Today is going better with not as many bathroom trips and not quite as weak.
Jim will be on a full liquid diet until the post-op appointment. He will be getting nutrition thru the feeding tube...how much of that will depend on how many calories he is able to get in by mouth.
There is still 1 drain we hope to get rid of before leaving.
As long as today goes well we will get out of here tomorrow.
Yes we are thankful to not have an infection but Jim still isn't feeling very good. He had a break from the diarrhea this afternoon then it started in again this evening. They did switch out the tube feeding and tonight dialed it back a little. Jim ate some tomato soup and pudding this evening.
He only got in 2 short walks...just does not have the energy to be up much.
It was fun having Lindsey and girls here awhile this afternoon. Macey came in with her Dr coat and bag, Maddie was her nurse that recorded her diagnosis. Nurse Kathy packaged up some medicine cups and syringes for them to take home. We had a fun parade walking with Papa. Dr Macey was tired so she had to ride in the stroller while Melanie walked:) being a Dr is tiring!
I went to eat with Jesse's family then when we got back Chris came to visit.
Praying for a good night. Time will tell what tomorrow will bring.
Great news...Jim doesn't have an infection! Dr is thinking his body isn't tolerating this particular tube feeding so will try a different one. Jim told them maybe it has Lima beans in...he does not like Lima beans:)
He slept good until around 4 then it's been to the bathroom regularly.
Will be taking out one of the drains this AM, then after trying soup and if that goes well, will get the other one out.
Dr said if the diarrhea can get under control then we may be discharged tomorrow. Nurse thinks that's a bit premature. Need to get the fluids and his body going towards a more positive direction. It's a matter of taking "one day at a time"...
Some of you have ask if Jim had surgery by laproscopy or if he was opened up. He has about a 5" incision.
We did get another walk in late last evening...2 for the day. A big difference from the day before!
The day didn't start out very good but ended some better.
This morning Jim went for a swallow test to make sure of no leakage at the connection site. That was all good so the NG tube came out of his nose.
Jim was able to get in some good naps throughout the day. The diarrhea is better and still waiting on sample results. Throat feels better by getting the tube out. So far he's munched on ice chips, drank water and Gatorade.
This evening they took away the pain pump and the tubing at his nose that is used for oxygen and to record breathing while on pain meds. It's so nice to have gotten rid of all those!
Only got in 1 walk...tomorrow's another day:) just didn't have the energy today.
I went outside this afternoon for about an hour and then this evening went to eat with Jesse, Lindsey and girls. I feel like I've been totally fine and keep fairly busy but it does feel good to get out and get some fresh air once in awhile.
Praying you all have a restful night.
Jim had a rough night getting up and down all night with diarrhea and being nauseous. Will try to figure it out today to see if it's an infection or body just adjusting to the nutrition.
His throat has been really sore the last few days...thinking that's from the NG tube. He had the swallow test done this AM so hoping that's good, showing no leaks, then the tube can come out.
Right now he's catching up on some sleep.
I'm out getting some fresh air and sunshine. God has blessed us in many ways and for that we are thankful!
You know you're with a runner when...he's says" I think we'll go 2 more laps."
You know you're in a hospital when... you hear... "intestine" "bowel movement" along your walk.
Our sweet little grand daughters came for lunch and visit this afternoon. Oh and their mom and dad too:).
Good to see Jimmy and Janet also.
Jim had a great night...slept well.
Yesterday the catheter and epidural came out so his hands are not tied down to anything. The IV goes into the port...the NG tube is still in and should come out Monday after doing a dye test to make sure there's no leaks.
Will increase nutrition today to hopefully get things moving. Incisions all look good. Jim has been walking 6 laps each time out.
We are so thankful for all the nurses and Dr's here!! They have been most helpful with always asking if we need anything, how we (so thoughtful of me too) are doing etc...Kathy a day nurse has really been special to us...she has had 2 little grandchildren at her house for 3 days and hasn't been able to see them since they are in bed when she gets home at night and she leaves before they're up in the morning. She will have the weekend to be with them before they go back home and she is back to work.
Kathy has had such sweet words about our family/grand daughters and is looking forward to meeting Maddie, Macey and Melanie next week.
Thank you all for your continued prayers! I've said it before but will say it again... it has made all the difference knowing so many people love us and are praying, people we know, people we don't know...it doesn't matter.
"And the greatest of these is LOVE"
We feel your love and prayers!!
"May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:18-19
May God shower his blessings on you!
