I will have to say that PJ and Big Guy are probably the two most humorous people I know. Get em together, and they are a comedy act...
So, I went there this morning and PJ had been off the vent since 8 am. They had already sat him up and dangled his feet over the side of the bed. He did a great job. He was pretty tired after that, so I was there for about an hour and a half, and then let him sleep.
Steve, Lynette and I went back up this afternoon and was he awake!!!! First, he was trying to write.. didn't work so well. He is great at scribbling. Big Guy is going to hang it on the fridge he said.. So, Steve and Lynette were moving his fingers.. and PJ is getting so much stronger! When Big Guy was moving his fingers, he started playing piggy with PJ. "This little piggy went to the market, this little piggy went home..." Then PJ raised his other hand and started saying, this little piggy went we we we... It was FUNNY! (He doesn't say words yet, he just mouths the words which can sometimes be very difficult to understand. This afternoon though, he was slowing down, and we could read his lips much better). PJ then told Steve he was stupid...
Peej is also trying to sit up on his own. His strength is really coming back. He is moving his legs a lot more, moving his arms, stretching, grabbing your hand and squeezing. (He was being a butt head today and wouldn't let go of my hand). He is smiling, and laughing, and talking... He has so much to say. He asked about Chief Johns, and Templeton (who were the others in the accident), he told Ryan (one of PJ's friends who also works with him. Ryan stayed behind when the ship went out to help the families while we are out here.) to bring Josh, Romel and Robert (his friends) up to see him. I asked if he wanted to have a party in his room, and he said yes.
He is also giving hugs. He will grab your hand and bring you close to him.
This was my favorite part of the day. He knows who you are, and looks right at you when you talk to him.
So, he has been off the vent all day and his stats are great. 100% O2 saturation, great blood pressure, normal heart rate, no fever... He is coming along great. They won't put him back on the vent until tonight to let him rest. Hopefully soon he will be off the vent forever.. baby steps.
Today is a great day out here. He is fun to be around. He gets tired, but he is so much more "with" it. Don't get me wrong, at one point he said, I feel stoned and he is! They have not lowered his ativan yet. Can you imagine how active he is going to be when they do?
Well, that's all for now. Leave your comments. I will tell him what you say. He seems to want to hear from everyone.
Hugs from San Diego!
Heather
Thursday, December 14, 2006
If needed... oxygen will drop from the overhead compartment
OK, so I just talked to the nurse. Kelly is his nurse today, but she was busy, so I talked to the "floor" nurse. PJ slept well last night, no complications, and no vomiting. He is already on the trach collor (which means that the vent is off again), and they are not planning on putting him back on the vent until they see that he is tired. They are also putting him back into the chair today with the vent off.. So todays plan: wear his butt out.
Everything else is the same, they are talking about lowering the Ativan again today since they didn't yesterday. (Ativan is the sedititve). So, hopefully he will be even more awake...
I am getting ready to get up there and I will post more this afternoon... today looks like a good day in PJ land...
Heather
Everything else is the same, they are talking about lowering the Ativan again today since they didn't yesterday. (Ativan is the sedititve). So, hopefully he will be even more awake...
I am getting ready to get up there and I will post more this afternoon... today looks like a good day in PJ land...
Heather
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Quick update
I didn't go back up to the hospital tonight. I called up there tonight and the nurse said that he was really tired and was still resting pretty well. So I decided to let him sleep. They told me that they would call me if anything changes as far as him doing well.
He sat up in his bed again today and dangled his feet over the edge. Although this may seem mindless to all of us, this is a huge step for him and really wears him out.
Kelly(his nurse today) told me that tomorrow they are thinking of taking him off the vent for an unspecified amount of time. Today they had planned on leaving him off for only four hours, tomorrow, it could be for much longer. We will see how it all goes. He has come such a long way in the past couple of days, it's no wonder why he is sleeping so well.
So, I will post again tomorrow morning. Hope you all have a great night... let's see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully great new things will come.
Heather
He sat up in his bed again today and dangled his feet over the edge. Although this may seem mindless to all of us, this is a huge step for him and really wears him out.
Kelly(his nurse today) told me that tomorrow they are thinking of taking him off the vent for an unspecified amount of time. Today they had planned on leaving him off for only four hours, tomorrow, it could be for much longer. We will see how it all goes. He has come such a long way in the past couple of days, it's no wonder why he is sleeping so well.
