The Good, The Bad, & the Nuts! ...ANYONE GOING MAY 8-15?

[mom3sonstt]

Well, the more things change, the more they stay the same! During my hibernation, we offered Sean the option of going with us and flying home early for the wedding. He was leaning in that direction...until today. Today he got his confirmation of where he will do his student teaching in the fall. Well, he's already doing some sort of student teaching now, it's not full time, but the classroom he is working with now will be his student teaching classroom next fall. At first that seemed like a good thing, that he would be able to make the trip. But, the teacher he is working with is pregnant. So now he says he won't be going with us because he will need to work with her to get the classroom ready and lessons planned before she starts maternity leave.

So, I guess I have my answer.....we will be a party of four this trip.


Oh....and in other "some things never change" news......I lost my ring....again. It's in the house somewhere, so I am hopeful it will turn up again.


And for some new news....my dad slipped going down the basement steps, his foot slipped behind the steps and got caught. He said he slipped on past it, had to scootch back up a couple steps to untangle his foot and said it was sideways. He tried to turn it back and said it sounded like bubble wrap popping. It was broken. Mom was at work, but he had his cell phone on him. Had to go to hospital, the tried 3 different times to put it back in the socket and wrap it overnight. They would pull and jerk on it, wrap it and X-ray, decide it wasn't how they wanted it and would unwrap it and try it again. They did surgery Thursday to piece it all back together. Dad is 71, I'm not sure exactly what he weighs now, but I know a decade or so ago when he had bypass surgery he was 5' 11" and 311. I assume that is still the ballpark.
Hopping around on one foot will be a chore.

 

[marvali]

Wow Tanya, what trying times! Hope your Dad's foot/ankle heal quickly! I worry about my Dad falling like that, and he doesn't have a cell phone to be able to call someone easily! I think I'm going to get him a prepaid one to use if he has an emergency.

I can so relate to the "trip for four" scenario. That is one of the main reasons we didn't do a trip last summer and saved it until Christmas. It could very well be the last one all five of us gets to do for quite a while....... Still hoping Matt will still be around for the one in early June, but I have serious doubts.....

 

[englishrose47]

Good morning Tonya just checking in and making sure Marv is behaving:

 

[All7OfUs]

OH Tanya! That's horible about your dad's fall!! I am so glad he had a cell on him! Waht a disaster it could've been had he not had it. I sure hope the surgery worked well!!

I keep racking my brain about ways to get us all there again, but I'm just not willing to go at a high/peak time. But with kids in school, it's just so hard! So I understand how frustrating it is to want everyone there, and it just not being possible. Sigh.....

 

[glennbo123]

Oh no! Sorry to read about your dad Tanya. That sounded like quite an ordeal.

And you lost your ring again? I had missed were you'd said you'd found it. Hope it turns up again soon.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Wow Tanya, what trying times! Hope your Dad's foot/ankle heal quickly! I worry about my Dad falling like that, and he doesn't have a cell phone to be able to call someone easily! I think I'm going to get him a prepaid one to use if he has an emergency.

Dad started carrying a cell several years ago. Mom had to carry one when she was waiting for her kidney transplant, so Dad decided he should have one too (just like kids - one can't have something and not the other). She hardly ever has hers with her, or charged up, or turned on, but he always has his, and even has learned how to text! He probably could have scooted back up the steps if he had to, but it was much better all the way around to stay put and have the EMTs come get him.

I can so relate to the "trip for four" scenario. That is one of the main reasons we didn't do a trip last summer and saved it until Christmas. It could very well be the last one all five of us gets to do for quite a while....... Still hoping Matt will still be around for the one in early June, but I have serious doubts.....

Last summer I thought would be our last family trip since Sean was supposed to graduate this Spring. It wasn't until he said he would be a semester longer that we started planning for him to come with us.....I guess I should have left my expectations where they were when we started.

Good morning Tonya just checking in and making sure Marv is behaving:

Yes, he's being good over here.

OH Tanya! That's horible about your dad's fall!! I am so glad he had a cell on him! Waht a disaster it could've been had he not had it. I sure hope the surgery worked well!!

I keep racking my brain about ways to get us all there again, but I'm just not willing to go at a high/peak time. But with kids in school, it's just so hard! So I understand how frustrating it is to want everyone there, and it just not being possible. Sigh.....

I was surprised he wasn't "messed up" more than he was. When mom said he caught his foot I thought that he "should" have fallen forward and messed up is arms, or head. But I guess the foot getting caught happened on the "ride down". It sounds like when his foot slipped he landed on his butt. The steps are open, so on the slide down one got caught behind the step. For as big a guy as he is, he has been relatively healthy. About 15 or so years ago he had a physical before going on a cruise, when he came home they sent him in for a stress test, found blockage and did bypasses. So he fixed it before he had a heart attack. When he was in the hospital for that I asked him if he had ever been in the hospital before - he said he hadn't since he had his tonsils out! Since the bypass he had a knee replacement. His ankle is the first thing he has broken. So not too bad for almost 72 years.

