Boy does it ever! Larry and I had a great two days in the mountains of North Carolina last Friday and Saturday. We finished getting supplies for the baths and the fans for the bedrooms as well as having the opportunity to watch the last of the granite being installed. It was such a blessing for me to be able to get away.
Things are just about the same here. Kenny is still going to bathroom about every 30 - 45 minutes when he is awake and "unoccupied". If he is watching a program on TV, he will go for an hour or more before going to the "latrine" as he calls it. I really think he is bored and has too much time to think. This morning he woke up at 4:00 , rang the bell and wanted to know what I was doing? I told him I was sleeping; was he ready to get up at 4 AM? No? Well why in the world did he ring the bell. No particular reason. I think his body is only requiring 7 hours of sleep a night but he thinks he should sleep longer so frustration takes hold and he lies in bed thinking about getting up, sleeping some more, his meds. the bathroom, the covers, me...who knows what all...any other time of day it would be funny but my sense of humor is decidedly lacking at 4 AM, knowing that I will probably not get back to sleep and will be up for a very long day. I have been known to throw a pity party. Po' po' pitiful me!
While we were gone last weekend, Kenny went out on the town with Jude', my sister-in-love (my baby brother's wife). Jude' took him to the beach and to the river where he said he looked at all the pretty women in bikinis. Then they went and got a milk shake and had a wonderful time. People are so great to him. His hospice nurse, Colleen is just a wonder. She spends so much time with him. She is a great liason for us. If we need a certain mind set from him, Colleen starts talking positively about the subject and he becomes much more amenable. Larry is getting ready to finish assembling our new gas grill down in the carport. I am thinking that I will take Papa down to supervise...what a hoot that will be. Frick and Frack for sure. I really need to do more of that but I just never seem to remember to do it. I guess my creative juices are running slow or low. He is looking forward to the Fourth of July picnic and the Murrells Inlet world famous boat parade. He gets to see lots of folks and the fireworks are great. Usually my nephew has some fireworks too but it seems that this year he will be out of town. Too bad!
This time of year, our minds frequently harken back to those days almost two and a half centuries ago when many of our great-greats were willing to put their lives and their fortunes on the line for a cause they believed was bigger than themselves. I wonder if we will ever see that kind of courage in this generation? Freedom is not free; the cost is frequently very high. Are we willing to pay the price today? Without that freedom, where would we be? Hard questions. We wish you all a great Fourth of July. May God bless American again.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
What a friend we have in Jesus, He will all our burdens bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer...
Well, here I am again...ten days later. I have been exhausted and by the time I get time, I simply have not had the wherewithall to blog. Part of the reason is that I have been doing double duty. Larry had to have a second epidural but it looks like this one finished the job. He seems to be pain free. However he has been down for three days with an intestinal virus so he's really felt washed out...no pun intended. Today was the first day that I have had time to go over to Conway and check on the house and the cottage and weep over my dead hydrangea, my sick "mini-petunias" (thousand bells or some such) and to marvel at how well my Queen ferns tolerate neglect. Of couse I had lots of running to do since I was in the car but I will admit it felt good to be out.
I have spoken of Natasha before, I believe. She is the Hospice aide who bathes Kenny and washes his hair three times a week. Well, she was the victim of my erratic driving. Winston, our 2 year old Jack Russell, thinks that when the car leaves the carport he is supposed to be in it. He got in 5 times this morning before I was able to close the car door. I was so busy watching for him as I backed out of the carport, that I forgot about Tasha's car. Whoops! Now she and I both have to visit the body shop. She was really great about it though. Winston strikes again. By the time I got to Conway it was lunch time. Time flies when you're having fun?
Kenny is doing really well. He is in more pain and is battling some nausea so we have had to increase the pain meds and add something for nausea, but all in all, I think he is going very well. We are still going from "pee to pee". Colleen, his nurse is beginning to think that perhaps he is no longer able to completely empty his bladder which means that it feels full pretty quickly after he has had any little bit to drink or eat. The only real remedy for that would be to catherize him and we really do not want to subject him to a Foley any sooner than we have to because it means that we have to deal with blood clots blocking the tube which in itself is a major problem. In light of all of these negatives, we have opted to just continue to go from "pee to pee" ever 30 to 45 minutes during the day. At night it does not seem to be such a challenge. He is feeling a little weaker every day. We notice it most particularly when he is getting in and out of his wheelchair.
His equilibrium has not been the greatest in a while; now it is worsening as he weakens. Regardless of how weak or dizzy he may feel, he is still bright and great to be around. His memory, especially his long term memory is still just phenomenal.
He has enjoyed talking to some of you all in the last couple of days. One of the precious things about our friends, near and far, is that they love Kenny and love to talk to him when they get a chance. Last Thursday, our oldest granddaughter Lauren brought Larry back from the doctor after his epidural. After she got here, she spent almost an hour just sitting and talking to her Papa. I cannot tell you how much it meant to him. The older grandkids think he is so cool! And rightly so!
We are going through a really hot spell and we are battling Kenny over the ceiling fans. We end up bundling him up so we don't wilt. The last few evenings have been really pleasant though. The tides have been running very high and high tide has been during the early evening for a couple of days. The marsh has almost been covered - just some floating spartina grass. Just beautiful. Tonight it is just unbelievable. The moon must be full tonight. There is not a blade of grass showing anywhere. I wish you could all be here to enjoy it. Life is good inspite of the challenges. I was reminded of that yesterday morning during church. Fr. Tripp was preaching on Job 38 and Mark 4 & 5. In Job, God asks him, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Do you understand who marked off it's dimensions...have you ever given orders to the morning or shown dawn it's place?" At times I can relate to how Job must have felt, and then I am reminded once again that God is God. Nothing surprises Him, nothing is impossible with him and He is sovereign. In spite of the circumstances, I, like Job, believe in His goodness. In Mark we were studying about Jesus having dominion over all things...calming the storm, casting out the demons, sending them into the herd of pigs and then stampeding them into the sea. Fr. Tripp reminded all of us (but especially me) that God frequently gives us more than we can handle but He never gives us more than Christ can handle. What comfort that gives me. I realize once again how often I try to handle things myself rather than taking my burden to Jesus.
Keep us all in your prayers, please...that Kenny's pain will lessen, that my patience will increase, that Larry will begin to feel more like himself and that all three of us will make the most of the time left to us as a family. Pray that we will not fail to call upon the strength that only comes from Christ. God bless all of you for your faithfulness to us in your thoughts, your words and your prayers.
I have spoken of Natasha before, I believe. She is the Hospice aide who bathes Kenny and washes his hair three times a week. Well, she was the victim of my erratic driving. Winston, our 2 year old Jack Russell, thinks that when the car leaves the carport he is supposed to be in it. He got in 5 times this morning before I was able to close the car door. I was so busy watching for him as I backed out of the carport, that I forgot about Tasha's car. Whoops! Now she and I both have to visit the body shop. She was really great about it though. Winston strikes again. By the time I got to Conway it was lunch time. Time flies when you're having fun?
Kenny is doing really well. He is in more pain and is battling some nausea so we have had to increase the pain meds and add something for nausea, but all in all, I think he is going very well. We are still going from "pee to pee". Colleen, his nurse is beginning to think that perhaps he is no longer able to completely empty his bladder which means that it feels full pretty quickly after he has had any little bit to drink or eat. The only real remedy for that would be to catherize him and we really do not want to subject him to a Foley any sooner than we have to because it means that we have to deal with blood clots blocking the tube which in itself is a major problem. In light of all of these negatives, we have opted to just continue to go from "pee to pee" ever 30 to 45 minutes during the day. At night it does not seem to be such a challenge. He is feeling a little weaker every day. We notice it most particularly when he is getting in and out of his wheelchair.
His equilibrium has not been the greatest in a while; now it is worsening as he weakens. Regardless of how weak or dizzy he may feel, he is still bright and great to be around. His memory, especially his long term memory is still just phenomenal.