So, I will post again tomorrow morning. Hope you all have a great night... let's see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully great new things will come.
Heather
Happy Birthday Mom!!!!
First of all, Happy Birthday Mom! Do I have good news for you...
So let me go back to last night. I got a lot of grief from my sister for not posting here last night.... I apologize, I was pretty tired, and there was no change at all.
I went back up there and they moved him out of the "chair" back into his bed. However, they took off the air mattress on the bed, so now he is in a "normal" hospital bed . Once they put him in this bed, he was much more comfortable and was sleeping very well. Yesterday he was crabby. What I mean by that is you could tell he was uncomfortable in the bed(with the air mattress) and with that stupid tube back up his nose, and by the time they took him out of the "chair" he was tired. Very tired. He remained "open ended" until bedtime. That means he was on a setting of the vent that allows him to breathe on his own, but kicks in if he needs it. Other than the sitting up, and the open ended thing, there was no change. Stats were good and he had a slight fever. But he was restless the most of the day. So, last night I went back and sat for a hour, and he was a sleep the whole time. So, I left.
TODAY HOWEVER... we called up there this morning, and he had a great night. No problems and no vomiting. So, we asked when would be good, and she said the only thing on his "schedule" was changing his lines, so sometime after 1 would be good to come and visit...
We got there at 1:00 and WHAT A GREAT SITE!!!! The vent was POWERED OFF COMPLETELY... as in NO JUICE AT ALL!!! Peej was breathing on his own. No help.. they had him on oxygen flow, but his lungs were doing all the work with no back up plan... They turned the vent off for 4 hours, will let him rest with the vent on for 2 hours, and then take him off again for 4 more hours. Then he will sleep with the vent tonight and start again tomorrow. It was awesome to NOT see all the tubes from the vent there and that one machine is turned off completely. His stats were very good and this was the first time he was cool to the touch. (Usually he is burning up, and sweating)..
So now, he if off the pain meds, his sedative is being lowered, and he is REALLY coming off the vent. I mean, they kept saying that he was being winged off the vent, but until I saw it powered off it wasn't the same... today I saw results. PJ is almost back! He has come such a long way.
Also, when Lynette and I got there this afternoon, it was the most peaceful I have seen him rest since I have gotten out here. No moving around, no opening and closing his eyes, just resting.... That was nice to see too.
This afternoon, they are going to sit him up again.. put him in the chair again, and take him off the vent again. He should sleep VERY well tonight.
I can't stress to you how cool the little things are. Today Lynette and I were talking (in front of PJ) about Chris sucking out his boogers, and we look down, and PJ had a big smile on his face. It is so nice to see that smile. It's awesome when you tell him to wiggle his toes and he does.. the littlest of gestures make you feel so warm and fuzzy inside...
So, I will go back up there here in a little bit. I am sorry for the delay in the posting of the blog. Please know that if I don't post for a while, we are still doing the same routine... in the "chair", sitting up in bed.. or, he is just resting. I (or Lynette) will post more often.
That's all for now,
Heather
So let me go back to last night. I got a lot of grief from my sister for not posting here last night.... I apologize, I was pretty tired, and there was no change at all.
I went back up there and they moved him out of the "chair" back into his bed. However, they took off the air mattress on the bed, so now he is in a "normal" hospital bed . Once they put him in this bed, he was much more comfortable and was sleeping very well. Yesterday he was crabby. What I mean by that is you could tell he was uncomfortable in the bed(with the air mattress) and with that stupid tube back up his nose, and by the time they took him out of the "chair" he was tired. Very tired. He remained "open ended" until bedtime. That means he was on a setting of the vent that allows him to breathe on his own, but kicks in if he needs it. Other than the sitting up, and the open ended thing, there was no change. Stats were good and he had a slight fever. But he was restless the most of the day. So, last night I went back and sat for a hour, and he was a sleep the whole time. So, I left.
TODAY HOWEVER... we called up there this morning, and he had a great night. No problems and no vomiting. So, we asked when would be good, and she said the only thing on his "schedule" was changing his lines, so sometime after 1 would be good to come and visit...
