    

     

     

Food and Friends

    Sorry about yesterday's blog. I thought it worked... Infernal machine.

      This is a friend a found on my walk this morning.

 

  Grandpa K is about the same. He sat up for two hours. He is up to three hours on the cpap. He was having back spasms today. Rob was rubbing his shoulders for him and singing to him. 

     Went to lunch with Carol Murphy and son Rob to Denny's. Thanks for letting me talk and talk and eat, my two favorite things to do. Thanks for the cards. Sometimes I read the cards to Bruce, I am not sure how much gets through to him but I like them, they are encouraging. 

   

    The hospital workers gave me brochures for two places for the next step. Bruce would be in rehab for three weeks in a small hospital with the same stuff as the ICU only more physical therapy. They specialize in getting patients off the ventilator, and off the stomach tube to a liquid diet. The insurance companies like this as it is cheaper than ICU with the same care and a friendlier environment. 

       

     Rob's wife Lindsey took me to both places in Boise. They both have cafeterias and  I can stay in the room, good nurse to patient ratio, doctors and occupational therapists and a gym for physical therapy. Thanks for going with me Lindsey. I sometimes feel numb and can't react. 

   

     Aunt Kathy was telling me the newest therapy in spinal cord injuries is an exoskeleton (Google it) where the back teaches the brain how to walk. Neither place has this equipment. I imagine it is fairly new and very expensive.

     How do you think the unthinkable? With an itheburg... Get it? Rob was trying to cheer me up. For John Lamarou. Get it? An unsinkable ship with an ice burg... Oh well 

 

   

     

     

 

Two Weeks Already?

       Forgot to mention Boyd Rasmussen stopped by yesterday. (need more sleep) Bruce was asleep so he didn't get to talk to him, just me and some would say I talked enough for both of us. 

 

      Thank you Aunt Kathy for the knitted shawl, it will be nice in the freezing ICU. It arrived in the nick of time just as I was compl... ah lamenting how cold it was.

      Today he is still trying to learn how to breathe, swallow and sleep with the trach. He is in pain and grimaces a lot. No voice therapy until the vocal chords heal, so I would hold off on visits until he can talk, the nurses say 2-3 days.

      He did blow me a kiss.

     Pres. Chadwick and Lisa his wife and Pres. Dave Richards stopped by for a visit. 

Got a nice hug from Lisa. And more talking. 

    This a picture of the helicopter only it is behind the stu tree... Okay, so play I spy.

      My son Rob and his family are here. Rob visited with his dad while Lindsey and the children and I went to see the fish in the library, the nurse doll in the display case and walk the walk outside. They liked looking for the red trinity sign and stomping on it. We saw a helicopter land and take off. We went to the waiting room and the children played there awhile. Rob came out and joined us for lunch at the hospital cafeteria. The children had pizza. The children like Grandpa K's hospital. Baby Riley filled a diaper to overflowing... We saved it for Rob to change, tee hee. We bad.

     

     Grandpa K is sitting up now. They have jerry rigged a suction tube so he can suction out his mouth by himself by moving his head.

   

  He is still in a lot of pain and couldn't do the breathing by himself. They said they would try later on today. He is tired and worn out. I haven't showed him the poem or the video, he just doesn't have the concentration yet.

   Why am I only thinking it has only been 11 days? It has been two weeks. I suppose I was only counting the time on the ventilator. 

     Throwing coins in the water fountain.

     

He is Smiling Again!

       My kind of plate. You think it is edible?

    The ventilator tubes are outta his mouth! Hurrah! He is smiling for the first time in a long time. The speech therapist will come in tomorrow and teach him how to talk with the trach in. We are getting better at reading his lips. He was puckering up so I thought he wanted a kiss. Couldn't tribute out what he wanted. Sigh

     Debbie Welch the occupational therapist from the school district stopped by. She said to tell Bruce to listen to the therapists they know what is best. She said her church group is praying for us too. That is comforting to know so many people who don't know us care enough to pray. There is power in prayer.

     Met a group of babies in 2 red wagons with rows outside by the water fountain. The ladies said it is a day care for the employees at the hospital. I think they said it was for age 8 months to three years. The babies did not like the wind. Neither did I and I hurried inside. I couldn't take a picture, they would need parental permission. 

   Seen in the valet section.

      Okay, the sixth and seventh floor, are you ready for this? They are empty! Yes how disappointing. I was hoping for a locked insane asylum or experimental floor. We should write a story about those floors... They are planning on moving an outside building medical floor to this building. 

     

      The 'peg' tube is in for feeding. He will get three 'meals' a day to prepare for a liquid diet when the tube comes out. 

     

        Bruce is resting when the nurses don't come in for some trivial reason. 

It is 68 degrees in this room and he likes the fan on. Brrr, I always wear a jacket.

We compliment each other that way. He is hot and I am cold.

   

    

       Gowns, sheets, towels and washcloths for ICU.

    Here is a YouTube video the third grade made for Mr. Kevan. It is three minutes long and just delightful. 

http://youtu.be/AJ6lQt9Dj-A