Slowly But Surely....

...........Poppa improves.  He still snoozes a lot, and doesn't have much energy, but he is getting a little more lively and a little more cheery each day.  Once in a while he gets a spurt of energy, but then he sleeps for a day to recover.  A couple of days ago we went for a little drive - and spied some leaves changing into their fall outfits.....

.....and another day he was inspired to do a bit of painting in the stairway to the new room in the basement....

.......... and one of our few recent sunny days, he and Squeegie even went out and cut the grass....

......but it doesn't take much to wear him out, and he stops for a snooze to recoup.  However, each day he seems better than the day before.  Yesterday we went for our usual walk to the donut shop for the first time since he became sick.  He spotted these awesome mushrooms...

........which look light-coloured under the flash, but were actually almost black.  And, on the way to the donut shop - there is a lot with highway access which has sat empty for years.  Suddenly there is all kinds of activity going on there - and as those of you who know Poppa can guess - he was most interested in the goings-on there........

........so of course we had to stop for a couple of minutes so he could watch.  This used to be a mostly wooded lot, and they have removed every tree that was there.  Poppa was supposed to see the Doctor today, but the Doctor was ill this week - yes really! - so he has been re-scheduled to Monday.  We will both be happy if he gets a clean bill of health!  However, since him being asleep requires that I am relatively quiet - it makes an excellent opportunity to be knitting.  Thus, I have finished Aunt Muffy's scarf set....

.......as usual when I am knitting for Aunt Muffy - for some unknown reason - I end up creating some wonky stuff.........so if you would like matching mittens, Aunt Muffy, just let me know and I will make another pair just like this pair and then you will have two matching pairs!

The second last time I was talking to Munchie on the phone, he informed me that he needed new socks because his old socks were "too little".   So, when I got Aunt Muffy's stuff finished, I started these....

.......... for our little man.

One More Day...

.....today Poppa has gone to Uncle Ernie's cottage with  him.  Uncle Ernie is closing it up for the season and they decided Poppa would go with him.  Poppa was still feeling tired, and wasn't sure how much help he would be, but Uncle Ernie just wanted the company.  I was somewhat loathe to let him go - he has been under my watchful eye for two weeks now....but since Uncle Ernie is quite qualified to look after post-patients, I waved good-bye.

Here is the picture of Gramma's finished scarf set..........

........I hope she is pleased with it...I know she likes hats!  I have started Aunt Muffy's now.....

.........yes... just started......... but hopefully by tomorrow it will be much more significant!

Post Script to Previous Blog

Poppa's last infusion is finished and we just took the port out of his poor, sore hand....and then I saw a little smile on his face!  Hurray!

Dripping

Poppa is feeling quite a bit better - and I think some of it is due to the fact that his very last IV infusion is dripping into his arm right now!  He is eagerly awaiting the removal of the port in his hand.  I'm sure he is getting better because he ate a chocolate bar tonight!  He is scheduled to visit with our family doctor on Friday, where he will get a thorough going-over to ensure that he has recovered.  I will report further after that appointment is finished.

I was amazed to find this gem..........

.....out in the flower bed, when I went to put the garbage out this morning!  What a nice treat - isn't it perfect?!

As I was going through some pics I discovered some wonderful pics taken the weekend of Curtis's birthday party - some I haven't shared.  Here is Munchie having breakfast the next morning.....

...and here is a really cute picture of Cousin Reese sharing the little table with Munchie....

.........and having breakfast at the big table was .....

...Cousin Taylor and Uncle Craig........and of course,

Little Smiley was there too!  Later Munchie and Reesie went outside to play....

.....and they each had a motorized vehicle!  I'm sure they had a good time!

Meanwhile I have finished Gramma's scarf set - and I took pictures, but I haven't downloaded them yet.  I'll do that tomorrow.  But, Granny sent me a wonderful picture yesterday.  About nine years ago when Granny's first granddaughter was about 2-1/2, I made a little coat and hat with fuzzy yarn.  I had all but forgotten about it.....when I received this photo....

......of her little sister wearing the coat and hat.  I think the weather is still a little too warm for it, and we are disregarding the fact that her big brother kinda got the buttons skewed.  But she looks adorable in it, and I still love the hat with the lamb ears!

