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.
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