Good News

Never sure what the day is going bring...good news....less than good news....bad news.

Some mornings when I call my sweetheart to say Good Morning he sounds so down, sometimes slightly confused, sometimes (my favorite) his normal chipper self that makes everyone smile. Amount of sleep, pain, fever and boredom all effect him.

In the late fall we were told that Dwight had MRSA in the huge bed sore. Red warning signs appeared on his door, yellow gowns were worn by the staff in his room. Those of us visiting used extra amounts of hand sanitizer. Grandkids and children didn't visit for a couple weeks---till we were told that real danger is only to those working directly on the wound. But then Dwight was moved from the semi private room to a private room. My dear social husband. But we have handled it,all the tough parts. We made it through birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and The Super Bowl. With the Lord's help we made it. The prayers of many, many people added to our daily prayers and trust in the LORD is how we handled it.

Today he was told he is MRSA free. Red signs gone. The special cart full of special equipment gone. Not sure if (or when) he is going back into a semi private room.

The social worker has been in a couple of times asking where he is going, home or to another nursing home. We didn't know that was an option, we had asked in July that he be put on the waiting list for a long term care room. Still trying to figure that out, Dwight is far from being strong enough to come home. Our home is not set up for caring for him until he again can do alot of things for himself. And it is not our choice for him to go anywhere else, he is happy there. The social worker doesn't seem to have any appointment slots available when I can come (and when Dwight isn't on dialysis)to discuss this with her.

But the infection (in the ports used for dialysis and accompanied by a fever) Dwight has been battling (and is still on antibiotics for) is going away, and did I mention...?

The MRSA is gone!!!! Praise the Lord.

Steeleer Fan

Things have been pretty much routine. Dialysis three times a week, wound care at least one a month, usually two times. The wound is finally healing, when it is healed, then therapy can start.


January 5th they finally took out the second stint that they were not able to get out the first week of November. Yes it took that long to reschedule.

There have been some issue with the Foley tube plugging up, so I guess he is still making kidney stones or some real close cousins. I demanded that they get orders to flush it when needed, or daily. It took 9 hours for them to get an order this last time. Six of those hours Dwight spent with stomach pain because his bladder was full and over full. The nurses couldn't do anything about it without Doctor written orders. Finally they came, orders to flush as needed, up to three times. Then what..?



Dwight is very glad that he is missing most of the weather. He is wheeled out under a canopy and unloaded under a canopy. He snuggles into his Steeler fleece and wears a grey cap with a Buckeye O on it, his toes are toasty in his red fleece slippers. He is well dressed and sporting his teams! He does get a few 'remarks' from those who do not appreciate the great team from Pittsburgh.



We are thankful that there have been no major problems of late. They need to replace the dialysis port tomorrow.



It is hard to believe that it was a year ago that I noticed something was wrong in addition to new back ache Dwight had. If only one of the Doctors we contacted (and saw) about this had taken it seriously....


....my compter wouldn't let me post yesterday. And we have a new problem. Dwight's port for dialysis wouldn't work yesterday. Nor would the spot in his arm, so he had no dialysis. Today, Wednesday, they are replacing the ports. No dialysis till Thursday. Dwight was alittle down, just weary of it all.

He still is a good kisser!! Love that guy.

Christmas

When the children were children and we lived in Leetonia our Family had very specific traditions that we followed without fail every Christmas season. Although traditions, and following them, are not the reason for the season, they do glue it all together and add to the anticipation of the season.

But life brings changes. We managed to maintain our traditions with slight adjustments as first we started pastoring 45 minutes from home. With the Church responsibilities only a few adjustments where needed. We barely noticed. The children started graduating from high school, a few more adjustments. We moved to Warren, a few more. Nothing major, the large ceramic tree--a gift from new friends when we moved to Leetonia--still came out the day after Thanksgiving. Cookie making began full force, lots of good eating, parties and gifting from our baking fun.
St Lucia day was never missed. December 13th was a very special, busy day at the Shirey's.

But then more changes, Dwight in a wheelchair. The year that happened our traditions fell by the wayside. The next Christmas, 2003, we were back in Leetonia with a For Sale sign in our front yard. We were able to regain some of our traditions, altho alot of things were packed in boxes awaiting our move to a yet unpurchased home in Columbus.

But Christmas 2004 found us nicely settled in a cute Cape Cod home and traditions all in place. And our number of grandchildren grew from one when we moved here to 5 by our second anniversary in our new home.