He has enjoyed talking to some of you all in the last couple of days. One of the precious things about our friends, near and far, is that they love Kenny and love to talk to him when they get a chance. Last Thursday, our oldest granddaughter Lauren brought Larry back from the doctor after his epidural. After she got here, she spent almost an hour just sitting and talking to her Papa. I cannot tell you how much it meant to him. The older grandkids think he is so cool! And rightly so!
We are going through a really hot spell and we are battling Kenny over the ceiling fans. We end up bundling him up so we don't wilt. The last few evenings have been really pleasant though. The tides have been running very high and high tide has been during the early evening for a couple of days. The marsh has almost been covered - just some floating spartina grass. Just beautiful. Tonight it is just unbelievable. The moon must be full tonight. There is not a blade of grass showing anywhere. I wish you could all be here to enjoy it. Life is good inspite of the challenges. I was reminded of that yesterday morning during church. Fr. Tripp was preaching on Job 38 and Mark 4 & 5. In Job, God asks him, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Do you understand who marked off it's dimensions...have you ever given orders to the morning or shown dawn it's place?" At times I can relate to how Job must have felt, and then I am reminded once again that God is God. Nothing surprises Him, nothing is impossible with him and He is sovereign. In spite of the circumstances, I, like Job, believe in His goodness. In Mark we were studying about Jesus having dominion over all things...calming the storm, casting out the demons, sending them into the herd of pigs and then stampeding them into the sea. Fr. Tripp reminded all of us (but especially me) that God frequently gives us more than we can handle but He never gives us more than Christ can handle. What comfort that gives me. I realize once again how often I try to handle things myself rather than taking my burden to Jesus.
Keep us all in your prayers, please...that Kenny's pain will lessen, that my patience will increase, that Larry will begin to feel more like himself and that all three of us will make the most of the time left to us as a family. Pray that we will not fail to call upon the strength that only comes from Christ. God bless all of you for your faithfulness to us in your thoughts, your words and your prayers.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them....
Chicken Little checking in...reporting that the sky is not falling. In fact, since the episode on Wednesday, Kenny seems much better. I think perhaps he has finally recuperated from his two days in the hospital. I have finally given up the fight about when he sleeps in bed and when he gets up. The other day, Thursday, I think, when I went in to give him his pain meds, I asked if he was ready to get up. He said no. "Well, go back to sleep then." And he did. Slept until 11:00. I have decided that he can do pretty much whatever he wants since he lives so dangerously.
We have had some challenges with the oxygen machine and with running into doors with the wheel chair and bumping toes, etc. but in the scope of things we're doing pretty well lately. Papa's friend Venus calls him every other day to check on him and to pray for and with him. We have received wonderful emails (and some great comments on the blog) In fact. Larry was just talking our friends, Tim and Donna Wallace, in Mesa, AZ and Tim was talking about reading the blog a couple of times a week to just keep up with things. They have been wonderful friends to us and to Kenny and Hyrtha for many years. They are originally from Hickory Tavern, SC (up near Laurens) but moved to Mesa when they were young "kids". They help us so much with the house out there since it is difficult for us to keep an eye on things at this great distance. Tim has our dependable 1988 Buick Century Estate Wagon inspected each spring and drives it occasionally just to keep it running. When they have company and need an extra car, sometimes they use "White Light'nin". I am amazed daily at how blessed we are with our friends - from sea to shining sea, from the mountains and foothills to the desert. Thank you one and all.
As I said, things have calmed down here at the Inlet. Kenny and Larry are looking at the College World Series in Omaha on television. They each watch a bit, then doze a bit. Like father, like son. Keep us all in your prayers, especially Kenny that his last days or weeks or months - whatever the case may be - will be comfortable and as uneventful as possible, that he will not be in pain and that we will be able to meet his needs, both physical as well as emotional and spiritual. He told Venus the other day that he was ready to go, that he was looking forward to seeing Jesus and his honey (Hyrtha). He asked me last evening why I thought he was still here. I told him I did not know but that I did know that when the time was right that Jesus would send for him. He said, "I guess so." Bless his heart. And bless your hearts for your constancy and love for us.
