Monday Meeting ~~ May 2, 2016

May 2, 2016 JackieP24 Comments

Hello, People! It’s been a while since I posted a Monday Meeting. I haven’t been posting much at all the last few months. I’ll tell you why later during the meeting. So, let’s begin shall we?

Monday Meeting

Grab yourself something to drink. A cold one, a hot one, a wet one or a dry one. Your choice. Maybe even a snack. After all, it’s virtual and doesn’t cost me anything. Not that I wouldn’t supply the drinks and snacks if it was real, I would. I may be poor but I’m not cheap. Anyway, I digress.

Let’s get started with news on the husband. I wish I could say I have good news. Not sure if I do. His health is not getting better. Sometimes I think it’s getting worse, or that just might be because I’m exhausted. I don’t know anymore.

He’s been having bad reactions to the chemo lately. The last couple of months he’s had to stop his chemo drugs as they were making him throw up. We talked to his cancer crew at the Cancer Clinic last month and they said to just keep trying to take the chemo. They also said that if he starts throwing up again, to stop taking them, as they didn’t want to damage his kidneys. They have him on anti-nausea pills but he still throws up. It is so hard seeing him seemingly get worse from drugs that are supposed to make him better.

I did get a chance to read his medical reports and the cancer doctor did state in them that it would surprise him if the husband would be able to tolerate the high dose he’s on. Well, guess what Doc? He can’t!

We will be talking to the cancer crew on Thursday. Hopefully, he will/can get a lower dose. If not, I think the husband will just stop the chemo altogether. He’s talked about it. Of course, he’s talked about wanting to die again too. He’s just in so much pain.

Good news front….I think it’s good news. I’m still waiting to see if it is or not. The husband got accepted to AISH…finally! After three years of trying. AISH is a government benefit program for people who are termed disabled and unable to work because of health reasons. Getting on AISH is a big deal to us, as it means a little more money every month and better medical coverage. It also could mean that the husband could get bars put in the shower to help him get in and out (we can’t afford them). He could also get other help. I’m kind of in limbo about how I feel about it all.

All the reams of paperwork I did on that for three years or more. It was a lot. Governments are the same everywhere. I think it’s just too soon to celebrate as all we have had so far is a phone call. I’m waiting for the official paperwork.

I’ve also had bad news about my mother. She was in the hospital for a few days a couple of weeks ago. She fell at home and couldn’t get back up. Her legs just failed. Thankfully she didn’t break anything but she is now having to use a walker and have someone live with her. My sister has been staying with her most of the time. I don’t know how long that will last as my sister has a family of her own. For now, my brother-in-law is holding down the fort. My mother also has ‘bleeding intestines’.

When I asked her what that meant, she said the small blood vessels in her intestines are weak and will break. The doctors told her there is nothing they can do and that for now the blood vessels stop bleeding on their own. My mother will turn 87 this year. I’m scared for her.

Gee, can things get any more bleak? I guess I shouldn’t ask that, as things always can get worse. Sigh.

I’m tired. I’m more than tired. I’m wiped. I also think the husband and I have matching ulcers. Fun times in Canada folks. I guess I shouldn’t complain, I still wake up every morning, I can still walk on my own, I can still do things for myself.

Count your blessings my friends. Count your blessings.

Because I’m so exhausted I haven’t been posting much. I haven’t been writing. I haven’t been doing a lot of things. I do what I have to and not much more. I just can’t. The grass outside is getting taller and thicker and I can’t cut it. I just can’t. So now I have to find someone who will, for free or next to nothing. The house inside looks a mess. The floors need vacuuming and scrubbing. The cobwebs from the winter need dusting and a million other things need to get done. Yet, it just sits there.

I care, yet, I don’t care. I don’t have the energy to do something about it. I’m just trying to get through the days.

Wow, this post is a bit of a downer, eh? So I better finish it. Better days are coming……..

Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · nonfiction · postaday

Monday Meeting~~ March 14, 2015

March 14, 2016 JackieP18 Comments

Hello from sunny Alberta, Canada!

