July 17, 2021- day 4

 Woke up early in order to be on the road back to Edmonton. Woke up to a smoky day. Veronica drove until our halfway mark.  We had smoke the whole way down to Edmonton.  On the way, before the halfway stop, the smoke was very think and it was dark, and had a yellow tint. Looked like a movie!! The street lights were even on, it was a weird feeling.

We got back to the hotel about 1:30pm, then unloading our things, we brought things from home, so we would have some snacks etc.

We got to the hospital, go through the regular check in area, the one girl remembers me…always a bonus….😎  they call up to make sure we can visit. So we go in and I show Veronica around the hospital, as she hasn't been here before. We come up to the third floor, and show het the sign in sheet. Then we go to Carlisle’s room. There’s one gentleman (not sure who he was) but he had helped Carlisle go for a walk. Then there was two others not sure who they are, but I have seen the one man, help with Carlisle’s trachea. So they tell us, they are just changing out Carlisle’s trachea.

So we went for a walk, I showed Veronica around showed her the cafeteria’s there are two, and gift shops, again there are 2, one is a kids gift  shop, the Stollery for Kids is in this hospital as well.

So we come back up, Veronica sits in the waiting room, while I go check to see where abouts they are with Carlisle’s procedure. They are still working on it, so I came and sat with Veronica for a bit. We saw the one doctor/nurse go by us so we knew he was finished.

So I go in and hear, sounds coming from Carlisle….he can talk, said I Love You to me, and other things…..yippy!! No more charades!!!!

Veronica is in visiting now, I will update more later.

July 16, 2021-Day 3

Woke up and was in the line at the hospital at 9:00am, it was very light traffic this am, so I go through the line and get the usual spiel, and then asked where I was going/why I was there.  I told her, she called to see if I could visit yet, but they didn't have my name written down.  She lets me go any ways.

This is like the pass I got today, but with today's date

  I go up, sign in  and Carlisle is getting his stitches cleaned, while in his bed.  Then the nurses did vitals, there's a list of all the things that the nurses have to do. The Nurses leave for a bit, Carlisle is on and off sleeping then two people come in....okay so I can't remember all the names of the people, they have told us and I recognize some and remember their names, but it's alot. 

I think these two are physiotherapists, I could be wrong.  But they ask if Carlisle wants to go for a walk, he says yes (remember this is through Charades) he wants to, so then the next task, how is this going to happen, he needs oxygen and has all types of tubes.  They get a pair of big Pillow paws (Socks with grippers on the bottom) and try to put them on his feet with the ivs.  They did it.  check, next hurtle, how to walk with all these ivs.  they get another people to hold they iv hoses.  Then to get Carlisle up, they put a belt around his waist, to help if he needs, they get him to use his right arm to pull himself up, not to use his left arm.  They have a wheelchair that they bring behind him, so he can sit when he needs a break.  He goes so far then needs to return, sits for a bit then walks back to his room.  He sits in his chair for a bit, trying to stretch his back, I can't remember the time, but I help him back into bed, again, I need some work, in this department....lol but we manage to get him back in bed.  

Another man (not sure what he was- maybe a lab tech) because he wanted to take blood, but looked Carlisle over and said, that there's no where to take blood from, and the veins where being used, they can't use his left arm because he they have to use it for the surgery.  So he doesn't look happy, but says he will be back.  I didn't see him, but later heard that they where going to give Carlisle a port to make it easier to take blood and give medicine if needed.

So it's time for the vitals again, they check the vein, with the machine, it's pumping....yippy  and check all the other things again.  They are going to change they dressing on his arm. and it was 12:10pm.  They asked if I could go outside, because it was really getting crowded, but I ended up saying my goodbyes.  

I heading back to the hotel and got my things ready.  I was heading back to Cold Lake to pick up Veronica and check on my yard and laundry to do.  So I got home about 4pm, Veronica was working 3-11pm.  A friend from Carlisle's work, came over and we chatted.  She's going to do some watering for us the next week while we aren't home.  While she was visiting, Veronica sent a text and she was off early.  So off I went to pick her up.  

I cut our grass, it was cooler, then last week so it was nice, grass wasn't that long but wanted to have it cut for the week ahead.  Been doing laundry, and getting things ready to head back to Edmonton tomorrow.  We thought about going back tonight, but decided ....well I decided I wanted to sleep in my own bed....😀

Thanks again for everyone's kind words, thoughts and prayers.....love to you all xoxo

July 15, 2021 Day 2

Got to the hospital about 9:15am, the screening at the door wasn’t as busy as yesterday, and check in went faster then yesterday. Came up to 3F2 and saw a nurse that I had seen the day before, she said Carlisle had been moved to 3E4. So I checked in at the nurses station, and had to sign in, they have a clip board they use, so they will have names and info, for covid reasons.

