Mom & Cell Phone Update Part 2: 12-28-12
Mom & Cell Phone Update: 12/28/12
What a freakin' day...
We looked high and low for a new cell phone for me. My old one just would NOT come back to life. So we went to a pawn shop and they tried to talk me into some phone with prepaid and no charger. Wendell didn't feel comfy with that place so we left and headed to the hospital. He figured once we got there, he'd look for one then. He went to Best Buy and one other place and had no luck. ARGH!!!
So...we got to the hospital and checked on mom. She looked really good!! She was her feisty old self and had some of her color back. She even ate a chicken sandwich!!! Some of her swelling in her arm went down and she was up walking a bit. But she had bad news...they did an echo-cardiogram and found that heart function went from 40% to 30% in one day. Her heart muscle is too weak and they are not sure why...maybe a clog, maybe an infection, who knows...I didn't get to talk to the Cardio doc but I did get to talk to the nurse and the nurse told me that it doesn't help that she is a heavy smoker and on dialysis (Duh!) and that mom wouldn't survive ANY kind of surgery right now in her condition. So...no surgery for her bleed or anything else. They are hoping the bleed will go away on it's own. She still has the bleeding under her skin but all her blood counts are up. She said the pain is getting a little better and is weaning off of the morphine and she can "feel" the ruptured cyst shrinking so that is good.
Mom wanted to go for a walk and a smoke so I went with her. She did really well, walking the hospital grounds. I watched with a careful eye out of curiosity just to see exactly how much she does smoke and noticed she only takes 3-4 puffs and the rest of it goes to waste. Weird. I think a lot of it is the hand motion...cause when she isn't smoking she is sucking down crackers to no end. Either way, it still is affecting her. Nicotine...mans worse enemy.
After we got back inside the hospital, a doctor and an EKG man came walking down the halls and stopped us. They were looking for her and figured well, she is the only patient way down here so it has to be her. They are running stress tests on her and wanted to prepare her for some of them tonight so we went back up to the room and the tech put the dye in her and then they hauled her off to Xray.
While mom was down at Xray and having her dinner, W, stepdad and I a chance to go back to the chicken place for dinner. 🙂 Then W and I went to Costco to investigate cell phones. The guys at Costco felt so bad for us but couldn't help us, but did tell us to go to the big Verizon store in the Glendale Galleria, which was 2 miles from the hospital. So, that's where we went. GIANT ASS MALL!!! :-O But somehow Wendell managed to find a parking spot right close to the Verizon store. I figured this was a good sign. Then we checked in at the Verizon store and waited our turn. The Verizon store manager overheard our story and...gave me a FREE PHONE. A NICE BRAND NEW PHONE. A PHONE better than my old one!!! I had to buy the accessories package and pay the Calif sales tax to get the free phone but it was WORTH IT. They also threw in some "extra" goodies in the bag for mine and Wendells phone!! Now how about that!!! I was so happy I was in tears!! The manager guy that helped us came around from the counter and gave me a hug and said "this is what we do for our customers." Awww!! When things settle down I am sending him a thank you with some candy or something!! Wendell was equally impressed!! It is so nice to still see some kindness in this world when one is down like I have been lately. That made me smile again. :-$
We went back to the hospital to say good night to mom. She was sleeping so I didn't want to wake her but she must known I was there cause she popped open her eyes and said "Moms tired. In the bed!" But then she sat up and wanted to see my phone and all the goodies and then her, Wendell and I just chatted for another 1 1/2 hours until she kicked us out. LOL!! She munched on crackers while I munched on my 2 clamshell cookies and 1% milk. We were discussing the Jetsons and Wendell was humming the songs and cartoon characters. Wendell kept making her laugh and she kept snapping at him to cut it out; makes her hurt!! hehehe (she was teasing him tho.) She made a list of where she wants to go when she gets out. Glendale Galleria, the chicken place, the Mexican place, etc... fine with me.
I told the nurse on my way out PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON HER and HER HEART. She promised she would. Her B.P. was 174/70 when we left so that was good...beats the 190/88!!! (You medical folks will understand all of that stuff.)
So, that is the latest. I am SO freaking tired and exhausted I could sleep for a week! But, mom has the rest of her tests for her heart tomorrow so I can't. I'll be moving to my new motel and then heading to the hospital.
Good night for now...Until tomorrow...
:angel:
Mom & Cell Phone Update Part 2: 12-28-12
So glad that your Mom is doing better. Still have a ways to go, but I can sense that you have the strength to handel it.
After you send the Verizon guy a "Happy Pack", be sure to send an email to Verizon Headquarters praising this guy's efforts to help you. An overjoyed customer can do great things for that young man's career. I have heard that Verizon is BIG on rewarding stores for super service.
Mom & Cell Phone Update Part 2: 12-28-12
Best wishes for your mom.
The letter is probably a good idea, but don't imply that he cost the company any money in helping you.
Mom & Cell Phone Update Part 2: 12-28-12
> Best wishes for your mom.
>
> The letter is probably a good idea, but don't imply that he cost the company any money in helping you.
