Day 80

Hmmmmm....it's been proven that you can go around the world in 80 days.....before jets!! or space ships... in fact, I think the shuttle goes "around the earth" in four hours!! (Seems like I read that once, when they were just orbiting us...the astronauts were seeing something like six sunsets and sunrises each 24 hours!)


Today was a pretty quiet day. I fed Stan lunch and dinner, and I think he mostly slept the rest of the time. I did have to leave at 2 to take Phil from school to work....except just before I got to the university, he called to tell me that Kacee would take him.

So while I was out and about, I decided to run another necessary errand. I took my car to Paul's Body Shop for their initial "look see" so they could order the parts to fix it. "Paul" (I assume he is the Paul of Paul's Body Shop) said he trained the estimator at Allstate, so he was sure he was pretty accurate... but he checked the car out, got the paint number, etc...and said he agreed with the Allstate guy. He will get the parts from Honda and give me a call to set up a day to repair the car. While it is in the "hospital" I am going to have some more surgery done on it. Someone threw a rock at my windshield last summer and cause it to crack....a small crack, but bigger than a chip. However, all this cold weather seems to enjoy playing "crack the windshield bigger" so it is a pretty sick windshield now. This I will have to pay for, of course, but it will just mean ONE trip to the hospital for the car. They don't do windshields, but they do TRUST one glass guy to come work in their shop when a car is there for repairs and needs a new windshield. It will be good to get it done.

The Case Manager came in to see me again today. When I set the date for our 24 hour stay over, I specifically asked the person to let "Linda" know... but no one had. She is going to have all the information for me on Monday....What medicare will pay for/provide/etc...and any costs to me...and where to get what I might need that they don't provide....etc etc

Birdie, Stan really likes those truffles. I've just been giving him about half of one each dinner time for his dessert. Laura and Sara S brought him another box of them yesterday....so he is well supplied. Anymore than half of one would get me into trouble, I am sure. His blood sugars are too high....meaning he gets an insulin shot several times a day. But he needs a "little" chocolate.

The pureed pasta tonight was so gross, I figured the truffle could be his carbs instead. heehee

I haven't heard if Cheri got home okay...but in this case, I am assuming that NO NEWS is GOOD NEWS!!

I'm not getting much done on the house part. I better concentrate on getting more sleep tonight and tomorrow night so I can be up for the 24 hour thing.

So.....good night all!! And thanks for listening! (and praying!!!)

Love, M

Day 79

It was very emotional for Stan to say good bye to Cheri. Pete "propped" him up later, telling him it wasn't going to be the last time he sees her. She'll be back! We are all so glad she was able to come.

Kathy learned that Cheri enjoyed beading and brought a "ton" of beads to the hospital for her. Someone had given them to Kathy, who will "never" bead.
heehee.... Cheri invited Katrina and Ashley to share with her.........so there will be a lot of beading projects going on in the Knowlton family!! We sat around a table in the hospital dining area and "divided up" the loot. (Hospital dining rooms are certainly useful areas!)

Stan continues to help me feed him. He loves having the little boys around. He plays catch with them....and the big boys and girls, too. It is amazing how adept he is at tossing the ball toward the person he chooses. He just doesn't always warn us when he is changing "receivers." (Hey...I just used a football term! Must be getting ready for Super Bowl!)

Pete and I plan to do the 24 hour care thing starting at 7p.m. Sunday to 7p.m. Monday. We couldn't do it Friday because Pete wants to attend the "dangerous men's breakfast" on Saturday morning. Ditto for Saturday, because we'd have to miss church on Sunday. Mostly what I need to learn is schedule and amounts of meds.......

There continues to be lots of reasons that I can't wait to get him home. It is so difficult to see him uncomfortable or just plain hurting because someone isn't aware that certain things need to be checked. I.E. last night his "stomach" hurt. I found his "britches" pulled so tight he could hardly breathe. And earlier, I found his "bad arm" tucked in such a way it could be injured, but he couldn't really feel it to tell anyone. The nurse last night who gave him his meds in the tube did so by "gravity" which is the right way to do it. But I have watched many many give them to him by "plunging" them in to the tube. I remember a nurse in Regional saying they should go in by gravity....but this takes a lot longer, and help is "short." So, I will be glad to have control over these kinds of things.

So....that said, I'd better get the house ready to receive him! (Rick E. is going to take me to meet and visit with a dear wife who has been caring for her husband for over 15 years. I know she will have invaluable info for me.)

