Honestly my man is spoiled......  and will be as long as I can....   his potassium and sodium are extremely low, despite pumping these into him, so he is allowed to eat just about anything he wants right now..... to include take in.....  last night he wanted Arby roast beef sandwich... so I got it, tonight he wanted my homemade noodles, so yes I came home and cooked them.... i do make my own pasta...   good thing I had some, but it was so worth it to see him eat....  

Quiet day, got all of the stuff out of the rv, and into the house, hospital for a couple of hours, then home for a nap, then delivered dinner...   it is hard to leave him, but easier now that the pups are here.
I come home for them... And I know that it is going to be ongoing.....

so appreciate all of the messages and cards....  it feels good to know people care....
Thank you...

Well the RV is back, my pups are back... so that means unpacking....  will get that done in the morning..... not really that much...as most if our stuff in there is duplicates.....

As far as visitors...  it will be a few weeks..  he is still in the CVICU... cardio-vascular ICU...
There are not even telephones in those rooms...   his kidneys are recovering slowly from the heart attacks, but they are improving....   he is on more tubes than he was before...  and the risk of infection is always present....  right now, they are letting me come and go as I want, but next Tuesday and Wednesday even I will be restricted to short visits 4x a day..  then after that I can become a tegular again, as I will be his main caregiver... learning to change dressings, etc.

So NO visitors probably for 2 more weeks at least....  no phone calls, because there is no phone.  I keep mine silenced because of the other people in the unit...

They are getting him up to a chair, and he takes his waljs around the nurses desks several times a day....  his sodium and pitassium are extremely low, so his diet isnt restricted, but his fluid intake is....  for example he wanted an arbys roast beef for dinner tonight....  all approved...  sugar has been as high as 400's, but they are getting that under control......

But, i have never seen him as optimistic about his health as he has been this week.....  we have already met the VAD Coordinators that will become his primary care staff.  The VAD social worker, the VAD dietician, havent yet met the home health care nurses...  but we will...  the support is awesome...


Lol.  I forgot to mention.  Bob has given LitaBit and QTπ new nicknames.
   Thelma and Louise.  

No words needed....

The sun is shining brightly today...  my pups should be at home soon. Larry will have a new lease on life soon.....  these HeartMates give as much as 10 years or so....  that is even without transplant.

For now, all of his vitals are really doing well....   and he is even kinda cheerful...

The amount if training we are already receiving is overwhelming... but they tell us it quickly becomes routine..  another long training on Monday, then more after the procedure.....

The VAD coordinator says they have patients that travel, as well as RV.....  just no swimming...

So I definitely will sell one Kayak, and equipment....  will keep mine for the time being.... anyone interested.... let me know.....  I will post a photo of it. When I can....

We also will probably be selling our Mazda CX9...  had discussed selling it prior..  now we will just be using one vehicle....  even though it is paid for, that will save us on insurance... dont need 2 cars....

Ok.... just letting you all know....  what the status is.....

As I was leaving last night, Larry asked me to stop by and bring the ICVCU staff some donuts....  great thought sweetie....  he got some extra smiles and some hugs...

He had a good night, no pain, slept some, and continued good attitude and outlook.... as he was going to be going on some field trips with Kaitlyn,   I decided to try to get in to this place....

Any one recognize it....  yep dentist... they were so nice to get me in...

Anyway heard a report on the RV that it was just a busted fuel line..... JUST..why now...  but I am just glad that that is all it was....  but I still think that new ought to be NEW... 18 months is not old for that....   

gonna do a few errands before I go back.....

  I still have a lot to learn about his new pump.... and they have great inservice on it...

Asking for help is something I am still learning.....  

it does not come easy for me, never has...
Not asking for help led me to taking a bottle of sleeping pills 18 years ago after a divorce... not asking for help was the reason why I was working two jobs trying to keep it all together when Larry and I met....

Not asking for help has always been one of biggest obstacle to overcome.....  I was scared out of my mind last week when we flew into Little Rock.... It was midnight, I had no car, and had to call a taxi to take me to a very dark, very lonely house....  I reached out for help, but that person did not realize I needed help....

