24 and some change
Home.
Everyone was just able to let everything go. Nowhere to go. Just here.
It ‘was’ busy. It only took me 11 hours since waking up to brush my teeth. I kept heading that way, but something would always come up.
David needs a lot of help. He is so weak. But we cheer even the smallest of accomplishments.
It’s hard for him to stand up for long. We helped him to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shave. Shaving almost did him in.
We saved brushing his teeth for later, although I think he brushed his before I did mine...
Oh well, we are learning the rhythm. Soon we will get it right.
It takes all of us to get him to the bathroom. One has to make sure his cannula isn’t getting tangled. We hold it like a bridal train; its quite a feat.
Sitting on the couch. We have small goals right now. One of which is sitting on the couch for thirty minutes to an hour.
He made it ‘to’ the couch but we had to help him ‘back’ to bed A LOT.
Our living room has become a makeshift recovery station. I sleep on the couch. He sleeps in his hospital bed next to me.
He has to have oxygen the whole night through. He takes his oxygen off several times a day while in bed. However, when he exerts himself, he has to go back on oxygen.
The settings are from 1-5. Stationary, he stays anywhere from 1-3, and when he practices normal daily life it is on the maximum; 5
We did get him a ‘traveling’ oxygen compressor as well as a home unit. The traveling one is 4-5 lbs. and we thought it would be perfect for walking to the bathroom or sitting up. The traveling unit is pulse only, which means the tank only gives him assistance with breathing ‘in.’
He is used to continuous flow, which the home unit has. And we did finally have to switch to the home unit to give him rest and peace of mind. The light weight pulse only, will have to be put aside for the time being.
He feels like he can’t breath, therefore causing very shallow breaths. We try to reassure him that all is well, but it is quite painful to see.
We are very anxious in helping him. We feel so inadequate. But I know we will all adjust as we go.
But can I just say? It’s so good to have him home. I mean, literally, we could finally rest... no place to be but here.
I ‘got to’ cook him breakfast. It felt so good. I made it extra special. Oh how I have missed that.
I snuggled with him in his little bed and caught Jono staring at us with a smile and watery eyes. He was so comforted and happy to see togetherness again.
It was the longest day ever. ‘It’s only noon?’ It was as if God had doubled our hours. I have no complaints here.
I am researching things we can do for him to make him stronger and to help him breathe better. Hoping we can find something that will help him and hopefully avoid a transplant.
I found myself waking up several times through the night just to make sure ‘he’s breathing.’ Ya, I’m a little anxious.
His frame is like a string bean and sometimes it really punches me in the gut.
But he’s home; with us. And it was so nice ‘staying’ instead of ‘going.’
I keep remembering the long walk through the covered pathway leading to the doors to the hospital. Everyday I would come. I would wheel my small little backpack filled with things for him; for me. And the ‘click.....click..... click, click...’ that the wheels would make on the sidewalk. It was the song I heard everyday. I don’t think I will ever forget that song. It sang to me, coming and going; everyday. It was a sad song.
Today was the first day I didn’t hear it. I didn’t miss it.
It’s hard to be super excited and it’s hard ‘not to be’ super excited. It’s like one of those ‘too good to be true’ moments and we are waiting for the bottom to fall out. May it never be so.
It’s late. He’s breathing; and snoring a little. New music. Me thinks I like.
Love love
Shelli
Ps. Please comment. They mean so much to us. Really!
Home.
Everyone was just able to let everything go. Nowhere to go. Just here.
It ‘was’ busy. It only took me 11 hours since waking up to brush my teeth. I kept heading that way, but something would always come up.
David needs a lot of help. He is so weak. But we cheer even the smallest of accomplishments.
It’s hard for him to stand up for long. We helped him to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shave. Shaving almost did him in.
We saved brushing his teeth for later, although I think he brushed his before I did mine...
Oh well, we are learning the rhythm. Soon we will get it right.
It takes all of us to get him to the bathroom. One has to make sure his cannula isn’t getting tangled. We hold it like a bridal train; its quite a feat.
Sitting on the couch. We have small goals right now. One of which is sitting on the couch for thirty minutes to an hour.
He made it ‘to’ the couch but we had to help him ‘back’ to bed A LOT.
Our living room has become a makeshift recovery station. I sleep on the couch. He sleeps in his hospital bed next to me.
He has to have oxygen the whole night through. He takes his oxygen off several times a day while in bed. However, when he exerts himself, he has to go back on oxygen.
The settings are from 1-5. Stationary, he stays anywhere from 1-3, and when he practices normal daily life it is on the maximum; 5
We did get him a ‘traveling’ oxygen compressor as well as a home unit. The traveling one is 4-5 lbs. and we thought it would be perfect for walking to the bathroom or sitting up. The traveling unit is pulse only, which means the tank only gives him assistance with breathing ‘in.’
He is used to continuous flow, which the home unit has. And we did finally have to switch to the home unit to give him rest and peace of mind. The light weight pulse only, will have to be put aside for the time being.
He feels like he can’t breath, therefore causing very shallow breaths. We try to reassure him that all is well, but it is quite painful to see.
We are very anxious in helping him. We feel so inadequate. But I know we will all adjust as we go.
But can I just say? It’s so good to have him home. I mean, literally, we could finally rest... no place to be but here.
I ‘got to’ cook him breakfast. It felt so good. I made it extra special. Oh how I have missed that.
I snuggled with him in his little bed and caught Jono staring at us with a smile and watery eyes. He was so comforted and happy to see togetherness again.
It was the longest day ever. ‘It’s only noon?’ It was as if God had doubled our hours. I have no complaints here.
I am researching things we can do for him to make him stronger and to help him breathe better. Hoping we can find something that will help him and hopefully avoid a transplant.
I found myself waking up several times through the night just to make sure ‘he’s breathing.’ Ya, I’m a little anxious.
His frame is like a string bean and sometimes it really punches me in the gut.
But he’s home; with us. And it was so nice ‘staying’ instead of ‘going.’
I keep remembering the long walk through the covered pathway leading to the doors to the hospital. Everyday I would come. I would wheel my small little backpack filled with things for him; for me. And the ‘click.....click..... click, click...’ that the wheels would make on the sidewalk. It was the song I heard everyday. I don’t think I will ever forget that song. It sang to me, coming and going; everyday. It was a sad song.
Today was the first day I didn’t hear it. I didn’t miss it.
It’s hard to be super excited and it’s hard ‘not to be’ super excited. It’s like one of those ‘too good to be true’ moments and we are waiting for the bottom to fall out. May it never be so.
It’s late. He’s breathing; and snoring a little. New music. Me thinks I like.
Love love
Shelli
Ps. Please comment. They mean so much to us. Really!
Thanks for continuing to blog. It's nice to hear news of David's recovery and we think you all are doing a great job. We love you all, and like always, we will continue to pray.
ReplyDeleteHE'S HOME! YAY! THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!! (and Toto too:) Well avi and mae ling I'm sure are soooo happy too. I love you all very much!
ReplyDeleteWELCOME HOME DAVID!!