Grumpy beginnings....... a good ending

Jill is back from her trip. I am SO glad she got to get away......... but am SO glad she is back!

Today started at about 1:00 am, not literally........ Dad said he didn't want any grumpy women tomorrow and Jill told him that if he didn't want grumpy women he'd have to let them SLEEP. Word has it that he slept probably about 2 1/2 hours because the book shows toast at 4:00 am. So, I'm not sure how much sleeping Lauren and Jill did because when my head hit the pillow on the air matress in the living room shortly after 1:00 I did not hear ANYTHING until about 7:00 this morning. I think it was the fact that I knew I was somewhat "off duty" and that Jill and Lauren were there. I usually hear Matt when he gets up around 5:00 to make coffee. But NOT today.

So, to the grumpy part. I think everyone today was tired. And Dad was a little anxious because the nurse was coming to show us how to use the lift. And, he was not happy because "we are to do things 1, 2, 3, 4 and we don't listen and we ask him if he is hungry and he says no and then we say 'how about some soup?' " He got really grumpy at me when I continued to mention that he had not taken his morning meds........... you know we have to make sure he gets some of those so the medicine can release.

The nurse showed us how to use the hoyer lift and sling to move dad. However, Dad called it a "death trap". Needless to say, I think it had to do with the fact that it was the first time to do that. I know that Jill and Lauren will practice tomorrow transferring Lauren so we will be able to use it more and more.

I came home today about 2:30, Dad was napping when I left...............

And so the good news........

Lauren and Jill got to take about an hour nap

Matt and Dad chilled out today

But the most exciting news to me is this.......................

Dad got in a Wheelchair about 8:30 and stayed there about 2 hours and SAT at the kitchen table and ATE dinner with everyone. Mom brought home Chinese food and Dad had some of an eggroll for dinner. I am sad I could not of been there. I just want to move in and stay with them sometimes. Lauren sent me a text of a picture of him in the wheelchair and it made my day as he had the biggest smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye of the old dad I know. Not the mean stare of the Dad is with cancer that he gives you when you are trying to get him comfortable. That look scares me!

I probably won't post anything the rest of this weekend. I hope you all have a good one!

Crushed

That is how I feel today, totally crushed.......... I called the kids on their way to school and Hannah reminds me that today was the day of her spelling bee and when she tells me this I am standing next to my dad's hospital bed 45 minutes away. And, then Kevin tells me later that day that the night before she made positive notes to encourage herself last night. And, I feel so sad that I wasn't there and that I had to get highlights from them tonight instead of living it all first hand. I mean I know I'm where I need to be but then while does it all feel so wrong sometimes?

And today, when I picked them up from school Hannah tells me that I missed all the days of her owies. And when I asked her how the spelling bee went she said she didn't make it. She misspelled "polite"and when she lost she said she cried.

And, today on the way home from Mom and Dads back to Mesquite about 1/4 of the way on the road I realized I left my cell phone charger at Mom and Dads. And, of course, my phone was not charged.

So, I picked up my kids from school and came home to start decorating the tree and realized that Hannah had dance practice at 7:00 tonight instead of 7:30, so we were late, oh well. And, sitting at the dance studio calling around trying to find a wireless store open until 9:00, I completely lost it when another dance mom came in and saw the stress on my face and said "Holiday Stress" I simply shook my head and started crying................. poor moms did not even know what hit them.

But the night was rescued when I made it to the cell phone store open until 9:00 and got a charger. Hayden asked me so sweetly, Mommy why were you crying?

Sorry, I know this is supposed to be about life around the Bailey house, but I am a Bailey, will update about Dad's day in another post!

Hugs,
Stephanie

Cowboy Game & Chicken Noodle Soup

Good evening everyone!

Dad had some chicken noodle soup for dinner, he ate about 1/2 of it with noodles and the other half was mainly broth. So, here's how it goes. I asked him what he thought about some chicken noodle soup and he said, let me see what you are talking about. I think he asked that because we made him some the other night and it was not the kind he remembered. So I brought him four different cans of soup and he picked the kind he wanted. So, in the end it was HIS idea, not mine just saying "here is your soup"!

