Thursday, January 29, 2009

Things could go downhill very fast

The reports for the bloodwork and U/S F had two weeks (no THREE weeks) ago have finally gotten to us. There is a 90% chance that he has cancer. He has an appointment with a urologist on Monday to read the report and get more info. My guess is that they will either do a biopsy, rule out cancer because of some other info I don't know, or schedule surgery. We'll know more on Sunday, but when the damned report says that it's cancer unless ruled out by unknown criteria, I don't feel so hopeful.

I've started calling therapists for me, him and Sarah. I don't know how much more we can take.

Oh, and I have a root canal scheduled for tomorrow. A tooth that has no cavity or decay shows a loss of bone associated with infection and needs dealt with now.

Sarah's dental work is scheduled to start next Thursday. I will have to cancel going to help with Dad next week because of all of this. There just isn't enough of me to go around.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

12 Days and counting

Dad is out of the ICU now and in a regular room. He is able to walk a small distance as long as he's supported and he seems to be recovering as fast as we could hope. He still has a long way to go, hopefully he'll be out of the hospital sometimes next week. The wound vac is still on and will be for a while. His neck IV will be removed before he leaves the hospital, since he already has the port in his chest. He's onto fentanyl patches instead of IV drip, off all morphine now. The incision is over 12 inches long down his abdomen. I see him losing weight daily. I can see his skin hang slack where there used to be muscle. The TPN needs to get him more iron or else he'll need to be getting transfusions. He had a transfusion two days ago for low hemoglobin. Hmm, anyone think the thalassemia could be adding to his issues?
The meds are giving him some confusion, I hope that eases as they are weaned down. He keeps asking if he has to have another surgery.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Update


Surgery was Friday night. They removed about 70% of his small bowel and 60% of his large bowel. The surgeon kept enough to allow him to eat still and not have a colostomy bag. He will not be getting nutrition from food however and will need TPN, total parenteral nutrition to survive.

He is still in the ICU and will hopefully be moving to a less critical room soon. As it is, he's working hard at recovering and we're just here to support him.

Friday, January 16, 2009

And now for a message from the emergency broadcast system


I got a call on Wednesday night that my dad was in the hospital. It's either a new set of tumors or old ones that have grown and are obstructing his bowel. Surgery was originally scheduled for Thursday at noon, but was pushed back till Friday. His hemoglobin was way too low to operate so they gave him a couple of units of blood in hopes that would help out. We'll be on our way down to see him either tonight or tomorrow. Send good thoughts.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

aaaaaand, we're back

Regularly scheduled posting to resume in 3, 2, 1.....

The weekend was almost a loss, we didn't really finish anything, just started on tons of projects. We should have finished things, but we're good at that denial thing.

Frank's parents are here this weekend, send me valium and well wishes. I have tons to do before they're here, it looks like tiny pirates invaded our house and looted and pillaged. No raping though, that's not allowed in my post feminist fantasy.

I took Sarah for a blood test on Monday. Oh how I felt like the mean mom. She was so brave and strong until they stuck the needle in and starting rooting for a vein. I wish he'd got it on the first poke instead of having to search. :( She did really well though, the tears were dried up soon and we went to the park. Hopefully the bloodwork will show why she's still so very tired. I'm crossing my fingers for something easily corrected with a pill. sigh.

Frank's test results should be in soon as well. And of course I'm due for another echo. When will healthcare take a back seat to life here? Are we doomed to a life where healthcare reigns?

Frank is doing well with his denial, he's started researching MBA programs. The soonest he would start is next spring, but it's disheartening to see him do this right now. It's as if he's already given up on another child and is just going to move on to his next goal. I know in some ways that it's healthy, but dammit, we don't even have the first set of test results back.

That's the latest, now I'm off to paint and sand and clean. Wish me luck.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tomorrow's already Friday?

Wow, how did that happen?

I would have to say I'll be glad when the week is done. Early morning wake ups are hard, for me, for Sarah. Ah well, soon it will be weekend.

Frank went for his bloodwork and has an ultrasound tomorrow. Hopefully results by next week. Fingers crossed.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Monday, monday

Whew, am I glad the break is over. I don't think I could handle much more vacation time. Back to normal for all of us this week.

We did end up going to the New Year's Eve party. I'm glad we did. Our GS was of course very gracious and smart and must have given everyone a pre party talk about what should not be talked about. No one brought it up, no one acted weird, much fun was had and then the next morning off to the in laws for obligatory visit if we're in town.

Now we're home, laundry is done, food is shopped for, kitchen is clean, kid is at school, hubby at work. Ahhhhh that 20 minutes of bliss until I realize all the other things I have to do.

I'm closing my business until the CPSC gets it's act together and fixes the CPSIA. It's a bummer, but I don't see any other way I can legally be in business right now. All of our products are already produced, packaged and ready to go so I'm not really keen on sending off one of each print to get ruined in testing that we can't afford anyway. So, no more business for me, at least for 2009.

Hubby has an appointment with our GP this morning to get a scrip for another semen analysis and blood work. Hopefully the insurance will cover it. If not, we'll just keep making payments.

Now, off to help out in the classroom for a bit.