Oh no! Sorry to read about your dad Tanya. That sounded like quite an ordeal.

And you lost your ring again? I had missed were you'd said you'd found it. Hope it turns up again soon.

Yeah - I found it....in my purse of all places! This time it will probably turn up in the laundry. I had it on in the morning, piddled around on line waiting to hear from Verizon about Danny's iphone. Once she called and said she had it activated (problems activating it the day before), I took a shower, threw some clothes in the washer, came upstairs and got around and left. When i got in the car I noticed my ring was gone. So unless the washer eats it, someone will find it in the laundry, or will step on it - or something. I have high hopes this time.

 

[All7OfUs]

Indeed, not so bad at all!! I've had friends with far, far more than that at only 35!

 

[Flossbolna]

Finding the ring again is good news!!

But I am very sorry about your dad, I wish him a speedy recovery, and tha you will be only four on the family trip!!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Finding the ring again is good news!!

But I am very sorry about your dad, I wish him a speedy recovery, and tha you will be only four on the family trip!!

You must be psychic! I hadn't found it again yet last time I posted (was just letting Glenn know where it turned up the first time) but today I found it the second time. It was in my son's room on the floor. I had forgotten that he had asked me to set up his DVR that day, and it must have fallen off while I was in there doing that. The sad thing is, that it sat on his floor for that many days and he never noticed it. Of course, it is the floor of a 17 year old boy - I guess I should be happy I could even see the floor!


And thanks for the well wishes for Dad. He got home Saturday. I guess that was a sight to see! He can't put any weight on his foot, but they have 3 or 4 steps leading up to the porch. There is only one porch rail - so he couldn't grab hold with both hands and hop. guess he tried to do it sideways so he could use both hands - but could get any lift. Mom had called the neighbor to see if he could help, then wound up calling another guy in town and his 16 year old son. They tried to help him hop up the steps, but the steps are too narrow for them to get under each arm and help him up. They wound up having to physically carry him up the steps. Two holding him at the arms and another lifting his legs. I'm thinking he probably won't be leaving the house too much!

 

[Flossbolna]

You must be psychic! I hadn't found it again yet last time I posted (was just letting Glenn know where it turned up the first time) but today I found it the second time. It was in my son's room on the floor. I had forgotten that he had asked me to set up his DVR that day, and it must have fallen off while I was in there doing that. The sad thing is, that it sat on his floor for that many days and he never noticed it. Of course, it is the floor of a 17 year old boy - I guess I should be happy I could even see the floor!


And thanks for the well wishes for Dad. He got home Saturday. I guess that was a sight to see! He can't put any weight on his foot, but they have 3 or 4 steps leading up to the porch. There is only one porch rail - so he couldn't grab hold with both hands and hop. guess he tried to do it sideways so he could use both hands - but could get any lift. Mom had called the neighbor to see if he could help, then wound up calling another guy in town and his 16 year old son. They tried to help him hop up the steps, but the steps are too narrow for them to get under each arm and help him up. They wound up having to physically carry him up the steps. Two holding him at the arms and another lifting his legs. I'm thinking he probably won't be leaving the house too much!

Oh then I got it all wrong, but accidentally right as well! You know, there is still hope - I am sure my parents would have said similar things about this girl's floor when she was 17... But now my house is generally in a very good shape and pretty tidy!

Those tiny steps can be tricky! I am glad that he managed them in the end and hope he won't have to many doctor's appointments to go to in the near future!

 

[onescgirl]

That is scary about your dad slipping down the steps. I hope he has a speedy recovery!

 

[mom3sonstt]

That is scary about your dad slipping down the steps. I hope he has a speedy recovery!

I stopped over there yesterday (one week after the fall) and he said that it was the first day that he had been basically pain-free for the whole day. He said it aches and is uncomfortable, especially at bedtime, but that yesterday it was at least not "hurting". So far so good

 

[mom3sonstt]

Yesterday was my monthly Dr visit. I have to go in monthly for labs and to see the doctor for my kidneys. I do peritoneal dialysis, which is basically pumping my abdomen full of dialysis solution, by way of a tube that was surgically inserted in my abdomen. In addition to that tube, I have in my arm a fistula. This is where they went in and surgically combine a vein and an artery to make a larger one. This was done so if I had to do hemodialysis they would have a nice big vein to put the needles in. I have never needed to use it, but they wanted me to have it "just in case". If I developed peritonitis or some other scenario and would not be able to do peritoneal they wanted me to have the fistula as a back-up. The fistula is all me and it's internal - I have an ugly upper arm - a scar that runs from my armpit to my elbow, and since the vein is larger it shows through. I don't like it but my Dr has always said how "good" it is.


