First, I hate not being there...second, I hate getting these updates second-hand because I can't ask questions and get them answered. But...Chris is doing a pretty good job of keeping me updated.
The surgery did not go as planned, and I don't know if it could be called a success. Chris's dad's heart was functioning at 40% efficiency prior to the surgery. The hope with the triple-bypass was to increase the efficiency to closer to 90-100%. Unfortunately, after they completed the triple-bypass, they couldn't start his heart. They immediately went back in and did an emergency bypass (making it a quadruple bypass surgery). The doctor gave a pretty grim outlook that his quality of life may be at 45-50% (if that) and that he was on borrowed time. Not the kind of news you hope to hear after a 10 hour surgery.
The rest of the updates are mostly via text from Chris (who changed his plane ticket from flying home on 2/24 to 3/3), so here they are:
We just saw him briefly. We can see him again from 9-10 PM. Nurses are changing shifts right now.
(2/22 @ 6:33 PM)
Back at Fisher House (free lodging for family). It is really nice, btw. We visited with him for about 30 minutes. The nurse said he needs to rest. He opens his eyes a little. Will get to visit again tomorrow from 10-6. Will call night nurse before her shift ends at 6:00.
(2/22 @ 8:55 PM)
Btw, if things went way south, I would definitely want you here. But, at this point I'm hoping for the best.
(2/23 @ 9:28 AM)
They're not waking him up until tomorrow now. He opens his eyes, barely, when we talk to him. I had to step out of the icu for some fresh air. The floor felt like it was moving. Teresa was feeling faint last night. Damn emotions!
(2/23 @ 9:30 AM)
I'm expecting him to recover, but quality of life will probably not improve. He's gonna be maaaddd!
(2/23 @ 9:36 AM)
As long as hes up for the nascar race on Sunday. :)
(2/23 @ 9:37 AM)
Right now they don't trust his heart to function on its own. It's working, but needs help.
(2/23 @ 9:42 AM)
This place sucks. Can't sit in icu, no chairs. They don't want you to get comfortable, I guess.
(2/23 @ 10:05 AM)
Next step is rest for the day, then wake him up tomorrow.
(2/23 @ 1:00 PM)
Spoke with the doctor, danny chu, now he might be on the ventilator through the weekend. His heart is doing better, but his lungs are weak now.
(2/23 @ 4:48 PM)
Just visited dad couple minutes ago. He was very responsive. This nurse didn't care if we bothered him. Its good for him. He wanted water, but they can't give that to him, so they swabbed his mouth. His blood pressure drops a little when we talk to him, but not too much. He gestured as if how long have I been here and he seemed relieved when we told him its only been a day. He can nod and mouth words a lil. He stuck his tongue out at us. Anywho, I think he's improved. Good news. Definitely not out of the woods though.
(2/23 @ 9:06 PM)
They just gave him a unit of blood. His hemoglobin was low, typical with the surgery, so no concern.
(2/24 @ 10:10 AM)
They took the balloon pump out of his leg, which is good. His heart doesn't need assistance pumping blood anymore. They also lowered his oxygen level from 100% to 40%. I believe 40% is as low as they'll go before removing the machine. He asked for water again and asked for us to turn the tv off. We have to guess what he wants and he nods. So, things are looking better!
(2/24 @ 11:49 AM)
Praise the Lord! It's amazing the changes that happen in 24 hours. Please still keep praying for him! And for Teresa and Chris in Houston...it's been an emotionally draining week!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
For your eye's only....
Do you remember writing that on your notes to your friends? You know...the one's that you had to fold all cool...and then you'd give it to them in the hall between classes? *sigh* I must be going back to my awkward pre-teen years subconsciously... My braces were put on this morning. Here are some pics:
Before....
After (Can you see them????)
There they are!!!!
Don't pretend...you know you're jealous of my sexiness right now... :)
Onto other news. Chris is in Houston with his sister and dad. His dad is scheduled for open heart surgery (his second) tomorrow. It is a 10 hour surgery and prayers are always appreciated. I know they have several bypasses that they plan to do and something with an aneurysm. I don't pretend to understand all of it, I just pray that the Lord guides the surgeons' hands! The survival rate is 90%...which is fairly high...and I just don't think about what the other 10% means. Pray for his dad and the feelings he must be going through leading up to the surgery and for his recovery after the surgery. Pray for the family there to feel His presence and to remain calm during the long 10 hours. They don't plan to wake Johnnie up until Wednesday morning. He will be on a respirator (I think that's what it is) until Thursday night, so unfortunately, Chris won't be able to talk with his dad prior to flying back to Phoenix, but his dad should be awake before he leaves town. I wish I could be there with them, but I also know that Morgan would not do so well at a hospital for 10 hours during the surgery and it would be a bit much right after the surgery. We'll have to plan a trip to Shreveport to visit Johnnie after he recovers. Preferably before Morgie turns two...so we don't have to pay for that third plane ticket! :) Since we can't be there, Morgie has sent along a get well card to her Papaw:
She worked very hard on this card!