We have had some challenges with the oxygen machine and with running into doors with the wheel chair and bumping toes, etc. but in the scope of things we're doing pretty well lately. Papa's friend Venus calls him every other day to check on him and to pray for and with him. We have received wonderful emails (and some great comments on the blog) In fact. Larry was just talking our friends, Tim and Donna Wallace, in Mesa, AZ and Tim was talking about reading the blog a couple of times a week to just keep up with things. They have been wonderful friends to us and to Kenny and Hyrtha for many years. They are originally from Hickory Tavern, SC (up near Laurens) but moved to Mesa when they were young "kids". They help us so much with the house out there since it is difficult for us to keep an eye on things at this great distance. Tim has our dependable 1988 Buick Century Estate Wagon inspected each spring and drives it occasionally just to keep it running. When they have company and need an extra car, sometimes they use "White Light'nin". I am amazed daily at how blessed we are with our friends - from sea to shining sea, from the mountains and foothills to the desert. Thank you one and all.
As I said, things have calmed down here at the Inlet. Kenny and Larry are looking at the College World Series in Omaha on television. They each watch a bit, then doze a bit. Like father, like son. Keep us all in your prayers, especially Kenny that his last days or weeks or months - whatever the case may be - will be comfortable and as uneventful as possible, that he will not be in pain and that we will be able to meet his needs, both physical as well as emotional and spiritual. He told Venus the other day that he was ready to go, that he was looking forward to seeing Jesus and his honey (Hyrtha). He asked me last evening why I thought he was still here. I told him I did not know but that I did know that when the time was right that Jesus would send for him. He said, "I guess so." Bless his heart. And bless your hearts for your constancy and love for us.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" (Chicken Little)
If today is June 10 when you are reading this, you may want to go down one entry and read my first entry from this morning. It will help you to understand this entry. What an eventful day!
Well, Dr. Biddle is seriously thinking of just retiring from her "medical practice". Obviously I do not know my head from a hole in the ground. After telling all of you that obviously Kenny is getting ready to "kick the bucket", he rings the bell at 3:00 PM and announces that he has to pee and he's hungry...for his breakfast. He is still kind of spacey but at least he is present at least part of the time. So this is just to let you know that I have good news...Papa's going to hang around a while longer and I will try to not be "Chicken Little" again and alarm everyone. I will say that as a result of my jumping the gun, I got a call from Carol Prinzo, our wonderful friend and retired nurse in California and she was such a help to me. By talking to her I was able to put into words some of the questions I didn't realize I had. She was also able to reassure me. Thanks, Carol. That is just one more example of how wonderful you all are to us, what a source of comfort you are and how we continue to be blessed by your friendship and your love.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!
Well, Dr. Biddle is seriously thinking of just retiring from her "medical practice". Obviously I do not know my head from a hole in the ground. After telling all of you that obviously Kenny is getting ready to "kick the bucket", he rings the bell at 3:00 PM and announces that he has to pee and he's hungry...for his breakfast. He is still kind of spacey but at least he is present at least part of the time. So this is just to let you know that I have good news...Papa's going to hang around a while longer and I will try to not be "Chicken Little" again and alarm everyone. I will say that as a result of my jumping the gun, I got a call from Carol Prinzo, our wonderful friend and retired nurse in California and she was such a help to me. By talking to her I was able to put into words some of the questions I didn't realize I had. She was also able to reassure me. Thanks, Carol. That is just one more example of how wonderful you all are to us, what a source of comfort you are and how we continue to be blessed by your friendship and your love.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!
I would give everything I own, just to see you once again....