I’ve lived here in Alberta for the past fifteen years and I don’t think I have ever seen a milder winter. Hardly any snow (sorry farmers) and warm temperatures. We’ve seen it in the mid 60’s plenty of times this past month. Spring isn’t officially here until this coming weekend but I would say we have been having Spring-like weather for weeks now.

Anyway, let’s get this meeting started.

Monday Meeting

Some of you have been asking how the husband is doing. First, thank you for your thoughts and warm wishes. It is deeply appreciated. The husband seems to be doing much better. He has managed to stay out of the hospital. That’s always a good thing. He is taking better care of himself in that he is now drinking lots of water and taking things seriously. Like most men I think he thought things would just go on as ‘normal’ and he would be able to drink what he wanted. Which was NOT water.

After taking out a third of his colon the doctors tried to explain to him that he needed to do certain things. Like, drink lots of water. He thought he knew better….after all, this is how he always lived his life.

Big surprise that he was wrong! ha! He wouldn’t listen to me or the doctors but I bet he listens to his body from now on. The last stay in the hospital scared him straight, I hope. Water is so very important to your body!

He has even managed to gain a little weight. Good news there. He has some home care now also. We finally were able to get some of that because he blacked out in the bathroom last month and hurt himself. We don’t know why he blacked out but it has happened a few times before, so the doctor is concerned. We have been able to get him a bath bench for the tub and a walker. He has some mobility issues, mostly due to his back. So they gave him a walker to use.

I’m not sure how much he will use it because he refuses to use it in public. I tried to explain to him that no one cares if he is using a walker, they have their own problems and lives to live and they don’t care if one old skinny guy is walking with the help of a walker. Sometimes his pride gets in the way of good old common sense.

We’ve also had a dietician visit us this afternoon from Home Care. I personally thought it was a waste of time. I’ve talked to more dietitians in my life than I care to say. This one is not going to tell me anything different. They want the husband to gain weight. Duh! He is gaining weight. Just slowly….which to me is like losing weight. Slow is good. He eats what he wants if we can afford it. He doesn’t eat a lot in one sitting but he grazes all day and half the night. She left him some nutritional drinks like Ensure to see if he likes it. I told her straight out….it’s not an issue if he likes them or not….it’s if we can afford them.

All in all, things with him are getting better.

As for other news. Remember a few months back when I told you guys I won a dog house for Sam and a Lowes gift card of 2500.00? I think I posted that I had gotten the dog house and was still waiting for the gift card. Well, I finally got it! Yes! Twenty-five hundred big ones to spend on appliances!

I am now the proud owner of a new refrigerator, dishwasher AND stove! Lowes was having a sale the day I went out there and so I was able to get all three, have them delivered, installed and the old appliances hauled off. All for the amount of the gift card. Finally something good happening! I’m a happy camper.

One more piece of news and then you can sit and tell me all your news. My book, ‘A Case of Deceit’ will be FREE from March 18th to the 22nd! I’m having a Spring Fling sale as the Deceit book will be free and ‘The Canine Caper’ is 99 cents. So if you haven’t read my book yet…..and why haven’t you?? You can download it for free from Amazon this weekend. Just click the book pictures on my sidebar and it will take you right to Amazon! Thanks!

I’ll be posting a reminder on Thursday. If you would be so kind as to download, read and please…please leave a review! I would be in your debt. 🙂

Now, what’s going on in your world? Let me know!

His Days (about the husband) · Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · nonfiction · postaday

Monday Meeting

February 22, 2016 JackieP10 Comments

Hello, People!

I do hope you all had a great weekend. Come join me for some beverages, snacks, and a good old-fashioned chat session.

Monday Meeting

Are we comfortable? Settled? Need a refill? Please, help yourself to all the virtual goodies you want! I’m having my ever-present cup of coffee.

Let’s start this meeting with an update on the husband. He’s home from the hospital. As most of you know he was admitted to the hospital via Emergency because he was in a lot of pain and couldn’t keep anything in his stomach last Monday morning. He finally came home Thursday evening.

After a lot of blood tests, x-rays and CT scans it was determined he had what is called a ‘mechanical obstruction’ in his lower intestine. Because of his previous colon operation for colon cancer and his high doses of pain meds he became so constipated that it was obstructing his intestines. This was a serious situation as people can die from this. So they kept him in the hospital with a tube through his nose to his stomach, IV drips and various other things. He wasn’t able to eat anything and for the first couple of days, he wasn’t even allowed to drink water. They wanted to keep his stomach empty until they could do something about the obstruction.

It was a very long week for the both of us. He finally started to feel better about Wednesday. I think talk about a possible operation scared him well. 😉 I’m half kidding. It was a scary time.

Bottom line….he needs to drink tons of water, have a high fiber diet or take Metamucil. He needs to exercise more. Get out of bed and walk. He needs to keep himself regular or next time he might die. I hope they scared him enough that he will do these things. I did get him the Metamucil and make sure he takes it every day. Oh boy, that stuff is expensive! But it’s worth the cost to keep him out of the hospital.

I have him drinking lots of water too. I refused to buy him his pop/soda water and bought extra water. So far he is ok with it. The exercise part…..well that’s a struggle. He just refuses to do it. Not much I can do about it. Nagging him would just frustrate the both of us. I certainly don’t need that and neither does he. Anyone with any suggestions?

In other news….not sure there is any other news. ha!

My mind has been so tired and fuzzy I can’t remember what I’ve told everyone before. I’m just so tired. I’ve been going to bed before 10 p.m every night….that’s how tired I am. So far it hasn’t helped because I’ve been having some really vivid and tiring dreams lately. I think it’s the stress. Eh, I’ll be ok.

How have YOU been doing? I’m trying to catch up on everyone’s blogs. It’s hard once you fall behind. I do what I can. I’m trying to get back to my writing again but I’ve been so tired I have a hard time concentrating. I think that’s the most frustrating about being this tired. The lack of concentration. I find it difficult to write when I’m this way. I did go to my doctor the other week and told her how tired I am all the time. She had me do a bunch of blood tests to see if I lack in vitamin B12 and K. I haven’t heard back, so I suppose I better call her. Sigh. One more thing on my very long list of things to do.

Sorry for being so whiny today.

Again….How are YOU?

His Days (about the husband) · nonfiction · postaday · Stories of my life · Wednesday Whatever! · writing

Wednesday Whatever!

February 17, 2016 JackieP31 Comments

Hello, People!

Wednesday

Today’s post is going to be a bit of a catch-up. I don’t know how many of you noticed but I haven’t been around much lately. There’s a very good explanation for that. There is actually two reasons for me not being around, one, is good, the other not so good.

The first reason being the husband. He is back in the hospital. Monday morning at 4 a.m. I had to call an ambulance for him as he was in so much pain he thought he was dying, or wished he was dying. That was a very long day. I did manage to have my first ambulance ride in the FRONT of the ambulance. I’ve had a couple of rides in the back. Riding in the front passenger seat was interesting. Especially at four thirty in the morning. No traffic for one and I saw a couple of coyotes crossing the highway.

Anyway, getting back to the husband. In the emergency room the husband was in terrible pain and throwing up. He couldn’t even keep water down. At first, they thought it was his appendix. They took blood and found he had an infection…..somewhere. More tests were ordered. I was there from 4:30 until almost noon. I had to go home and take my insulin and meds, so I left him there as the emergency doctor told me they would be keeping him for a while yet.

I waited at home for the husband to call me…..with no call. I waited….and waited…and waited. Tried to take a nap, but worry kept me from that. I finally called the hospital at around 6 p.m. They told me they were keeping him and transferring him to a regular room. They gave me the floor he would be on so I called the floor nurses desk. They told me …. yes he was in the room but sedated for now and that I could talk to him later.

The husband finally called me about forty-five minutes later. Seems it wasn’t his appendix after all. It was his colon. It was infected and had a blockage. So they were keeping him for a few days, he wasn’t to have anything to drink or eat until they rid him of his blockage and knew he would be ok. I told him I would come and see him in the morning. Which I did. Just in time for me to have to step out of the room while they gave him an enema. Yeah, I know….too much information. Sorry.