Love, M

Day 78

I had exciting news today! The Case Manager came in to talk to me. I am supposed to choose one of the family to spend 24 hours with me doing all of Stan's care at the hospital so they can be sure we know what to do for him when he goes home. She then asked me, "How about Friday?" It was exciting and shocking. I thought she was saying he would be going home then, and I have to get the house ready for him...including equipment, moving furniture to make a place for his bed, etc. It is my goal, but impossible to do those things and be at the hospital more than 12 hours per day, too. I had been trying to get my "ducks in a row" and felt like I was spinning my wheels. But then she told me that SHE would put in the order for the "cherry picker" lift thing and a bed. I had no idea I would qualify for the lift or that medicare provided a bed. This is great news, and I am assuming they will be delivered...which will be very nice. I need to get BUSY right now and clear out the living room for him. Hallelujah!! She said that it would be about ten days before he will be discharged. Amazing, huh!!!

I am not afraid of what his care will be....but am apprehensive about doctor visits. She did tell me that Transcare is a good source for that for just $35 per trip. I need to talk to Pat Watkins about how they manage these things. There is so much I do not know!!

She also told me that a nurse would come once a week to check how he is doing, and that I could have Home Health Care come to help bathe him, etc.

I know he will be glad to get home, and I will be very glad to not be leaving home everyday.

He is doing very well with his eating. I learned that he is now off the tube feeding at night, but the tube may stay in for me to give him his meds. I do hope the pic comes out of his arm. I don't think he will be having blood drawn regularly at home. I know all too well how to check his blood sugar levels.

I did have him wear his teeth during dinner, even tho the food was pureed. We were told his gums would change and they wouldn't fit anymore if he left them out too long. I don't want that to happen....and neither does he. He was willing... He doesn't like them mostly because he bites his lip.... but he was doing that before the stroke, too.

Cheri leaves tonight. We will miss her, but we are so thankful she was able to be here and know how her dad is doing. He got teary, already "missing" her. He really relaxed with her foot rubs.

He keeps saying his hip is "out of place." I know it hurts, but I think he heard James tell me how to turn him on his side...and cautioning me to not pull on his leg a certain way or it could pull his hip out of place. It is only since then that Stan has been saying this. I am trying to think up a way to roll him on his side that will be "kinder and gentler" than how it is done at the hospital, because it does hurt, and it has to be done every two hours...plus when he is changed...so it is a lot of pushing and pulling.

The heart is still intact out his window....and I think the pictures I took yesterday will turn out very well. Before the gray sky made the snow look rather flat, but the sun was out yesterday and the heart stood out clearly.

Oh.... I fed him one of Birdie's truffles after dinner last night.....he said it "melted in his mouth!" Thanks again, Birdie. And then Brian brought him a chocolate malt shake from the DQ....and he drank about half of it.

Heehee...when the nurse last night was showing me how the feeding tube works, she said that I needed to make sure stuff didn't set in the outer tube and clog it up. Then she said if that happened, a good way to clean it would be to use some soda....like Coke! Does anyone think he'll object to THAT???

Love, M

Day 77

This is the day Stan ties his brother Danny's record for being in the hospital. We weren't really trying to have a race!! I just hope that one day he will be able to walk as good as Danny. Danny is definitely another of God's miracles!!

He didn't hold his head up as good as some days, but it was much better than yesterday. I was able to feed him without having to hold it up at all. When we told him we had to go get something to eat, he "ordered" a chocolate milk shake! He got one, and he ate between a third and a half of it. And he ate all his dinner, too.

Trivia: we know four Mandy's... his two visitors today were two of them!! (The other two are relatives who live in other states.)

Wow...I do believe that all the staff has seen our big heart in the snow!! It is still there, and I hope my pix turn out okay. As soon as I take a picture Cannon says, "Can I see?" and "Show me!" heehee.... I am still using a 35mm camera, not a digital. When Ashley was his age and I took her picture, she would say, "Okay, Grandma. Let's go to Costco!" (She "understood" we had to get it developed, but didn't understand we had to finish the roll first.)

We were told a big bull moose was running around outside Stan's window this morning. We missed him, but the nurse said she was worried that he would wreck our heart!

Stan continues to "whisper" to us when we are in the room, unless we really beg and "badger" him to use his big voice. But when Uncle Don called today.....he said, "Hi Uncle Don" as loud and clear as anything!! Aha...so now I know he still CAN!! It is hard work, tho. It takes a lot of energy to get the sound out...I guess because he wasn't able to use that part of him for so many weeks. I hope and pray that some day he'll be able to use some of his left side! He is getting very good with his right hand. I would like for the boys to try to get him on his feet...holding on to him, of course. The hospital won't allow it because of liability.

