Now I know what I'm doing!

Ok, so I have the app on my iPhone now and can give some updates myself!! Thank you to mom for and Paul for keeping everybody up to date. Also I'd like to thank everybody who has signed my guest book, I have been just posting to Facebook lately because frankly I'm not that Internet savvy and didn't think I could figure this out/ didn't feel like it in the hospital. But now that I've got this app it's super easy and I can do everything from it. Marc, this is the only way I know how to get a hold of you and the family. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers, and I sure did miss seeing everyone on thanksgiving! We'll have to see how Christmas plays out as far as travel and health, but maybe the I can shake some hands and get some hugs then! But until next time, again, a big thank you to everyone who is following here at the website and I will be posting with updates as they come as well now!

Amazing AT themed cake

My girlfriends mom surprised me with this super well detailed cake themed after the Appalachian trail. It's detailed down to the white blazes on the trees, water splashing from the fish diving in, official AT signs, and even a waterfall falling off the side of the thing! I was blown away. Thank you again Deann!!

Stupid tube in the nose

HOME!!!!!

FINALLY HOME!!!

We got news today that Jimmy would be coming home early on this morning. Then we were told that Dr would be in to fill out discharge papers and she normally comes around noon... still awesome... we will be home around 1pm!! WRONG- the bomb was dropped that it would be 4pm because we had to wait on Horizon.... bummer. I ran to LCC to get his injection of Lovenox, came back to hospital and the Dr STILL hadn't been there to see him and this was after 2pm. In the meantime got a phone call that Horizon was going to be more like 5pm... ugh, yet another bummer!!

We decided we would go down to the cafe to eat the "hospital food" one last time... Not what Jimmy was looking forward to! :(

Dr came in around 3:30pm. Got the discharge papers filled out and ready to go. Got a call that Horizon would be early.... YAY!! They got there at 3:45... we are singing and dancing at this point thinking wooo hooo... we are going hooome, we are going hooome!!!! The dude dropped off 3 bags and 1 large box of supplies and left. SOoooo, we called the nurse in and said "ok- let's get going!! Get us out of here"!! She said that we had to wait on the visiting nurse from Horizon to come and start the pump of pain meds to go home with. UGH!! Wind out of sail once again! MAN... OK, so we wait another hour plus... ugh! So here comes VNA - a different nursing organization- at 5pm. We were talking to her about our frustrations and she said she was sorry and she could have been there earlier! DOH!! Ok, move on... she gets the subcutaneous needle ready for the pain pump- it has to go into his belly... she pushes the first one in- won't allow flush to move through... grrr. She pulls it out and finds that needle had bent and tried spot number two. I am watching Jimmy's face... this is the FIRST TIME I have seen pain on his face with needles- (Momma is getting a little pissed)... she pushes on the SECOND needle and tries to run flush- GUESS WHAT?! Yep, you guessed it... that one bent too!!! (Momma is really NOT HAPPY NOW). I said can we please wait til we get home quickly and get the numbing gel on him before we try it again.... SOOooo again- THIRD SPOT pushed needle in- watched pain on Jimmy's face (heart breaking).... took a little force, but finally the flush went in- THANK GOD!!!! Ok, time to get this dang pain medicine pumping, because at this point he was unhooked from the hospital line of pain meds. Put the battery in... go through set up. NOTHING- WHAAAAAT?!?! Horizon forgot to send the key needed in order to unlock the pump because after all--- it IS a controlled substance!! We are all but fuming at this point... not hooked up, and we have to wait on someone to show up with the key in order for Jimmy to have any pain meds?!?!!!!! he asked the nurse almost immediately if he could get a dose before we left through his port- she called the Dr and made it happen within MOMENTS!! *Phew*