Anyway, to keep a long story short. He is supposed to be home sometime this afternoon. Unless they change their minds. Poor guy was so hooked up to so many things he could hardly move. But, at least, he’s alive and he doesn’t need surgery. So far. He’s had it rough the last few months.

The second reason I haven’t been around much is that I’m writing a new book. I had this character keeping me awake at night. I don’t need some character keeping me awake, as I don’t sleep very good as it is. She insisted I put away Dee and Tee away for a while and write her story. She almost dictated what I’ve been writing. So, I am working on a new book. It’s a bit of a continuing story of a short story I did on here about three years ago. It was called ‘The Arsonist’. Some of you might remember it.

The book is going to tell the story of how a girl/woman turned out to be an arsonist for hire. Why she sets fires, how it makes her feel and why she wants to stop. It’s going to be about how she’s not really a bad person, even though she sets fires. How she wants to stop, but can’t. And how one man is on the hunt for her, finally tracks her down and what happens between them and more importantly what happens to her. I think it’s a mixture of psychological suspense with a touch of romance. I’ll keep you updated on the book(s).

I’ve fallen so far behind in my reading and blogs and stuff. But, I’m still around. You can’t get rid of me that easily. So, see you next time!

PS….A quick update since I wrote this post. The husband will have to stay in the hospital for now. I just received a phone call from him. He told me he has had a bit of a set back. He tried to eat some soup and it didn’t go too well. He’s in severe pain again and can’t keep anything down. So for now he is where he needs to be. Keep him in your thoughts if you will. Thank you.

Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · nonfiction · postaday

Monday Meeting ~~ January 11, 2016

January 11, 2016 JackieP18 Comments

Hello, People!

The second week of January already! I wish time would slow down just a bit. With that thought, let’s get this meeting started.

Monday Meeting

Please take a seat, help yourself to the beverages and snacks. Make yourself comfortable.

The first full week of January went quickly by as I tried to do too many things at once. Which is what I usually end up doing. I did manage to get some things done, though, so I felt pretty good about it all. I got some government paperwork done that I need to renew my Permanent Resident card here in Canada. Have to renew every ten years. There is paperwork to do and a fee to pay. Good thing I saved up for the fee, as I knew it was coming this year. Hard to believe I’ve been living in Canada for fourteen years this month. I love it here.

I also worked on my blog(s) last week. Mostly on the end where you readers don’t see. Yes, I have two blogs. Maybe a third will be added if my friend Mer and I can get our shit together. 😉 And YES, I’m crazy. One blog is hard work, two is a hell of a lot of work, three is just over-achieving. LOL

My second blog is my author blog. Go take a look if you’re curious. Not a whole lot to see as yet. It’s a work in progress. You can see it at… jlphillipsauthor.com

On the husband front…He has been on chemo for colon cancer for eleven days now. The only thing we have noticed as far as side effects go is his blood pressure dropping. It will drop down into the low 90’s over 70’s. He gets a bit dizzy when it does that. I called the cancer clinic and asked them about it and they told me they have never had anyone’s blood pressure drop with these particular chemo drugs. Guess there is a first for everything. I’m supposed to just keep an eye on him and they will talk to us about it when we see them next week. Otherwise, he is eating good and we haven’t noticed anything else going wonky. So that’s good news for a change.

I usually take a few weeks in January to organise myself. I go through paperwork, throw out what I don’t need anymore. Get myself ready for tax time. Redo things that I think need a bit of sprucing up. (Like my blogs) Generally just get things together for the coming year. This year is a bit more challenging as we have many doctors appointments and such to keep track of. It’s all coming together nicely.

This year I have also decided it’s time to concentrate on ‘me’ more. That means getting healthier, in mind and body. Not being so hard on myself when I can’t get everything done as I want. I have to learn there is only one of me and that I’m getting older and slower physically. I still think I’m thirty years old and I’m not. Dammit.

I’m going to try to lose weight and get myself in a better mindset. I need to lower my pounds and my blood pressure. With that in mind I’ve decided to change doctors. My old doctor was not interested enough in me as a person and what my life is like outside the office. I made an appointment with a new doctor. I’ve already met her briefly and I liked what I saw, so I asked if she would be willing to take me on as a patient. She said yes and I have an appointment on the 27th. It’s a first step in a new year for a new me. Wish me luck.

