10-31 Update on Wayne

Wayne had to go through more sticking to get blood today. Earlier in the day, the nurse was successful in one stick. Then the lab wanted some (who the heck wanted the first batch?) and another nurse tried for about 20 minutes before she gave up. After lunch the first team was sent in and she was able to hit the vein on the first try. I suggested they tattoo a bulls-eye to mark the spot.

A Brief Pause to Talk About the Grandchildren

The patient had already walked twice before I got here this morning. I got a later start because of the Halloween Parade at Gage and Zane's daycare. Nobody else from the family was going to be able to go. Gage was a little sad about that, so I told Wendy to tell them I would be there. They paraded out of the building and halfway around the block, providing multiple photo ops. The boys were happy to see me there and I enjoyed all the cute costumes. Gage was a red power ranger (as were many other little boys) and Zane was Robin Hood (even though he was in a scarecrow costume.) It would have been perfect had they taken off the patches. I think they did get the patches off before they went trick or treating in the evening. All of the children were cute. There were a few in Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) costumes that were so adorable. The dresses were just like what Judy Garland wore, but covered in blue sequins. They had on shoes that were covered in red sequins and carried a basket with a toy dog. I wish I had taken a picture of them. The first one I saw had her hair in braids. There was also one little girl dressed like Cleopatra. She even walked like an Egyptian.

Back to the Patient

Wayne had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a hard-cooked egg. He ate about a quarter of the sandwich and a bite of the egg. I ordered a reuben sandwich and ate every crumb. It was delicious.

Larry Hoelscher was in the area and called to see if he could come by, so I gave him directions to find us. While I went to meet Larry at the elevator, Wayne started walking around the nurses station. He was moving at a pretty good pace, and without the IV cart to lean on. He posed for a picture...he has a photo shop project in mind for me, if I can figure out how to do it. Larry and Wayne talked about farming and football and remodeling, oh my! While they talked, I uploaded a video to the blog, but decided it could be better and took it off when I got home. I'll try to get Wayne to work with me on it tomorrow. If he cooperates, you'll like it...I promise.

Wayne has received a number of lovely flower arrangements and pot plants in baskets. One that came this morning was from Donna and Jimmie Chambers and staff. We got a good laugh out of that. For those who might not know them, Donna and Jimmie have been friends of ours for probably close to 40 years. They happen to own Wharton Funeral Home. I told Wayne, "You have to worry that things might be going south when the funeral home starts sending you flowers!" Thanks, Jimmie & Donna!

More About the Little Ones

As I said earlier, I got to the hospital late, but I made up for it by leaving early. I needed to get home to see the trick or treaters. I told Carolyn I would pick up Kate from daycare to save her a little time. Kate was so excited to see me. She couldn't give me enough hugs. We stopped at Walmart to buy some candy to supplement the stuff I got last week, then we went to my house. Brent came soon and got Kate ready for Halloween. He deviated from Carolyn's plan of Kate wearing scrubs. He came with a wig, psychedelic pants, bangle bracelets, and bling for her. Carlee has a really bad cold, so she didn't get into costume. She gave us a smile even though she felt so bad.

Back to Wayne

Wayne really seemed to feel much better today. I believe we will get him home on Friday. Then we just have to wait to see what the pathology report says to know whether or not chemo is in his future.

10-30 Update on Wayne

Caught a ride into Houston with Brent this morning. I was planning on taking the car, but Carolyn called at 8:15 or so and said he hadn't left yet, did I want to ride with him. Who doesn't like to chauffeured? He came by for me a few minutes later with Kate in her car seat. She dropped books, her drink, etc., on the floor to see how many times I would pick them up for her. Twice, it turns out. Her shoes and socks were pulled off and she would have taken her jacket off if it had been easier. We dropped her off at her daycare in Sugarland and made our way to M. D. Anderson.

Ralph Hayes had called to say he had just finished a meeting near the medical center and could he go visit Wayne. I gave my blessing, but Wayne was in the middle of his morning ablution (go look it up) and the nurse asked him to come back in a little while. He was sitting near the elevator when I got off. He and Wayne visited for quite a while. I think Wayne ate a few bites of oatmeal and some grape juice while Ralph was there. After he left, we walked around the nurses station a few times. He was better than he was yesterday, but it still requires an effort to do anything. He did have an idea for a composite photo that he wants me to attempt. Great...another excuse to spend hours on the computer getting nothing else done. Right up my alley!