I did ask B/P to help with getting the rv and my pups back..  I would never have asked if I had know that they would have had trouble...

And today when all of this was happening so quickly, I did ask for help again.....  I am trying... Thank you Chuck and Sara for taking control... still no word on what is wrong with the rv... B/P and the pups are in a hotel.....right now...   a new adventure for the dogs.....

Thank you Colleen for being such a great spokesperson for our friends....

Before I left the hospital, Larry and I were talking and another patient in the CVICU walked by with his VAD....  and Larry was very positive and said I can do this... I can....  this is the unit we will be in until surgery, and will come back to....   he asks me for help... I need to learn from him....  all i know right now, it feels good to have hope, to have someone love me enough to want to stay with me longer....  i truly feel like our love story is not near the final chapter just yet....

Back in CVICU.....

Dr. Hutchins did a heart cath this morning through the jugular......  the heart myscle was much more damaged than he had thought it was...  ended up leaving the cath in place, called it a swan...  so he is back in the cvicu so they can monitor him, and begin doing the steps for the VAD..... as soon as they can.....  he told me this morning that he had hoped yo get him home for a bit to strengthen him, but it will now be during this admission..  exact day not given me.

Also put an arterial line in so they can monitor his blood pressure with each heartbeat...

At the same time that all of this was happening....  i had just come back to this unit from the penthouse, another SITUATION developed....  Bob and Paula are driving the RV home...  they pulled over for a break and there were fumes coming from the back.....  I was having some panic, but decided that I cannot deal with it....... so sweet Sara Sue and "Up'' Chuck, called B/P and they are working on it....  thank you. We do have Coachnet, an extrnded warranty program.....  and if it has to, B/P can leave it and drive the jeep back.....

Dr, Ransom has just left.....  He is the heart transplant cardiology surgeon....  Larry is scheduled to have the HeartMate ii on Tuesday morning......  he will be in the hospital at least two weeks after that heart pump is put in.....  in the meantime there are some tests in preparation....  

Gotta go plug my ipad in for a boost...  then will take a walk myself......

Oops forgot to say... Bob and Paula are at the RV, they have the pups, and will start home in the morning..... special prayers to these two dear angels......

Today was quiet...  all of his vitals are good, doesnt seem to be any permanent kidney damage....
Dr. Hutchins came in this morning, sat down on the couch and just chatted...  great doctor...

Going to do a  jugular heart cath at 7 am tomorrow, to look see....  much less stress he said than a groin cath....   plus no flat time...  hopefully he will be able to do the heart pump....  which is another 2-4 weeks in the hospital..... early early get up for me....  I am coming home each night... we only live about 5 miles from the hospital.  

He and I were sitting on the couch... he was looking outside....  from the penthouse....

As always, more prayers requested, Larry and I both hope they can do the HeartMate, otherwise it will be just meds, and that isnt working....


Sometimes I am still a techie....  got a new ipone 7plus mainly fir the portrait camera......  baw, my old one was 2 1/2 years old, in perfect condition, I just wanted a new one....  keeping me busy...
He will cringe when he starts looking at the blog...........  smile, but I love these photos....

Larry keeps telling me to slow down.....  that is so hard... i am not hyper normally, just when I am purpose driven.....

Breathe........

I did get to watch The Chew...

Larry did get a shower...  he feels much better after that....  i was going to take a nap in his penthouse room, then ai decided.. nope, gotta see about getting my pups home....  so I called our FMCAssist insurance contact, left yet a third message, so then I was getting kinda feeling put out.... i called the main number, she tried to leave a message...  still nothing....

So deciding I gad to take action on my own,  my daughter-in-laws parents, Bobband Paula, had offered to fly down and drive the coach back up....  so I texted them and within 5 minutes she said of course....   so then a plan of action........

