Mom's Journal- the rest of the hospital stay

Here's more from my mom’s journal:

Saturday, 1-17-09
After a breakfast of chicken broth and Italian Ice at 7:30, Ronnie came in with yogurt and coffee for Mom. :)

While Mom was gone back to the hotel to shower, Ronnie recorded the following…
8:45- doctor came by (insides guy?)
8:57- Pulmonary nurse
9:07- Shawn is going to wean EPA (epidural pain meds) today to half or from 6 to 3 now and then to flat at 6 p.m. Tomorrow she will get oral pain meds.

9:25- Took out some of her hardware.

Megan rested until around 11:30 when the OT came and helped her get up and walk to the sink. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. Then she walked down the hall and back using a walker. When she got back, she sat in a chair for one & a half hours. Then she got up and walked even farther down the hall.

After that, she lay down and slept for almost two hours.

Visitors…
Matt, of course.
Janet
Sheila, Sarah, Bill
Barry and Jayne (with a giant cookie [that I couldn’t/didn’t want to eat…if you know me, you know how crazy it is if I don’t want a cookie]).

Courtney, Don & Kelsey brought pizza, drinks, flower, bathrobe and PJs. She sat up in her chair while they were here.

The night was rough. Mark, her nurse, was helpful bringing pain meds and turning her when she asked and without acting put out.

Sunday, 1-18-09
Megan is “out of sorts” today. She is tired of laying down and of being in pain. She said she is “stir crazy.”

The doctor came and took out her epidural line, which was delivering meds directly to her spine. (No more morphine when she pushed a button.) Today they are working on controlling her pain with the right doses and right kinds of pain medicines.

She was taken on a gurney to have xrays around 9:30 a.m.

When she got back, she just slept. She is sleeping during the day instead of at night.

Shawn (?) with the doctor’s office came in. Said she would get catheter out today. She might get to go home tomorrow.

The PT came in and got her up for a walk around the nurse’s station. Then she sat in a chair and had lunch. When she was done, she got up, walked to the sink, brushed her teeth and washed her face. The PT told us how to take her for a walk. So, Matt, Dad and I walked her around the nurse’s station before she lay down to rest. (1 p.m.)

Her catheter is out, so she is going to the restroom.

Today she walked at least four times. She also sat in a chair to eat. Before bed she walked to the sink and brushed her teeth.

Visitors…
Matt :)
Sheila (brought pretty flowers)

Grandma called
Wendy called

Mom and Dad spent the night. We walked in the middle of the night and sat in a chair (very hard for her to get comfortable). But most of the time she was in bed.

Funny thing — Megan sleeps so much better during the day than at night. She cannot get comfortable at night.

Oh, also, her bed broke, again. This time they found an extra bed and switched with her broken one.

Monday, 1-19-09
Megan got up and walked first thing. She also sat in her chair.

Mom asked the head nurse if she could have something more substantial to eat. The nurse said yes, so Megan had cream of wheat and applesauce for breakfast — no more chicken broth!

We went back downstairs for xrays. (lung xrays)

The PT came in and we went for a walk. She also told Megan how to get in and out of a car.

Then the OT came in and helped Megan take a shower and shampoo her hair.

**Megan can go home later this afternoon. The doctor said to sit up or walk around during the day (except maybe an hour nap in the afternoon). He said to eat lots of fruits, veggies, grains (foods good for digestion). He said to come back in two weeks.**

Went walking a few times during the day.

Ate cream of wheat and pureed fruit for lunch.

3 p.m. – The OT came and helped Meg get dressed in PJs, underwear, socks. She looks beautiful and very tall. [Mom was very shocked about the way I looked and constantly told me how tall and pretty I looked. Still does. :)]

4 p.m. – Went for spine xrays- she is so straight.

5 p.m.- Set to go home. Papers signed. Waiting for transportation- a wheelchair.

6:15- Back at home :)

[That was my mom’s last entry. After that, she gave it to me to use. I’ll post my entries later, which are very funny to me. Thank you, Mom, for doing this for me! This was SUCH a wonderful gift. Now I kind of want some more cream of wheat.]