"Dirty vein"
Hi Friends,
Ugh, today was another busy day at work, and it got a little hairy at times but we got through it, and now it's done. Of course, I again did not get a lunch break so was not able to go over to see mom during the day, but sweet Natalie was able to stop by for a visit in the late morning, and Lilly spent some quality time with her in the late afternoon/early evening, so she did get some visitors, which was great for both her and for my peace of mind. Natalie gave her a manicure which she apparently greatly enjoyed, and Lilly was there during her speech therapy session, and then for a time afterward. I can't relate the whole of Lilly's visit because we talked about it so much, but I will relate one thing that literally made me laugh hysterically while on the bus on the way home tonight. Lilly said that it seemed like mom was sensing it was time for a tube feeding soon (perhaps the routine is starting to sink in a little bit)...she said "I'm waiting for my guy...the guy who does the...dirty vein." Lilly of course had NO idea what she was talking about and told her so...mom pointed to her feeding tube...then she pointed to Lilly's stomach and asked her if she had one too, and wanted to look at her stomach. Then she realized that of course Lilly doesn't have one, but was then looking at hers...if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense how she tried to describe it...she didn't know the name of it, but it is kind of like an IV tube (that goes in one's vein), and it's cloudy because it's the liquid food instead of clear like IV fluid would be...hence "dirty vein." Hysterical...for some reason, I found it very funny, and it was good to have a laugh. It sounds like they had a really good visit though, and I'm so glad.
When I got there tonight after work, mom was napping, but she woke up shortly after I arrived, and we had a really nice visit, too. We talked about lots of stuff...I asked if she remembered that Natalie and Lilly had been to visit her, and she said no...I said that that was okay...she acted a bit disappointed that she didn't remember, but then she said "But I will start remembering...damnit!" I assured her she would, and then we laughed together. At one point in the evening, I told her about the day of her accident...how she had called me earlier that day to ask about how many clams I thought she should get for our Labor Day celebration we were planning, and I asked if she remembered that at all, and she said she didn't. I told her how I was at work and couldn't talk to her very long on the phone, but that I will forever be grateful that I got to talk to her that day before the accident happened. Then I told her how she'd had the day off work, and was just presumably running some errands, and that she was walking along the street, and went to cross the street and how she was hit by a bus. I told her about when they finally got in touch with me at work, what they told me, and that Lilly and I both went right away to the hospital...how she was in the ICU, and in a coma, and about the surgery they had to do. I told her she was in the ICU for about 18 days, and she was shocked and asked me "I didn't know that, why didn't anybody tell me about this before?" I told her we had told her general facts about what happened but that she probably just doesn't remember, but I realized I don't think anybody had really told her any details yet. Then I told her how at first I was afraid I wouldn't get her back, but that slowly while she was still in the ICU she started being able to open her eyes, and slowly get her movement back, and then how after she went to the regular hospital floor, one day she started to be able to nod her head yes and no to questions, and then about how she started to be able to say words. And then I said, "Look at you now! You've come SUCH a long way since then!" She said she knew and that she would keep getting better. I also told her she'd have to have another surgery sometime in the near future to put the piece of her bone back on her skull, but said she didn't have to worry about that right now because it will probably be at least another month, and she said "But nothing until then, right?" I said no, no surgeries until then.
