Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Some good and some not so good news today. When I arrived at the fourth floor today,, I was met by Phong, who said that Louis had refused to eat breakfast and spit out his meds. He asked what I wanted to do if he did not start eating and I said no feeding tube!
He agreed, with the age and condition. I had just had a conversation with Mari about the agony her mother went through with her feeding tube, so God's timing was perfect.
However, when lunch came, Louis surprised us by eating a large portion of lasagna, all his pears, half his soup and all his iced tea! I called Phong in so he could see him eat and he said he was so proud of him! I really did not expect him to be hungry for supper tonight and he did not eat a bite. He also was not thirsty. If he comes back from the severe pneumonia and UTI, it will take a lot of therapy to get him to be mobile again. Only God knows if that will happen.
About Phong...He is a very caring young man. He asked me today if I minded telling him my age, so I did. He seem surprised and wanted to know who was coming to pick me up. I told him I drove and parked in the garage. I believe in their culture the young take care of the old, because he asked if I lived alone and I said I did now, because of Louis being in the hospital. He thought he had been living in the nursing home. I told him just since New Year's eve when all this started. Phong gave me a hug and kiss because he is off tomorrow, but he said the nurse tomorrow is nice.
Then when I left, I got turned around again on the second floor, looking for the Skywalk. A young doctor came out of double doors and I asked him the way and he walked me through the operating section, which he said was a shorter way, and saw to it that I was turning the right way. I repeat, God sends the nicest people to guide me along my stumbling way.
Well, continue to pray for strength for me for the journey we are now walking through. I am getting very tired and dread the long walk to the fourth floor, but God is good to give me the energy to put one foot in front of the other.
We wait to see God's plans for tomorrow.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
4th floor at Bayfront
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
What a blessing today was! I was surrounded by the love and caring of four dear friends as they took me to lunch at Atlanta Bread, and gave me a much-needed break. Mari even drove me home with two quarts of soup and the goodies Carole gave me. Thanks, ladies! Everyone was so nice and it was good to have some laughs. I enjoyed some of the clam chowder tonight. It was delicious!
Mari also baked me some cookies. which are yummy!
I met Louis' Bayfront family doctor today...Dr. Razi, He is big and informal seems very caring. He explained the renal failure goes along with Pneumonia because of dehydration, but is easily corrected with IV's . However, he is calling in a kidney specialist tomorrow to check Louis out. Louis slept (loudly) just about all day while I was there and ate only a bite of food, althoiugh his nurse, Phong, said he ate a good portion of the breakfast . Once again we have a caring nurse who came in frequently. Louis has big air booties on his feet now and a large foam wedge pillow to keep him on his side to ease the pressure on his sore bottom. He is in the cardiac care unit because of the possibility of a clot forming from the inactivity. When Brian visited tonight, he spoke to Phong about the lack of appetite and he said that is not uncommon when he is so sick and fighting the germs.
So we keep on praying and trust God in his infinite mercy to do the healing through the doctors. God is good!
Another great thing God does is send people in my path to show me the way around the hospital. I get so turned around I always have to ask the first person I see for directions and so far they have been men who walked me to the way I should go. Mari and I had a laugh when we got on the elevator and got off what we thought was the wrong floor. Four burly paramedics got on and pushed the up button when we decided we needed to get back on. They stopped the elevator and then told us we were on the right floor to go out the exit. We were laughing and I said we weren't even blond! God has a sense of humor, too. Another chuckle when I walked too far on the fourth floor and looked bewildered, and the guy in scrubs said "Where do you need to go, girlfriend?" :o)
All in all a tiring but good day. Keep on praying for Louis and I know God will hear the prayers!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
What a blessing today was! I was surrounded by the love and caring of four dear friends as they took me to lunch at Atlanta Bread, and gave me a much-needed break. Mari even drove me home with two quarts of soup and the goodies Carole gave me. Thanks, ladies! Everyone was so nice and it was good to have some laughs. I enjoyed some of the clam chowder tonight. It was delicious!
Mari also baked me some cookies. which are yummy!
I met Louis' Bayfront family doctor today...Dr. Razi, He is big and informal seems very caring. He explained the renal failure goes along with Pneumonia because of dehydration, but is easily corrected with IV's . However, he is calling in a kidney specialist tomorrow to check Louis out. Louis slept (loudly) just about all day while I was there and ate only a bite of food, althoiugh his nurse, Phong, said he ate a good portion of the breakfast . Once again we have a caring nurse who came in frequently. Louis has big air booties on his feet now and a large foam wedge pillow to keep him on his side to ease the pressure on his sore bottom. He is in the cardiac care unit because of the possibility of a clot forming from the inactivity. When Brian visited tonight, he spoke to Phong about the lack of appetite and he said that is not uncommon when he is so sick and fighting the germs.