I talked to my mom last week too. She’s doing pretty good all things considered. She’s 86 and I hope I’m still as together as she is when I’m that age. If I reach that age. Women in my family are known for living long lives, so we shall see. I always know when she is doing well….she cooks. And she’s cooking up a storm lately. She’s been trying out a few recipes that readers sent her for her birthday. She still talks about all the cards and recipes she received. You guys are the best!

That’s about it for now. I do hope everyone has a super week. See you around!

Blogging · Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · nonfiction · postaday

Monday Meeting ~~ January 4, 2016

January 4, 2016 JackieP16 Comments

Hello, People!

I do hope everyone was prepared to start the first full week of January. No? Oh, oh. Better luck next week.

I thought I would do my first Monday Meeting of the new year. So, shall we get it started?

Monday Meeting

I hope everyone’s Christmas and New Year’s was wonderful. It was quiet around here. Which is nice as the husband and I seem to be on the move a lot. Mostly doctor visits and hospitals stays and such. So having a nice quiet holiday was nice.

As an update on the husband and his cancer situation. He did have one-third of his colon taken out along with the cancerous tumor. He was in the hospital for seven days. It was a little touchy as during the operation he started to bleed out. He had to have a blood transfusion. But, now he’s healed up nicely.

His doctor did determine that the cancer cells did penetrate the outside of his colon so he will need chemo therapy. We went on New Year’s eve to talk to them and they put him on chemo. He takes it in pill form at home. Which is a good thing. The dose is relatively low so the side effects should be minimal if there are any. He’s been taking them for four days now with nothing happening as far as side effects are concerned. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed.

We don’t know how long he will be on chemo. I’m hoping we find out with our next visit. His attitude is pretty positive, which should help a lot. So good news in that department.

On the book front. I am writing again! Yay, me! I’m working on the third in the series of the DeeDee Watson, PI, series. In many ways, it is going to be a fun book. After all Dee and the gang are on a cruise ship. They should have some fun. Of course, with Dee, nothing is ‘normal’. Even on a cruise ship. There is a dead body, Dee’s mother, and a few surprises in store for Dee in the book. And…..Fedora and her heat things up a bit between them! 😉

It’s still a mystery book though, not a romance. But hey, why can’t there be a touch of romance mixed in, right?

As for this blog. It’s staying pretty much the same. A little of this, a little of that. I do want to write a few short stories. I’m even thinking of doing one that is ‘reader-driven’. I need to work out a few more details with that. But, I do believe it would be a lot of fun for all of us!

I might even do a bit more poetry! Yeah, I’m getting brave….ha! And as most of you saw yesterday, I’m bringing back Silly Sunday. That’s where I post silly comics, meme’s or whatever else I can find for you to lighten up things a bit.

I want to thank everyone for continuing to read, comment and send good thoughts my way on this blog. I hope you stick around for this year, too. We’ll see what we can get ourselves into.

That’s about it for this Monday Meeting.

How was your holidays? Anything you want to see me do on this blog? Let me know!

Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · nonfiction · postaday · Stories of my life

Monday Meeting ~~ December 7, 2015

December 7, 2015 JackieP19 Comments

Today’s meeting has some good news in it and some bad news. Let’s get started.

Monday Meeting

Grab a warm beverage and sit a bit with me. I have my regular coffee. Can’t live without this stuff. I hope you have had a good weekend. Everyone in the holiday spirit yet? No? Not quite? Like me, I’m not there yet.

Yes, I know I’m procrastinating a bit here. I debated for a while whether I wanted to post the bad news today. Then I thought…you guys have been with me since the beginning of the cancer battle with the husband and I appreciate it more than you know.

We just got back a little while ago from seeing his surgeon for a post-operation check up. The husband is healing nicely, although he had a rough weekend. The doctor said he will have good days and bad days and that soon the good days should outnumber the bad as far as the pain is concerned with his surgery. It’s a slow healing process. Unfortunately, the doctor also had some bad news to tell us.

