And back to the hospital they go.....

Hey everyone. Brek here (I'm Ray & Sheri's next door neighbor). Sheri asked me to give a quick update. They went in for a doctor's appointment this morning and Ray was in EXTREME pain. They unwrapped the leg and found that he had cellulitis (not sure on the spelling) of the skin down by his incision. This is an infection. The doc admitted him to the hospital and got him on a couple of different antibiotics and also some morphine. They are running some tests to see just how infected it is - whether it is just the skin or if it has gone further, like into the tissue, muscle, or bone. Again, it looks like right now it is cellulitis of the skin. I'm sure Sheri will keep us updated if things change. Please just keep on praying for this special little family! We sure do love them!

The Good....The Bad....and the Dunk Tank...

I am so sorry I didn't do an update yesterday...it was a horrible night two nights ago...it all started about 5 p.m. Ray was in the kitchen when he had a muscle spasm hit......Ray was in excruciating pain!!! It would take his breath away!! For about 2 hours we kinda battled...I was frustrated he wouldn't do anything about it...he was in pain and hated me asking things...so it was NOT a good combo....plus the girls were here and watching Ray in so much pain and me finally just saying "Fine, I'm done...you do it" kinda scared them. So after about those 2 hours we made a phone call to the doctor. He ordered Valium to relax the muscles....the funny thing is that Ray had this exact same scenario the night of his surgery it was another intense night but I guess due to the surgery that morning and all the drugs he didn't remember. But after my Dad picked up the Valium (Thanks Dad!!!) it was still a LONG night....we were both up till way past 3:30am! He was very loopy and was talking weird things...but still having a lot of pain! I felt so bad for him! I wanted to take even a fraction of pain away! There was a few funny parts (well they were not funny then but they are now!) Ray says "Honey where is my suit?" I am thinking his church clothes..... Me: "What do you mean?" Ray: "My suit....I gotta go get into the dunk tank....they are ready for me" :o) He also started a fever again low grade.....so per doctor's instruction we are doing a Tylenol regimen and closely monitoring it. So yesterday morning Ray was exhausted and thankfully had enough meds in him the pain was tolerable. He slept.....for a bit....my girls nerves were on edge and with the offer of going with Manda for the day they jumped at it! (Thanks Manda!) The sad point for me and it made me cry is when the girls didn't want to come back home. Cami had told my sister all day long....."I am going to have a sleepover AnaMana....my Mom says she gives up" I need to be extremely cautious of my feelings and words around the girls....I forget they are just as sensitive to our situation as Ray and I. I am sorry girls....Mommy will try harder! So yesterday we headed off to the IHC in Btfl...had some labs drawn.....came home and with the girls gone...we both caught up on some much needed rest....well Ray rested all day....I decided to clean the toy room and "sort out" a few things with the girls gone....but after that we both napped well. It went through the night too Ray only woke up a couple of times for meds and slept till about 6am. So here we are Tuesday....we have two appointments today....Hyperbaric Medicine then follow-up with Dr. Scott. I will give an update hopefully this evening.

I wanted to say thanks (sorry I sound like a broken record) but there has been so many helping us in many forms.....My prayers include ALL of you who are helping, praying and well wishing!! We love you all!

Until the next time...

Loves....

Sporadic funnies....

Ok I have posted already some of the funnies Ray did or said while on his drugs....but I thought I'd include a few more.....It is nice that in a time of stress and the unknown we could laugh now and then to release a little tension!



