Day 10 - September 2, 2015

Annette and Peggy made their usual on time arrival to Jeff's room, just in time for breakfast. He was a bit more tired because his brain was in control of his sleep time "designing apparatuses” for him and others in his present condition. Nurses Jackie and Colin teamed up today and they went through the regular routine. Annette fed him his breakfast which he ate very well.

Jeff and Annette worked on the computer with the time cards from his work. Jeff's very patient and Annette is learning how to work his computer and Trackball Mouse. He was looking for his Quick Books Program but he soon realized he had never put it on this particular computer. He put it away to figure it out later. So, they looked to find out about 29 inch wheelchair tires instead. Search they did until he fell asleep again.

They are making some small changes by starting him on salt pills and caffeine pills to get his heart rate up and to bring up the blood pressure. The Doctor asked if it was okay for him to take caffeine pills because of our religious beliefs. Annette held up her Mr. Pibb and Jeff told him there is no problem taking anything medicinally if it goes to help.

Lunch came at 12:30 and he ate his Magic Cup which is ice cream with a lot of nutritional value added.

The PT crew came in at 1:15 to get him in a chair via sling and hoist. He was able to stay in it for an hour, 15 min. upright, 2 min. laid back.

 

 

Annette washed his hair while he was laid back. He enjoyed getting cleaned as it was very soiled in the back. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the chair and said he was very comfortable. When he was hanging in the sling as they were moving him from the chair to bed he said, "This is like skiing the perfect powder. You feel like you are so free, like a bird flying." Colin said, "Hey I'd like to have what he's on." After all that he still wants to be dipped in water.

Jay and Peggy went down to the lobby to grab a Sub Way sandwich. By 4:00pm Jeff was out of the chair, cleaned up, new sheets, all that good stuff. Naptime. Jay took a walk around the outside of the hospital checking the area out. Dinner arrived, and as usual he ate his dessert first. This time it was orange sherbet. Routine continued with Nurse Jackie getting him turned and to get comfortable every two hours.  

Last night they had his dopamine down to 2 which is like a couple of whiffs. They removed his oxygen while he was awake, but because of his sleep apnea they have to put it on when he is sleeping. He is more consistent until he gets moved around, but it doesn't go crazy and is manageable. Nurse Jami, who we had for 3 days, talked to Annette and said, "Now you realize that after we get him off the dopamine he has to stay another day to make sure he can travel safely." We are good with that for sure!! Good day overall with a smiling, talkative Jeff. 

Peggy says, “It was special for me to see father and son embrace and tell each other how much they loved one another = Joy.

Remember my life's goal:
Find Joy
Make a difference
Pass the Test
Jeff is on track to do just that. I hope everyone that is reading this blog will follow my view of life.”

 

Back at Home (written by Brandi since Julee is working the night shift):

Julee said that her boss has been following this blog.  At her bosses church, during prayer time, they offer prayers up to God for specific people and a person in the congregation stood and said they wanted to pray for their neighbor Jeff and then described our dad's situation!  Julee's boss was funny and said to her, "I don't know if you want Methodist prayers, but we prayed for him!"  Julee told her boss that we need and want ALL prayers!  While we might have different beliefs, we believe ALL prayers go to the same place!! We are so grateful for my dad's neighbor (whomever he/she is) that remembered him and asked the Methodist congregation to pray for him.  I tear up just to think about how happy God is that his children, regardless of their faith or beliefs are standing together as one group to rally their faith in God in order to benefit one individual - our dad.

 

From the Book of Mormon in Mormon Chapter 9 Verse 21 it says, "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth"