Great news. Chris is coming Home. Thurs Dec 10 the kids and i will go down and get him. He is doing so well, he is walking without a walker for short distances. he only has one unit of oxy during the day if needed. he is going for long periods of time without oxy. last week i went down alone one day and Chris and i got to go out to dinner and i stayed overnight. it was awesome. his strength is returning well. his attitude is remaining positive and enthusiastic. he even promised to take me dancing when he is able. through his entire stay at the rehab hospital he has remained focused and ready to go. every time he has a therapy session he does exactly what is expected or usually better. his diabetes is fully controlled by diet and exercise and being checked daily, he has lost over 90 pounds and 4 pant sizes. even his wedding ring is a bit loose. it was a rough way to diet but he is so much healthier now. he really looks good.his voice is improving greatly. the trake incision is healing perfectly. his shakiness is gone.his right side has caught up to the left.he is doing great. we are both looking forward to enjoying this Christmas all together at home and going to all the local festivities.
By the way we are finally finished moving.
In the middle of this medical journey a friend extended an invitation to Templeton Community Church. we are so glad that he did, it has been such a wonderful thing in so many ways for our family.it is exactly what we neede we are all looking forward to going to church all together for the first time this Sunday.
Our new life has a very bright outlook. This Medical journey is not by any means over, but we are finally OUT OF THE WOODS.
i will post again soon.
Happy Holidays to all.
Amanda
Monday, December 7, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sorry it has been so long we have been very busy. i have been moving. we are unable to keep the house we are renting so we are trying to get out by DEC 1. Chris is doing very well. his trake came out in the first week of rehab and is healing very well. he is down to 3 liters of oxy full time and still getting daily nebulizer treatments. he is eating normally now. his right side is almost completely caught up to his left and almost all the shakiness is gone. he still has his go,go, go, attitude. yesterday was his third day of walking and he walked 260 ft with a walker and stood up out of his wheel chair by himself. we also learned how to get him in and out of our truck. the kids and i have gone down several times. his speech and short term memory are doing great most people would not know he had suffered strokes.his weight is down to 250. after being in rehab for about 5 days they said he was no longer diabetic because he had perfect numbers and stopped checking his numbers at all. the staff and i discussed this and he is still being checked before breakfast everyday again, his numbers are staying down with diet and exercise. next week i am going to go see him without the kids and we get to go out and have dinner. we are hopeful he gets to come home around the 9th of Dec. he is expected to come home with a wheelchair and a walker and a few other pieces of other home equipment including oxy for just a little while. the kids have fun helping tote daddy's oxy tank for him. thank you again to everyone. its been really busy lately. i have been packing and moving every day. i will try to update again again soon. hope everyone had a good thanksgiving yesterday. the kids and i drove down and back. happy holidays to all
Amanda
TCCH ICU: when he is home and walking good you will see us again for a happy visit, promise.
Amanda
TCCH ICU: when he is home and walking good you will see us again for a happy visit, promise.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
move to Santa Barbara
Good morning. big positive changes have occur ed.on monday the 9th chris left the ICU at twin cities hospital by ambulance transport,and went to cottage hospital rehab in santa barbara. the move went well. his dad mike and i followed in the truck. the kids stayed with the barnhills. cottage is a rather large facility. chris has a room to himself with private 1/2 bath and a private shower room. he has his own touch screen tv on a hydraulic arm and his window overlooks the parking structure next door. the staff seems very nice. mike and i didn't leave until a bit after 7pm. it was really hard to go knowing we would be 2 hours apart. tue the dr changed his trake out to one with no cuff and special holes in the tube. then they put a red cap on him. which means he is completely breathing through his mouth and nose now. they have had him up in his wheelchair and scooting about. they are doing lots of therapy he was worn out and ready for bed by 8:30 tue night. he and the dr are hopeful that maybe by this weekend they will take the trake out. he has not gotten to take a step yet but getting closer fast. chris called me several times yesterday, so he is doing well with his verizon cell.
we also have a bit of difficult news to report. we are looseing the home we rent. we have been struggling like so many others in the nation since chris was laid off in june. we will find a way through just as we have before. we are just happy chris is alive. a house can be replaced. chris cant.
the kids and i will go down to see him on the weekends. a month of rehab seems like such a long time. the therapists goal is for chris to walk 200 yards. i cant wait to see him walk. the kids and i miss him so very much.
we will chat again in a few days
Amanda
we also have a bit of difficult news to report. we are looseing the home we rent. we have been struggling like so many others in the nation since chris was laid off in june. we will find a way through just as we have before. we are just happy chris is alive. a house can be replaced. chris cant.
the kids and i will go down to see him on the weekends. a month of rehab seems like such a long time. the therapists goal is for chris to walk 200 yards. i cant wait to see him walk. the kids and i miss him so very much.
we will chat again in a few days
Amanda
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
First Meal
Super news. Chris no longer has any iv's chest tubes, or life support. he is merely on a basic oxygen line on a low setting. he can talk now and this morning he had a swallow x-ray test and now he can eat real food.
