Saturday, December 17, 2022

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

 A SHORT JEEP RIDE AROUND THE BLOCK THIS MORNING
I talked to Kelly this morning and she is in good spirits except for being told she wasn't coming home today.  They are keeping her until Monday.  She talked to the doctor this morning and he explained to her what they did in the endoscopy procedure Friday afternoon.  They located the spot where she was bleeding and said it was the same spot as last March.  He said the cause of the bleeding is her diseased liver.  Here is a description I found online of what happens... 'Esophageal varices develop when normal blood flow to the liver is blocked by a clot or scar tissue in the liver. To go around the blockages, blood flows into smaller blood vessels that aren't designed to carry large volumes of blood. The vessels can leak blood or even rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding'.   If the pressure bursts it can be fatal, but if it oozes like in Kelly's case the blood vessel can be repaired by banding it.  They did this last March and they re-did it Friday afternoon.  She has 4 IV drips going on at the moment with antibiotics etc. and that is a 72-hour procedure that will end Monday.  And, she will be on low blood pressure pills for the rest of her life also because normal blood pressure is too much for her weaker 'back pressure' blood vessels.  Barring any complications, Pheebs and I will hopefully be bringing her home sometime Monday.  

MY NAVIGATOR WASN'T TOO ENTHUSED ABOUT THE WEATHER EITHER
For anybody who knows Kelly well, they will understand the following.......Not having any solid food since Thursday's supper she unhooked her IV drips this morning and made her way down to the hospital cafeteria whereupon she got herself a large cup of coffee and a donut.  She did this several times last March when she was in there too and that time she took her IV poll with her to the elevator and slipped down a few floors to the cafeteria.  This morning she didn't bother taking the pole and simply unplugged the IV lines and headed out carrying the floppy lines with her.  Kelly is a very special person with a very special determination.  If she is told she can't do something she will just simply figure out a way to do it anyway and there is no way to keep her down.  Even in her sickest moments she keeps her spirits up and never complains or feels sorry for herself.  She fully understands her illness and faces it head-on.  I think successfully raising five children and having had great parents, and a proper upbringing it has made her the very special strong-willed and loving person she really is.  And with a sense of humor and wit, I might add.  While on the phone earlier today a nurse came in and Kelly asked her something about a 'door-dash' lunch.  I heard the nurse laughing.  And I don't even know what door-dash means:((

 KELLY WASN'T HAVING ANY PART OF THIS BREAKFAST NONSENSE THIS MORNING
Here are a few updates from Kelly today starting first thing this morning...... Not much sleep.  One lady moaning, one crying, and one talking on her cell phone. I have 4 IV bags going in with 2 in each arm, so basically I can hardly move around. Try getting to the bathroom in a hurry.  Supper was a cup of green Jello. My throat and insides are sore from the scope. Hemoglobin is 87 (still acceptable) hopefully. The doctor will get here early for rounds and I can find out what the scope turned up. I SURE hope I am not here another night......Lots of nice encouraging comments on the blog......Wonder if I will get breakfast?......It's 8:30, Not coming home til Monday:(...... Took the IVS out and took myself from 8th floor to 3rd floor for coffee.  Got a little lost but made it back with the help of a cleaning lady.

KELLY DIDN'T CARE MUCH FOR THIS TOMATO-BASED STUFF AND KNOWING HER SHE MIGHT HAVE CHUCKED IT OUT HER WINDOW OR HID IT UNDER HER BED OR......SOLD IT TO THE LADY BESIDE HER FOR $1.49
 SHE IS ALREADY CHECKING OUT TOMORROWS GOURMET LUNCH MENU
Snowing here this morning so it was only a short Jeep ride for Pheebs and I out into the countryside and back.  Hadn't started Scooter up for a few weeks so figured I had better do that and let it run for twenty minutes.  So I did that, but forgot it was running until later when I walked into the living room and saw Scoot's lights on.  Yesireeee, all 8 cylinders of that big  3500 chevy purring along out there for just under 3 hours.  Gas?  What gas??  Well, at least is wasn't as long as the first time I did that years ago with our first big Class A gas Motorhome.  Started it up one fine summer day, then half an hour later decided to take my motorcycle for a spin.  Five hours later I was home again.....and the Motorhome was still sitting there quietly purring away.  I remember the late Rod Ivers (fellow RV Blogger and friend) got quite a kick out of the post I wrote about my folly that day.

 A SLIGHTLY SNOWY MORNING
Some may wonder why I would take, and then put in the blog a picture of Kelly when she was not looking her best in the emergency room at Goderich's hospital.  Well, that's who we are,  what we do, and how we roll.  Kelly was fine with having that photo posted.  In fact, she took a photo that I didn't post in Friday's blog.  She sent that photo to all her kids to let them know she was in the hospital.  As sick as she was Thursday night she got one of the paramedics to pose for a picture she took with her smartphone.  It's the paramedic guy holding a transparent plastic bag with all the blood Kelly threw up.  Those bags are marked and designed for that to show exactly how much a person has brought up. If your squeamish, don't look at the picture below.