We got there at 1:00 and WHAT A GREAT SITE!!!! The vent was POWERED OFF COMPLETELY... as in NO JUICE AT ALL!!! Peej was breathing on his own. No help.. they had him on oxygen flow, but his lungs were doing all the work with no back up plan... They turned the vent off for 4 hours, will let him rest with the vent on for 2 hours, and then take him off again for 4 more hours. Then he will sleep with the vent tonight and start again tomorrow. It was awesome to NOT see all the tubes from the vent there and that one machine is turned off completely. His stats were very good and this was the first time he was cool to the touch. (Usually he is burning up, and sweating)..
So now, he if off the pain meds, his sedative is being lowered, and he is REALLY coming off the vent. I mean, they kept saying that he was being winged off the vent, but until I saw it powered off it wasn't the same... today I saw results. PJ is almost back! He has come such a long way.
Also, when Lynette and I got there this afternoon, it was the most peaceful I have seen him rest since I have gotten out here. No moving around, no opening and closing his eyes, just resting.... That was nice to see too.
This afternoon, they are going to sit him up again.. put him in the chair again, and take him off the vent again. He should sleep VERY well tonight.
I can't stress to you how cool the little things are. Today Lynette and I were talking (in front of PJ) about Chris sucking out his boogers, and we look down, and PJ had a big smile on his face. It is so nice to see that smile. It's awesome when you tell him to wiggle his toes and he does.. the littlest of gestures make you feel so warm and fuzzy inside...
So, I will go back up there here in a little bit. I am sorry for the delay in the posting of the blog. Please know that if I don't post for a while, we are still doing the same routine... in the "chair", sitting up in bed.. or, he is just resting. I (or Lynette) will post more often.
That's all for now,
Heather
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.....
So today was another small step ahead in PJ Land. Though he did not have a super great night, today was a move ahead. Last night though, he started vomiting, a lot....so they put the tube (to keep his stomach empty) that was in his mouth back in, but this time, in his nose...(according to his nurse - Peej wasn't so hot on the idea and gave him a really hard time). He also seems to be running a low grade fever so they are trying to determine what is causing that and if the two are related. Other than that, last night was okay but he is tired today from not resting well.
On to today!!! While Heather and I were there, they came in to sit him up on the edge of his bed! They even let us help! I think because of last nights restlessness, he feels a little less like playing with us today. He did follow commands to help get him to the side of the bed, but it is clear he has little strength after laying around for so long. Though the sitting up required a fair amount of assistance...HE DID IT! He sat up for about 5 minutes and then I think the staff got tired of holding him up, then they sat him in the "chair" thingy I told you about yesterday and he was so happy to be in a different position he couldn't keep still! He kept moving his arms and legs all around and we kept telling him to stay still or he would slide out of the chair. He is strapped into the chair but we all know, even in his weakened state, that boy doesn't like to be tied down.
They asked us if we wanted to do his physical therapy on his hands and showed us how to manipulate his fingers to help stretch the skin that was burned, so it becomes more pliable and his range of motion will increase...this is necessary but it is a little uncomfortable for Peej. So....Heather wimped out...something about "not wanting to hurt her brother...blah blah blah.." Really though, I think she is just so happy to see him smiling and making progress she is not wanting to be the one to cause him pain. I feel for her. She said she would try tomorrow. So I did it for a while and even in that short time, his fingers really loosened up. We just have to keep it up. It felt good to do something tangible to "help" in his recovery.
He did indicate, with his nodding head, that he is comfortable and is ready to leave. When I left he was still in the "chair" and they have him "open ended" (meaning he is breathing on his own but the vent is there still as needed for support) they planned on keeping that way until this evening and then letting him rest during the night and then putting him "open ended" all day tomorrow as tolerated.
When I told PJ I was leaving and asked him if he could say goodbye...he raised his hand and waved. Heather just came in and said that she asked for kisses when she left and he mouthed some kisses to her!
What great joy we take in these little motions!
Have a great day and keep praying for him to continue in this forward direction!
Lynette
On to today!!! While Heather and I were there, they came in to sit him up on the edge of his bed! They even let us help! I think because of last nights restlessness, he feels a little less like playing with us today. He did follow commands to help get him to the side of the bed, but it is clear he has little strength after laying around for so long. Though the sitting up required a fair amount of assistance...HE DID IT! He sat up for about 5 minutes and then I think the staff got tired of holding him up, then they sat him in the "chair" thingy I told you about yesterday and he was so happy to be in a different position he couldn't keep still! He kept moving his arms and legs all around and we kept telling him to stay still or he would slide out of the chair. He is strapped into the chair but we all know, even in his weakened state, that boy doesn't like to be tied down.