Monday he had an MRI to try and figure out why his right side is not coming back as fast as his left. the MRI showed he has has several substantial strokes in the front, middle, and back of his brain on both sides. most likely during the 3 weeks he was asleep. with some therapy he should be able to recover fully. it is the most likely cause of the right side and has affected his speech ever so slightly.
the best news of the day is he will be going to cottage hospital in Santa Barbara this weekend for about a month of therapy. then he should be home. i will not be able to go with him but i will try to go down on the weekends.
After all that has happened he also has a new outlook on life that is much brighter and more positive, and a bit more relaxed. i look forward to our next 90 years.
Chat soon
Amanda
Monday he had an MRI to try and figure out why his right side is not coming back as fast as his left. the MRI showed he has has several substantial strokes in the front, middle, and back of his brain on both sides. most likely during the 3 weeks he was asleep. with some therapy he should be able to recover fully. it is the most likely cause of the right side and has affected his speech ever so slightly.
the best news of the day is he will be going to cottage hospital in Santa Barbara this weekend for about a month of therapy. then he should be home. i will not be able to go with him but i will try to go down on the weekends.
After all that has happened he also has a new outlook on life that is much brighter and more positive, and a bit more relaxed. i look forward to our next 90 years.
Chat soon
Amanda
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween everyone. Chris is doing great he is down to one more day on one antibiotic and then he should be done with IV meds. he has enough strength in his legs to push himself up in bed now and he is gaining much more movement in his right hand. we are hopeful in a day or two that he might get to go out side for a few moments.
next week the dr might change his trake to a smaller size so that he can talk more and maybe try to eat some soft foods like applesauce. the dr. predicted he would be able to go home in November. No specific date. Our Family Goal is by Thanksgiving, so cross your fingers.
Chris can say a few words now by taking a deep breath, putting a finger over his trake and speaking just a few small words. he sounds a lot like a crusty old pirate rite now. he is also completely off life support now and fully breathing on his own again.
he is working very hard every day with physical therapy. he will be able to stand up very soon.
last night the kids and i dressed up and went in because we could. Chris got a good laugh out of it. Connor was a cowboy, bailey and i were princesses. the kids had a really good time and the nurses had lots of candy for them. tonight all three of us are going to be Rock stars. we are going to a friends house where a large group of us are gathering for dinner and then we will go trick or treating. we will have a group of at least 10 or more kids age 5 and under. we all have a good time together . first we will go see daddy around 2ish. hope you all have a great Halloween.
Anthony & Christina: I wish i could be there tonight. i know it will be awesome. My very best to you both. You Guys Rock. Congrats.
Happy Halloween
Amanda
next week the dr might change his trake to a smaller size so that he can talk more and maybe try to eat some soft foods like applesauce. the dr. predicted he would be able to go home in November. No specific date. Our Family Goal is by Thanksgiving, so cross your fingers.
Chris can say a few words now by taking a deep breath, putting a finger over his trake and speaking just a few small words. he sounds a lot like a crusty old pirate rite now. he is also completely off life support now and fully breathing on his own again.
he is working very hard every day with physical therapy. he will be able to stand up very soon.
last night the kids and i dressed up and went in because we could. Chris got a good laugh out of it. Connor was a cowboy, bailey and i were princesses. the kids had a really good time and the nurses had lots of candy for them. tonight all three of us are going to be Rock stars. we are going to a friends house where a large group of us are gathering for dinner and then we will go trick or treating. we will have a group of at least 10 or more kids age 5 and under. we all have a good time together . first we will go see daddy around 2ish. hope you all have a great Halloween.
Anthony & Christina: I wish i could be there tonight. i know it will be awesome. My very best to you both. You Guys Rock. Congrats.