We changed up the way we are giving him his medicine, dividing it up into smaller and smaller doses in the hopes that it mirrrors the contstant drip of the medicine when he had his PICC line in the hospital. Only time will tell how that goes.

He is in good spirits right now watching the Cowboy game with Matthew and hanging out with Mom. And, even throwing the ball for Maggie the doggie.


FUNNY for the EVENING:
I came up with a white board and labeled a Nurse and Tech similiar to the order of things we had in the hospital. I made Lauren the Nurse and me the Tech. Lauren was going to run to Walgreens. So we were discussing what all we needed and Dad said "You are on duty and that is a Romper Room No-No." We have never laughed so hard. In other words, since she was the nurse on duty she could not leave. So, I quickly changed the Nurse to me and the tech to Matt and that is that. So, while Matt was watching the game with Dad, Dad pointed to the board and reminded Matt, see who's name is on the board??? And, I was in here typing this blog and neglected my patient I ran back in there and apologized and said I was taking care of other patients. Matt didn't really see the humor there! I'm hoping that this white board will allow us to schedule time for ourselves to take care of the things we need to take care of because you are not "on duty". Ha, ha, we'll see. So much if it is just wanting to hang out and spend time with him however you can, grumpy or not! It seems to consume all of your thoughts and it is really hard to focuss on the rest of your life.

Anyhow, Matt, Mom and I just adjusted his positioning in the bed and hopefully that will work for a little bit.

I need to go get his night meds ready - not his favorite part of the day - and, see what else needs to be done. It is amazing to me how many dishes 4 people can mess up in one day.

Lauren and Matt got the Christmas Tree out and up tonight. It really looks nice.

Here's hoping for a night where sleep is NOT overrated!

Stephanie

It appears that Sleep is Overrated

Hello everyone. Dad had a rough night last night. We moved and moved and moved him but could not get him comfortable. It is so frustrating to use all of your energy to situate Dad and still have him in pain. Mom, Dad and I slept from about 11:00 to 12:30 am and then pretty much with the exception of maybe a a few cat naps Dad and I were awake until about 5:30 or so when Matt got up and took over for a bit so I could get some shut eye. However, if you ask him, he will tell you that he rested good last night. I think it depends on your definition of "good".

We've talked to his nurse and have a plan in place for changing the dosing of his meds.

Matt made him some grits this morning but he has not eaten them yet....... I guess he might not be hungry because he had toast with orange marmalade at 1:20 am this morning along with a glass of milk. When all else fails, he will eat toast! 3:00 am or earlier toast is a routine of the evening.

AFTERNOON UPDATE:
Dad feels much better after a shave, hair wash and a bath. He's sleepy again today similiar to yesterday, dozing on and off. At about 2:30 today, he had some toast and tea as he never did eat the grits that Matthew made him. Earlier today, he asked for cheese but then denied that he asked for it, so I'm not sure if he actually ate it our not. It is a fine line between suggestive bringing him stuff to eat as it just does not seem to be his idea the majority of the time.

Right now, we're watching HGTV and napping off and on. Lauren is cleaning Mom and Dad's bathroom. My Aunt Shirley came today and helped us straighten things up and move furniture around so we will be ready to put up the Christmas tree. Most importantly, she unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded it. Sounds silly but it seems that we are contstantly doing dishes. THANK YOU Aunt Shirley - we SO appreciate you! It is the little things that you guys do that mean the most to us. Today Matthew got Whataburger for lunch so all we had to do was toss the trash. This afternoon, since Dad is snoozing off and on, I feel like we should be napping too but there just seems like so much stuff that needs to be done.
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They delivered the new medicine to treat his mouth and we are STILL waiting on our delivery of supplies. I will try and be patient but think I might give them a call later on as it is already 3:09.

Jill lands tonight from her trip at 10:50 pm. Not sure who is going to pick her up at the airport.

I really miss my kids and being home with them. Tonight is the tree lighting for the City of Hurst. I need badly to get the gym and run on a treadmill. I think we should just figure out a way to get an eliptical and put it up in the study.

That is all for now. I have a few phone calls that I need to make before another day gets away from us and business hours end for another day.

Pray that we stay ahead of the pain game.

Stephanie

Shake, Hoyst and Roll

Good evening everyone!