I hope everyone is doing well out there! About to go take some more Advil and drink a shake for dinner!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Access at work? Holla! :-)
On a whim, I thought I'd try blogger again to see if access was still restricted at work, lo and behold, the webpage loaded up with no nasty messages about denied access! Yay!
Let's see...the last blog talked about Morgie taking her first steps...where are we today?
Morgie is a running machine! She is SO tiny though. She still has not hit 20 lbs yet (although the pediatrician gave his blessing to turn her car seat around at her 12 month appointment...come to think of it...I think she weighed the same at her 18 month appointment that she did at her 12 month appointment). I don't know if that should worry me at all, but the pediatrician didn't seem too bothered by it. She just seems so tiny to be running around and trying to climb on things. Chris was traveling and I was home alone with Morgan when it got really quiet in the house...I went to her playroom and she was standing on top of her little tikes picnic table...yes...the table... Silly girl!
We flew to Nebraska for the Christmas holiday. A nice time with family but again we did not take one picture (what horrible parents are we?). I got the flu and food poisoning while in Nebraska and gave it to everyone in my parents house and Chris's mother (the flu...obviously can't give people food poisoning). Most of our trip was spent in bed trying to recover...and if you had already recovered...you were taking care of Morgan. We were sad that this trip wasn't what we planned it to be, but we were EXTREMELY happy to go home and be sick in our own bed!
The new year came and went. I turned 28. 28?!?!?! Holy cow! It's the first time I've really said it or wrote it down (or in this case typed it). Chris turned 28... We are just getting old. I told him I thought it was really strange that when kids in high school see us at the mall, we're no longer the young, slightly older than them adults...we are straight up adults now...real grown ups. What can you do but go with the flow?
It's been such a busy time. It was madness at work trying to coordinate the transfer process for employees at our location to the sister call center down the road...and guess who gets to manage all of the information? This gal! It's a good thing I enjoy spreadsheets and color-coding. They officially announced our call center will close in August/September 2011...let's see how everything works out. I have hope and am optimistic that there may be something for me with the new company. If not, the Lord knows what He's doing..and His plans are better than mine!
Chris's dad suffered a minor stroke in November. Chris was able to go visit him while he was recovering, and now he's preparing for open heart surgery. Chris's dad has to travel to Houston (from Louisiana) for the high-risk operation. Chris's sister, Teresa, will be traveling with him and was able to take a month's leave from work to help care for their dad during his recovery. The pre-op testing begins 2/14 with an unknown date for the surgery (most likely 2/17 or 2/18). Chris will be flying to Houston during the recovery time (2/21-2/24)...he unfortunately can't make the actual surgery since he is in a prep course for his FE exam Thursday through Sunday (2/17-2/20) He would normally make the decision to miss those classes, but the class was paid for by work, and it's a 100% attendance policy. :-(
Other than that, everything is peachy! Chris's younger sister (Meagan) and her husband (Matt) will be visiting us in April during their spring break. My brother (John) and his wife (Melissa) are visiting us for the 4th of July holiday and we've rented a cabin in Greer, AZ again. Excited about these visits!
Now...to leave the post and start working again, here are some pics!
Seriously...leave the camera alone with Chris...and this is what happens! Morgie's face says it all!
I'm such a "big" little girl!
A rocking horse for Christmas!
So many presents!
A recent visit to the park!
I love the slide...(as long as someone's holding me!)
Morgie's first car! She loves it...she would eat every meal in that car if she could!
We were at a friend's house for the Superbowl and their 3 year old has this Power Wheels Fire Truck. We were all watching the game when we heard the truck...Morgie had hopped right in and started driving away...she couldn't steer...but still...pretty impressive.
Also at the Superbowl party, we did Cupcake Wars. I am SO not domestic, but I made lemon cupcakes and homemade frosting and deocrated these little bad boys. Not too shabby for my first time, huh? Makes me think I can actually make a birthday cake for Morgie this year. These are our fishy cupcakes!
Our football cupcakes
And that's where we are! Have a great day all!
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