Thanksgiving Events....

We had an eventful Thanksgiving. Mom was being served Thanksgiving lunch at the hospital, and we wanted her to have her feast from home. So I got up early in the morning and started preparing our feast. We finished it for lunchtime and got to the hospital by 1 PM. Mom had been given a snack, but her blood sugars were clearly low, as she was a bit disoriented. When she ate she cleared up and was more like herself. I made tomato salad, hoping it was enough like her recipe. She said it was good! Whew!

They had removed her nitro drip because her vein collapsed again, and her IV was failing for the second time. They called an anesthesiologist who was going to put a main line into her jugular vein. It's a bit of a risky procedure, as the carotid artery is right next to the vein, and made us a little nervous. We stepped out so he could do it, and returned an hour later, to find her fast asleep. But we couldn't see the line. The nurse told us that he had a hard time finding it, and had an emergency surgery to go to. He was planning to return with an ultrasound machine to confirm where her vein is. (Everyone's anatomy varies, and he thought it might be hiding behind her artery.)

We also learned that the angioplasty would not take place on Friday, as her kidney numbers have still not improved. (2.9 to 2.7 to 2.8; little change) Now the projected date is Monday or Tuesday. Sigh.

So we went home, as Katie was getting a bit stir crazy, which in turn was driving Kirk and me crazy. I called throughout the night to check on the IV procedure, but when I went to bed, it still had not been performed.

I called mom this morning, and she sounds much better. Blood sugars dipped again during the night but are OK right now. The anesthesiologist came in late last night to put in the main line. The ultrasound revealed that there was good reason for the doctor to have a hard time finding that vein on her right side: it wasn't there. At all. Further investigation revealed that BOTH her jugular veins are on her left side of her neck, one attached to the other. Once he found it, it took 5 minutes and her IV line is in again.

She is sitting up in her big chair and crocheting right now. She is impatient with the delays, but feeling all right. One side effect of all this fluid they are pushing into her veins is that she is retaining a LOT of fluid and has gained a ton of water weight. Her arms, face, and legs are very swollen. They have increased her Lasix (water pills) from 40 mg dosages to 120 mg dosages, to counteract this.

Martin and Jake got Kirk to drive them down to Alyeska today for their first ski day of the season. Much excitement and anticipation!

Here are some photos:


Turkey, asparagus with Hollandaise, corn, tomato salad, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, Mom's fancy china...

Caesar salad, gravy, broccoli..

Yummy turkey!
Beautiful plant from Swan Employer Services (Where Kirk works.)

Amanda brought the lovely flower...

This last photo is Mom and Anne Skyping (videoconferencing.) So cool!

This has been log-winded, so I will close with a few words of thanks. We are so thankful for all of you, friends and family, who are praying for us and offering your support. It is so comforting to have so many of you in our hearts and ready to help at a moment's notice. Although his is a rough time, we are thankful that the heart failure was caught before a major heart attack occurred, and that mom was in a public place and not home alone when her chest pain started. We are thankful that we have such a wonderful family, that we have the resources that we do, and that God is active and visible in our lives every day. I hope you had a wonderful, restful Thanksgiving, and that you will enjoy this weekend, your families, and your blessings.

Love to all....