Happy Halloween
Amanda
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Lots to report
Sorry it has been so long since i have gotten to the blog. there has been a lot going on and some very long days. since we last chatted Chris is doing much better with breathing alone. as of today he still has the trake in but during most of the day is breathing humidified,non asisted room air and has minimal asist at night. on his trake they change the inner cannula daily for cleanliness. mon the 26 the dr put in a pig tail chest tube on his left lung. this time it was a very small numothorax. the tube is actually on the front of his chest instead of the side of his chest. the pig tail tube is also much smaller than the standard tube he has in his right lung.the dr is hoping to have Chris brathing completely unasisted in a few days.
the physical therapy people have been in every day to work with Chris they have been doing a great job. they have some amazing equipment and people. they hope in a few days to have Chris standing.Chris has been working hard everyday to get his strength back.
The dr has talked about the possibility of changing some things and giving Chris the ability to speak soon. i will let you know more as soon as possible.
we are in a different room now, but still in ICU. the plus to this new room is i can get internet in this new room. Chris has good movement on his left side, right leg, and head, but his right arm is still a bit fussy, but doing better daily. the kids come in to see daddy daily. it is so cute, bailey is so concearned about daddy and connor is just happy to play with the things in the room.
Chris is frustrated latley becuase he wants to get up and go home right now. he will soon enough, he is taking several steps in his recovery journey every day. As a way to put things in perspective Brad said it could be compareable to takeing 10,000 steps from start to finish and every day he takes several more steps. for me it helps to think of it this way. the other thing that helps is that chris and i arranged a time schedule for us so i can be there for him and the kids to the best of my abilities.
last week seemed to have the best and worst in it. in one day my jeep broke down and i had to have it towed, the same day the suburban broke down. the good was going to church and the kids had a blast and each kid won a goldfish.The jeep is repaired now though, thank you Mike B.
through all of this i have also made a choice with the support of chris to try and get into nursing school to become an RN. it is something that has been suggested to me and inspired by some of the ICU nurses, as well as some of the doctors.
This whole ICU thing has been a real rollercoaster ride with a severe learning curve.There is a lot of positive in there too.
Sarah & Mario-Congrats, and glad your feeling better.
Mike B.-THANK YOU
Girls-THANK YOU
Uncle Jack-No more ladders.
Talk soon
Amanda
the physical therapy people have been in every day to work with Chris they have been doing a great job. they have some amazing equipment and people. they hope in a few days to have Chris standing.Chris has been working hard everyday to get his strength back.
The dr has talked about the possibility of changing some things and giving Chris the ability to speak soon. i will let you know more as soon as possible.
we are in a different room now, but still in ICU. the plus to this new room is i can get internet in this new room. Chris has good movement on his left side, right leg, and head, but his right arm is still a bit fussy, but doing better daily. the kids come in to see daddy daily. it is so cute, bailey is so concearned about daddy and connor is just happy to play with the things in the room.
Chris is frustrated latley becuase he wants to get up and go home right now. he will soon enough, he is taking several steps in his recovery journey every day. As a way to put things in perspective Brad said it could be compareable to takeing 10,000 steps from start to finish and every day he takes several more steps. for me it helps to think of it this way. the other thing that helps is that chris and i arranged a time schedule for us so i can be there for him and the kids to the best of my abilities.
last week seemed to have the best and worst in it. in one day my jeep broke down and i had to have it towed, the same day the suburban broke down. the good was going to church and the kids had a blast and each kid won a goldfish.The jeep is repaired now though, thank you Mike B.
through all of this i have also made a choice with the support of chris to try and get into nursing school to become an RN. it is something that has been suggested to me and inspired by some of the ICU nurses, as well as some of the doctors.
This whole ICU thing has been a real rollercoaster ride with a severe learning curve.There is a lot of positive in there too.
Sarah & Mario-Congrats, and glad your feeling better.
Mike B.-THANK YOU
Girls-THANK YOU
Uncle Jack-No more ladders.
Talk soon
Amanda
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A tough day
First to the ICU staff at TCCH.THANK YOU all.i could not have gotten this far in one piece without you all.
Today I met another family that is in a very similar set of medical circumstances. today is their tough day. i shared our story with them and hugged them.
I know how lucky my family is, and that as far as science and medicine is concerned every single thing that could be done was done, and Chris probably should not be here, but he is and i am grateful.
My heart goes out to this other family beause their "Loved one" did not make it. I am so sorry for their loss, but through this other family's tradegedy i know even more how lucky my family is. for that i thank them.