 YEP, THIS IS THE PICTURE SHE TOOK TO SEND TO HER KIDS TO LET THEM KNOW SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
And a great big huge thank you to everyone for all your cares, concerns, emails, phone calls, and comments regarding Kelly's condition and hospitalization.  We both read and appreciate every one of them.

SHE EVEN TOOK A PICTURE OF HER IV POLE....GEEEZZZZ, SHE'S GETTING AS WORSE AS ME
Ellen's Groove:)) In this short video, Ellen sings and plays, Frosty The Snowman.  And 13 years ago today I was 'Hanging On To The Donkeys'

 THIS IS PRETTY MUCH HOW OUR WHOLE DAY LOOKED
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man received two sweaters for Hanukkah from his mother. The next time he visited her, he made sure to wear one of the two sweaters.  As he entered her home, instead of the expected smile, she said, "What's the matter? You didn't like the other one?"

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There is an old story about the data center of the future.  This data center runs 24/7 with only a man and a dog.  The man's job is to feed the dog.
The dog's job is to make sure the man does not touch the computer.

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Me: "I just burned 2000 calories in 20 minutes."
Friend: "How?"
Me: "I forgot to take my brownies out of the oven."

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17 comments:

  1. I am so glad to know things are looking better! That is a great explanation that you found and shared with us. Certainly makes sense. Wow, that's a lot of blood to lose! Really scary business. Thank goodness Kelly's problem is a leak that can be corrected.
    I'm SURE Rod laughed about your leaving the RV running while you were out zooming around on your motorcycle. He was such a dear; enjoyed his motorcycles so much; he could totally understand your forgetting everything else while you rode.

    Hope Kelly's roommates let her get some sleep tonight. I'll bet she'll be breaking out and going for breakfast in the morning.
    Thanks again for keeping us in the loop. We care.

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  2. LOL to the cleaning lady helping her find her way back to her room :-))) She is one determined lady for sure! Has to give you peace of mind to know she's able to take care of herself even with all those IVs. Glad she's feeling better and that they were able to fix her up again.

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  3. Glad Kelly is doing better. It's hard to keep some people down, they just don't do it well and it seems Kelly is the leader of the pack! Door Dash I would think is her heading out for real food!! You and Pheebes keep yourselves busy and fed. Miss Kelly will soon be home to take care of you both again.

    Deb

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  4. Wishing the best for a quick recovery for Kelly. I would be bonkers if well and in a four-person room like that. Take care Al.

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  5. So glad Kelly is feeling better. I know she's tough and will be home as soon as possible. She is lucky to have you and Pheebs to give her support.

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  6. Fingers crossed Kelly makes it home Monday. She certainly is a shining star with her ever positive outlook. I agree with Jodee that it must give you and her family great peace of mind knowing Kelly can handle herself just fine. Love that she unhooked hereself and went to the cafeteria for some decent food. Hang in there Kelly and Al we're all sending lots of positive vibes your way.

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  7. I remember trying to take a picture of my IV pole with all its tubes, but never managed it. I guess Kelly is a good photographer along with all her other many talents. Hope she's home soon and recovers quickly.

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  8. Kelly unplugged and went for coffee! I think she's my new hero! By Monday bet they will be glad to let her go, but they will miss her! What a character :)

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  9. One tough cookie who just radiates life. In spite of everything. You've been very very lucky Al, but I suspect she thinks the same about her life with you. In spite of all....haha
    Keep on taking care of Pheebs..

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  10. Brightened my day to hear Kelly is improving and made me laugh that she just unhooked herself. I would never know how to do that. Hope she's home on Monday and that this doesn't happen again. Pretty scary.

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  11. I don't understand the need to fire up Scooter every now and then. Anytime I've put a vehicle into storage for the winter, It just sits there until spring, not running for five or six months at a time. Just remove the battery and put it somewhere half ways warm, and let it sit. Of course you save money on the insurance as well, except for comprehensive.

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  12. Still sending those good thoughts from Ann Arbor! (Can’t sign in here so posting anonymously, but you know who I am. 😎)

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  13. Good for Kelly--in hospitals these days you sometimes have to take charge of your care! Hope she is home soon!

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  14. Goid news from the Bayfield Bunch. No wonder you liove that woman so much. She is determined to live life no matter what. She is amazing. I sure wouldn't want to be the person to tell her she can't go home tomorrow. So prayers all goes according to plan.

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  15. Kelly's strong spirit, humor and determination makes me smile. I got a chuckle out of her words and the fact she went to get herself something to eat. She'll be home soon.

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  16. A fiesty Kelly is a good sign. Hugs for all.

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  17. Hi to you both. Still not getting the blog in email, but remembered to look for you tonight and found you. Kelly: You are a miracle. And, I think your picture referenced in the blog was pretty. We always look better lying down with the wrinkles falling back, don't you think? Hope you can go home now.

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