Thursday, July 22, 2010 6:54 PM, MDT
Today was much better than yesterday. Bill's fever has started to go down and he felt a lot better today. We could also see that he was more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Haha.
OT was able to come in today and got Bill situated in his wheelchair. He sat in it for about 3 hours. We didn't go outside because of his fever, but it was still good for him to be out of bed. Even though we never realized it until now, every time we are talking to Bill and interacting with him, we are doing therapy. Therapy for his brain, hands, feet, arms, legs, voice. We asked Bill to draw a picture for us on the whiteboard. He drew a fairly accurate picture of our house. We took a picture of this house and have attached it.
Dr. Geyer, the infectious disease doctor, has taken Bill off the antibiotic that could have been giving him the tremors today. We can already tell that they are slowing down. To be exact, Bill hasn't had a tremor in 9 and a half minutes.
Jalyn has christened the yellow robes we have to wear "Oompa Loompa suits". Quite appropriate. We have also attached a picture of these in order for you all to get a better image in your minds.
OT was able to come in today and got Bill situated in his wheelchair. He sat in it for about 3 hours. We didn't go outside because of his fever, but it was still good for him to be out of bed. Even though we never realized it until now, every time we are talking to Bill and interacting with him, we are doing therapy. Therapy for his brain, hands, feet, arms, legs, voice. We asked Bill to draw a picture for us on the whiteboard. He drew a fairly accurate picture of our house. We took a picture of this house and have attached it.
Dr. Geyer, the infectious disease doctor, has taken Bill off the antibiotic that could have been giving him the tremors today. We can already tell that they are slowing down. To be exact, Bill hasn't had a tremor in 9 and a half minutes.
Jalyn has christened the yellow robes we have to wear "Oompa Loompa suits". Quite appropriate. We have also attached a picture of these in order for you all to get a better image in your minds.
Friday, July 23, 2010 7:21 PM, MDT
Today was a pretty good day. Bill slept most of the morning which is ok, because we don't think he sleeps enough anyway. We got him up in his wheelchair this afternoon and took him outside for about an hour. He really enjoys being outside.
He did a short workout on the arm bike and was actually able to hold himself up without any back support.
Bill had his ears cleaned out today, which seems to have helped his hearing somewhat. He still can't hear very well, and we have to write a lot of stuff down, but he can hear some of what we are saying. Now we have to be careful of what we are saying around him....
At any rate, he was acting much more normal this afternoon and tonight which makes us feel a lot better. Plus, it is more fun to be with him.
He did a short workout on the arm bike and was actually able to hold himself up without any back support.
Bill had his ears cleaned out today, which seems to have helped his hearing somewhat. He still can't hear very well, and we have to write a lot of stuff down, but he can hear some of what we are saying. Now we have to be careful of what we are saying around him....
At any rate, he was acting much more normal this afternoon and tonight which makes us feel a lot better. Plus, it is more fun to be with him.
So basically, not much happened today. When we came into the PCU this morning, Bill was sleeping and on a mouth and nose oxygen mask. It kind of scared us until the Dialysis nurse told us that because his kidneys aren't working, the extra fluid has to build up somewhere. When we were in the CVU, it built up in Bill's arms and legs and caused them to swell. This time, it built up in Bill's lungs. This made him short of breath, so they put him on the mask.
Shortly after Dialysis began, he was breathing easier and now is breathing completely normally. He still is getting a little bit of oxygen, but the mask is not required.
Bill finally woke up at 6:00 this evening.
Shortly after Dialysis began, he was breathing easier and now is breathing completely normally. He still is getting a little bit of oxygen, but the mask is not required.
Bill finally woke up at 6:00 this evening.
I know that I have mentioned it before, but everyday I woke with a sick stomach. I just never knew what I would find at the hospital. I usually slept ok but I would wake up early and feel like I really needed to get to the hospital. I tried to not show to the girls how I was really feeling and I tried to eat breakfast so that they would eat too.
When we were with Bill, which was pretty much the entire day, we were constantly working with him in some way, either moving his legs and massaging them or testing his memory and cognitive skills, what ever we could do to help his recovery.
We had to wear these yellow robes because the doctor felt that Bill was carrying a germ that could be spread throughout the hospital. We certainly wouldn't have wanted to get anyone sick so we didn't mind having to wear them. They were not very attractive however and they were hot.
When I came in and saw him with the oxygen mask on I was very scared. I asked him what was going on and he didn't know. When I asked the nurse she explained it to me. Bill had had a hard time breathing all night so he was very tired that day. His breathing was much easier after dialysis and I could breath easier as well.
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