Packed up and started out of hospital- Jimmy walking and wheelchair filled with supplies!! haha the one nurse HOOKED US UP!! In the one hall Jimmy felt that his gauze that was over his newly removed IV site - he got it out of his sleeve to see that it was completely blood soaked (Heparin doing it's job alright)- the nurse that was walking out with us (same one that hooked us up with supplies) RAN DOWN THE HALL for more gauze and tape... got back a little winded and said - open up that alcohol swab and clean that off. So I did as ordered- haha- and got his arm cleaned up- she proceeded to place the covering on it and she saw that he had it all over his fingers... she ordered him at that point to clean of his hand!! :) MAN WE LOVE HER!! :) OK- NOW can we go HOME?!?!?!?! Got everything packed into car- she gave us our very warm and loving hugs and we were FREE!!!!! We got home and less than 15 minutes the VNA nurse was at the door- YAY. She came in and started the paperwork.... and not long after that the key came for the pump.... YAY!! Got the pain pump started... Jimmy pushed the button for his "extra dose" to be sure that it worked before we would let her leave. WORKED!!! Now on to getting the vitamins injected into his TPN... I open a syringe and 2 viles of vitamins... inject air into vile, and then draw all liquid from that vile- go to next vile and do the same thing. Then inject it into the TPN and do this all under the watchful eye of the nurse who watches my every move and gives me advice. DONE- on to next step- giving Jimmy his Lovenox injection... OH MAN- where to find fat pocket on this boy???- NOWHERE!! He chooses back of arm. I get syringe ready because we have to waste some out of each syringe because it doesn't come in 60- only 80. Now, take the alcohol wipe and wipe the spot he chose- pinch the arm and push in needle... administer Lovenox and pull needle out- look at site to be sure he is not bleeding. Done now until he's ready for bed and then we hook up the TPN. He's now sitting here with one of his very good friends, Ryan. It's GREAT to have him home!!!!!!!!!! Oh, BTW- he's sitting in there eating mac & cheese right now!!! YAY... OMG YAY!!!!!! (I sigh in happiness!!)

Thank you everyone for your continuing thoughts and prayers!!

And NEXT TIME will do injection BETTER- sorry Jimmy.... :(

November 28th

Jimmy is doing pretty well. Doing lots of laps around the hospital. He loves the freedom, and the feeling of having the energy (although pushing it a bit) to go to cafe and such. Today was his first fresh air in TWENTY THREE days!!!! He and I did a little trip outdoors ... it was PERFECT!! The day couldn't have been any better!!! Beautiful blue skies, small breeze and 71 degrees... Oh yeah!! Everything is in line for us to bring him home.... we just have to wait and hope that it all plays out accordingly. Pain pump is ordered and ready... TPN (nutrition through IV) is ordered and ready.... have to stop at LCC for the Lovenox (blood thinner), which will be an injection, on the way home once he is discharged. It will be so GREAT to have Jimmy home. We have LOTS of plans for Christmas dinner this year... I am looking forward it!!! Keep positive thoughts flowing everyone!! <3 :)

Thanksgiving Day

Give thanks on THANKSgiving... yes... Jimmy's obstruction is CLEAR!!! YAY!!!!! This means that he will soon be able to begin his journey back to normal foods. It will take a little while to get back to burgers and such, but this is SOOOO awesome!! We were afraid that it would take another blast of chemo in order to shrink the tumor enough to be cleared!! But thank God- it has happened after THIS blast of chemo!! So thanks to all of you out there praying and even the positive thoughts and vibes sent his way... it's amazing... it works!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

November 23rd, 2011

Well, it looks as if we will be here at LGH for Thanksgiving... which is fine with me, as that means he is still here to fight this battle. Jimmy hasn't had anything to eat or drink for about 7 days now. He does enjoy the stash of hard candy that he has though!! :) Things to give thanks for.... the swelling has not returned to ankles, his blood work for heparin has stayed level (they don't have to up the dose), his vitals have remained steady and he is able to sleep pretty well! ALL of these are blessings. he is now on his third round of chemo- but this is a true learning curve as this is the first round that he has been awake for- the first time he hadn't been taking the correct dose of pain meds (was unaware he was allowed to up dose), the second time he doesn't remember a thing because he was not reacting well at all to the new pain med being administered. He lost 3 entire days from the meds. This time he is aware of his side effects and such. Says he would rather sleep through it again- :P
The nutritionist was here earlier to talk about TPN (nutrition through IV)- I guess this will be his Thanksgiving Dinner?! They will start out with a low dose at 800 calories and see how his body reacts over a 24 hour period then bump him straight up to 2200 calories after the 24 hour period if all looks good.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!