July 24, 2021-Day 11

July 24, 2021-Day 11

Saturday morning, Veronica has been with Carlisle and I for a week already, time is going by fast but sometimes it’s slow. We got to the hospital around 9:30am today, Covid Health lines were non existent….smooth sailing.

We can see a big tree made of concrete from the window in Carlisle’s room. So this am we set out to find it.  It’s called the Magic Tree and its on the 1st floor.  So when we are walking back Veronica realizes we didn’t get a sticker, so we go back to the front.  We have our Family Support sticker again. 

We make our way upstairs to the 3rd floor, I check in, Carlisle is sleeping.  One of the nurses let me know Carlisle got to have a shower today. 

Alan had told us yesterday about a hidden garden, so Veronica and I went to find it. Adventures in the hospital!!  We found it, when Carlisle is better, we maybe to up there again to check it out. 

Carlisle and Veronica came out for a visit, 10:30am it was a quick visit, they have gone back to his room now. 

Veronica and I later changed stations, I’m finding it harder to keep track of things, but I will try.

Nurse came in and changed Carlisle’s dressings on his arm and trachea areas. Everything is looking good.  

Veronica and I went downstairs for lunch. It’s now 1:30pm.

About  2:10pm Carlisle got some powder delivered, Beneprotein from the food services, so that’s a good sign, Carlisle maybe start eating soon.

3:00pm nurse change over, Kelly is nurse now, Jessie was on earlier, there are alot of nurses to keep track of.  Carlisle had his vitals check, things look good, fingers crossed maybe his kidney thing will be back to normal by Monday.

6:10pm we are back to visit Carlisle we brought some clothes for Carlisle, so he’s not mooning everyone, not that he did, but sometimes it happened. 🤷‍♀️

We had a short visit in the visiting room, before heading back to his room 6:40pm 

Veronica and I came back to the hotel at 8:00pm.

Thanks again for checking in on Carlisle’s recovery, every day Carlisle is improving and getting better every day!!

Happy Saturday!! xo

July 23, 2021-Day 10

July 23, 2021-Day 10

At the hospital at 10:00 am, we do the regular check in, have done the health check in, they are now asking if you are fully vaccinated, which we are.  They call us, I show the family support card we are given, yesterday it was good for us both, and today we each need a card, so they have to call upstairs ti make sure Veronica can visit. We are cleared, I go upstairs and sign us both in.  Then I asked for a card for Veronica as well.  

Go and get Carlisle, so we come to the waiting room to hang out with Veronica. 

We meet with Alan (not the dietitian) he’s from physiotherapy (if there are any mobility issues at need addressed at home) at 10:30 to go over home mobility, things we may need at home, nothing needed. 

Carlisle got out his wires that monitor his artery and vein this am, not sure when.

We are on hold for going home as Carlisle is having some issues due to his long surgery. They are looking at giving him a pill to address these issues next week. They have to make sure he’s healed enough before giving him this pill.

He’s looking forward to eating soon,  I think he will have to see a swallowing specialist, maybe 

Eric, Carlisle’s buddy, is on his way to Alaska, so has stopped in, to visit for the night.  So we are trying to get Carlisle outside to see him it’s 1:30pm  visit complete, back upstairs, after we beeped the whole way back into hospital, we sounded like a big truck backing up. Nobody wanted to ride the elevator with us beeping….😜  (Elevators are limited to 4 people)

Get back to the third floor, into Carlisle’s room and I plug in the tower. Silence!!!!

 Its been suggested to us, that we need to name his tower…. Let me see!!! 🤔 any suggestions!!! Please keep it PG!!

3:48pm taking blood, still taking blood every 6 hours.

4:36pm Veronica is back in, so we are back out in the visiting room. Carlisle is napping while we visit.

Doctor walked by so we chatted, no food until he’s trachea has closed on its own, fingers crossed its before Monday!!  

Heading back to the room, 4:45pm I’m sure dinner will be starting soon, via feeding tube.

Veronica and I are going to head for dinner soon.

Back from dinner, its 8:00pm 

Went for a walk.

9:50pm heading back to hotel around 10pm.

Night to all!!

July 22, 2021 -Day 9

 July 22, 2021 Thursday-Day 9

Woke up around 8:00, I’m happy the rain, thunder and lightning storm ended. Just hope the day doesn’t get to hot.  

Well its 8:30am and I’m just lying here, thinking I better get up and moving. Arriving at the hospital at around 10am seems to work better then 9am, the nurses and staff have more time to get Carlisle’s morning care finished. But I miss seeing it all. I’m so noisy, I like to see and hear it all.

I wondered how check in at the door will go this morning with the card. I’ll get Veronica to do the pre health thing online as well….😎 

Got to the hospital at 10:05am, line up for check in was a bit long, but they had a man, steering everyone to fill out the health questionnaire on your phone so the screening staff could save their voices. We helped alot as we had both ready, we are pros now. Back to the orange stickers for today.