The husband had what the doctor says is ‘high level 2’ cancer. He’s not out of the woods yet. He needs chemo. When they did the blood tests and biopsy of the tumor it was determined that the cancer cells did break through the colon walls. Good news is it didn’t affect his lymph nodes or any of his organs. The doctor wants the husband to have chemo to “mop up any stray cancer cells” that are in his body.

The husband doesn’t want to do chemo sessions.

We discussed things and I asked him to at least talk to the cancer clinic, get the information on what kind of chemo he would have to take, for how long and what were the possible side effects before he makes a final decision. He agreed to that. He still may say no. It’s his decision. I will stand with him on whatever he decides. I know he would do the same for me.

So the fight continues.

On the good news front. I won a contest! Yay me! I just wish it was for writing. LOL It’s not. I entered Sam (my dog for those who don’t know) into a contest with CertainTeed Insulation in Canada to win a custom-made doghouse and a $2500 dollar gift certificate to Lowe’s early last month and found out Friday afternoon Sam and I won! I was so thrilled! I couldn’t say anything until they made their announcement on Facebook today. You can find it ……here

I won the doghouse made by Damon Bennett. As for the $2500 dollar gift certificate that is going to buy us a refrigerator and dishwasher! Maybe a new wash machine too if I can squeeze it in. I can’t believe I won! We need a new fridge too as the one we have is going out. You can’t put anything on the top shelf you don’t want frozen because that’s what it does. It freezes things on the top shelf and rots things in the crisper. The dishwasher hasn’t worked in two years. The wash machine works but is absolutely huge and I need a stick to get the clothes out of the bottom of it, as I’m too short to reach them. So I am so looking forward to shopping for these appliances!

The husband and I were determined to have a good Christmas anyway because I have one of a kind friends that were going to make sure we did. 🙂 This win just puts that cherry and extra bits on an already fabulous cake.

So, as always in life, there is the good that balances the bad. Almost.

What extra goodie are you planning for this Christmas?

Blog challenge · Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · NaBloPoMo · Nano Poblano · nonfiction · postaday

Monday Meeting ~~ November 30, 2015

November 30, 2015 JackieP17 Comments

Hello, People!

Well, I really did mess up my 30 days of posting this weekend. I mean it was messed up before, but since I didn’t post at all this weekend that pretty much blew it out of the water. Ah well, hopefully, next year there isn’t so much going on. I could do with some boring stuff for a while.

Monday Meeting

Sit a spell, grab a beverage and I’ll get this meeting going.

On the husband front. He came home from the hospital this morning. He wanted to come home Friday, but they wouldn’t let him out as he was still passing a lot of blood. That seemed to clear up over the weekend, thank goodness. So right now he’s in his own bed, surrounded by his cats and sleeping. Nice to have him home again.

I think he was on the edge of running off last night. He was tired of hospital life and wanted to come home. I was glad he got the doctors approval, otherwise, I think he would have made an escape. 😉

He has a follow-up doctor appointment in a couple of weeks. Now that he’s home, he’ll heal that much faster.

As for me, I took yesterday completely off. Didn’t leave the house, didn’t do anything but try to relax. I was so tired and wore out that I just couldn’t get motivated to do anything. I needed a day off. So I took it. I just lazed around and relaxed. Goodness, I haven’t done that in ages. Felt good.

Now it’s back to the grindstone. I need to get writing again. I miss it. I need to start my next book in the DeeDee Watson, PI series. It’s been brewing in my head for a long time now. Time to get it out.

I also want to write some short stories and more flash fiction on my blog. So, we shall see where that goes.

That’s about it. Short and sweet. I didn’t want to keep you long. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that their Friday afterward wasn’t too crazy. Wouldn’t catch me shopping on that day! I have always stayed home where it was safe. Not always sane, but safe. ha!

Have a great week!

What do YOU do to relax?

Blog challenge · Mi Vida Loca · Monday Meeting · NaBloPoMo · Nano Poblano · nonfiction · postaday · Stories of my life

Monday Meeting ~~ Isn’t This Monday?

November 17, 2015 JackieP8 Comments

Hello, People!

