Blake's Health Update 2009/09/17

I can't believe it's already Thursday. By the time you all will be reading this, it will be Friday (currently ten seconds until midnight!). Where did the week go? Seems like yesterday that I was rushing Blake to the emergency department!

Blake has had another fairly good day. He made it through the night on his own without Momma Hen hovering over him. I got to the hospital about mid morning and then the nurse came to take him to the shower. She came back to his room and we changed his bedding, then she went to retrieve him. She came back without him and said that he wasn't finished yet. I laughed. I said, "Oh, I'm SURE he'll be a while longer! You'll have to tell him to hurry it up!". She said, "Well, I told him FIVE more minutes!" I thought to myself, "Yaaaahhh... good luck with THAT!"

It wasn't too much longer and along came Blake, definitely ready to crawl back into bed. Something as simple as taking a shower can really drain what little energy you have. Later in the afternoon, we went for a walk down the hall. I said, "Let's take the maternity hall! Maybe someone's had a baby!" There was a young gentleman and lady, but she hadn't had the baby yet..... I so badly wanted to spot a little newborn.

Blake is still on the hydromorphone for pain relief. He is still on the two antibiotics (Cipro and Flagyl) to fight any bacterial infection and also on the Solumedrol (Cortisone/Prednisone) which is attempting to settle down those ulcers in his intestines. Looks like he'll continue on these meds through the I.V. (Cipro is oral) until Saturday. Then they'll switch him to oral meds. I believe at this point he'll be in the hospital over the weekend, but that's always subject to change. Pretty sure he'll be there until Saturday at least.

He's really a big fan of the hydromorphone (the synthetic morphine). He's trying not to abuse it. He'll say to the nurse, "Can I have a half dose of painkiller? I'm starting to get some pain,"; to which they reply, "Are you sure you only want half a dose? Don't lay there in pain if you need more...."; to which BLAKE replies, "WELL, OK! IF YOU'RE OFFERING!" hahahahahha. Yah, that's my kid.



I am home tonight in my own bed again. I'll head back to the hospital in the morning. There's NO WAY to get internet there because they've got the connection secured. Our church is down the road a few hundred feet, just far enough that I can't pick up the internet signal. Otherwise, I'd be driving y'all crazy with posts!

Today I got the photos out of Blake's hospital file that Doctor B took during the colonoscopy so that I could show my Mom and another visitor. The nurses are telling me there is no coloured scanner or photocopier available. So I took pics with my camera! Not sure that they'll copy well; and I'm not sure that you'll want to see them anyways. But for those of you who graduated from The School of Grossology, I'll be happy to post them for you to check out, along with a warning for those of you with weak stomachs. hahaha.

Sounds like this Crohn's Disease is gonna be tough to figure out. Doctors and nurses differ on their opinions as to whether foods affect you or not once things are healed up. Some feel you'll always have to watch what you eat; some feel you'll lead a pretty normal life by eating as you always have; some feel we'll be journalling to keep track of foods that cause pain or diahrea; some feel that won't be an issue...... sounds like it's different for each person.

Well, I wish I had something interesting and witty to say type, but I am so drained. I just finished two loads of laundry and I want to go to bed.


But before I go off to la-la-land, I want to say a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to my friend Gudrun who is "la chef perfecto". (I made that up for anyone who plans to critique my French, or Italian, or whatever it is.) Last night she delivered a yummy breakfast lasagna, and tonight she brought supper consisting of a delicious pork roast topped with spices and bacon; roasted potatoes with onions and carrots; and a tomato salad with croutons. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Everyone came to the conclusion that Blake should remain in the hospital a while longer so that Gudrun could continue the fabulous meals. hahha. I said to Jared, "NO WONDER you like going to Matthew's house.... Mrs. G is a FABULOUS cook!!!"


So, thank you Gudrun. I appreciate your kindness.


Please continue to pray for Don, who is slowly dying from Jakob's Disease (see yesterday's post). Also remember Wannett in your prayers; she should have arrived in Africa by now.


Thank you to everyone for their comments on the blogs, phone calls, visits, cards, messages, food, etc. We are so unconditionally loved by so many. Please know that it is so much appreciated.


G'night.