 

As we got off the elevator, we could see Carlisle coming towards us, think he was heading for an ultrasound again, like yesterday.

I went and signed us both in at the nurses station. Now we are sitting in our spot in the waiting room.

11:20am He’s back.  Carlisle went down and got a Picc put in, so less blood needle pricks. 

And I think they did a CT scan as well to check his progress. 

Nurse Jen is cleaning Carlisle’s graft area, and his stitches around his neck. Things are looking good in this department. 

12:35pm Veronica is in visiting, and I’m holding our chair. One person in at a time by the bedside. We will head for lunch soon, give him a rest, while he can.

Signed back in at 2:10pm. We signed out because we want to go over to Wendy’s, but if was really dark and started to rain, so we just got food from the cafeteria, I had Ginger Beef and Veronica had BBQ ribs, it smelt so good. 

Carlisle’s hanging out, he said he went for a walk and did stairs.

2:50pm sitting with Veronica in the visiting room.

Nurse change over at 3pm Anita is his nurse for the evening.  It’s 3:20pm now back for a rest/nap in the bed.

3:50pm taking vitals. 

We go for a walk, and then go see and hang out with Veronica in the visitor area.  Carlisle’s nurse tracked us down, she needs to take blood, its supper easy with his new picc.

We did a lap if the nurses station, and went back to his chair in his room, used a green spongey thing, with water in his mouth. He’s back in bed and Veronica is visiting, its 4:47pm, I’m in the waiting room area, and I’m going to rip out a bunch of my crochet, I made a mistake a few rows/rounds back ☹️

Heard Carlisle maybe coming home early next week if not before. We will see how he progresses in the next few days.

We have a meeting with Alan (Dietitian??) at 10:30am tomorrow to discuss eating at hospital and at home, I will update tomorrow. 

I always think, what will I say today.  I will have less to update, but it seems like there’s always something happening around here. 

Thanks again for everyone’s healing vibes, support, and messages.  Sorry I’m not getting back to you individually but know I see all the kind words and encouragements your posting to Carlisle, on his journey, and to Chadwick, Veronica and myself. Love to you all xoxo

July 21,2021 -Day 8

 July 21, 2021-Day 8

Veronica and I got to the hospital around 10ish, I signed us in at 10:15am. The line was a bit long again today. They have a QR code you can scan and then it’s easier/quicker to get in, less health questions.  

We came up stairs and I signed us in, at the nurses station, again want to check to make sure its okay to visit. 

When I came into Carlisle’s room, nurse Jen was changing his dressing on his arm, replacing his tension bandage around it.

Another nurse, brings me a card, to get us through check in easier. Says to make sure I sign in, but I already was on that.

Then blood was taken, they are taking blood every 6 hours, watching Carlisle’s kidney function. So I came back out to the waiting room, to wait, until they are finished.

I went back in and the trachea is out, its way better, he can sleep now it seems. It’s covered with a bandage.

A kidney specialist was in to see, Carlisle, they are working on getting things back to normal.

One of the doctors came in to check on Carlisle as well. They are happy with his progression so far. Getting better every day. 

Went for a walk 11:45am, we did one lap, sitting in the chair 12:15pm, sleeping in the chair, having lunch via his feeding tube. Still sitting and sleeping, at 12:30pm. Got him back into bed, so he could have a better rest.

Veronica and I went downstairs to have lunch, came back to the waiting room to eat, it’s hard to find a place to sit during lunch time, with covid restrictions. 

I went back in to check on Carlisle, but he’s sleeping, getting some much needed rest. So we are hanging in the waiting room, which is full. We have our favorite seats, its two together, we sit, in these seats whenever we can.

1:45 pm just went to check and he’s still sleeping, we will just hang out in the waiting room, maybe I will get out my crochet.  We decided to go back to the hotel to let Carlisle rest, think he’s catching up on a few days of ZZZ’s.

Veronica and I had a nap as well, I made us some dinner, and will be heading back soon to visit.

Came back to the hospital around 6:00pm, check in, and got to Carlisle’s room. He’s sleeping, I woke him up, to say Hi, would send in Veronica, he said his food was running.  He’s been a sleep most of the day, catching up, and healing.

8:25 pm out for a walk, two laps, around the nurses station. Sitting in the chair, using one of his green foam sticks, dipped in cold water.

Veronica went home at 8:45pm

Respiratory therapist (RTs) was here at 8:50pm checking in on him.

He still had his oxygen tank hooked up, so we did another lap.

Got him back into his bed, He was sleeping again, so decided to head back to the hotel, its 9:23pm. Veronica has the last two night and I tonight saw a hare in the parking lot.

That’s all for today’s update, thanks for stopping by.  

 

July 20, 2021-day 7

July 20, 2021-day 7

Got over to the hospital around 10:15, went through the regular check in, mentioned we should ask about getting a card, so they don’t have to call up to the ward to make sure we can visit, just to make it a bit easier for us.

I checked us in, I put us on separate lines this time, so that if Veronica goes back to the hotel at a different time then me.