I went to the cafeteria for some sushi while Wayne dozed a little. About the time I got back to the room, Jimmy Schulz popped in. There was a lot of crop talk going on. I didn't take many notes...I was eating my sushi (grilled salmon sushi, for those who care) and dripping soy sauce on myself.

Jodie Socha called and said he was on Holcombe, just crossing Main, so I told him where to go. He went somewhere else. After a while I headed for the elevator to see if he was downstairs, but he stepped out of the elevator just as I got there. We went to the room where he and Jimmy and Wayne talked football. Either I left the room, or I zoned out...I'm not sure which. When I came to, the visit was coming to an end.

At around 2:00, Wayne was willing to try to eat something, but wanted to be surprised, just like he's surprised when I cook something at home. I ordered pot roast (it didn't look like pot roast) and mashed potatoes and brown gravy. He ate a few bites of it, but complained that everything tastes like the plastic wrap that covers the food.

The surgeon and his entourage came to the room and talked about passing gas, etc. He told Wayne it was the one time he could be proud of that activity. He said that medically Wayne was ahead of schedule. I'm not actually sure what that means. He also said that he wouldn't push him out of the hospital until Wayne was comfortable about leaving. I'm thinking Thursday or Friday might be a possibility. It seemed to me that he would release him tomorrow if Wayne said he was ready to go. I think both Wayne and I would prefer that there be a few less drains to deal with.

The afternoon rocked on and before we knew it he had walked some more and was just getting into bed when Brent came to pick me up. Wayne was going to rest some and then maybe order supper. Brent and I left and drove to Sugarland to pick up Kate, who was delighted to see me again. Wendy called while we were driving home and said that Gage & Zane's daycare's Halloween Parade is tomorrow morning at 9:30. She said that Gage seemed a little sad that none of us would be there to witness the event. I told her to tell him I would try to make it and then I called Wayne to tell him I would be getting to the hospital about an hour later than usual. He mumbled this and that and grudgingly accepted my later arrival. The big baby.

Carolyn had made a pot of Mexican Soup and cornbread. She wanted me to take some of the cornbread to Wayne tomorrow. He loves her cornbread (I taught her how to make it when she was about 10, but he says hers is better.) She noted that the cornbread hadn't risen very high and couldn't figure it out. I suggested that maybe the baking powder was past it's prime. She said that she had used baking powder that she just bought and then suddenly realized that she hadn't put any cornmeal in the cornbread. I have to tell you...it was wonderful! It was a sweet, light bread that I thought was excellent. I'm taking a piece of it to Wayne. It will be interesting to see if he notices that something is missing. The Mexican Soup was really good, too. Wayne called just as we were sitting down to dinner with questions as to what he should order for supper. This was at 7 and it takes them nearly an hour to get the food to the room. I think he had decided on quesadillas and a can of Boost. It just doesn't get any better, does it?

10-29 Update on Wayne

Wayne was feeling better today than he was yesterday. While I was there he walked around the nurses station in the morning and mid-afternoon. He was planning to walk again after he put in his order for dinner...tomato soup and vanilla pudding. Yummm!

He's not on the morphine anymore, but he can ask for pain pills every 4 hours. When the surgeon came by the room today he could tell that Wayne wasn't feeling as well as he had felt on Saturday. So, no discharge date was mentioned. Not that either he or I are pushing for an early discharge. I want him to be feeling much better than he is now. Like it matters what I want.

I changed his "appliance" today under the supervision of a pair of ostomy nurses. I didn't quite get light-headed, but I did have to stop and take my jacket off. It started getting a bit hot...again, not in a good way. I hope he's as patient at home as he was today. Of course, he'll be doing it himself when he's feeling better.

The Tobacco Treatment Center doc came to the room about the time I was leaving. John Nilson had just arrived to visit, so maybe he sat in on the session, if there was a session. I forgot to ask Wayne what went on when I called later.

Obviously, I'm having a tough time finding something to write, so I'll stop.

10-28 Update on Wayne

Today was a slow day in the health care industry. Wayne wasn't a happy camper most of the day. The arm the IV was in had started swelling a bit, so they attempted to locate a vein on his left arm. Unfortunately, after a lot of attempts, the nurse simply couldn't find a vein and had to throw in the tourniquet. A couple of hours later, they sent in the first string, but she wasn't successful either. I left the room while she was still slapping his arm and warming it up. When I came back about 15 minutes later, the IV was moved, but it was still in his right arm...actually closer to his elbow, which makes it harder to use his right arm.