We have had wonderful Christmas times with our laughing, loving family. And our traditions continued intact with slight adjustments.

Till this year. My dear husband began showing signs of something being off kilter about the same time Esther Faith entered Children's Hospital for a 21 day stay. Dwight's problem was not properly diagnosed and he hasn't been home since Easter.

Traditions almost completely fell apart. None of us celebrated St Lucia day. I didn't bake a single cookie. Because now 2 of the grandchildren live here my daughter gently encouraged me to decorate. Once I got going I regained some Christmas spirit. I even made new window valances and fleece throws to coordinate so the living room is festive.

But Christmas Eve, our traditional gift opening time was very different. Dwight is still in a nursing home. All week he had been very down, so down he wasn't sure he wanted to see anyone. But we prayed and prevailed. I took in one gift for each person to open from Papa and Mimi. We laughed, smiled,hugged and loved, pretending this was normal. Dwight read the Christmas story with his usual dramatic flair from his new Kindle. We had family prayer and opened our gifts. Excitement filled the room as all grandkids and children loved their gifts. Our son missed all the fun, work kept him late and he didn't get to Columbus until we were eating at Karin and Tim's. We did make him open his gift from Mom and Dad there---a Michigan blanket, he loved the blanket and all the ribbing he got from his OSU loving family.

Tradition--changed, family love--the same.

Some people...

Called my dear husband to say good morning only to discover him very discouraged.

Today is the three year anniversary of his brother's going home to glory. Calvin was only fifty, he left us too early.

Add that to what a nurse callously told him yesterday and I guess he should be discouraged. She told him his bed sore will never heal and that he is a long term patient. Don't think it was her place to tell him, or that he should have been told without us being with him when he was told. And we should have been told if this in deed fact and not just her opinion.

Sometimes I just don't know how to encourage him. I love him dearly and try to keep his spirits up.

Friday he had a visit from Dr Paul and Ruth. We have known Ruth for many years and she recalled many happy memories. As our friend Gigi says, as we age these memories grow fonder. Along with a goody bag, Dr Paul and Ruth gave him two of the best gifts ever, smiles and prayer. Thanks.

A Sweet Date

Esther Faith's discharge was taking wa-a-a-a-ay longer than anticipated and Isaac was home alone....till his Mimi snagged him for a date. A sweet date.

I had called it and informed him that we were going on a date. But 10 year olds haven't got the total picture of dating--so after the order was placed at Tim Horton's it was my wallet that was used (along with my last Lincoln) to acquire our sweet treats. (the Tim Horton lady felt sorry me and gave a senior citizen discount--still not used to that).

We found a not so cozy seat and shared our drinks and timbits. Isaac tried the candy cane cocoa and declared it worthy of a return visit to Tim Horton's.

We talked school, secrets, and the wonderful features of our cell phones. He decided he needed to make sure everything was okay on mine and used half the battery feeding the frogs that live inside my phone.

Being a Grandmother racks in the top five best things in the world.

Here we go again, again

Yesterday Dwight went to wound care. We thought he was healing ok, slowly, some parts slower than others, but healing. We were told this by the nurses. We all want it to be faster, but it is what it is.

But the wound care Dr doesn't think so. "Horrid, just horrid." He admitted there is some progress, but some is much worse. So bad he wanted to admit Dwight to the hospital. But Dwight refused. He really does not want to go to the hospital. Am not sure what they would do there, other than IV antibiotic. I asked for a copy of the Doctors report but the night nurse couldn't find where the day nurse put it. We are waiting the results of a culture they took.

Then this morning Karin let us know they were taking Esther Faith to the ER. She has been vomiting all night. Waiting again...

I am glad I had my blue day earlier this week, this wouldn't be a good day for it. Am thankful for the beautiful snow, will be even more thankful if the road crews are doing a good job. Our street is plowed, but it is always one of the first, often better than RT 270!!!

Had Mr & Mrs cardinal at the window feeder this morning. So love watching the birds. And the cats watching the birds!!! Can't yell at them for sitting on the table with such temptation inches away.

Thank you in advance for all who will be praying.

Proverbs 14:13

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

This verse is how I awoke this morning. I am determined not the let the imps of hell win, I realize and acknowledge the greatness and goodness of God to the world, my family and myself. And that satan is a lair.

It is just my battery is almost dead and my charger is on super slow. But with God and His word I will be victorious.

Psalms 42:5,6a

Why am I discouraged?
...Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
...I will praise him again--
..my Savior and my God!