They asked us if we wanted to do his physical therapy on his hands and showed us how to manipulate his fingers to help stretch the skin that was burned, so it becomes more pliable and his range of motion will increase...this is necessary but it is a little uncomfortable for Peej. So....Heather wimped out...something about "not wanting to hurt her brother...blah blah blah.." Really though, I think she is just so happy to see him smiling and making progress she is not wanting to be the one to cause him pain. I feel for her. She said she would try tomorrow. So I did it for a while and even in that short time, his fingers really loosened up. We just have to keep it up. It felt good to do something tangible to "help" in his recovery.
He did indicate, with his nodding head, that he is comfortable and is ready to leave. When I left he was still in the "chair" and they have him "open ended" (meaning he is breathing on his own but the vent is there still as needed for support) they planned on keeping that way until this evening and then letting him rest during the night and then putting him "open ended" all day tomorrow as tolerated.
When I told PJ I was leaving and asked him if he could say goodbye...he raised his hand and waved. Heather just came in and said that she asked for kisses when she left and he mouthed some kisses to her!
What great joy we take in these little motions!
Have a great day and keep praying for him to continue in this forward direction!
Lynette
Monday, December 11, 2006
Quick Update
So I went up there not looking at the time and got there just in time for shift change (which means they kick everyone out for an hour). So, I turned on the Monday Night Football and his Rams...this made him happy. Then Dan (the cool nurse dude we love) said that he wasn't going to put him in the "chair" until tomorrow because Peej was tired. (Waaah...right? Sheesh) So I will go back in the morning and give him crap for being a sissy. And Yay! Dan will be there tomorrow. Dan is cool, he doesn't coddle PJ, though he takes great care of him by means of also giving him crap like us!
Overall, PJ had another great day of progress and once he gets a little less dopey and more of the drugs out of his system I am sure we won't be able to shut him up!
Lynette and I are going to head up early (930-ish) and she will come back and post a morning update.
Overall, PJ had another great day of progress and once he gets a little less dopey and more of the drugs out of his system I am sure we won't be able to shut him up!
Lynette and I are going to head up early (930-ish) and she will come back and post a morning update.
PSSH.....He's back!
So Peej had a busy day today! 2 hours sitting up in a cool bed/chair thingy that they lay him in and then sit him straight up and then strap him in! He was breathing on his own for the two hours he was chillin' in the lounger. Way better than the one hour yesterday! He was more alert today and responsive to verbal commands. He thought he was funny too. He was blowin' kisses to me and Heather and Big Guy had him laughing. It was so nice to see the PJ smile! When I put oinment on his lips today, he totally puckered up trying to help me! Now THAT was funny!!!!
He is completely off the pain med since early this afternoon and seem to be tolerating things super good. The small tube is out of his mouth, which is good cause he wouldn't leave it alone and when you told him to, he just messed with it more just to be stubborn and defiant. All his other vitals are in normal range and his fever is gone. His hands were both uncovered for a good while today and they looked great. The right hand is all pink and pretty with the swelling on both having gone down a bunch. The left hand still has a couple areas that are blistered but are healing well. So other than needing a manicure and pedicure, he is looking fabulous.
Peej is so much happier and responsive today. He gets tired by late afternoon but he clearly knows when he has company and tries to communicate though he is not supposed to talk yet with the trach still in, but you know he thinks he has so much to say and he sure tries to say it! Oh yeah, now, when we are in the room with him they take off the restraints on his wrists. I guess they think we can stop him if he tries to pull anything out! ....really though, he listens when we tell him to not mess with stuff, but then adds a raised eyebrows and Pshh! That's our Pajamas. Heather told him she was going to paint his toenails and he shrugged his shoulders like "whatever"...but then when she told him she was going to paint them red, he shook his head "no". So - he is coming around. He is still very in and out, but wow, what great progress in such a short time.
He looks great, he seems comfortable and he still has his sense of humor. He is still a little dopey looking but they say that is the meds, I am not so sure, but okay. Peej is coming back. What a fighter.
Heather is heading back up to the hospital now, they were going to put him back in the "chair" for a while. She can update when she gets home to let us know how he did.