Good point, Bill. I'll write a great thank you note without mentioning the freebies. 😉
Mom Update 12-29-12
Mom and Me Update 12/29/12:
Well, today was a tiny bit better than yesterday, thank God. Even though I have only been getting 5-6 hours sleep a night, it seems like when there's more stress in a particular day that I dragggggg the next day. Today I did O.K.!!! But it is catching up with me now, so I will try to make this short and sweet. (Good thing I type 110+ a minute on this keyboard!) B-)
Hubby and I got out of the "towel stealing" hotel room and checked into our new place. As soon as we got here he said "Good Choice! I LIKE this place!" If you all saw where we were before and where we are now, you'd understand why. I think this place has 16 rooms total and it is super clean, cute and QUIET! NO ONE ABOVE US!! NO screaming drunk people running around! No piles of dog "piles" to step in!! YAY!!! And the owner is SUPER!!! He said when riff raff comes here to get a room he sends them to where we were. LOL!! SO glad I found this place...this is where I'll be staying from now on when I visit. :-$
After we checked in and unpacked, we headed to the hospital. Mom was resting when we got there but she must know when I come because she popped open her eyes and smiled and perked up. Today she had a better day and ate most of her breakfast!! But, she isn't getting out for at least another few days. 🙁 Her kidney doctor said there's "too much going on" to let her go. After we chatted for a bit, she wanted to go outside for her "fix" so off we went. She said last night she got busted by the security guard so now she has to walk further to smoke. Oops!! :-O
We came back and Wendell got us all some coffee. Mom didn't want to go back to her room so we stayed down in the lobby for a bit and hung out, chatting and such. She kept telling us she was so glad we came down here, but that I don't have to come out EVERY day and she can tell I am getting worn down and that I should rest. Easier said than done, of course. :-/
When they did last nights prep for her stress test today, the dye lit up her veins and arteries and heart and they discovered why her heart is not working properly and cancelled the rest of the stress test. She has blockages and so on Monday at 8 AM she's getting an angiogram and angioplasty. Plus, she is still bleeding internally; it is slowing down, but it's still there. The blood is still pooling under her skin. IF you saw her stomach, abdomen, lower torso and leg, you'd think she got beat up by a mack truck!! Thank goodness it doesn't hurt or itch or anything. The bleed is from that one GIANT cyst that ruptured; but before it ruptured it attached itself to her stomach and apparently parts of it are still attached to the stomach. And...now that this cyst ruptured and "moved", all of her other cysts (100s of them) have room so they are all moving around and causing some difficulties. Crazy ass disease. I told her its like she has a litter of kids in there but no prize to birth out!! It made her laugh... 😉
Her blood pressure is finally down...153/75. But her Oxygen sat was at 89-92% so they are keeping an eye on that. Her bronchitis is GONE thank God. One less thing to deal with. They brought her dinner and she didn't like any of it so my stepdad ate it and W and I went to the little taco shop next to the hospital to get her some food and to try it out ourselves. MAN IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I know it was cause I took mom back a small meal and she scarfed it down!!!! Then she ate cookies!! We also made a stop at the little bakery next to the taco shop and went to Vons to get mom some anti boredom magazines. (She likes to do the crossword puzzles in them.)
She has been outside several times to get fresh air and her "fix". I walk with her and we just chat about whatevers on her mind. A lot has been on her mind lately and she is confiding to me a lot of personal, private things. (Sorry, can't say what cause it's personal and private. 😛 )
We can see Forest Lawn Glendale (yes, same place most of the movie stars are "resting" at including MJ) from the street she walks up and down and so she starts discussing Forest Lawn and how they helped her when her cousin died and buried him for free, and how cemeteries are nothing to be afraid of; the people are there with their Maker, and partying, and not suffering and in any pain. We wave to her favorite cousin and tell him "hi". Ya, we're weird!!
We get back to the room and I have my milk and 2 daily clamshell cookies and I get that "look". (She hates my clamshell cookies!) Then we discuss our family's Sicilian Italian spaghetti recipe and how my stepdad tries to tell her how to cook it and she chases him out of the kitchen. I told her my friend Anna taught me even more tricks of the trade. (Anna is from Italy and fluent in ALL Italian stuff!) Mom wants me to make a batch after she is out of the hospital...so does Wendell. And with Rigatonis, not Spaghetti noodles. Who am I to say no?? Then she gripes at me because her new roommate spoke Spanish only and was gonna fall down and I got up to talk to her and help her and then got the nurses. She thinks I help these people too much. I said well, how would YOU feel if no one was there to help YOU in your condition??? She though about it for a minute and said "Yea your right." But then griped more anyhow. 😛
She has now claimed Wendell as her "Buddy". I said why?? She said "Because he doesn't nag me about smoking and because he puts up with your B.S. and he gave me a grandchild." Sheesh I think Wendell ranks higher than I do!! o.O
They are getting to know me well at this hospital; the guards told me where all of the free "Secret" Parking is and where the good food joints are. The nurses always smile and come say "Hi, Angel!" when I get there. The car dealership right next to the hospital let me park there today and I thanked them. They all say "Not many are as friendly and helpful as you are; you aren't from here are you??" They think I am from St. Louis cause of my Cardinals scarf hehe... I find it crazy that at 9 PM there's women walking down the street around this hospital with $5000 purses and $700 shoes!!! ALONE!!! "This is Glendale, not L.A." the guard said. Ok...like I know the difference. :-S
Mom had to have one last fix so at about 9:30 PM we went outside and walked to the car, and then Wendell drove her back to the front hospital entrance and I walked her inside and she went back to her room. She told me to REST and not come out tomorrow...she doesn't need ME sick too. (true true) So, with that we left and stopped at DumDum mart then came back to our cozy motel room.