Carlisle has got his monitor off his arm, where they used the skin graft, artery and vein. He has a cover over that to keep it safe. He has his leg graft area bandage taken off, it had to be uncovered for a few days, to form a skin.

They also took a X-ray and an ultrasound today.

He still has his trachea and its been capped, so either today or tomorrow they can take that out.

They had to hook up another IV. The one in his foot is closed up for now, but can be hooked back up at anytime. 

10:30 Veronica is in visiting now. I’m hanging in the waiting room. Veronica is going to make a Tim Hortons run after her check in visit.

We had tea, and some fruit at the hotel for breakfast and watching the Blue oasis space rocket, the Jeffery Bezos funded one, take off to space, an un-piloted rocket, start to finish was in the air for 10 or so mins. 

It’s 10:47am while I am writing this. The days are flying by now, it seems, not as much free time.

Veronica and I came back to the hotel at about 1:20pm

I walked to the counter store, to get milk for my tea, and Veronica wanted ice cream.

We rested at the hotel room, had some dinner. Then headed back to the hospital around 6:00pm. Its cooler out and not as much smoke in the air.

I visited for a bit, now Veronica is visiting. She went back to the hotel around 7:30pm she saw a big bunny in the parking lot…maybe a hare.

I stayed until around 10pm, busy night, the doctor stopped in, looked at his arm and leg graft sites, and listened to his artery and vein.  Hopefully the trachea thingy comes out tomorrow. 

They have been taking blood to keep track of his kidney function. 

Thanks for checking in, I’m heading to bed, night!!

July 19, 2021 - Day 6

 July 19, 2021-Day 6

Veronica and I arrive at about 10am.  We go through the regular check in. Get the same visitor stickers as the day before, apparently these are the new visitor stickers. No bright orange ones. 

Veronica and I head again for the 3rd floor.  She waits in the waiting room while  I check us in and see how he’s doing. 

He’s not the sleeping patient that he once was, he’s all over the place, but still healing. I dont have as much time to write this blog anymore, I was writing while he would sleep, but he only has cat naps.

He has had his trachea cap on all night, so he’s on his way to getting that gone. He needs it capped off for 24 hours before it can be taken out. He’s having a hard time clearing some phlegm, I hope when the trachea is removed this problem will be taken care of.

We have been on many walks today, compared to his first walk. We went at 11:00am, 2:50pm and 4:30pm each time he did 2 laps.

I’m looking forward to not having the oxygen tank, it will be easier to go for walks.

Veronica and I had lunch down stairs in the cafeteria. I had baked ravioli and Veronica had a noodle bowl.

Veronica went back to the hotel around 2:30pm.

I stayed until 8:30pm.  Carlisle needed more assistance today, Veronica and I try to help the nurses, etc, as much as we can. 

Thanks for checking in for my update, Carlisle is healing every day, and hopefully we will be back home soon.

Thanks for your continued support, love to you all!! xoxo

July 18, 2021-Day 5

 July 18, 2021

Just another manic Monday…oh wait it’s  Sunday. 

Veronica and I got over to the hospital about 10am, we went through the regular check in, they call up stairs to Carlisle’s floor, to make sure we can visit. We get the green light. We have new visitor stickers. They keep us guessing…lol

We came upstairs to Carlisle’s floor, I sign us in, so I can go in first to make sure its safe for Veronica to visit.  Today they are already finished his bath etc. The more experienced nurse seem to be on and maybe quicker, but we are also an hour later then my visits before.

So Veronica goes in for a quick check in, then we switch out, she’s heading to Tim Hortons for breakfast, I had tea and a bagel at the hotel before we left.

Carlisle has the trachea cap off, so can’t talk, but can use his finger to cover in order to talk. The RA…I think thats what the nurse said he was called, would be in to put the cap on again.  If Carlisle can have the cap on his trachea for 24 hours then he can have that removed. He still has the feeding tube in.

They are watching him, because he had a bit of a fever yesterday, but did blood work, and he was clear from infection.  His fever could be do to surgery, and a number of other things.  

He is getting up to use the bathroom, but thats not that easy, with all the tubes, and the big tower, they have to change his oxygen tube (blue) to a different tube that is connected to the wall, it has a long cord, that can run to the bathroom and goes just under the bathroom door.  

Baby steps!!!  Don’t want to go to quickly, healing is different for everyone.  We don’t want to go 1 step forward and then 2 back.  Carlisle is fighting. ❤️

I feeling the need to write down things as we go through the day, then Veronica and I discovered we had different views, because we weren’t in to see Carlisle at the same time.

All and all Carlisle is improving every day, and well be home soon!! I will keep updating you of his journey, stay tuned!!

Thank you all for taking the time to reach out to me, I am feeling your love, if I don’t get back or send a message, I’m just a bit overwhelmed in this department, but we are so thankful for everyones messages, prayers, kind words, sending love right back at you all xoxo

I have added a few pictures to my Facebook, because I can seem to afd pictures from my phone.