Saturday & Sunday

Saturday kept us busy.  We woke up early to hook up Poppa's IV.  It worked quite well and we were quite pleased.  Poppa was feeling a little more chipper than the day before - hurray!  In the afternoon Uncle Ernie and Aunt Lynda came to visit.  Uncle Ernie and Poppa had a visit, while Aunt Lynda sewed the seams on the curtains I had prepared - silly me - I didn't get any pictures during their visit.  And, just after the curtains were finished, Auntie Denise, Tracy and Aunt Jeannie arrived for a visit as well!  Lots of company for Poppa.  While Uncle Ernie was here, I asked him to hook up Poppa's IV so I could watch - wondering if I was doing something wrong. His method was a little different from the nurse from the agency and I was glad I had asked.  The IV ran fine and again Poppa and I were quite pleased.  Once more, and we settled down for the night.  It was so nice to have the company and so nice that we finally have a space in the basement where everyone can visit.  Speaking of which, now that Mommee has seen the re-vamped living room on the main floor, I can show you a picture.....

......this is the view from our front entrance.  We rather like it, since we had the rose-coloured set in there for the last 30+ years!  This is a pleasant change!  So, even though we actually planned to put this suite in the basement, things worked out just fine.  Sunday morning, the IV went well and Poppa started to decide what he wanted to do.  After his infusion and after some breakfast (our usual Sunday morning jaunt to the restaurant in town!!), he decided to...........

......do something about this bare window in our new rec room...........so..........

.....there he is climbing on that rose sofa to put up a curtain rod - complete with drill and IV port.  I thought maybe he shouldn't be doing that, but the end result was ..............

....... very nice - Thank You to Aunt Lynda for bringing out her sewing machine and hemming the curtains for us!  When that project was finished, Poppa was feeling ambitious, so we drove back into town and bought some paint for his trailer.  He worked on that until it was time for his next hook-up.  Oh Dear!  We don't know if he bumped his port, or if, once again, his poor over-poked vein just collapsed from the stress.  When I tried to flush the line, it just pushed out around the entry point.  Soooooooo, once again we headed off to the ED.  After a short wait (that seemed long), he suffered through another round of attempts to insert a new line.  On the third try, the nurse got lucky and found a vein that would work.  Whew!  What a nuisance this is all becoming!  Therefore, today he is taking it easy and trying very hard not to jostle the line.  We made it through the morning session, just 5 more to go and he will be finished!  He just can't wait!  Meanwhile, during the time he has been persevering with all that hassle, I have been knitting.  I finished Mommee's scarf set...........

..........and started Gramma's...........

....well okay, just started, but since I took this picture I have one mitten done and the second one started.  Of course, I have also started a new book.........

.........which is a typical Michael Crichton scientific thriller.  I haven't actually gotten very far into it, and I haven't chosen a bookmark yet!

Ivy and I.V.

The same day Poppa was released from the hospital, he received this wonderful, whimsical arrangement.....