Wendy and I drove in together this morning. When we arrived, he was just finishing a shower after having done five turns around the nurses station. It took a while to get him settled back in the bed. He was really petered out and didn't do anything else the rest of the day. Except doze and watch football. I heard him tell a caller that he forgot he was watching the Texans, he thought he was watching the Aggies. Not pretty.

We had to watch some Patient Instructional Videos, which were "beamed down" to the TV in the room. We have several folders of papers that we need to read and he has a multi-page questionnaire to complete before 9 AM tomorrow. The questionnaire has to do with the Behavioral Research/Treatment Tobacco Program. Just in case any of you out there are still smoking...STOP IT! Smoking is the number one risk factor for bladder cancer. You don't hear about that, do you? Of people who get bladder cancer, about 95% of them have been or are smokers. Trust me, you do not want to have this surgery!

Stepping down from the soapbox...we still don't know when he will get to come home. He still hasn't had anything other than jello and liquids. No passing the gas, no eating the food.

As if this surgery weren't enough, the cardiologist wants to see him next month to schedule a replacement of his pacemaker. So, that's another hospital stay...I think that's just overnight, however. The urostomy surgeon wants him to wait until at least a month from now. Too bad they couldn't install a zipper while they had him slit open. Wayne's cousin, Bubby, said that if people wanted to know what they did in the surgery, he should say that they field-dressed him. Chris came to visit this afternoon and I went home with him. Glenn also came to visit and probably got there just after we left. I'm sure they talked football.

We are scheduled for an appointment with the urostomy nurse at noon tomorrow. She will supervise while someone---me---removes and replaces everything. I'm getting light-headed just thinking about it. And not light-headed in a fun way!

10-27 Update on Wayne

Wayne is improving every day, as expected. When Robin and I walked in this morning, he was staring at two bowls of jello and a cup of coffee. I asked if that meant I could pull his finger, but he said, "not really." The doctor who saw him this morning, a stranger, said he could hear bowel sounds and it was okay to start this type of food. Even though he hasn't had anything to eat or drink since Tuesday evening, Wayne was a little reluctant to introduce anything into his system. He eventually finished one of the bowls of jello and had a few sips of the coffee. That was it until mid-afternoon when he ate a few more bites of jello. In case I haven't mentioned it before, and at the risk of offending you sensitive souls, he can't start eating until he can pass gas.

After a good visit with Diana and John Cosper, my cousin Virgie and I escorted Wayne around the nurses station four times. After the walk, we got him situated in a chair in the room. He remarked, "I smell gas. Did I do that? Or was that one of you two?" Must have been wishful thinking since he didn't call in the nursing staff to report it.

Robin left around noon. She had plans to be at the Nada cook-off tonight and tomorrow. Good luck! I guess I could have managed without help, but Robin's being here has made it so much easier. Thanks to Bob and Figgy for letting her take the time off. And also to Jayla, for picking up the slack while Robin has been here with us.

Virgie and I went down to the cafeteria for lunch and then went back to the room to harass Wayne about the breathing and coughing he's supposed to be doing hourly. Carolyn got to the hospital in time to visit with Virgie for a little while. Wayne, meanwhile was focused on football games and probably wished we would do our visiting somewhere else. By the way, Virgie brought flowers, which she assured us were all upright and standing proud when she purchased them. The fact that they were at half-mast when she got them to the room should not be construed as any kind of statement. Sometimes a limp flower is just a limp flower.

After three turns around the nurses station (he started to do one more, but decided he needed to get back to the game,) Carolyn and I got Wayne settled in a chair. Today is Carolyn and Brent's 6th anniversary. Nothing like spending it in the hospital with your mom and dad, right? Happy Anniversary to you both! I went home with Carolyn where Brent was making hamburgers for his whole family. All in all, it was a good day.

10-26 Update on Wayne

It's about noon, so there's not so much to tell about Wayne right now. He's doing fine...more alert, but still sleeping a lot. He doesn't even have the TV on, which is unheard of at home.