1: The second volunteer we had in the surgery waiting room was an odd duck...but she did provide entertainment.....She was OLD I would guess close to 90. Hard of hearing and spoke with a heavy accent. As people would walk up to address a question she would ask "What do YOU want" as if she wasn't supposed to be our middle person to what was going on with our love ones in back. Then she would say something to the effect..."Well you will know more then I, When the doctor comes out he will talk to you" That day it was full in the O.R. and apparently pretty darn full in the rooms of the in patient tower because we heard many a times....ok your patient is ready and done with recovery we are just trying to find a room. So there was a lot of anxious people in the waiting room. This one gentleman stood out in our minds as the whole scene unfolded.....He approached her wanting info on his wife....she gave her usual spill...but then reluctantly called back to the O.R. desk....She spoke with them...then said they wanted to talk to the hubby....she then stated very rudely, VERY loud..."After you get done talking to the nurse you come right back here and tell me exactly what she said!!! That way I will know what to tell you next time!!" The whole waiting room was snickering at this point...I mean isn't the point of re-asking how things are is to get an UPDATED update? Not the same thing you heard 2 hours prior? So she send him to the hallway phone....and this poor gentleman is so confused he goes out and picks up the phone.....well the volunteer lady had not transferred it to the phone yet and now with him on it she could not....so she starts banging on the glass walls and yelling at him to hang up the phone! Finally Ray's dad did say something to the fact...of "Give the guy a break will ya!"

2: Ray was in bed...I think it was our second evening post surgery and he is loopy on morphine and he is acting out driving his truck and just like he does in real life he was yelling that the "idiots on the road!"

3: Ray kept asking the nurses when he was going to hydrotherapy.....One nurse after probably hearing at least 5 times in a minute asked him what he meant...and basically he described something like a hot tub....When the nurse said he couldn't get his leg wet he said he'd just hold it up!!

4: This one happened when he was a little more lucid....he was still on pain meds but it wasn't the morphine....this sweet little gal came in....I am guessing she was of Hispanic decent so she didn't speak much English...but she knocked on the door and asked if she could clean our room....we said sure. Then about 15 or 20 seconds later Ray said "then I will give you my home address" You know Ray and his humor......he meant that she could clean our house next....but this poor gal had the deer in the headlights syndrome and stuttered a second or two before she said "Oh I am married" LOL it was so funny! She was so uncomfortable the rest of the time she spent in the room!

5; As the girls were leaving one night pretty late....He was still on morphine and still way wacky...he told the girls to "Call me tomorrow when you are home from school" Both girls looked at me half frightened half thinking Daddy has really lost it...I reminded them that Daddy says funny things sometimes....then I can't remember if it was Cami or Courtney that said "Daddy needs a calendar to remind him we are out of school!"

Well those are just a few I remember I KNOW there is several others....if there is one you remember let me know I'll add them.....just so we have some blackmail material later on :o)

Our First Day/Night at home...

So yesterday was so grand....we were home....girls under our roof....Ray's fav chair, his woobie (heating pad) and our bed!! It was so nice to not have any interruptions....no nurses, no "needle girl" , no announcements at 2 am, 3 am, 4 am (you get the picture) "Code Trauma Alert 2" repeated 3 times! The downside.....I was out of practice for multi tasking in "Mommy mode" There was no cafeteria in which cooked me delicious meals...no one brought Ray meals right to his bedside/chair....the girls needed to eat too! I was exhausted....but all in one breath I was glad that I was HOME and able to do all this!! Ray slept 90% of the day yesterday....I think he was in catch up mode.....he didn't have much of an appetite so finally "mean nurse Sheri" had to kick his butt and make him eat at least ONE decent meal. This morning his appetite is back! Last night I am happy to report....BOTH girls slept through the whole night in their own beds...a rare occurrence in this household....and Ray had decent night sleep, slept in bed till almost 3 am (3 weeks ago he was lucky if he got 2 or 3 hours total in a night!) then got situated downstairs for a change of pace and slept until about 6am!!! We are hoping for the same today....QUIET times...enjoying the peace...and letting us all re-coop!!! Thanks again to all who have expressed love, prayers and actions on our behalf!

Until next time....

Loves....

BLESSED!!