..........isn't it pretty..........the wooden box is real barn board.............and see the little ivy growing on the right hand side?  Ivy - oh yes!  Poppa was allowed to go home if we would learn how to administer an IV to him, so he could continue to get his medication.  He happily agreed.  I was a little apprehensive........not about the IV..........but he had been so sick and I would become responsible for his care......a somewhat daunting prospect.  The IV gear was delivered to the house and subsequently a nurse came to the house to show us how to hook it up.  It was late in the evening, and I think she just wanted to get home........she had it hooked up before I even got a chance to see what she was doing!  Then she went and sat in her car to do some paperwork while it ran into Poppa's arm.  About an hour later it was finished.  She took the time to show me how to un-hook it and left.  All was well.  Early next morning..........we waited and waited for a nurse to arrive between 8 and 8:30 as promised.  Unfortunately, 8:30 came and passed and .......... no nurse.  I called the service provider and was informed that no nurse was scheduled to come to our place, but one would arrive around 9.  Ok - we'll wait.  Shortly I received a call from a different nurse saying she was on her way.  She arrived very soon, and showed me how to hook him up - good!  I assured her that I could un-hook him and she headed off to her next client.  After a few minutes of watching TV, Poppa tells me it has almost stopped - Oh Dear!  We check for crimps in the line - nope.  We change the little control wheel - nope.  Now what?  I call the nurse.  Soon she calls me back and says she will come again.  When she arrives, she decided that perhaps the port in Poppa's hand is bad, and she'll try for a new one.  No luck with that - she can't find a good vein.  So - she tries again with the old one and discovers that if Poppa holds his hand just a certain way it will work.  So he agrees to do that and off she goes to her next client.  Eventually all the medication is inside him - but it took a long time!  Next time he is due for medication - we go through all the steps ......... only to discover that the line won't flush - so, the medication won't flow.  Now what?  I call the nurse again (feeling like a terrible nuisance!).  She is too busy to come, so we get in the car an head to emergency again!  Now, I should mention that Poppa isn't feeling too badly.......just annoyed over the IV thing!  After a short wait at ED, a really nice nurse (whom we had met on our previous visits) calls Poppa in.  She checks the port in Poppa's hand and quickly says it is definitely not a good one.  In about two minutes, or less, she has a lovely big vein all connected up to a larger port!  Oh my goodness!  Thank you Nurse Sophie!  She sends us home, we hook Poppa up and everything works just marvelously!  Hurray!  In the morning we arise (very early!) in time to re-connect Poppa for his next dose.  The drip seems a little slow, but other than that all is well - so we sit for a longer period of time, but it works.  Then Poppa is starting to feel a little restless, so he wanders around the house looking for something to do.  He keeps reminding me that the doctor said he could do whatever he wanted - as long as he didn't tire himself out - since his body has been through a bit of an ordeal and needs recovery time.  What did he do?  Well, I'll show you some of it.
He checked his hot tub.....

........and added some chemicals to keep it nice and clear - since he won't be getting in there until he doesn't have an IV port in his hand.  He called his Mom (Great-Gramma)..........

........and while he was standing near the front door - where the reception was best - he noticed .........

......that the latch on the screen door wasn't working very well - so he took it apart, cleaned it up, oiled it and put it back together.  Then he looked for something easier......so..........

.......... he sat down with Squeegie to catch up on the blog.  As you can imagine - it took a few minutes to do that since he'd missed all the "Poppa Update" blogs.  Soon it was time for the next IV infusion..........guess what..........it started fine and then stopped!  Oh no!  We checked it all - it wouldn't work.  Since the port in Poppa's hand flushed fine, we knew it wasn't that.  So we took off the line with the little drip control on it - and replaced it with the old-fashioned kind, which just has a little dial control.  It worked just fine!  I guess the little control wasn't functioning correctly.  Anyway, no problem - the infusion finished in the correct time.  Shortly after supper and before the next dose was scheduled - we received something else.  What is Poppa doing with his IV stand?

Oh my goodness - this will be much better!

His evening (make that 11pm) dosage went smoothly with no problems - I think we've finally got it all figured out!  This is what he is doing right now..........

........poor thing - it seems that it dominates his life right now.  But - personally, I am glad to see him recovering - and it sure is nice to have him back home!  All is well!  And here is what I am doing while we wait for the IV to finish....

......it's Mommee's scarf set - that lump of yarn in the centre is her hat - Hee!  I will keep knitting on that piece until it turns into a hat.  One more thing..........would you like a close-up of the ivy arrangement?  Here you go........

............ is that Squeegie out golfing????

Sorry...........

.....no blog today.  All is well - we spent the day arguing with IV lines........all the problems have been sorted out, and I will tell you all about it tomorrow.  In the meantime, you can admire this picture..........

..........of Munchie...........isn't he handsome!

How is Poppa Now?

Well - here is a picture I took today......

........about 6:30pm.............and here is another picture I took about 20 minutes ago.....

The doctor deemed him fit enough to come home, but he has to continue taking the anti-viral medication via IV, so we are learning to do it here at home....can you see the IV bag hanging there?  It kind of disappears in the light, but you can see it in the shadow.  Poppa says he is feeling pretty good, but he gets tired easily after his ordeal of the last few days ... so I am trying to keep him in his chair, and scoring about 50% in that endeavour.  But, it is nice to have him at home.... I just hope he keeps improving.

How is Poppa Doing?

Well........let's start with a picture I took today...........

