Wednesday (Day 20)

UPMC Montefiore N1262
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

/\/\/\Medical Stuff/\/\/\

Wednesday was a very action-packed day. Between visitors and health issues, by the end o' the day everyone was ready for a nap. The day started out like most other days with a morning check-up from my nurse for the day.

Nurse Jen

Then my surgeons came in to check on their handy-work. So far everything seems to be going as planned. Dr. A. James Moser, surgical oncologist, performed the procedure while Dr. K. Tri Nguyen, surgical fellow, assisted. They did a pretty good job considering they did the procedure at 2:00 in the morning.

Dr. Moser...Me...Dr.Nguyen

/\/\/\Fun Time/\/\/\

The first to arrive were Bethany & Emily Howell. We haven't seen each other in so long. Too bad I had to go into the hospital for us to get together again. They were nice enough to bring me some presents to...too bad I didn't take a picture of them.

Bethany...Me...Emily

Silly Faces!!

Us pretending we all took some "good" medicine.

Just when I thought things couldn't get anymore exciting, I got more visitors. Steve and Stephanie Fisher came bearing goodies. Today is Ace and I's two year anniversary o' being together. It's been a long two years, but we've been able to get through everything easier by having each other to love.

Steph...Me...Steve

2 Year Anniversary Cake...Chocolate for Ace...Irish for Me

Friends are always wonderful, but nothing is better than family.

Caden reading a book to us.
(Note his legs are crossed, he always reads with his legs crossed)

"Caden, you're more than welcome to push my pain button."

Hangin' out with Stephanie...

And Steve to.

Everyone has been so generous with gifts. Here is a Willow Tree "Angel of Healing" and some other things that Jim and Barb Green got us.
Thanks Guys!!

I guess that's enough excitement for one day. We should all take a lesson from Caden and have a little nap.

/\/\/\But Wait.../\/\/\

During a routine vital's check during the day my blood pressure was really low and my temperature was really high. The Nurse's Aid called the Nurse in and she decided to call a Code "C" (for Crisis). In less than 5 minutes there were about 5 doctors and a dozen nurses all crowding into the room to figure out what was going on. They were afraid that I had an embolism so they took me down to scan my lungs. They did not find an embolism, but they did find that I had pneumonia. They brought me back to the room, gave me some meds for the pneumonia, and put me on oxygen. Later that night, my vitals went crazy again so they decided to transfer me to the ICU.

My feet and hands got really cold, so Ace lovingly massaged my feet to warm them up. He's such a sweetie.

CODE "C"

On our way...

See you tomorrow from the ICU.

/\/\/\THE END/\/\/\

Sunday (Day 17)

MaGee Women's Hospital
Sunday, March 14, 2010.

My last day...

/\/\/\ Food...FOOD...Food /\/\/\

My Meal

• HOTT Beef Broth.
• Rainbow Jello (even though it's only red).
• Raspberry Water Ice.
  

Ace's Meal

• Chicken Fingers.
• Sliced Carrots.
• Green Beans.
  

• Cottage Cheese.
• Tossed Salad with French Dressing.
• Chocolate Pudding.
  

/\/\/\ JAWBREAKERS /\/\/\

So how about my favorite candy in the whole wide world is Jawbreakers. The only place you can get jawbreakers is Gardner's Candy Store. Lyra Schroeder has this "tradition" that every time I'm in the hospital, she brings me a li'l bag o' like 10 jawbreakers. Well, since this hospital stay is on day 17, the 10 jawbreakers only lasted me to day #7. So since Lyra is the greatest person ever, she bought me the hugest box filled with my fravorite candies. Wow, Lyra (& Daniel her hubby probably helped too, so he is also awesome) is AWESOME!

Medical Staff.

I will say that the medical staff here at MaGee was awesome. All the nurses, nurses aides, and even the cleaning crew were so pleasant to be around. They definitely helped me feel better and they were very caring.

Nurse Janet
Love HER! She gives great hugs too!

Nurse Sheila.
Compassionate, Caring, Cool!



CT Scan Time.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

After meeting with the GI Doctor at noon, Dr. K. Tri Nguyen, he ordered a CT Scan (to be read STAT). So he ordered me to drink this GROSS drink in 20 minutes, then 1 hour later take the scan, and then scan needs to be read STAT!

Here is Dr. Nguyen.
(Pronounced: "win")

YUCK! Not a big fan o' the CT Contrast Drink.

Here it goes down, down, into my belly.

Ace wanted to drink it too,
So he could "sympathize" with me.


The 1-Hour Wait...


After drinking the stuff...
Belly was bloaded, distended, and in agony.



/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Emergency Surgery...Off to UPMC Montefiore

Around midnight, the doctor on call came into my room and said, "Pack all your belongings up. You are going to UPMC, Montefiore for emergency surgery. We sawl air in your abdomen, and that requires immediate surgery." So I packed up my belongings and waited for the ambulance to come take me the 3 blocks over to Montefiore.

/\/\/\ THE END /\/\/\