Just another day in room 219.
Amanda has been up all day – maybe one short nap. Her CO2 level keeps bouncing everywhere and keeps everyone guessing. It was sky-high this morning at 89 and this afternoon it sunk to 68.
We are starting to go a little stir-crazy.
The only relief today was the visitors we got. Thank you, neighbors Jake and Kristen, for stopping by. And thanks, Jill, for seeing us as well. You all were a wonderful break from the monotony of the hospital.
I wish I had more news.
Maybe tomorrow.
Gotta hope for tomorrow.

just Laurel

Last night I slept.
And slept.
And slept.
I think I went to bed at 10pm. Although I woke a few times, I was in bed until 7am.
Have been working on paperwork that piles up when a person is gone from home. On laundry load number 3, getting some banking ready and a small grocery list. I need milk for my coffee and we’re almost out of shampoo! Again – it’s the little things 🙂
Ted and Amanda had as good a night as you can expect. Just got word of her morning CO2 and it took a huge jump up again. If it is a true reading – then Amanda is a mystery as to how she can be sitting up, chatting away, and acting as lucid as she is.
I am getting restless to finish up all these little errands and get over to the hospital. The hospital has become home – because home is where your family is – and Ted and I have not been in our house together for 2 weeks now – and being home by myself like I am this morning although peaceful, it is very lonely. I miss Ted and the only place I get to see him right now is at the hospital.
Prayers for hurting families at the 2 funerals at church today. Prayers for the nasty flu outbreak to take leave and allow families to get back to health. Prayers for God’s will for Amanda and for rest and patience for her parents.

just Laurel

Things are the same.
Amanda’s PCO2 isn’t moving (an increase would be bad, a decrease would be nice).
Still at Wyandotte Hospital.
Stuck in a limbo world of hospital life.
I heard the doctor waiting to see us at Children’s was wondering today where we were and when we were coming – maybe he can have a temper tantrum and get us moved in there?
I heard that our nurse today called twice about a bed there for Amanda and they repeated the same reply: “No beds”.
Sad for two funerals at our church tomorrow for friends who have left this world to be in their heavenly home.
Thankful for Ted’s safe drive to and from Indiana today.
Thankful for hospital visits by Clara and the Busse family.
Exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep – hope Amanda and Ted have the same.

just Laurel

Two weeks! We’ve been here two weeks! 🙁 Half a month – gone.

Unbelievable.

Yes, we are still at Wyandotte. Yes Amanda is having an omelet for breakfast. Yes I’ve had coffee this morning (the vending machine actually produces an acceptable cup o’ joe). Yes Amanda is pretty much the same. Her CO2 is about the same – at 69 today – heading the right direction as it was 70 yesterday.

Thankful for the little things. Trusting there is a reason we are here so long and having to wait for our transfer to Children’s Hospital.

Amanda and I both slept relatively undisturbed from about midnight to 6am. Not bad. Ted slept fairly well at home and is on a round trip drive to Indiana and back. Prayers for safe and alert driving.

Hope y’all are healthy (keep away from that flu!) and tgif everybody!

just Laurel

Still here.
Amanda’s pulmonary doctor is happy with how she is doing but was not comfortable releasing her yet to home. Ted and I agree. I can measure if a wound is bleeding or if she is eating or puking but I cannot measure her CO2 – and that’s scary. So we stay. The doc said the flu was backing off and that he was hopeful we could get to Children’s soon.

So we sit.

just Laurel

Maybe it will be a lucky day 13? I just don’t know. But here’s the scoop:

Amanda seems stable now. Everyone walks by her room and says, “Are you still here?” Apparently the flu this season has been super nasty and Children’s Hospital is bursting at the seams with sick kids. Obviously, we don’t have a room yet and with the weekend coming, chances will probably be even more slim for us getting in. One doctor this morning suggested we go home for the weekend. That makes me a little nervous – but if they are comfortable with it – then I am. I already sent a note to the clinic nurse at Children’s Hospital to let her know the situation. Maybe she could push some buttons and get her in over there today. Another doctor just stopped by and said it would be up to the head Pulmonary Doctor to make the decision – home or not. I made it clear that although going home would be nice that I don’t want to do it if it’s the wrong choice for Amanda. Don’t want to risk going home and having respiratory failure.

So we are sitting on the fence – waiting to see which way we’re gonna fall. Hunkering down here another day? Getting moved to Children’s? Going home?