I have so many things to be grateful for! I have some incredible friends and family who got me through yesterday...it was an emotional one. I didn't dare cry with/in front of Ray he was overloaded. I missed my girls so much it physically caused me pain....We were stressed over the MRI findings in the pelvis.....we were stressing over another weekend in the hospital....well you get the picture. I had a tearful and so helpful phone call with "B" and several great texts and a wonderfully uplifted message via google talk thanks "J"!!! Ray's evening last night was full of anxiety, it was clear by about 6pm that we weren't getting any MRI news....Rays leg was looking a teensy bit less swollen (at this point we take pride in BABY steps!) After about 10pm his 4th transfusion was complete and he didn't get hooked up to another IV bag so he had some more freedom of movement (if you can hobbling at a snails pace movement!) So we had a decent night.....and come morning....he was perkier and feisty!!! (always a good sign!) Ray's parents showed up about 10 minutes before Dr. Scott....The docs first words were...."Wow, your looking so much better this morning" (not one person could disagree!! He was a totally different man from the night before!) Then Dr. Scott asked if they would excuse us for a few minutes....(both Ray and I silently figured it was bad news about the MRI) so his parents stepped out and he proceeded to take out both his drain bulbs...it was funny Dr. Scott explained it would be like pulling out two very long worms...He said some of the "worms" have teeth some do not. You shoulda seen Ray's eyes!! As Ray grimaced and moaned...Dr. Scott announced "Oh these ones musta had teeth!" It was so funny! Well then he goes and gets Ray's parents...as it turns out the MRI was negative!!!! What a relief....Ray's other labs looked great! There was only one in question......and that is his platelet count the average person has about 300,000 Ray's is about double that a little over 600,000. So Dr. Scott also wants us to follow up with a Medical Oncologist not to be confused with Dr. Scott and Ott who are our SURGICAL Oncologist....and its also different from Dr. Thomason who is our RADIATION oncologist! JEEZ add onto that our PCP....and our Endocrinologist....we are "ist'ed" prettily heavily!! :o) So guess what....WE ARE HOME! After all that was said he told Ray....How about we get you home! It was a surprise (albeit a happy one) to us! We figured it would at least be another day or two!!! And surprisingly after that was announced we were out of the hospital within a couple hours! And if Ray had not misunderstood the nurse we could have left sooner....but we were having such a pleasant time talking with Ray's parents and his sister Carrie....now instead of the room feeling like a prison....we were all calm enough to just be pleasantly chatting!! So we are home....the girls are home!!! (Ray even said....."Oh it will be so good to have the girls here and home and fighter" LOL) So here is our plan....we have a very low key weekend. We are not going anywhere.....we are actually being very reclusive! Sorry but we just aren't up to entertaining visitors! Its so nice to not have to put on a face...we are lounging and loving it! Monday we make contact with Dr. Scotts office to arrange our first post-op check either Tuesday or Thursday. We make contact with the Hyper baric Chamber doctor. Ray will do the Hyper baric therapy to aide in the healing of his leg since he is diabetic. Home health care will visit us about 3 times a week....Ray will be closely monitored through lab work while he is on Coumadin. We want to prevent a stroke!!! I also wanted to say that I am brought to tears of true humility in regards to all those who are helping my family! To "M" & "T" and all those who are helping them with the fund raiser...you are amazing!!!! I cannot believe the hard work you are doing and this is in addition to the busy family lives you already have! You are truly are daughters of God and radiate the Light of Christ! Thank you Thank you!!

Well I will update daily about our ups and downs....and look out soon for a post with some of the funnier moments!

Until the next post....

Loves....

I hit MY wall....