.....Until yesterday. At yesterdays visit he said he could no longer feel the blood rushing through it. Since it is bigger than a normal vein you could feel it almost buzz. It was a strange feeling. Recently it hasn't had that feeling but you could still feel a strong pulse in it. Yesterday he couldn't feel that. He said it looks like it has clotted - which is not good. So tomorrow I have to go in and they are going to Roto rooter it back open again. It is a short procedure. I have to be there at 8, they will do me around 9, then I need to stay for about an hour after to make sure I'm doing ok. He said it's about a 70% chance that they can open it back up. If they can't I don't know what his plan is. I know my brother had to have fistula surgery done at least twice - maybe 3 times - but that was because his didn't form. Mine formed the first time. I don't know if they would do it again on my other arm (I sure hope not) or if I will just have to hope I don't need it.

But anyway - tomorrow at 9 o'clock - that is what I will be doing! Your positive thoughts will be much appreciated!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

wishing you good luck, im sure everything will turn out for the positive for you.

get a good nights rest tonight.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Thanks Dan!

The procedure went fine. He was able to route the wire all the way through so that was the first obstacle. Then he went in from the other end and had to break up and remove the clotting. He said that was a little tougher and he got about 80% of it. A portion of my fistula sounds just the way he wants it to, but another portion is only "pulsing" instead of "rushing". I am on blood thinners through the weekend. Tomorrow I go down to Canton (a closer hospital) to have the couple stitches he put in removed. Then Monday I go back over to Morton. He is going to firs check to see if the blood thinners broke up the rest of the clotting. If it did, then I'm done. If it didn't then he is going to do the procedure over again and hope that he can break up the rest of the clotting. If it works - great. If it doesn't - he's done. He said he is not going to surgically create another fistula if this one winds up failing. I guess if it fails I just have to hope I never need it (I haven't needed it yet).

of course, if they would just find a kidney for me all of this would be unnecessary.....

 

[All7OfUs]

Oh Tanya, how awful taht you are having to go through this! Glad he was able to do what he could, and we'll just be asking that the last 20% will be taken care of supernaturally. He is able.

let us know how everything goes with the blood thinners!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Had to run down to Canton to have my 2 little stitches removed. There is a reason a lot of medications say not to drive or use heavy machinery after use. I hadn't taken any of my pain pills today since I knew I would have to drive. I did take one about 9:30 last night. While driving today (with the beautiful warm sun beating through my windshield making the truck all toasty warm) I came to a 2 way stop at an intersection. I had to stop, but east - west traffic didnt. I looked left and saw no cars, then I looked right and there were a couple coming. The one in the lead was a truck who was pulling a farm trailer behind him. He had his turn signal on that he was turning left (to go by me), but instead of turning he came to a complete stop and sat there. I live in farm country - this was in the middle of farm country - sometimes if they are pulling something they will let somebody turn in front of them if it frees up the space and gives them more room to turn. This is what I thougt he was doing. I let off the brake and looked back to the left.....where three cars were zipping down the road.
When I looked the first time they must have been behind the hill, I had been watching the cars coming from the right. I think the residual effects of last nights pain meds (tylenol with codeine) and the warmth of the sun was making me a little more drowsy and inattentive than usual. I did hit the brake right away and it wasn't even a "near miss". But that did wake me up the rest of the way.

At the hospital had my stitches removed. The one on top came out easily, the one close to the bend in my arm was more swollen and it was hard for her to get the scissors in there to snip it. That one pinched. My arm is all bruised up today. The color must have come in overnight because last night there wasn't any.

 

[All7OfUs]

Whoa, Tanya, that's scary!! so glad you're safe! I haven't been in an accident in a very long time- thank heavens! But the few that I've been in have been very frightening. Be safe! Even near misses, or NOT so near misses are certainly a wake up call.

Sorry to hear you're all bruised up now. But glad teh stitches are out and you can have that behind you.

 

[englishrose47]

Oh Yea I hear it about those pain DRUGS !! After my hysterectemy I drove for the first time 10 days later and had not taken any that day and I was sooooooo woozy I couldn't wait to get back home and NOT driving !!! I waited a few more days and cut way back on the drugs before attempting it again!!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Oh Tanya! How scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so glad you are ok!

Your poor arm. I hope you can just rest tomorrow and take the day off, you deserve it, what a lot to go through.