Carlisle was sitting in the chair when I came in, getting his stitches cleaned around his neck area and the nurse applied more polysporin.

Then he wanted to get into bed, he said (when i say he said- this refers to a game of charades/writing down on paper to figure out what's happening or what he wants) he didn’t sleep last night. So he’s been sleeping alot, healing. The nurse just gave him a sponge bath, with my help… I need some practice in this department…😎

Then the nurse got him a new hospital gown and hooked up his 5 drains, and feed tube with safety pins. To make it easier to get around if he wanted, but he’s still sleeping alot.

He’s back to sleeping again, its 11:50am wow, time is going by fast. Going to crochet again

2:50pm I decided I needed some food, so said my good byes until tomorrow.  He is doing alot of sleeping, getting woke up alot, to check his vitals etc.  He has  iVs everywhere, he has 3 right now in his feet, two in one foot one in the other, they will be putting in another iv later today, ☹️ because they can’t use his left arm, because they had to take a skin graft, and an artery and vein from it.

It’s definitely a long journey, the vein that was blocked is pumping again, they hook it up to a doppler type machine every hour, to make sure it’s still pumping.

When i did come out of the hospital it was quite smoky smelling, from the fires burning🔥and very over cast, the weatherman said that smoke would be bad, and tomorrow the wind will change direction so we might have a clearer day.

I went to Wendy’s for lunch, a later lunch, and it really hit the spot.

Back at the hotel, resting up for tomorrows journey. 

July 14, 2021-update

 Update on Carlisle’s surgery.  Doctor called at 1:30am on Wednesday, (we had to show up at 5:30am on Tuesday , I’m not sure what time surgery actually started) to let me know surgery went as the doctor had discuss with Carlisle and I.  He was in recovery and I could go see him in the morning.  I went over to the hospital around 9am.  There was a lot of people waiting in line, to get into the hospital, they have 3 different lines, one for staff, one for re-entry and another for just the general public….Me!!!! Then you get the 101 questions - have you been out of Canada, have you been sick etc. etc. You have to remove your mask and sanitize your hands and then they give you a new blue mask. 

On this day, the lady asked if I had a card to visit, which I didn’t and so she had to call upstairs to make sure I was able to go visit Carlisle, and I got a different sticker, then we had before on our appointment days, before we just had an orange visitor sticker. Today I had a sticker, that has Family support on it. So I get cleared to visit, head up to the 3rd floor.  Carlisle has a nurse watching him, while he’s recovering. I got there about 9:30, and they have discovered that they are going to have to go back in and clear a blockage in one of his veins. 

So about 12:15pm they came to take him back to the OR.  There’s a lot of prep to take him, undoing everything he’s hooked up to. We say our good byes via charades for another time, and head back to the hotel.  This surgery is going to be short, just a few hours.  I came back to the hotel and had a nap, then got a call from the hospital, saying everything went well, and he was in recovery.  Headed over to see Carlisle and he’s still not back from recovery, that was about 4:00pm so I went for a walk, found a field area, with tables and benches, it was warm in the sun but decided to sit and take a break.  I made some calls, while I wasted some time.  Then I headed back to the hospital, get in the re entry line, don’t have to answer all the questions.  I asked and I will have to do this every morning I come to visit Carlisle.

Head upstairs to the 3rd floor once again, and he’s not back.  So I head down stairs to the cafeteria, and get a Fresca drink and an egg salad sandwich. Then head back upstairs, there’s an area outside the recovery ward, with seats, so I sit and eat my sandwich, waiting to see Carlisle get wheeled by, if he hadn’t already gone by. Sure enough Carlisle soon, goes past, he was sleeping or had his eyes shout, so didn’t see me.

I gave the nurses etc some time to get Carlisle settled, get all his tubes etc hooked back up. He’s got alot going on.

We was sleeping alot, I stayed for a few hours, then decided, it was time for me to let him rest, and I headed back to the hotel.  Made myself a cup of tea, and I might have had a nap.

So that’s it for today’s update. Thank you to everyone who has been sending the love on Facebook and keeping Carlisle in your thoughts, we feel all your love and well wishes xoxo 

 Not sure why but I cant seem to add pictures.

Surgery day-July 13, 2021

 Good Morning!!! 

Richelle at the wheel!! Just got back from the hospital, Carlisle’s surgery is going to take 18 hour, more like 20hours, with an hour on each side. So will add an update when I hear anything. He’s in good hands. Waiting will be the worst for me today, I’m going to head out for a walk before it gets to hot, then will head back to the hotel, to cool down, (heat warning in affect) and maybe have a nap,  I wonder what I can take pictures of in this area, to keep myself busy.

Thank you all for 🙏 prayers and keeping Carlisle in your thoughts today.