They are flying down tomorrow to Tampa, the boarding kennel where the pups are will deliver the pups to the RV....  since it will be close to rush hour and they are not familiar with our rig, they will overnight in it and leave out the next day...  They know my dogs, so that is good too.   Bryan had already closed up the rv and drained the potty tanks, so it will ve just fine....

FMCAssist will reimburse all expenses, gas/diesel home, pet taxi, air fare, and a $100 a day per diem for meals etc......  did finally talk to our contact, he was waiting in an available driver, or so he said....
Arrangements made, so I can quit stressing over those things....  The boarding kennel was super to deal with, Happy Tail Pet Lodge if anyone needs one in that area.....

Ok going to sleep....
thank you Paula and Bob.....  prayers for their journey.....

today we feel like we are in a penthouse apartment.....  a room with a view..... on a clear day we should be able to see our home..... ninth floor facing west....

Room #942, but still no visitors or phone calls.  He is trying to build up strength for the next few procedures.....

He is on oral medication, no IV, vitals are really good, one great thing, he does now have a remote heart monitor, so he usnt dragging his spaghetti wires....  just Oxygen, which he can take off as needed.....

He did walk again this morning before I got here, a lap and half..... appetite returning some... he ate a huge chef salad for dinner last night.

I am constantly amazed at the team here at Baptist....   they are not only great, but pleasant....

Next will be an exploratory heart cath, either Wednesday or Thursday, that is a prep procedure for a HeartMate device.          HeartMate    To see what that is....  this is all so very encouraging.....

I didnt set my alarm last night, and as I got up, I pondered on the fact that thus is like going to work again.....   i had forgotten how easy retirement is....   but the pay/rewards for this job is more time with my DH...  dear Husband.....   we are in a group called RVMutants, who we love dearly....  and many times I find myself using Mutanese....  our own language....  i am known to have sliding fingers on my keyboard, so smile just ignore them....  i can type, i can spell, when I want to.....

Now, if I can just figure out what channel on the tv/cable here has THE CHEW, then I will chill for an hour.....

IV free.....  but pic line still in.
Meds are all oral, and working.
Kidneys are good on their own... no lasix

He is up and moving....  he actually made a whole lap around the CVICU by himself pushing a wheel chair with his spaghetti wires, his portable oxygen tank....  BUT ALL BY HIMSELF......

I still cannot believe his progress, and his positive outlook...

The doctors are planning on doing a cath probe on Wednesday. This will be in preparation for an LVAD, which is like a portable heart pump..... this will all hopefully be steps to getting a heart transplant.

This has been such a wacky month, that I am still not sure of even what day of the week it is.... just glad it is a short month.... ready for March, so we can march on....  oh, and it is an early spring....  everything is in glorioys bloom...  the pear trees, the jonquils, the tulip trees, and even the forsythia.... just beautiful looking through my happy eyes....

I dont dare name all of our nurses because I would not want to miss any....  these are the best ones ever...  but then it is Arkansas....  a coupke are studying to be CNA, most are way older that zinwould have guessed, they look like teenagers...  but they are excellent, and so caring.....

I do want to thank my cousin Susan.... if you hadnt written a blog for Peter, I might not have thought of it.... because I really do not like to write, but it is therapeutic for me...

I don't have the name of the air ambulance yet, but a huge hug and thank you to the pilots,

 nurse Tina, and paramedic Jay.    You faces are etched on my heart and mind....

Family Motir Coach Association

FMCA

Tonight Larry was sitting up in the chair after eating....   lol... not much, but some....

I try not to post too many if inhospital, but this was so encouraging to me.....

However I bever got it posted...... but this morning even better news.....

Dr Hutchins said he is on the turn around.....  labs looking better, sodium is up, creatnine is down,

Sugar was so good, no insulin shot.... kidneys are working on their own without lasix...  he wants him to get up and walk......  switching to oral pills, so in 6 hours he might even get IV out....  of fourse pic line stays in ready... No vtach since Friday afternoon......

Planning on getting a room tomorrow if he progresses....   then on wed will do an exploratory cath, to see about the LVAD.....  which is a bridge to heart transplant....  

Asking to get in a chair.... good ..........