Andy, Brian, and Pete stayed with Stan later tonight, telling Cheri and me to go home early...so here I am writing before midnight!!! I was hoping to go to bed early, but have one more load of clothes to take care of first.

It was good to "talk" to you all with out falling asleep, tho. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!

Love, M...
News Flash for those CCA folk who remember John and Kim Buening! They had a baby girl January 28 ...Faith....weighing in at 6lb10oz. and 19 inches long. She was born in Germany where they are stationed now. She joins Big brothers, Wil (born in Anchorage, and Kim says "Proud of it") and Jack, born in Illinois.

Day 76

Stan was up in the chair when we arrived today. I had to feed him his lunch that way, which was difficult. For some reason, some days he holds his head up really well and other days NOT at all! Today was one of the "not at all" days...so Cheri and Pete helped me hold his head up while I fed him. He did take one bite himself, holding the spoon...but it was too difficult in the chair. At dinner he managed a few more that way, but he was still not holding his head up.

We had to be gone for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I had an appt. to get the car estimate done from the rear end collision. I was amazed at the low cost estimate. The bumper and cover both have to be replaced....and it was under $800. I didn't think any thing was under a thousand these days.

I just spent an hour looking for a bunch of cards I bought the other day.... birthday, sympathy, and valentine cards....and I need them!! I hope they are at the hospital.....

When we got there this morning, the first thing Stan said to me was, "I haven't seen you for days. Where have you been?" I told him I didn't leave last night until almost midnight!! He was sound asleep when we left tonight, so I asked the nurse to tell him I'd be back in the morning.

The blue sky was gone today. A very gray day with more snow replaced the sunshine of yesterday. I tried to take a picture of the heart. It actually showed up better when it was getting dark. The gray of the day seemed to flatten out the snow so that nothing showed.

We were able to move Stan in the chair close to the window so he could see the heart.

At times today he spoke up very clearly and loudly, but most of the time he used his whisper voice. James asked me if I was taking him home on Thursday. He mentioned that I had ordered all his meds. I was totally confused....but then James decided he was thinking of the guy in the next room. I do need to get prepared, tho.

A new OT did some interesting things with his arms today. We'll have to work on the same movements. He was too sleepy, had just got back in bed from being up for a couple of hours in the chair which is exhausting for him. So she decided to come back in a couple of days and hope to time her visit better.

Our weather has warmed up. Not to the melting point, tho...thank goodness!

Love, M

Day 74 & 75

I was 2, to, two, toooooo tired last night to write. I meant to write this morning, but chose to get to church on time instead.... Pete said, "Come on, Mom. You can write your update at the hospital this afternoon." But of course, that didn't work for a variety of reasons. So, here I am!!! Combining two days. Not such a bad idea, huh!!

The biggie for me yesterday was during Stan's dinner. I filled his spoon with food and then put the spoon in his hand and he directed it upright and immediately to his mouth. After doing that a few times, I started holding the spoon out in front of him, and he would reach up and take it himself. This is a HUGE improvement from just a week ago when the OT struggled to get him to hold a spoon, and mostly he would turn it upside down before he got it near his mouth. Also his direction was off then.

He is sleepy....and his speech is mostly jumbly and "silent" so that he is difficult to understand. He CAN speak up, because he does every once in a while. I don't think the vycodin is still working in him....so don't really know what is going on. Each medical person has a different idea...

Saturday afternoon, John T. joined Stan in a good nap while Paula and I visited. (I think I told you that one time there were FIVE guys named John visiting Stan at the same time. I started to write that there were FIVE Johns visiting Stan...but thought better of it. Sentence structure can be interesting, can't it!!!)

Cheri, Brian, and I left last night (Saturday) about 11:30 p.m. Pete had gone to a hocky game and then across town to check on Isaac at his cousin's house. Earlier he had gone to Wasilla to help Eric and to leave Cannon over night with Luke. I didn't know what was going on....and worried when he wasn't home when I went to bed. Turned out after discovering Isaac wanted to stay with Jake, Pete went back to the Hospital (just missing us!) and spent the night with Stan.

The doctor did come in and talk with me Saturday morning. She told me she had Stan on vycodin Wednesday morning, afternoon, and Thursday. She feels that is the reason for the slurred thick speech and droopy mouth I noticed on Wednesday. But if it were....why wasn't his mouth droopy on Thursday, too?

He remains much sleepier and has just had tylenol for three days now.

After some encouragement, he did speak plainly and loudly for Dave and Katie tonight when they brought him communion.