That's where I believe we are. The last five days have been "winding down" days for all of us but especially for Kenny. Each day he has slept a little bit more. Yesterday he stayed all day in his recliner and slept almost the entire time. He did eat a really good supper and stayed up to watch High Noon with me on the TV. I gave him his meds at 11:30 last night and that is the last time he has really been coherent. This morning, I went in to wake him at 8:00 and we finally made it to the bathroom but that was the extent of it. I managed to get him back in the wheelchair and pushed him to the breakfast table but he was a zombie. He spilled his coffee all over the table but other than that, he was unable to do a thing. When Tasha got here to bathe him, we decided to simply put him back to bed. That is where he remains to this minute. My sister Jude' came down and stayed with him for me to go to the pharmacy and buy some different kind of "diapers" since I will be unable to use his "pullups" if he remains in this condition. I pray that I am up to this challenge; he is difficult to handle outside of the bed when he is as he is now. I think he may not be leaving the bed again. I hope I am mistaken. His and Hyrtha's friend, Venus Hayes from Napa,CA, called this morning to check on Kenny. She normally calls every other day but she felt like she had better call this morning. It seems that he told her yesterday that he thought the end was near. It think that may be happening. He has not urinated since yesterday afternoon. He has drunk nothing since supper when he had a glass of milk, except for the sips of water needed to take his meds. I do not believe he is in any pain. He seems quite peaceful but remains mostly unresponsive to almost all stimuli. I would imagine that he could continue like this for a number of days. Please keep us all in your prayers and especially pray that Kenny will not linger but that his passing will be easy and painless. Thank you all for your faithfulness in keeping in touch with us and for persevering with me through this on-again, off-again blogging that I don't do very well. We are so blessed by your friendship and your love for all of us and by your prayers in our behalf. Thank you all so much.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Dream, dream, dream, dream......
As I was telling you all yesterday morning, Kenny was asleep. He slept until noon, got up and had his bath, ate his breakfast, went out to the front porch to look at the birds, the marsh and the newspaper and fell asleep after 10 minutes. He slept all afternoon. At about 5:00 PM he went to the bathroom and then went to his recliner and slept for 2 hours more till I woke him up for supper. After supper he went back to sleep in his chair till he decided to go to bed at 9:45. He awoke for the first time at 11:00 this morning.
He reports that his belly hurts every time he eats something. (I am not sure where this is going; I'll have to ask the Hospice nurse when she comes.) This is a new wrinkle for us so we will deal with the pain and let the docs decide what the actual challenge is and if, indeed, they feel the need to do anything other than keep him comfortable.
My cohort in crime goes to the orthopedist this morning for an epidural. Let's pray that it will get him back on his feet. Having both of them down is tough on me and on Larry for that matter. We have heard from a number of you. Thanks so much for your prayers and concern. We appreciate your thoughts and your support.
He reports that his belly hurts every time he eats something. (I am not sure where this is going; I'll have to ask the Hospice nurse when she comes.) This is a new wrinkle for us so we will deal with the pain and let the docs decide what the actual challenge is and if, indeed, they feel the need to do anything other than keep him comfortable.
My cohort in crime goes to the orthopedist this morning for an epidural. Let's pray that it will get him back on his feet. Having both of them down is tough on me and on Larry for that matter. We have heard from a number of you. Thanks so much for your prayers and concern. We appreciate your thoughts and your support.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
That was the week that was....
Sunday afternoon after lunch, I had to go out to the market for a few things that I failed to bring over from Conway. When I got back home, Kenny asked if I would take him to the bathroom. As he sat down, he looked at me and said, " Ginny, I think I am having a heart attack." After three nitro tablets with no relief and a call to the Hospice nurse, we called 911. The whole emergency entourage arrived within 10 minutes and they also thought he was having a heart attack. After arguing about which hospital to take him to (I did not realize that I could demand that they take him to Conway where they know his history, etc.), we headed to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach (a very fine heart facility)where I had to make absolutely certain that they all understood that we had a DNR(do not resusitate) order which meant that they had to be very circumspect about what tests they ran, what scans they did (no dye because of his kidneys,no heart catherization, etc.) To make a long story a bit shorter, the hospitalist (hospital physician) understood our position and worked well with him and with us. Finally on Tuesday morning (yesterday) Papa was discharged. Dr. Shelver decided that he did not have a heart attack; the enzymes remained normal. But the CHF (congestive heart failure) is back and they think that is what caused the event of Sunday afternoon. We are home again in Murrells Inlet and he fells pretty good. He was wiped out as far as energy went yesterday. I tried to explain that was to be expected after two days in hospital but I am not sure he believed me. Anyway, right now it is Wednesday morning about 10:15 and he is still asleep. Since they gave him massive amounts of Lasix to rid him of so much fluid (I think he peed to his heart's content those two nights!)that I do not imagine he slept much in the hospital, but then who does sleep there? I have decided to let him sleep as long as he wants today.