So after yesterdays update and I went back to the hospital we had a fairly good day....Ray's parents reported that he was able to "go" multiple times during the day had gone a good distance in his hall had a decent meal and had been a good boy with his breathing exercises! (This morning no crackling sounds!! We are too keep up the good work!) He also had some great visitors....Mike N came and he said it was good to have him there and feel his peace. He had 3 HS friends come and that was another boost to hear them reminisce of days gone by. We went for a walk and he lapped the hall to the half way part!! Amazing! All was looking good and the pain meds made him more lucid!!! We did have a downer part his surgical leg started to swell. We noticed it and Ray really felt it...most of the swelling was knee up to pelvis. They called Dr. Scott and he didn't seem too concerned since there was no fever present, no redness...so he told them he would check it at rounds in the morning and let him know if it changed. My tears resurfaced yesterday....I hadn't really had much tears since the night this all started on the 10th.....I had cried them out and was the strong one again.....but BAM! I had them yesterday....it was one of those days that even a stinking diaper commercial could bring them on. I know I am sleep deprived, stressed over medical bills, stressed over living expenses, and worried over Ray's long term prognosis.....so I guess I am allowed a little eye leakage now and then right??? Last night was better then any of them yet. Although little sleep on either part (not good on the leaky eye syndrome I have acquired again!) due to he went to the bathroom every hour and the leg throbbed a little more.....but I tried my best to help Ray and his apology to me in the middle of the night that I had to go through all this brought silent tears again (good thing it was dark) He doesn't like it when his words cause tears. So it was emotional and draining....fast forward to rounds this morning. Dr. Scott was a little more worried of the leg it is really puffy...he could push his fingers in the skin deep and the depressions would stay a long time! Ray's labs did show he is low on blood again.....Dr. was kinda at a loss as to where its going.....no obvious oozing from the leg and the drain tubes haven't needed to be emptied in over 24 hours. So, next plan for today obviously not coming home :o( He will be having another transfusion....He will be scheduled for an ultrasound to look for blood clots in the leg...and an MRI on the pelvis to check for a possible tumor. Before I came home they did get the ultrasound done and the tech said it looked good. No blood clot....no time was set yet for the MRI.....so tick tock tick tock waiting again.....I have a few funny moments but right now I don't feel like doing the funny stuff....I'll post again with them....I don't want to sound selfish...but today I could use and extra prayer or two :o)

Until the next post......

Loves.....

Midnight......that's why I am usually in bed!

Ok....last night can only be labeled WEIRD! And like clock work from the night before....Midnight strikes and Ray (instead of turning into a pumpkin) turned into an attempted escape artist, Houdini, stunt man, and a person who is able to speak in a foreign language (although I'm not sure from where) :o).....want a translation?? Ok here it is....I'm woke up about 12:01am by the alarm sounding on Ray's pulse ox.....I try to get his attention like I usually do "Ray, breath in through the nose out through the mouth" he mumbles here and there so I know he is pretty out of it from the drugs....by the time I get up and over to the bed the nurse is there...I guess he had pushed the button to call the nurse but never really said much. Come to find out that turkey was trying to get out of bed on his own to go "somewhere" he wasn't sure where he wanted to go! He had taken off his oxygen, pulse ox monitor not only from the cord but also he took the taped one on his finger off, he had his leg compression cuffs off, his BP cuff off, and was attempting to take one of his two IV's off/out! So after being chastised by the nurse and me we get him all hooked up back in bed. He is in bed for about 10 mins when he tells me he needs to go to the bathroom! (We still haven't been successful in this area yet since cath removal) I want to call the aide but he veto's that....so I get him all unhooked (legally this time!) and head to the bathroom. I get him situated and give him his privacy. Next thing I know he has fallen! Soaking wet....we had a basin of warm water near him. Our stubborn patient of the evening decided to stand on his own! Luckily the toilet broke his fall from falling all the way down! It still hurt and scared him but at least nothing is a lasting problem. Needless to say I FIRMLY told him he will NOT be allowed to stand without someone with him bathroom break or not!!! He was so restless the rest of the night....talking weird things...bad dreams...it was an exhausting night for me! I was so drained this morning!! After talking to the doctor...we are changing our course....Plans for today 1. stopping morphine switching to an oral pain med 2. MUST get things "flowing" :o) 3. MUST do his breathing exercises EVERY hour, He is getting some crackling sounds in his lungs 4. MUST have a standing/walking buddy! That said...I am glad my in-laws came in earlier today...I needed the break and a shower and change....I am decompressing! Breathe in....Breathe out.....awwww!

Until the next post.....

Loves...