He is completely off the pain med since early this afternoon and seem to be tolerating things super good. The small tube is out of his mouth, which is good cause he wouldn't leave it alone and when you told him to, he just messed with it more just to be stubborn and defiant. All his other vitals are in normal range and his fever is gone. His hands were both uncovered for a good while today and they looked great. The right hand is all pink and pretty with the swelling on both having gone down a bunch. The left hand still has a couple areas that are blistered but are healing well. So other than needing a manicure and pedicure, he is looking fabulous.
Peej is so much happier and responsive today. He gets tired by late afternoon but he clearly knows when he has company and tries to communicate though he is not supposed to talk yet with the trach still in, but you know he thinks he has so much to say and he sure tries to say it! Oh yeah, now, when we are in the room with him they take off the restraints on his wrists. I guess they think we can stop him if he tries to pull anything out! ....really though, he listens when we tell him to not mess with stuff, but then adds a raised eyebrows and Pshh! That's our Pajamas. Heather told him she was going to paint his toenails and he shrugged his shoulders like "whatever"...but then when she told him she was going to paint them red, he shook his head "no". So - he is coming around. He is still very in and out, but wow, what great progress in such a short time.
He looks great, he seems comfortable and he still has his sense of humor. He is still a little dopey looking but they say that is the meds, I am not so sure, but okay. Peej is coming back. What a fighter.
Heather is heading back up to the hospital now, they were going to put him back in the "chair" for a while. She can update when she gets home to let us know how he did.
Still moving forward...
Posted by Anthony--
I spoke with Heather this morning, she had some problems updating the blog so I'll post for her...
"P.J. continues to have good progress reports, he did well all night long. His numbers continue to remain very good, and he was very responsive this morning."
Heather will post another update late this evening.
I spoke with Heather this morning, she had some problems updating the blog so I'll post for her...
"P.J. continues to have good progress reports, he did well all night long. His numbers continue to remain very good, and he was very responsive this morning."
Heather will post another update late this evening.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Butterfly Kisses
Hello all. Sorry for the late post. Lynette and I went to see PJ tonight around 5:30 pm. Everything is still going very well in PJ land. He was pretty worn out, but still in and out. He wasn't fighting the restraints as much as he was earlier today and yesterday.
This morning, they took him off the vent for 30 minutes to breathe on his own, he did very well. They told us that they were going to do the same in the evening. When we got there tonight, I asked how it went, and she said that she took him off and started "working" on him. Then she looked up at the clock, and he had been off the vent for an HOUR with NO PROBLEMS!!! This is what we wanted to hear!!! So tomorrow, they will take him off again for a little longer, and a little more frequently. The setting on the vent while he is on it allows him to "over breathe" the vent if he wants. He has been over breathing a lot. That is awesome... GO PEEJ!
So, he still really likes to tell you no... about EVERYTHING. He is like a two year old.
While we were there, I told him that I loved him, and.... he "blew me" a kiss. It was quite funny. Lynette and I kinda looked at each other and said, "Did he just do that, really?" Then when I was leaving I told him I was going to give him a kiss, and he did it again... it was pretty cool.
Stats are great. Infection is getting better, no fever. Blood sugar was 103, blood pressure was great. Yes.. a good day in PJ land yet again. Kisses and all...
I can't tell you how proud I am of him. He has come such a long way! The nurse tonight said that she thought he would be on the vent until at least Christmas, and now she thinks he will be completely awake and off the vent by the end of the week if he does every step of this process without a problem... So, we need more days like the last few.
Heather
This morning, they took him off the vent for 30 minutes to breathe on his own, he did very well. They told us that they were going to do the same in the evening. When we got there tonight, I asked how it went, and she said that she took him off and started "working" on him. Then she looked up at the clock, and he had been off the vent for an HOUR with NO PROBLEMS!!! This is what we wanted to hear!!! So tomorrow, they will take him off again for a little longer, and a little more frequently. The setting on the vent while he is on it allows him to "over breathe" the vent if he wants. He has been over breathing a lot. That is awesome... GO PEEJ!
So, he still really likes to tell you no... about EVERYTHING. He is like a two year old.
While we were there, I told him that I loved him, and.... he "blew me" a kiss. It was quite funny. Lynette and I kinda looked at each other and said, "Did he just do that, really?" Then when I was leaving I told him I was going to give him a kiss, and he did it again... it was pretty cool.
Stats are great. Infection is getting better, no fever. Blood sugar was 103, blood pressure was great. Yes.. a good day in PJ land yet again. Kisses and all...