Enough about Wayne, let's talk about me. : )

Robin and I got to the hospital in time for me to attend a class (apparently mandatory) on Foley catheters, their use, cleaning and care. Wayne and I had already had hands on experience with that a month ago. Evidently, since I was familiar with that device, I decided my job was to be the class clown. Really, I just broke the ice with the five other "students" in the room. One woman, maybe my age or a bit older, was overwhelmed by it all, so I tried to help her and reassure her that she would be able to manage. I made jokes about Bob, the practice dummy, and tried to lighten up the mood a little. We had to practice our technique on Bob, who sat quietly while we fumbled around with the alcohol swabs, tubes and bags. We spilled pretend pee down his leg and accidently yanked the tube coming from his "business." The two men in the room, both patients, winced and looked a bit apprehensive as their wives practiced their new skills with such abandon.

Robin left to have lunch with a friend in Sugarland and then to babysit Kate at Carolyn's office for a while. Once Brent picks Kate up, Robin will come back to the hospital. Robin brought her laptop and will leave it for me to use during the next week.

Carolyn called me this morning to say she had seen yesterday's blog and wanted me to know I kept saying that Wayne had to "pre-meditate." Of course, I knew it should be pre-medicate. When I spoke to people yesterday I kept saying it wrong and then correcting myself. Who knew I could actually type it wrong several times (and then proofread) without noticing. Anyway, I fixed it, so don't bother to go back to yesterday's blog to check it out.

Wayne still doesn't like it when I suggest it's time to do the breathing, but he usually will go on and do it. He got out of bed, with minimal help from me, and sat in the chair. When a nurse came in and he volunteered to walk outside the room a bit, I took the opportunity to visit Cafe Anderson and get some lunch which I brought up here. There is a patient/visitor lounge room with a coffee machine, ice and water, a microwave and a fridge, tables and chairs. There are puzzles stacked on top of the fridge. They are trying hard to keep us from going postal, I guess. Everyone we've come in contact with has been very kind and helpful.

Later in the afternoon, after a little nap, Wayne was able to stay awake long enough to read the sports section of the paper. He was worried about whether or not ESPN2 was available at the hospital...it is, so I guess he'll be a happy camper tomorrow afternoon. He still hasn't had anything to eat or drink. He has a small piece of foam on the end of a stick that he can dip in a glass of icy water and then swab the inside of his mouth. He calls it his popsicle. A doctor who stopped by this afternoon reported he was hearing some bowel sounds, so maybe he'll be able to start some sort of food soon. I guess if I go into the room tomorrow and he tells me to "pull his finger," I'll know that things are looking good!

10-25 Update on Wayne

Wayne was much more alert today. Almost as soon as Robin and I walked in, he complained about the technique the nurses used to scoot him up in the bed. Last week we were told that the most important things he needed to do in the hospital were:

1. Breathing exercises to expand the lungs (10 reps, every hour)
2. Coughing to get the nasty hospital germs out of his lungs (10 reps, every hour)
3. Walking (3-4 times a day)
4. Moving his feet while in bed (flexing) to promote good blood flow

The instructions last week were to pre-medicate before he was going to do any of these things. In other words, take a hit on morphine about 10 minutes before the activity to reduce the pain. He's getting constant morphine now; the hit is just a little extra punch when he needs it. My job is to encourage (read "nag" since this is a G rated blog) him to do all these things. Granted, this is only the day after surgery, but he didn't take to my encouragement very well. Usually, I got a dirty look. When he did do the breathing, he often fell asleep between breaths. The second time I suggested it was when I got the dirty look...so he didn't do the exercises then. The third time I suggested it, he balked at the pre-medicating because he knew it would make him drowsy and he said he didn't want to be sleeping all the time. I wonder what else he thinks he might be doing? The last time I mentioned doing the breathing, he took the hit, but then I don't think he ever did the breathing.

About noon, two little bitty things came in to force him out of bed. ( See photo) He walked a few steps out of the room, with their help, of course, and then sat in a chair in the room for about 45 minutes. He nodded off most of the time while in the chair (he had pre-medicated), but woke up occasionally to let us know he wasn't comfortable.

Turns out I have to go to a class offered at the hospital most days at 10 AM. We also have to watch a video. This will help us understand and cope with this strange, new world. An ostomy nurse came in with two notebooks worth of information and catalogs for ordering supplies. We have lots to learn. Thanks, Bubby, for the information you were able to give us earlier this week. At least Wayne wasn't hopped up on morphine then, so he could absorb what you were saying. He dozed through much of the information given today. The ostomy nurse said it would all be repeated many times before we go home. Maybe we won't be completely clueless, just 90 % clueless!

Thanks to all of you for your good thoughts and prayers. It's so comforting to have so much love coming our way!