They delivered the hoyst today around 2:30ish. The nurse is coming tomorrow or Friday to train us on how to use it. The guy that delivered it showed how to operate it and Lauren got in it to see how it worked.

Dad drank part of a shake today and is napping right now. Lauren just went to the store to pick up a few things we needed at Wal-mart and I need to go through the fridge and clean out and get rid of any Thanksgiving leftovers. It seems like no matter how much you work there is always something that needs attention (Laundry, dishes, mail to go through, etc. etc.) Lauren did an awesome job today cleaning out the linen closet and her bathroom (well the bathroom the three girls share). It is clean and shiny (yeah)!!! So we have progress. Matt and I just rolled dad on his side and got him comfortable.

Dad seems a little sleepy today but I guess that is to be expected considering for the longest time he slept only in 1 hour increments for the most part. We also had a little bit of dizziness and nausea after he got up for a bit but thankfully that resolved itslelf on its own but now my tummy has empathy pains. We also talked to his nurse today because he has some places in his mouth that he had in the hospital. So glad that Dad and Jill and Lauren got very good training from all of the Baylor nurses so that we knew exactly what type of medicine that we needed to have them call in. They will deliver the medicine tomorrow. It is nice that they deliver the medicine in some regards because you don't have to pick it up but not nice in some regards as you have to wait for them to deliver it.

I am off to get some caffiene and get my you know what in gear so we will be ready for this evening. Oops, I spoke too soon, no more napping. I hear Matt and Dad's voices in the distance.

Lauren is back from the store. That had to be the fastest trip to Wal-mart I have ever seen. Dad is back comfortable and napping. Oven stew is in the oven for dinner. And, the fridge is cleaned out from all the leftovers (Dad's orders (smile)!) Mom is going to Central Market on her way home to get the type of bread Dad likes and some more Orange Marmalade for our 3:00 am toast.

So, now I am going to try and mop the living room tile floor that I have been trying to get to since 12:30 this afternoon. It is very busy around the Bailey house - lots of dishes to do and fluffing to get Dad comfortable. Never a real dull moment. And a puppy dog named Maggie to watch to make sure her middle name of trouble does not come true.

Pray for a good night tonight. Will update you guys tomorrow.

Sweet dreams!

Love,
Stephanie

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Hello, Stephanie here. Good Wednesday morning to you all.

To give everyone an update:

Mike (Dad) had a restful night last night. We got a new matress for his bed and that seems to have made a lot of difference. The mattress has not totally taken the pain away but it seems to make him more comfortable. They are bringing a hoyer lift this afternoon that should help us move him easier (hopefully)!

Lauren and I are here with Dad today. Matthew is too. Mom is at the office. Jill is in New York at sales conference and will be back on Thursday evening late.

Today, this afternoon between 12:00 and 4:00 they are bringing a hoyer lift that hopefully will allow us to move Dad easier. Please pray that this is a smooth transition. We'll have to work on rearranging the furniture some more to get everything nice and organized in their room. We know how important it is to Dad that everying looks nice in the room. One of us will also be heading to Central Market as we are out of the bread that Dad likes as well as Orange Marmalade. We made him toast and eggs and ham this morning but he does not seem too interested in it. I think it needs to be HIS ideas. Toast and milk seems to be the food he likes most right now. He did have a Carnation shake yesterday so that is awesome.

It seems that the biggest challenge seems to be finding time to keep up with the laundry (ours of course) and keeping the house picked up and clean. I've called my cousin Amy to see if she might be able to help us some tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll be able to stop by and do some help. She is awesome at fast cleaning. We are staying on top of the dishes, etc. But the house really could use some deep cleaning and Amy Rowell or Shirley Wilcox TLC.

We received a $100.00 gift card today in the mail from my mom's cousin. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! That was a huge blessing. God really does give us what we need when we need it as we are low on a few things and will be going to Wal-mart later today. We are so very blessed and thankful for our family. We will be going to Wal-mart at some time today to get a few things we need, you know like WD-40 for the bedroom door so it does not squeak when you move it and wake Dad up when he is resting. (smile)

So, keep us in your thoughts and prayers today. Talk to everyone soon!

Stephanie

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