So we keep on praying and trust God in his infinite mercy to do the healing through the doctors. God is good!
Another great thing God does is send people in my path to show me the way around the hospital. I get so turned around I always have to ask the first person I see for directions and so far they have been men who walked me to the way I should go. Mari and I had a laugh when we got on the elevator and got off what we thought was the wrong floor. Four burly paramedics got on and pushed the up button when we decided we needed to get back on. They stopped the elevator and then told us we were on the right floor to go out the exit. We were laughing and I said we weren't even blond! God has a sense of humor, too. Another chuckle when I walked too far on the fourth floor and looked bewildered, and the guy in scrubs said "Where do you need to go, girlfriend?" :o)
All in all a tiring but good day. Keep on praying for Louis and I know God will hear the prayers!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Another morning
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! After a late night waiting in the ER with Louis, who had fluids going in and fluids coming out, Brian and I called it a night when we got the results of all the blood tests. Louis has pneumonia and is in good hands at Bayfront, I hope.
I spoke with his nurse this morning, who is a male and sounds very caring, and he is being turned every two hours because of nasty potential bedsores on his bottom. I will visit him as soon as I shower and get dressed, but I stayed in bed until almost 7:30 this morning. I'm not used to staying up so late.
I appreciate all the love, concern and calls I have been receiving. Please keep up the prayers for his recovery and comfort.
"Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to his love,
And the future to his providence.
St. Augustine.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I spoke with his nurse this morning, who is a male and sounds very caring, and he is being turned every two hours because of nasty potential bedsores on his bottom. I will visit him as soon as I shower and get dressed, but I stayed in bed until almost 7:30 this morning. I'm not used to staying up so late.
I appreciate all the love, concern and calls I have been receiving. Please keep up the prayers for his recovery and comfort.
"Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to his love,
And the future to his providence.
St. Augustine.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Back to Bayfront
This has been a looong day and evening, dear friends and Prayer Partners! The doc at the nursing home discovered from blood tests that Louis had several elevated levels and things that indicated he should be in the hospital. So, after a long wait during which he ate a good supper and I did not, Gil came to wait with me and the ambulance to take him to Bayfront Hospital again.
Brian met me there and after several hours of waiting, the results showed pneumonia. So he will be admitted again and I will eat a bowl of cereal and call it a night.
God is so good to surround me with the love and concern of dear friends and for moving Brian up here to be with me!
Keep praying. please,
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Brian met me there and after several hours of waiting, the results showed pneumonia. So he will be admitted again and I will eat a bowl of cereal and call it a night.
God is so good to surround me with the love and concern of dear friends and for moving Brian up here to be with me!
Keep praying. please,
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, January 11, 2010
Another day
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Well, lots of activity for Louis today, none of which involved getting a bath. He was rolled into a sling-like devise which weighed him like a cow or hog, and then this afternoon was exhausted from the attempt to put him in a wheelchair. Apparently during the fighting against it, his left elbow was severely bruised and skinned and I discovered it bleeding. One doctor, and four attendants and thirty five minutes later, he finally got a bandage to cover the wound. I could have gone home, got a bandage and been back in the time they got their acts together!
This was the first time the staff doctor had checked him out, and she said after examining his back, that he had five spots which should be watched. Trouble is, no one comes in to turn him over on his side . I really think it is time to make waves to get him washed and a little more attention paid to him. I see aides drinking sodas while on duty, texting as they walk down the hall, talking about last night's TV. Am I being too hard on them? I don't think so.
A very efficient CNA brought Louis' supper tray and a guest tray for me, which I did not order, but was grateful for anyway. After I tried to get Louis to eat, which he did not want to, I gulped my bland food down and then gave him a Glucerna shake which he drank. I asked Michael, the CNA, where he had been, because he got someone immediately to lift Louis up higher. checked him over and straightened his covers...and he said he works at the other end, to request him (said in a hurry) so I will!
All in all a very tiring day, brightened by phone calls from a couple dear friends. But God is good and I wait for his will to be done,
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, lots of activity for Louis today, none of which involved getting a bath. He was rolled into a sling-like devise which weighed him like a cow or hog, and then this afternoon was exhausted from the attempt to put him in a wheelchair. Apparently during the fighting against it, his left elbow was severely bruised and skinned and I discovered it bleeding. One doctor, and four attendants and thirty five minutes later, he finally got a bandage to cover the wound. I could have gone home, got a bandage and been back in the time they got their acts together!