I didn't get to the hospital until about 1:30 this afternoon. We had the required annual meeting after services. When I got to the hospital, I figured he would be all done with lunch. His tray was sitting on the table, a spoon with a bite on it was on the tray, and all the bowls etc were still full. There was some white looking stuff that is best described to look like lumpy milk gravy. I took a tiny taste, and wanted to get rid of it. I could not identify what it was, but it was NOT gravy! After reading on the lid, I figured out why I was tasting lemon in it. It was a pureed cod fish dish. The mashed spuds were too thick to eat .... and cold... It was a rather sparse lunch.... There were peaches that he did eat...so I got some of his pudding, and asked a nurse if there was any more packets of the protein stuff the nutritionist wants him to eat. She found me some, so I mixed it in the pudding, and fed him that. (John H. brought him the pudding Friday night, and Saturday when the nutritionist said he needed more protein, I mixed it in the pudding, and that made it very edible. Good thinking, John! And another example of God knowing what we need before we do.)

After his lunch, we were deciding where to eat our own meal, and kept adding to our number.... There were eight of us who finally congregated at Lone Star Steak House for an excellent meal and great company. (great "wanted" me to spell it gore.. but I caught it just in time! But it reminded me of our "table talk." How in the world we got on some of the subjects, I'll never know...but one of them was cannibalism, another was having to lance your own ear drum, and there were at least two more just as "gory"!! What a group to eat with!!) The eight were Kathy, Kacee, Phil, Jake, Isaac, Cheri, Pete, and I. Mandy picked up Pete, Isaac, and Jake after dinner...took the boys to Jake's house, and she, Shelby, and Pete went to Wasilla to get Cannon and to enjoy Wasilla church's annual Chili Cook off! Katrina and Ashley both entered it....should have won, but didn't. (that's G'ma talk!!)

Well...back to "after his lunch...." Before we could leave, Kathy sent Isaac and Jake on a "mission." We have LOTS of new snow...all pretty and untouched ... outside Stan's window. The boys stomped out a huge heart, then stomped Stan + Madeline inside it, and then Isaac RAN a much larger heart around the outside of that heart. And he stomped out an arrow thru them. When Jake finished doing his part, he "threw" himself into the snow and made a beautiful snow angel. Then Isaac went around to the top of the hearts where there is a little bank and made three more angels. Of course, I did NOT have my camera...but I will take it tomorrow and get pictures. If the weather stays like it is now, it should not be disturbed!! Cool, huh!! Then I can show it to Stan.

A few weeks ago I bought a soft spongy ball about the size of a croquet ball to rest his left hand on ... Per a nurse's suggestion. Yesterday we discovered if we put the ball in his right hand he can throw it.....as Dave M said, he'll be signing up with the major league soon. He has good aim, and also good control. I can't remember who all he played catch with yesterday, but today he played catch with Dave and Katie, and with Shelby (age 5) and then Cannon and Shelby wanted him to throw it at them when they had their back to him. He would adjust the power in his tosses when he threw to or at them. I think he was "playing" catch a few days earlier, too, but not with such precision and control. Who knows WHAT he'll do next.

He had a good dinner tonight, and I did add another packet of the protein powder to his food. I put a little in each of four foods, and that seemed to be okay. Applesauce, a green vegetable, a light orange colored soup that said chicken noodle, and a dish that said turkey/ham made up his dinner...with orange juice and jello...that he didn't eat. He drank at least three cups of water after dinner!! (I finally remembered to bring a lemon for his water!) He is really thirsty .... his lips get so dry they stick to the straw and to the suction device. I try to keep them moist, but it doesn't last. Mine are, too .... I think it is the weather. The temps have been very cold for two days now, and very dry!

Two days updates combined, I can get a little confused. I think it was today that Pete also massaged Stan's shoulder/neck area with the electric massager that Brian left at the hospital.

Our "collection" of things in his room now consists of a shelf full of magazines, the trout that Eric carved, the Myrtlewood bowl that John H. made him, the box of pudding snacks from John, the satin bone pillow from Paula, his green ball, a "bucket" of toys from our basement "storehouse," a large round container of red licorace ropes from Kathy, a Hawaiian shirt for him to wear on Friday's, the Patriot stuff to wear next Sunday from Reggie, the massage oils from "Tulsa" Audrey, the massager, Cannon's truck from Amy (Hardware Specialties), a case of water (usually, we're out right now), fruit, my knitting (that I haven't touched), etc. This is the stuff we LEAVE there. I have packed my Christmas cards back and forth and / or left them there for weeks. Some are mailed (yep!!) and some will be mailed (yep!)... soon, I hope. I'm still aiming for a January mailing!!

I better "shut up" and go to bed. I'm beginning to wonder if there is anything to the "cucumber slices on the eyes for soothing" thing... Do you think that works??

Love, M