Stay tuned for the next episode!

just Laurel

Sorry, readers, but I must report that Wyandotte Hospital is still our home. So that’s the bad news. Good news is that Amanda had a good day. She looked wonderful (thanks to her morning shampoo) and has been up in her wheelchair all day. They had her on 3 liters of Oxygen for the past week – they squeaked it down to 2 liters to see if she could do well with that – and has done fine all day. She ate a good breakfast, noshed on Cheetohs and diet coke in the afternoon, had a cup of ice cream, and we are now waiting for Ted to bring in dinner. Tonight we are dining on SUSHI! There happens to be a fairly good sushi place near Wyandotte Hospital and once we go to Children’s Hospital in Dee-troit we won’t be browsing the neighborhood for food. The medical center rather stands alone with no restaurants nearby.

I want to shout out a big thank you to Cathy Tuxbury – a church choir friend. She came by to visit today with lots of healthy stuff – apples, bananas, and oranges plus bottles of water, diet coke for Amanda, and some naughty but delicious powder sugar dusted German walnut cookies. (I’ve eaten two already – and they are big!) Cathy and I talked and visited for over two hours. Thanks, Cathy, for breaking up our day with you visit! <3

So, in the words of Goethe: we are trying to "Enjoy what you can; endure what you must."

All is well for now. Hope all is well for y'all.
Thanks for reading.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

just Laurel

Amanda is up in here wheelchair eating breakfast – A bacon and cheese omelet (again) compliments of Henry’s on the River. She is sporting a light and airy look – her wonderful nurse brought in some real shampoo from her home and we shampooed Amanda’s hair while she lay in bed – rinsing with cups of water. Kudos to her nurse, Brandy. It made Amanda feel great to get rid of that grease! She’s looking good.
Waiting for a bed at Children’s.
Waiting for her lungs to improve.
Waiting for a good CO2 blood test result.
Waiting to go home.
Waiting for answers.
Do any of you remember the Sharon, Lois, and Bram show aka the Elephant Show? It was a kids show that my girls watched when they were little – I believe it was out of Canada so maybe just familiar to Detroit area people? Anyways, they sang a song that went like this (the lyrics anyways): “I am slowly going crazy, crazy slowly going am I … etc” That’s my song for the day. I googled it on youtube and actually found it – it’s pretty lame but it fits my mood – in case you want to experience it:

So many other people in my church family are hurting – and struggling – and probably going crazy today. My heart and prayers go out to them. Tom’s brother died following a tragic accident, Sue’s sister was put in hospice care, others facing surgeries, Judy’s daughter battling cancer … despite our busy lives and despite how impersonal some think the internet can make communications … I think it is wonderful how we can stay in touch and send thoughts and wishes – even though we can’t visit in person I know from experience that it helps much to know how many people care.

You’re my rock and my redeemer,
You’re the reason that I sing
Psalm 19
(took this from you Judy – one of my fave’s, too!)

NEWS FLASH … they just got back the results of the repeat blood draw and we’re just going to throw out this mornings CO2 !! Yesterday’s CO2 was 73 (and we want it to come DOWN more) and this morning’s CO2 was 95 !!! What??? The retake came in at 70 !!! Still needs to be lower – but it’s coming down! Woo hoo! Amen.

just Laurel

Good Morning Wyandotte.

We had a quiet night. Amanda slept in ’til 8am. Her CO2 took a huge climb this morning – not good – and we don’t know why. They are going to re-draw her blood with the hopes that it was a bad sample or test. She is her usual chatty self and when they ask her, “Are you short of breath? Does your chest hurt? Are you feeling okay?” she keeps answering them that she feels fine. The respiratory therapist is scratching her head and can’t understand why she is retaining so much CO2.

Ted crashed last night and slept real well at home in bed. Amanda has been stable for the past day or two and his fatigue caught up with him. He was on the road early for a sales trip to Butler, PA. We’ve spoken several times already and he’s doing fine. I worry about him with driving and fatigue so pray for him, please, for alert driving.

That’s the status quo for the day. Of course, I’ll keep you updated.

just Laurel

We are STILL sitting and waiting and waiting and sitting. I heard from the clinical nurse at Children’s that the hospital is so full they have had to cancel surgeries because of no bed availability. So – exercise in patience. But, understandable patience. If there are kids too sick to discharge from the hospital, well I don’t expect them to be bumped to make room for us. It’s okay.

So while I sit here, my mind wanders and I recall a little verse I read once … on a bathroom wall … and it just sort of stuck in my memory banks. Maybe it was meant to lighten the mood today:

“Here I sit in silent bliss, waiting for the coming piss.”

Kind of memorable, don’t you think 😀

As I sit here with little to do but daydream and explore the world through my laptop, I am inspired to pen my own prose:

“Here we wait, don’t give us pity; soon we’ll be in Dee-troit city.”

Yeah, pretty pathetic! Just lightening the mood a bit if I can.

I shall keep you posted and if there’s no news, I’ll try some more poetry.

just Laurel