.........oh look!  A smile!  And that's not all either!  Poppa had a good night.......no vomiting, no dizziness, and a slight headache.  Which is about exactly how he was all day today.  He even had porridge for breakfast........complete with brown sugar - which he was really thrilled about - sometimes the smallest things!  He had cream for his tea, and milk for his porridge - and some strawberry yogurt!  He had some more creamed soup for lunch and it sat well with him too!  When the nurse came to disconnect the IV so he could have his shower, he asked if he could go for a walk up the hall.  She assured him that would be fine and even suggested he might like to go outside and enjoy the beautiful day we were having.  Those were magic words to his ears!  We wrapped his arm in plastic so he wouldn't lose any more IV ports, and hustled into the shower!  Once that was finished, we strolled slowly up the hall a little way and he declared himself fit enough to go outside.  We went down to the main floor, out the big doors and sat on a park bench in the sunshine for a few minutes!  He kept telling me how good the sun felt!  They had discussed some plans for his discharge - but didn't really indicate when it might be....but I'm pretty sure he has to be headache, nausea and dizzy free.  He still has traces of all those things from time to time, but nowhere near the way they were previously.  When I left he was visiting with Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shaun.......and getting ready to have his supper.  It was a good day!

Quick Note

I am off shortly to take Aunt Peggy for her weekly grocery shopping expedition.  Then I will be heading to the hospital to check on Poppa.  I am hoping to find him improved and feeling less nauseated.  They were giving him real cream of asparagus soup at supper time last night, since he hated the broth they had been giving him.  Hopefully it tasted better - and it would also give them some insight into the state of his  extended nausea and slight dizziness.  Just to cheer us all up - here is another picture...........

............yes!  Little Smiley is walking all by himself!

Almost Forgot........

........here is a picture of Auntie Denise's scarf set.

She had actually declined on the hat, since she has trouble getting hats to fit.  This one is quite changeable - she can just turn the cuff up higher of lower until it is just the way she likes it!  I hope she will be pleased with it.  Now I am about to start on Mommee's set.  Back to the needles I go!

Visitors, Messages and News

Poppa had a couple of surprise visitors today............

..........Mommee left Munchie and Little Smiley at the day-care and zoomed up from her city - two hours away - for a quick visit.  She got her gown and mask on and visited for about an hour and then it was time for her to get back to pick up the boys.  Poppa was quite surprised and happy to see her.  She had left her car at our house, so we came back here together.  Taffy had come with us and waved through that window you see behind them........so..........when it was time for me to go back to the hospital Squeegie wanted to come too.  As it turned out.........when we got there.........Nurse Colleen was talking to Poppa...........

...........telling him that he was no longer under isolation rules, and Squeegie could come in and sit on the bed.  This was good news, since it meant no more gowns, masks or gloves - hurray!  It also means that Poppa doesn't need quite so many medications.  Unfortunately he still needs the anti-virus med, which they suspect is increasing his nausea and vomiting problem.  But he needs it to ensure total elimination of the virus causing the meningitis.  The other good news is that he didn't need medication for pain (ie.-headache) all day.  He said he had a bit of a headache, but not much.  The photo-sensitivity is also clearing up.  He is very shaky and weak - as a result of being so ill, and as a result of being on a liquid diet, and he is having room-temperature saline pumped into his blood - which cools him down and makes him shaky.  His temperature has returned to normal, and he did not have any spikes today.  They are taking blood samples each day to try to determine the source of the virus which caused the meningitis - since apparently it is quite rare for an adult to get meningitis from a viral infection.  So, he is getting better, but is still not entirely "out of the woods".  We would both like to say Thank You to all the kind people who have been enquiring, visiting and sending good wishes!  To name as many as I can: Aunt Jeannie, Auntie Denise, Aunt Grumpy and Travis (these two drove up from the big city one evening to visit and then returned the same day!), Uncle David, Uncle Leonard, Granny and Gramps, Auntie Colleen and Uncle Shaun, Aunt Cecile - who called from Budapest to let us know she was thinking about us, Gramma-Grace, Great-Gramma, Aunt Peggy, Kev-Inn...........and, last but not least, Poppa was thrilled to get an e-mail from our friends in Great Britain who kindly sent an e-mail after reading the blog!  These are the folks who own the villa we visit each year in Florida.  I printed it and took it to him to read for himself!  We would also like to thank all the doctors and nurses from the ED to the entire staff of Soldiers Two (with a special shout-out to Nurse Colleen), and of course our specialist - Dr. Crew, the ED doctor who did the lumbar puncture - Dr. Poole, and naturally our own Dr. Perrigo!  If I have missed anyone, I apologize..........we appreciate it all.  Barring any set-backs, Poppa should be well on his way to recovery soon.  Good Night!