Monday Meeting

Yes, once again I’m having my Monday Meeting on a Tuesday. If anyone noticed, which I doubt anyone did, I didn’t do a post at all yesterday. Damn there went my perfect posting month. I’m afraid there will be a few more missing days before the end of this month. I’m ok with it. More important things are going on.

So grab a comfy chair, your favorite drink and lend an ear or in this case, eyes.

As many of you know the husband has colon cancer. The doctors are moving fast on this, which is a good thing. His surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, the 24th of November. I believe that’s about a month from diagnosis to surgery. There is a lot of things for him and I to do before his surgery, mostly him. I’m just there to help remember things and keep him on time. We’ve spent more time at the hospital these last few weeks then we’ve spent in the last fifteen years. One thing I have noticed…they have the most uncomfortable chairs my sorry butt has ever sat on! It’s a lot of hurry up and waiting.

Yesterday was one of those days. We didn’t know until Friday afternoon that he had to be at the hospital on Monday morning for pre-op. What they told me on the phone was he had a couple of people to see, one doctor and the anesthesiologist. Wouldn’t take long at all. I wonder if that is hospital talk for ‘it will take hours and hours’. Ha! Because that is what it did.

We got there in good time, got registered, was sent for him to have an EKG done. Wasn’t expecting that. Off we go to the other side of the hospital. That tech after she is done, sends us off to finally talk to the first doctor, which I’m still not sure why, but hey, who am I to question it. He asked dozens of questions, wrote down all the meds the husband was on and listened to his breathing. That took about thirty minutes. He said to wait where we were, a nurse was going to come in and explain some things and ask some more questions. Ok, more questions, what more could they ask?

The friendly nurse comes in with a handful of brochures and sheets of paper. She asks thousands of questions, again writes down his meds, explains all the procedures to us and kept calling the husband ‘sir’. I would just smile every time he winced at her ‘sirs’. I almost laughed when she lectured him about what a good wife and helper I was and not for him to take advantage of me in the coming weeks. Hahaha. I loved that. He thought it was funny, so no harm done.

Then it was time for the anesthesiologist to come talk to us. Very nice woman. Told us what she would be doing, asked a million questions, listened to his lungs and heart and said something about his carotid artery in his neck on right side. Hmmmm. She said she wasn’t happy with how it sounded? Felt? She says she thinks there is plaque in the artery and since she didn’t want the husband to have a stroke while under for the operation she wants it checked out. So she finishes and we were told to wait as they wanted blood samples. We wait a few minutes and the woman who draws blood comes in with her mobile blood-letting machine and takes a huge vial of blood from him. Alright! Maybe we are done now? We’ve been in the hospital for several hours by now.

Um, no we aren’t done…..

Told to go back upstairs and get an x-ray done of his lungs. The doctor wanted another one, so off we go. So far we have been from one side of the hospital to the other. Now we are going back to the other side. Poor husband is groaning in pain from his back. I’m tired and my legs are about to give out and the husbands son, who was kind enough to take us to the hospital that morning has been waiting for us for several hours by now. But we aren’t done yet…..

They call up to x-ray and tell us that we are to come back downstairs when we are done. What? Again? Argggg……

We go back downstairs for two things. They decided they want the husband to do a breathing test for his lungs. Also, the anesthesiologist wants him to have a sonogram done on this carotid artery so they are calling the radiologists to get that set up. Holy tests, Batman!

Finally, he is done for the day. The sonogram is set up for Friday morning, early. We go home and collapse. Whew, what a process!

I am glad they are so through, less chance of anything going wrong. It is very tiring though. Now, the husband just wants it over with. Don’t say I blame him. Anyway, that’s why there was no post writting yesterday. I was wore out and my mind was a disaster area. That’s also why there will be a few more posts missing next week. I’ll be at the hospital visiting a hurting hubby.

On other news…my mother got her birthday package of cards and gifts and was so happy! Thank you once again for all of you that sent her something. She says she is happily organizing all the recipes and already has a few marked to try right away. She told me that the day the package came, her home care nurse was there when she opened it. They both thought it was a really nice idea and was amazed how many cards she got and from so many places. 🙂

Now, I’m going to rest for a while and see if there is any chance in hell of catching up with everyone else’s blogs. See you!