This was the first time the staff doctor had checked him out, and she said after examining his back, that he had five spots which should be watched. Trouble is, no one comes in to turn him over on his side . I really think it is time to make waves to get him washed and a little more attention paid to him. I see aides drinking sodas while on duty, texting as they walk down the hall, talking about last night's TV. Am I being too hard on them? I don't think so.
A very efficient CNA brought Louis' supper tray and a guest tray for me, which I did not order, but was grateful for anyway. After I tried to get Louis to eat, which he did not want to, I gulped my bland food down and then gave him a Glucerna shake which he drank. I asked Michael, the CNA, where he had been, because he got someone immediately to lift Louis up higher. checked him over and straightened his covers...and he said he works at the other end, to request him (said in a hurry) so I will!
All in all a very tiring day, brightened by phone calls from a couple dear friends. But God is good and I wait for his will to be done,
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Let's see. what day is this?
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
To answer the question above, it must be the eleventh day, because Louis was taken to the hospital on NY's eve. I have been told that the large dark bruised looking spot on his left heel, is a pressure sore from rubbing on the bed. They are treating it with an ointment that is supposed to toughen the skin, and putting a pillow under his lower legs to keep the feet off the bed.
I am a little discouraged by his lack of appetite. He chews and chews, and then has to be told to spit the bite out. I took him some Glucerna milkshake today and he drank all that, and ate some fruit I brought for him. He slept a lot today, and is frightened when anyone moves him or the bed goes up and down. When I talk to him he will respond a little, but does not talk on his own.
I have never seen him quite this way before, so I am praying he will have a breakthrough soon when the infection is finally gone. He will need a lot of phys. therapy to even begin to sit up, let alone walk again. Righ now, shoes are out of the question with the heel the way it is..
The sermon on True Friends, today really was good for me, because without all your prayers, I don't know what I would do, but God has a plan for us, and He is Good! So we wait for his Will and continue to pray for healing for Louis.
Thank you all just for being there, and offering help.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
To answer the question above, it must be the eleventh day, because Louis was taken to the hospital on NY's eve. I have been told that the large dark bruised looking spot on his left heel, is a pressure sore from rubbing on the bed. They are treating it with an ointment that is supposed to toughen the skin, and putting a pillow under his lower legs to keep the feet off the bed.
I am a little discouraged by his lack of appetite. He chews and chews, and then has to be told to spit the bite out. I took him some Glucerna milkshake today and he drank all that, and ate some fruit I brought for him. He slept a lot today, and is frightened when anyone moves him or the bed goes up and down. When I talk to him he will respond a little, but does not talk on his own.
I have never seen him quite this way before, so I am praying he will have a breakthrough soon when the infection is finally gone. He will need a lot of phys. therapy to even begin to sit up, let alone walk again. Righ now, shoes are out of the question with the heel the way it is..
The sermon on True Friends, today really was good for me, because without all your prayers, I don't know what I would do, but God has a plan for us, and He is Good! So we wait for his Will and continue to pray for healing for Louis.
Thank you all just for being there, and offering help.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Saturday, January 9, 2010
more prayers please
Good evening, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
I spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon with Louis, and helped with his bed bath and changing of the sheets., which he does not enjoy. He seems frightened at being turned and has to hold on to the bed or my hand, while I talk to him and try to calm him..
He is not getting the food he is used to...low fat and low cholesterol..and I talked to a nurse about it today, again. I took in some grapes and fruit that he eats at home and he enjoyed that after eating very little of his lunch.
Please pray for his fever to lessen. Brian said he was given Tylenol to help it go down this afternoon. This must still be the UTI causing the fever. I thought he was over that, but maybe not. He was sleepy a lot today, but seemed to know me and talked a little when asked questions, so this is good
It seems we make a little forward progress and then slip backwards, but God is in control and knows exactly what is going on.
God is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon with Louis, and helped with his bed bath and changing of the sheets., which he does not enjoy. He seems frightened at being turned and has to hold on to the bed or my hand, while I talk to him and try to calm him..
He is not getting the food he is used to...low fat and low cholesterol..and I talked to a nurse about it today, again. I took in some grapes and fruit that he eats at home and he enjoyed that after eating very little of his lunch.
Please pray for his fever to lessen. Brian said he was given Tylenol to help it go down this afternoon. This must still be the UTI causing the fever. I thought he was over that, but maybe not. He was sleepy a lot today, but seemed to know me and talked a little when asked questions, so this is good
It seems we make a little forward progress and then slip backwards, but God is in control and knows exactly what is going on.
God is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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