Anyhow, I typed more than I wanted too so...for now I am going to BED. I am beat; again. Good night, all!!
Mom Update 12-30-12
Bump.
Sweet dreams, jelly beans.
Mom Update 12-30-12
Mom Update 12/30/12:
Well, today I was going to take it easy and get some errands done and then go have dinner with my girlfriends but...things changed.
I woke up at 9:15 am to the housekeeper knocking at the door. Ugh! I managed to drift back off to sleep off and on and finally got up for good around noon. I guess I was beat!!! I figured before I head out and do stuff, I'll call stepdad and then mom. So, I called mom and I could tell right away something was not right. She was just too tired to talk too much. She had a rough night and day...didn't get hardly any sleep and was puking most of the morning/afternoon. Couldn't eat or hold anything down. She told me they were moving her to the heart floor to keep an eye on her for tonight and tomorrow. I told her to rest and I'd call her a little later after I got to her house.
So, we went to stepdads for lunch and to do a few errands. (See Wendells facebook photo of his "lunch".) I called mom after we ate and and she was REALLY grouchy and feeling lousy. I asked her if she wanted us to come out but she said no. I didn't listen and we all went anyhow. I just didn't like what I was hearing and needed to check on her myself and speak to her nurses, etc...
We got out there about 1/2 hour later. (It's only a 25 minute drive from moms doorstep to hospital doorstep.) When we got there the nurse was going into her room so I asked her what was going on with the puking, etc..and the nurse had no idea! Apparently the floor mom was on did not tell this floor about it. Good thing I went!! The nurse went in to take moms blood pressure and at first, mom didn't budge. Scared the !@#$% outta me!!!! But then she groggily woke up and got it taken.
I could tell when we walked in that she was wiped out and not feeling good. Her eyes were watery and glossy and she was swollen. Her skin color still isn't "right". Her hematoma under her skin seems to have leveled off for now, but the color is changing from purple/red to a darker purple almost black. I am hoping this means it is finally stopping bleeding and healing up. She was glad to see us, but just really, REALLY irritable and tired. She said she hadn't even went outside to smoke. She was able to chat with us for a couple of hours but she wasn't her usual talkative self. She mainly did a lot of listening. They brought her dinner and all she ate was the vanilla pudding. I went and got her some jello and she ate about 2 spoonfuls. I could tell she was just exhausted beyond belief and so I told her I will be back in the AM before her angio stuff and then we left early so she could get some much needed rest.
On my way out I talked with moms nurse; I told the nurse that she had a new medication last night and maybe that is why she was puking and to please keep an eye on her and that I would be back in the AM. I asked the nurse if she knew when moms angio stuff was going on and she just got whiny with me; not sure why cause you guys all know I treat ALL medical personnel with the utmost respect. I always, ALWAYS show my appreciation and thank them for anything they do for my mom, big or little. This nurse...ugh...I don't think she even listened to me about any of moms concerns cause she didn't write anything down and just blew me off; she said "We're changing shifts right now and I don't really have time to help you, sorry. But if your mom needs anything, tell her to let us know." *sigh*
We stopped at McDs on the way home so I could get a caramel sundae and stepdad a hot fudge sundae and W an apple pie. So...no clamshell cookies for me tonight!! :'(
Now I am just kicking back and catching up on things. I hope I can sleep tonight!!!
So, I figure I will head out to the hospital tomorrow at about 6:30AM. This way I am there by 7 AM just in case they start early or anything else. That is all I have for now. I'll have my PC with me at the hospital tomorrow and Wendell will have his so you'll see us online during the time we're waiting for mom and during her "lockdown" time after angio.
More tomorrow...
PS: Thank you to the couple of you that have "helped us out". We really really REALLY appreciate it more than I can say and when I get back home and settled down I will make sure I get you out thank you cards and other goodies. 🙂
Mom Update 1-1-13
Moms out of the hospital...she got out New Years Day. 12-31 was a rough day and I had probably pages of updates that day on Facebook but did not want to post them here and bore you guys to pieces... :-/
I am still in Southern California, at least for another week. Even though she is "out", she is still a bit sick and I need to stick around and help her as much as possible.
Thank you to ALL that sent kind words, prayers, thoughts, cards, $$, etc... I am so eternally grateful to you guys!!! Ya gave me the warm fuzzies and continue to do so by your graciousness, generosity and kindness. :love: :-$
Mom Update 1-1-13
Been mostly out of the loop since before Christmas and just saw this thread.
Praying for your mom's recovery and for your peace of mind.