-Sunday
The kids and i went to church for the first time Sunday morning we were invited by a friend from the ICU. its Templeton Community Church. I'm glad we went. we will go again. the kids had a great time and got to bring home pictures they drew.they put them up on daddy's wall in his room.
Sunday the Dr did a broncoscopy. it went well they got good samples and cleaned him out well. i got to stay in the room and help a bit and watch what went on. the staff was awesome about teaching me what i was seeing and explaining what was happening.it was really interesting.
later that day i took the kids to Cheeseborough Pumpkin farm in Templeton. we have gone there every year since Bailey was born. it's an awesome place.the kids each got to pick out their own pumpkin and one little one to decorate for daddy. we took a bunch of photos. Grammy, Papa, Andrea and gidget puppy went with us.
-Monday
Today was our 6 yr wedding anniv. what a ride it has been. he was teasing me and having a good time with me today. since it is our anniv i stopped and got some breakfast at hoovers beefpalace. they have been so awesome at the beefpalace. Connor came by with papa and visited. the nurses found child patient gowns and then we put small gloves on him and in he goes. Bailey still is not comfortable coming in yet.Connor even sat on the edge of Chris's bed and gave him a hug. that made daddy smile. When Chris smelled my breakfast he said feed me. he was feeling hungry for the first time and he is on tube feeding so he is on perfectly measured food but that feeling is a good sign.
-Tuesday
The big thing today was changing his trake. the surgeon took out the long trake and put in a standard length trake. this is in hopes of helping Chris cough a bit less. i learned how to gently use the trake suction today so i can help Chris better. His sense of humor is returning. he told me to shush with a grin, and bopped me in the butt with his foot. he is still very frustrated at being ill but he really is getting much better his numbers and ability's prove that.
For anyone that would like to come see Chris the visitor hours are 11am-3pm and 5pm-8pm. the hospital suggests that you do not bring kids under 16 in. but if you cant avoid it. don't worry.
we hope to have the gown and glove precautions lifted in the next couple of days.we do have kid size gowns available if needed.
Talk soon
Amanda
Today I met another family that is in a very similar set of medical circumstances. today is their tough day. i shared our story with them and hugged them.
I know how lucky my family is, and that as far as science and medicine is concerned every single thing that could be done was done, and Chris probably should not be here, but he is and i am grateful.
My heart goes out to this other family beause their "Loved one" did not make it. I am so sorry for their loss, but through this other family's tradegedy i know even more how lucky my family is. for that i thank them.
-Sunday
The kids and i went to church for the first time Sunday morning we were invited by a friend from the ICU. its Templeton Community Church. I'm glad we went. we will go again. the kids had a great time and got to bring home pictures they drew.they put them up on daddy's wall in his room.
Sunday the Dr did a broncoscopy. it went well they got good samples and cleaned him out well. i got to stay in the room and help a bit and watch what went on. the staff was awesome about teaching me what i was seeing and explaining what was happening.it was really interesting.
later that day i took the kids to Cheeseborough Pumpkin farm in Templeton. we have gone there every year since Bailey was born. it's an awesome place.the kids each got to pick out their own pumpkin and one little one to decorate for daddy. we took a bunch of photos. Grammy, Papa, Andrea and gidget puppy went with us.
-Monday
Today was our 6 yr wedding anniv. what a ride it has been. he was teasing me and having a good time with me today. since it is our anniv i stopped and got some breakfast at hoovers beefpalace. they have been so awesome at the beefpalace. Connor came by with papa and visited. the nurses found child patient gowns and then we put small gloves on him and in he goes. Bailey still is not comfortable coming in yet.Connor even sat on the edge of Chris's bed and gave him a hug. that made daddy smile. When Chris smelled my breakfast he said feed me. he was feeling hungry for the first time and he is on tube feeding so he is on perfectly measured food but that feeling is a good sign.
-Tuesday
The big thing today was changing his trake. the surgeon took out the long trake and put in a standard length trake. this is in hopes of helping Chris cough a bit less. i learned how to gently use the trake suction today so i can help Chris better. His sense of humor is returning. he told me to shush with a grin, and bopped me in the butt with his foot. he is still very frustrated at being ill but he really is getting much better his numbers and ability's prove that.
For anyone that would like to come see Chris the visitor hours are 11am-3pm and 5pm-8pm. the hospital suggests that you do not bring kids under 16 in. but if you cant avoid it. don't worry.
we hope to have the gown and glove precautions lifted in the next couple of days.we do have kid size gowns available if needed.
Talk soon
Amanda
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