Overall, I think she had a better day today...I obviously wasn't there during the day, but from what Natalie and Lilly told me, she was a bit better than yesterday, and we had a good visit tonight. I'm off work tomorrow, so I plan to hang out with her for the day, and Lilly is coming again, too. Yay! :) I think we might watch another movie, but I don't know which one yet. Next week, she has a swallow study scheduled to see if she can start maybe eating and drinking something, and she also has an appointment with her neurosurgeon over at the other hospital, so we'll go on a field trip. Aunt Linda comes on Sunday, and I'm so excited (although I hate that I have to work)! Okay, off to bed...I can never sleep past about 8:15am these days, so I have to try to go to bed as early as possible. Please keep praying and sending love! And thanks to everyone at Coyne for the great cards...mom truly enjoyed looking at them today, and I'm sure if I show them to her tomorrow, it'll be great all over again! :)
Ugh, today was another busy day at work, and it got a little hairy at times but we got through it, and now it's done. Of course, I again did not get a lunch break so was not able to go over to see mom during the day, but sweet Natalie was able to stop by for a visit in the late morning, and Lilly spent some quality time with her in the late afternoon/early evening, so she did get some visitors, which was great for both her and for my peace of mind. Natalie gave her a manicure which she apparently greatly enjoyed, and Lilly was there during her speech therapy session, and then for a time afterward. I can't relate the whole of Lilly's visit because we talked about it so much, but I will relate one thing that literally made me laugh hysterically while on the bus on the way home tonight. Lilly said that it seemed like mom was sensing it was time for a tube feeding soon (perhaps the routine is starting to sink in a little bit)...she said "I'm waiting for my guy...the guy who does the...dirty vein." Lilly of course had NO idea what she was talking about and told her so...mom pointed to her feeding tube...then she pointed to Lilly's stomach and asked her if she had one too, and wanted to look at her stomach. Then she realized that of course Lilly doesn't have one, but was then looking at hers...if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense how she tried to describe it...she didn't know the name of it, but it is kind of like an IV tube (that goes in one's vein), and it's cloudy because it's the liquid food instead of clear like IV fluid would be...hence "dirty vein." Hysterical...for some reason, I found it very funny, and it was good to have a laugh. It sounds like they had a really good visit though, and I'm so glad.
When I got there tonight after work, mom was napping, but she woke up shortly after I arrived, and we had a really nice visit, too. We talked about lots of stuff...I asked if she remembered that Natalie and Lilly had been to visit her, and she said no...I said that that was okay...she acted a bit disappointed that she didn't remember, but then she said "But I will start remembering...damnit!" I assured her she would, and then we laughed together. At one point in the evening, I told her about the day of her accident...how she had called me earlier that day to ask about how many clams I thought she should get for our Labor Day celebration we were planning, and I asked if she remembered that at all, and she said she didn't. I told her how I was at work and couldn't talk to her very long on the phone, but that I will forever be grateful that I got to talk to her that day before the accident happened. Then I told her how she'd had the day off work, and was just presumably running some errands, and that she was walking along the street, and went to cross the street and how she was hit by a bus. I told her about when they finally got in touch with me at work, what they told me, and that Lilly and I both went right away to the hospital...how she was in the ICU, and in a coma, and about the surgery they had to do. I told her she was in the ICU for about 18 days, and she was shocked and asked me "I didn't know that, why didn't anybody tell me about this before?" I told her we had told her general facts about what happened but that she probably just doesn't remember, but I realized I don't think anybody had really told her any details yet. Then I told her how at first I was afraid I wouldn't get her back, but that slowly while she was still in the ICU she started being able to open her eyes, and slowly get her movement back, and then how after she went to the regular hospital floor, one day she started to be able to nod her head yes and no to questions, and then about how she started to be able to say words. And then I said, "Look at you now! You've come SUCH a long way since then!" She said she knew and that she would keep getting better. I also told her she'd have to have another surgery sometime in the near future to put the piece of her bone back on her skull, but said she didn't have to worry about that right now because it will probably be at least another month, and she said "But nothing until then, right?" I said no, no surgeries until then.
Overall, I think she had a better day today...I obviously wasn't there during the day, but from what Natalie and Lilly told me, she was a bit better than yesterday, and we had a good visit tonight. I'm off work tomorrow, so I plan to hang out with her for the day, and Lilly is coming again, too. Yay! :) I think we might watch another movie, but I don't know which one yet. Next week, she has a swallow study scheduled to see if she can start maybe eating and drinking something, and she also has an appointment with her neurosurgeon over at the other hospital, so we'll go on a field trip. Aunt Linda comes on Sunday, and I'm so excited (although I hate that I have to work)! Okay, off to bed...I can never sleep past about 8:15am these days, so I have to try to go to bed as early as possible. Please keep praying and sending love! And thanks to everyone at Coyne for the great cards...mom truly enjoyed looking at them today, and I'm sure if I show them to her tomorrow, it'll be great all over again! :)
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