Poppa Update

Today Poppa seemed a little better.  It is a slow process.  He is still suffering from severe headache and nausea if he waits too long for his medication.  The nursing staff brings it when he asks, because they need to know if the time lapse is getting longer, indicating that the condition is declining....but he is shy about asking and waits too long.........initiating a bout of severe pain and miserable nausea.  So, while I was there, when he said he felt nauseous...I told him to push the call button.  The nurse was in the room in about two minutes with the meds...............then he tells her his head is aching too (he didn't mention that to me!).........so as soon as the anti-nausea meds were in, she brought pain meds and in about 20 minutes he was feeling much better.  I hope he learned from that experience, to call right away when his head starts to ache!  However, all that aside, he was better and went from 2am to 3pm without meds at all.....which was the longest span to-date.  We chatted all day again, and had a nice visit....he even had a shower (with a little help from me).........lost one of his IV attachments while in there........so now he only has two!  When I got there, he was actually sitting on the edge of the bed having his lunch!  Now that wasn't too exciting, he had chicken broth, tea, juice and jello...he's on a liquid diet for the time being.  But he felt well enough to sit up and eat it, and that was good!  I didn't get any pictures today.......I forgot to put the camera back in my purse after downloading yesterday's pictures.....so to make up for that........here is a really cute picture I received recently...........

........of Daddy showing Little Smiley how to hang on, so Munchie could take him for a ride on the Jeep.

Update Re: Poppa

I haven't been to the hospital yet today.  Now that Poppa is in the hospital proper, I am supposed to abide by the visiting hour rules, which are 3 to 8pm.  So I have spent this morning doing laundry and tidying up and other stuff that needed doing.  As I mentioned, Poppa seemed brighter and more alert yesterday - and he stayed awake and chatted with me all day.  Early in the morning yesterday, he suffered through a bout of vomiting - which wasn't what anyone wanted to be happening, but he was fine while I was there.  Late in the afternoon he started having shaking spells - again not really a welcome phenomenom.  But the nursing staff was keeping a close watch on him.  He seemed to have a slightly elevated temperature, so they gave him extra blankets straight from the warmer to see if that would solve the shaking - it didn't seem to work - but he liked the warm blankets.  I got my camera out, but he didn't really want his picture on here - because he had on a pink blanket - Hee!  So I snapped this shot....

......which is entirely unremarkable, except that early in the morning he had four IV bags hanging on this apparatus - by the time I arrived there were only two, but before I left they added the third one.  He also had.....

......three ports for IV's in his poor jabbed arm.  This enabled them to change or add an IV without jabbing him again.  The poor guy had puncture marks all over both arms and of course his back.  Through all this he never complained - not even about the lumbar puncture - except to confirm that it was a very painful procedure when I asked him about it.

On a lighter note, I have finished the scarf set for Aunt Grumpy.  The final result looks like this....

.........my goal with all of these is that the wearer doesn't meet anyone else with the same regalia on...and I think this one is pretty safe...........I just hope my imagination doesn't run out on me before I get them all finished!  I am working on Aunt Denise's now........and Poppa was quite enthusiastic.......before he moved to his temporary residence at the hospital!  As you might imagine I haven't had time to take any pictures of it yet.  I almost finished a sock for Granny at the hospital on Friday, but yesterday I couldn't knit because of the latex gloves........a bit of a drag!  But with the gloves on I could touch Poppa and help him get untangled from his blankets or give him a drink or assist him in getting to his lavatory...........so I didn't mind.

I hear the dryer beeping upstairs - Squeegie and Taffy are in there after having a bath on the off-chance that they have some nasty germs hiding in their fur.  I don't want to leave them in there too long - Squeegie hates it enough already!  Once they are out and dressed for the day, I will head to the hospital and I'll post an update when I get home.