I can't tell you how proud I am of him. He has come such a long way! The nurse tonight said that she thought he would be on the vent until at least Christmas, and now she thinks he will be completely awake and off the vent by the end of the week if he does every step of this process without a problem... So, we need more days like the last few.
Heather
Good Morning....
OK so I will have to start thinking up clever titles like Chris.
I got here yesterday, and couldn't wait to go and see him. When I did get up there, Chris had to tell me what I could and couldn't do, (I have a thing about pulling out the trach and trying to kill my brother) before I really felt comfortable enough to take the reins here.
Once Chris and my Dad left, and the Ativan levels started wearing off from the decrease in the dosage, PJ was in and out a lot. I think I lucked out and got him when he was "more awake". Don't get me wrong, he is in and out like Chris said, but I tell you what, he was shaking his head"yes" and "no" left and right. (We all know that there was more of the "no").
He was coughing quite a bit when I was there. Dan the nurse said that was great. That's what they want to see. Right now, the vent is set to breath for him, however if he tries to overcompensate, that isn't a bad thing. If he keeps doing well on this setting, and keeps up with the great coughing, then they will lower his vent settings more (maybe today) and he will be breathing more on his own....
PJ did know that I was there yesterday. I asked him if he knew who I was and he shook his head yes and mouthed Heather. (All these years of working in the DRIVE THRU PHARMACY paid off... I can read lips!) He does get very frustrated with the situation. But, if you tell him to calm down and that every things OK, and he seems to calm down. I can't imagine how scary it would be to wake up like this; but the good thing is, he only remembers the moment. He won't remember any of this when he finally "wakes up" completely...
OK time to shower and get ready to go frustrate him more today! (Just kidding)
Heather
I got here yesterday, and couldn't wait to go and see him. When I did get up there, Chris had to tell me what I could and couldn't do, (I have a thing about pulling out the trach and trying to kill my brother) before I really felt comfortable enough to take the reins here.
Once Chris and my Dad left, and the Ativan levels started wearing off from the decrease in the dosage, PJ was in and out a lot. I think I lucked out and got him when he was "more awake". Don't get me wrong, he is in and out like Chris said, but I tell you what, he was shaking his head"yes" and "no" left and right. (We all know that there was more of the "no").
He was coughing quite a bit when I was there. Dan the nurse said that was great. That's what they want to see. Right now, the vent is set to breath for him, however if he tries to overcompensate, that isn't a bad thing. If he keeps doing well on this setting, and keeps up with the great coughing, then they will lower his vent settings more (maybe today) and he will be breathing more on his own....
PJ did know that I was there yesterday. I asked him if he knew who I was and he shook his head yes and mouthed Heather. (All these years of working in the DRIVE THRU PHARMACY paid off... I can read lips!) He does get very frustrated with the situation. But, if you tell him to calm down and that every things OK, and he seems to calm down. I can't imagine how scary it would be to wake up like this; but the good thing is, he only remembers the moment. He won't remember any of this when he finally "wakes up" completely...
OK time to shower and get ready to go frustrate him more today! (Just kidding)
Heather
Saturday, December 9, 2006
On the road to recovery...
Hello PJ Land, well it was another exciting day in the wonderful world of PJ. First off, he had a great night. He has really responded well to the new ventilator settings, and is going along with it very nicely. They dropped his Ativan again today, so he was a bit more alert and man was that tongue going! When he wakes up, he opens his eyes and then immediately starts moving his tongue to get his feeding tube out of his mouth. He is sweating all the time, so I am always wiping him when I am there. He is responding to commands, and I thought was reacting much better when he woke up. We found out today that the Ativan is addicting, and he will have to be weened off of it and is given Methadone to counteract the detox symptoms. He is doing really well, so all the prayers are working.
His left hand was completely uncovered today, and although it doesn't look near as good as his right, it will heal very nicely. It did have some dark blisters, but the nurse said that is normal and will heal in time. He is doing great and will be up and moving in no time I am sure. This is my last blog for a while, Heather is here now and she can keep everyone updated.
Hug your loved ones, and tell them you love them.
Chris
His left hand was completely uncovered today, and although it doesn't look near as good as his right, it will heal very nicely. It did have some dark blisters, but the nurse said that is normal and will heal in time. He is doing great and will be up and moving in no time I am sure. This is my last blog for a while, Heather is here now and she can keep everyone updated.