Upon leaving the hospital and arriving in Murrells Inlet, I stopped by Lee's Farmers Market to pick up some Vidalia onions and some tomatoes for BLTs. On the marquee outside, the market always advertises the specials and Kenny evidently noticed the Maine lobsters at $7.99 per lb. because when he got home and decided to take a nap, he called me back into the room and wanted his wallet. I asked why on earth he wanted his wallet. He told me to get some money and go back and buy 3 lobsters for supper. I told him that maybe we should wait until tomorrow to have lobster. He replied, "No, let's have them tonight; I might not be here tomorrow." So we had lobster, corn on the cob and new potatoes for supper (dinner to some of you)and ice cream for dessert. What a feast!
It is interesting that at his age Kenny wants everything instantly. And he expects me to do it instantly. Even if I finally just sat down to eat. Maybe I will lose weight after all. George and Jude', my brother and sister-in-law came down and helped us remove the door to the bathroom which was very narrow and difficult to maneuver with the wheelchair. He now has a very nice curtain hanging over the doorway to give him privacy but we still are able to get the chair into the bathroom rather than leaving it in the little hallway and me trying to squeeze by it to help him. After 5 months I found a baby monitor that will allow me a little privacy but still be able to hear him if he needs me. It picks up the "liberty bell" very well.
My time is really stretched at the present time. Larry has a disc problem in his lower spine and it is causing him excruciating pain. He is simply unable to stand or walk for more than a little while, so that means that the "fetching and toting" falls on me at the moment which in turn leads to a frayed temper from me occasionally. I told him yesterday just not to worry, he would get his opportunity to help me when I finally have my knee replacement...way in the future, I am afraid.
So Larry will have an epidural in his spine tomorrow to hopefully aliviate the terrible pain so that he will be able to head to Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi early next week. Please pray that the injection does the trick.
This has been overly long. Sorry. I will attempt to blog more frequently and less verbosely in the future. God bless all of you and thanks so much for the .ove and the prayers.
Upon leaving the hospital and arriving in Murrells Inlet, I stopped by Lee's Farmers Market to pick up some Vidalia onions and some tomatoes for BLTs. On the marquee outside, the market always advertises the specials and Kenny evidently noticed the Maine lobsters at $7.99 per lb. because when he got home and decided to take a nap, he called me back into the room and wanted his wallet. I asked why on earth he wanted his wallet. He told me to get some money and go back and buy 3 lobsters for supper. I told him that maybe we should wait until tomorrow to have lobster. He replied, "No, let's have them tonight; I might not be here tomorrow." So we had lobster, corn on the cob and new potatoes for supper (dinner to some of you)and ice cream for dessert. What a feast!
It is interesting that at his age Kenny wants everything instantly. And he expects me to do it instantly. Even if I finally just sat down to eat. Maybe I will lose weight after all. George and Jude', my brother and sister-in-law came down and helped us remove the door to the bathroom which was very narrow and difficult to maneuver with the wheelchair. He now has a very nice curtain hanging over the doorway to give him privacy but we still are able to get the chair into the bathroom rather than leaving it in the little hallway and me trying to squeeze by it to help him. After 5 months I found a baby monitor that will allow me a little privacy but still be able to hear him if he needs me. It picks up the "liberty bell" very well.
My time is really stretched at the present time. Larry has a disc problem in his lower spine and it is causing him excruciating pain. He is simply unable to stand or walk for more than a little while, so that means that the "fetching and toting" falls on me at the moment which in turn leads to a frayed temper from me occasionally. I told him yesterday just not to worry, he would get his opportunity to help me when I finally have my knee replacement...way in the future, I am afraid.
So Larry will have an epidural in his spine tomorrow to hopefully aliviate the terrible pain so that he will be able to head to Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi early next week. Please pray that the injection does the trick.
This has been overly long. Sorry. I will attempt to blog more frequently and less verbosely in the future. God bless all of you and thanks so much for the .ove and the prayers.
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