Nurse said whoever is in the bed gets the shot. Jesse thought he could move pretty fast...I'm not so sure.:)
This morning as Shawn and family headed to the airport, daughter said "we are traveling with broken hearts". Papa said "maybe she needs to come back to the hospital to mend it".
I know it's more about leaving the cousins and that's OK...they had a great/wild time together. It would never be long enough no matter how long they would be together! I know the cousins they left here feel the same.
We will miss them so much...are very blessed that they all were able to be here! Love you so much!!
This morning the first walk was late morning. Went 6 laps...he's gonna wear me out!:) Jim is very faithful with the breathing barometer...this man is most certainly doing what he can to prevent any setbacks!
Had a really good night...slept until awakened by nurse a couple times.
Dr P. sidekicks came in this morning and talked of taking the catheter out and epidural out of back today. Getting rid of tubing little by little. Also since he's getting along with the nutrition so well increasing that from 10ml to 20.
Good morning! This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Walked the "scenic" route 3 times tonight!
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped."
How cool is this? This guy came by and wondered if he could play for us.
When ask, Jim says he's "doing as well as can be be expected". Right now as I write he's doing a breathing treatment. Most certainly don't want pneumonia setting in!
He's been pushing the pain pump regularly trying to keep ahead of the pain. They are going to add iv Tylenol along with the epidural. So far the pain seems to be in the incision area and some in chest area. His mouth is really dry and all he can have is a wet swab in the gum area so you can guess what my job is:)
Tomorrow they will get him up to walk.
Please continue to pray for healing, less pain and some rest tonight. I'm staying the night...they will be bringing in a cot for me.
We cannot thank you enough for the many prayers leading up to today!! We know without a doubt God hears and has answered! He most certainly has blessed us with so many special people that care and love us! And we can never say thank you enough to Shawn, Monica, Jesse, Lindsey and Chris for their love, support, and sacrifices they have made to be here for us through this journey. (The grand daughters are having the time of their lives playing together!!) We love you all so much!!
Yesterday was a fun relaxing day for my birthday (Jerra). In the morning Jim and I went to a park and walked on a boardwalk that went through a swampy area along a river. It always feels good to get out and enjoy the warm sunshine! We saw a baby alligator and some different birds.
Jim pulled into a Starbucks to treat me to a frappe on the way home. He knows I do enjoy those!
In the evening we went to a Japanese steakhouse...Chris met us there. Delicious food and way too much so we get to enjoy leftovers today. After we got home we had pecan pie and ice-cream for my birthday dessert. Delicious!!
We enjoyed listening to pastor Chris Knights sermon from last Sunday this morning in Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 3:19
"The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
May you all have a blessed Sunday.
Yesterday we heard " you are the healthiest patient today...it makes our job so much easier" it sounds like they don't see many people so healthy and fit. The nurse and nurse practitioner for the anesthesiologist remarked a couple times at Jim's good health.
He has gained 20# in the last month! Not many of us would be excited about that but it sure is a good thing for him!
We had hoped to get out of Moffitt around mid afternoon to get some lunch and enjoy the sunshine but that didn't happen. We had meds to pick up at the pharmacy on campus and ended up waiting 1 1/2 hours. They told me wait time would be 30 minutes so we decided we could wait instead of making a trip back to pick them up. Ugh!! I was getting a bit weary, shaky from not eating since breakfast! At least I had a latte about 12:30. Jim had several coffees and a Danish (actually I had one bite of that).
We made 2 stops and got back home around 6. Needless to say it took me a little bit to wind down after eating.
We are to be at Moffitt by 5:15 Tues morning...surgery scheduled for 7:15.
We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend with the family.:)
Appointments today for business office, blood draw, and consult with anesthesiologist, then we go out into the beautiful warm sunshine and enjoy the rest of the day.
We are so thankful and humbled for the many people praying...just heard today of another group. We know God will bless you all beyond measure for your faithfulness!! We certainly know God is answering your prayers for us with Jim feeling so good, we have a calmness and peace and how God has provided throughout.
We finally have a date!
Tuesday Nov15- fly to FL. Out of Indy
Wednesday Nov16- presurgery appointments
Tuesday Nov22- surgery at Moffitt cancer center
Prayer requests:
*That Jim and I will stay healthy
*safe travels
*That God will calm any anxious thoughts
*asking you to pray for Jim's mother who had Heart surgery today. Praying for healing, strength and no complications so she can go home in the next couple of days.
