Day 60

Day 60......wow! The road is long, but the traveling keeps getting brighter. Our God is an awesome God!!


Isaac spent the night last night with Papa because he was concerned about some of Stan's care. I usually make sure that Stan's arms and neck etc are not pinched or cramped after he is repositioned. When Pete and Isaac checked him quite late (they were waiting for Andy to get off work) they found Stan wide eyed in pain. He was rolled over on his arm and was smushed up again the bed rail. Stan cannot move himself, and wasn't able to get anyone's attention. So Isaac decided to stay with him and make sure he was comfortable all night. Stan told me he was glad, and that he woke Isaac up at least 3 times for help.

Tonight Chuck and Danny were staying late with him. I just called to ask them to make sure he was left in a comfortable position, but they were already gone. A nurse or aide answered the phone tho, and I told her of our concerns. She said she would make sure he was comfortable before leaving him to sleep. They are going to give him some oxycodone and benedryl at midnight (five minutes ago) and let him sleep for six hours. I sure hope he is adjusted okay in the bed.

He had quite a day today. I fed him his lunch and then they prepared him for a shower....his first in two months!! (His nurse today knows "Col. Bridges" and works with him. Col. Bridges is the son of a very special friend of mine!! So that is really interesting. He said Mike is scheduled to return from Iraq soon, and he will be leaving for another jaunt over there.)

Chuck and Danny were pretty interested in the hoist they used to get Stan into the shower chair. They were "drawing straws" to see which of them got to run the controls. Chuck said Danny had the right kind of "card." But it seemed to me that it was Chuck who got to run the thing. It is quite a contraption. The chair has a toilet like seat in it and mesh for much of the "would be upholstered" area. They use a mesh type "hammock" that they place under him in the bed. then they bring the hoist over him and secure his hammock to four "hooks." Picture metal "tongs" with a place to hang a strap on the four "corners" of the tongs....they are about 18 inches on each side and open to about two feet. They are attached to a swinging "boom" that is on a frame with wheels. This swings over the bed, and after he is secured to it, it lifts him up and swings him over the chair. The "hammock" has an opening for his bottom that corresponds to the opening in the chair seat. They rolled him into a huge "bathroom" with a toilet, sink, and shower. They used a hand held shower head, and we were able to scrub him up and rinse him off relatively easily. Two females aides and I did the washing, rinsing, and drying. Then he was wheeled back to his room and repositioned on the bed. Before getting out of the hammock, he had a job to do so they "hung" him over the garbage can. This has been a source of frustration for him, but he was able to have a modium of success. The nurse commented something about his being subjected to a room full of people to witness this. Then tonight I got an email about what "love is." One of the things listed was:
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

I don't know how often he'll get a shower. It is quite a lengthy production, but I am sure it made him feel so much better.

Meals are also time consuming, but must NOT be rushed. He needs to eat enough to get weaned off the stomach tube, but it took me about an hour to feed him lunch. Hurrying him could be dangerous. We don't want anymore pneumonia, and the danger is that he could aspirate into his lungs. He continues to ask for a Coke. He tells everyone, he says he "needs" a coke, he wants a coke, etc. I tell him that his taste buds have changed and he won't like coke anymore.....heehee But he WILL get a coke soon, he is advancing so fast.

During yesterday's and today's meal times it was his "job" to use the napkin. Yesterday if he dropped it, he needed help to find it. Today he would reach right down and pick it back up.

Andy stayed with him this afternoon / evening and fed him his dinner. His lunch was perfect...roast beef and mashed potatoes, squash, and vanilla pudding. He ate 100%!! Tonight it was macaroni and cheese. Noodles do NOT puree....so it wasn't a very successful meal. He did get Sobe for his drink (thickened) and that was a success.

Chuck gave him a "makeover" and trimmed those unruly eyebrows and his nose and ear hairs, and shaved him.

Well, I can go to bed and sleep now. Phil was still out and about, so Pete called and asked him to go by and make sure that Stan was comfortable. He did....and he was....so that is good.

He did watch some of the Packers' football game today. When he left for his shower Seattle was ahead 14 to 7. When we got back to his room, Packers were ahead 35 to 17. The final score (much to our granddaughter Katrina's pleasure) was Packers 42 Seattle 20! Sorry you Seattle fans...but Katrina is such a huge Packer fan that she sweeps us along with her! Stay tuned...the super bowl game will be between the Packers and the undefeated Patriots....and the Packers will win!!!

I do wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Temps are to be minus 8 tonight...that is TOO cold!!

Love, M