New Development

This morning I get up and shuffle around here for a while, then decide I am too antsy to do anything but go to the hospital and check on Poppa.  When I arrive they inform me that I will have to put on a gown, mask, gloves, etc. before I can enter the room!  What?  They have now determined that Poppa has meningitis!  They are quite sure it is the viral kind, which is not serious - unlike the bacterial kind.  I'm thinking Gosh, if he's this sick with the mild version, what must it be like to have the bad kind?  Wow!  However, on the other hand, I found him much brighter than yesterday, he stayed awake and chatted the whole time I was there.  They have moved him into an isolation unit in the main part of the hospital...and right now he is supposed to be taking a nap.  I am going to water the plants and head back into town shortly.  I will keep you updated as best I can.

All About Poppa

You may be wondering why it is so long since I posted.............well, here it is..........rather than type it all over again, I am copying from an e-mail I sent to Aunt Muffy..........
"Daddy is being kept in the hospital over the weekend.  Last Sunday he woke up with a rather severe headache..........so he took some Advil and carried on.  On Monday he still had it - a little worse....so he took some Aleve and carried on.  On Tuesday it was even worse...so he took some of each and carried on.........didn't do much except sit around and doze off and on.  Wednesday morning he was on his knees holding his head.............and I declared him sick and took him to emergency.  They gave him some Tylenol #3, said it was most likely a virus...if he didn't feel better by Friday come back in.  On Thursday (yesterday) morning, he was worse, and the Tylenol was not touching the headache.  So............we went back.  This time they took blood, and checked for neurological symptoms..............finding nothing, they prescribed an anti-nausea medicine (by then the pain was so severe he was feeling yucky), and some pain-killer (I have forgotten the name).  By supper time he was feeling much better and had supper and took a pain killer pill.  By bedtime, he was complaining of headache again.  He took another pill and we went to bed.  He woke up about 5am in a lot of pain again.  I got him another pill and we went back to bed.  When I came downstairs he was already down and kneeling holding his head again.  So..........we went back to the hospital.  This time they checked more extensively, took more blood and sent him for a brain scan...........which came back fine.  So........they gave him a lumbar puncture........and we waited for the results.  The spinal fluid contained a low level of white blood cells.  Bottom line...........he has an infection in his spinal fluid..........they aren't sure whether it is viral or bacterial.........so they are currently treating him for both.  When the cultures come back tomorrow they will know, but in the meantime they want to be safe.  They are leaning toward a virus similar to West Nile, but NOT West Nile, as in not so severe or scare-y.  At any rate, they are keeping him there until Monday to keep an eye on him and make sure he gets better and not worse.  He was already feeling quite a bit better when I left (about 6 - I can't drive in the dark)........still not himself, but better.  I will keep you up-dated."


When I left he was resting comfortably and getting sleepy again.  He had three IV's dripping....one anti-biotic, one anti-viral and a saline.  I think maybe he was happy to see me leave, since we had spent the whole day in that one small room, and he had listened to my chatter long enough!  But I know he was feeling better, because the last thing we discussed was whether I would stop and get him his two lottery tickets for Wednesday night!  I can tell you quite truthfully - lottery tickets were the last thing on my mind!  Oh well!

A Few Things...........

...........that I'm hoping you find interesting.  I finished up Auntie Colleen's last mitten and moved on to Aunt Grumpy's scarf set.  As it turns out I am now working on the second mitten, but here is what I have so far..........

...........I'll post another picture when it is complete.  Meanwhile, I was still having fun taking pictures of food.........

......this is a tomato, noodle and spinach mixture that makes a nice side dish....Poppa made the other part of the meal....

............pork chops on the BBQ..........yummy!  And meanwhile........

.......little Smiley (seen here eating his birthday cake!) went for his one-year-old checkup at the doctor's office and was pronounced adorable and healthy, weighing in at 23-1/2 pounds, and measuring 31-1/2 inches tall.  I hear he wasn't too thrilled with his shot, but calmed down with the help of a lollipop.

Poppa and Kev-Inn put a new roof on the rear portion of Gramma Grace's garage, but I didn't get any pictures of that since I was busy doing other things and wasn't over there while they were working on it.  They were both hot and tired when they got it done!

September 11, 2011

Let's take a moment to reflect on 10 years ago............

...........what were you doing when you heard?  I was at work......walking towards the front of the office area......and happened to hear a news broadcast from a radio on someone's desk as I hurried past.  I immediately returned to my desk....and called home because Aunt Becky was visiting from the States and I wanted her to know.