Hug your loved ones, and tell them you love them.
Chris
The Dawning of a New Era...
I talked to my Dad this morning, and he said that PJ had a great night. He is doing well on the new ventilator settings so that is great to hear. So as they slowly get him adjusted to the new settings, then I assume they will slowly lift the Ativan to allow him to be more awake as we go. He is still kind of in and out now that they put him on the Ativan, which I think is good. We need to see if he will tolerate the ventilator before we just wake him up. I will be up there in an hour or so to see him as well.
Heather, PJ's sister, arrives today as well. She will be staying out for the next couple of weeks to keep an eye on him and let him know that everyone loves him. That is all for now, more when I return from the hospital.
Remember, hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
Heather, PJ's sister, arrives today as well. She will be staying out for the next couple of weeks to keep an eye on him and let him know that everyone loves him. That is all for now, more when I return from the hospital.
Remember, hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
Friday, December 8, 2006
WHAT A DAY....
Well, when I got to the hospital, the first thing the nurse told me was that he didn't do so good. So after hearing that my hopes were down. She told me that he did have a brief period of desaturation when she went to lunch. So I was in the middle of lecturing him on how he needs to behave and work with them in the hospital. That is when the nurse came in and gave me the BEST NEWS YET, they were taking him off the paralytic medicine and moving his vent to the pressure setting instead of the volume setting (or it could be the other way around for all I know), but anyway they were going to let him start waking up and moving. Then they kicked me out so they could change all of his lines. About 1.5 hours later, they let me back in because, of course, right when they were going to let me in he crapped himself so they had to clean that up. So when I went in there they asked me to speak to him, AND HE OPENED HIS EYES!!!!!!! The tears just started welling up, he was loopy, but responding to simple requests and questions. He responded that he knew my name was Chris, and that he was in the hospital. He was not happy at all, he looked a bit mad and very much scared, which I think is to be expected. So I got to talk to him, but he was getting all worked up and kept trying to talk back to me, which is not good. So after about an hour, the nurse and I thought it would be best if they started his Ativan again to sedate him and let him rest and get some sleep. It was tough to leave him, but I am going to put my faith in the nurses that they know what is best. I am going to go back up there when my Dad gets here in an hour or so. It is very tough to see him struggling when he wakes up, not knowing what is going on. They keep telling me that he won't remember, but it is still tough to see. So now we need him to cooperate and relax, which we all know is not his strong suit given the situationl. I told them that if you give him any control, he will want to take all control which is bad. They will slowly start to reduce the sedative and allow him to start taking over the breathing. The better he does, and the more he cooperates, the quicker he will get out of the hospital.
It has been a huge step today, so much so that now I am thinking that I may stay out here a few more days so that I can talk to him. I haven't decided on that yet, but I am thinking about it.
Well that is the news that I have been waiting to type, and I got my wish today. Things could still go backwards, so we need to be cautiously optimistic about all this. What a day. Well remember hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
It has been a huge step today, so much so that now I am thinking that I may stay out here a few more days so that I can talk to him. I haven't decided on that yet, but I am thinking about it.
Well that is the news that I have been waiting to type, and I got my wish today. Things could still go backwards, so we need to be cautiously optimistic about all this. What a day. Well remember hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
All the kings horses, and all the kings men...
Hello all, just got of the phone with the nurse and PJ had another good night YIPEE! He no episodes of desaturation, and has done wonderfully since he got the trach. Not that the trach has contributed to it. So if we can continue to have these good days and nights, they will start to change the ventilator and start modifying the PEEP (Which I have no idea what that is), but the RT (Respitory Therapist) yesterday told me that is what we are wanting to be the next steps. So he is doing better. They are still bronching him daily, and they continue to get a bunch of stuff out of his lungs. They particularly get most of the stuff out of the upper right lobe. The RT told me yesterday that his lungs were looking better, not good yet but better than they have in the past.
I took off work today to rest and I will get to see him this afternoon. My dad gets here tonight, and Heather gets here tomorrow. PJ will have plenty of love here, which is great. I wish I could be here when he wakes up, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, they have been wonderful. Hug you loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
I took off work today to rest and I will get to see him this afternoon. My dad gets here tonight, and Heather gets here tomorrow. PJ will have plenty of love here, which is great. I wish I could be here when he wakes up, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, they have been wonderful. Hug you loved ones and tell them you love them.
Chris
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