Hospital - November 8, 2014

I was in the hospital.

I dislike the word hindsight. It makes me feel ignorant. Still, if I had paid attention to my body, I would have realized how sick I was.

I wasn't well during the family gathering and in hindsight, I wasn't well long before that.

By November 8, 2014, I would be in distress with Jeri rushing me to the hospital. She said I was blue from lack of oxygen.

When we arrived at the hospital the staff didn't make me wait, I was gasping, reaching for every breath. They took me back, slapped oxygen on me and began pulling at me and sticking things in my arms. The oxygen began working and I could think again.

I tried to ignore this for a day and a half! This is what not getting enough oxygen can do to a person. While feeling like this I tried to log onto my computer. My brain and my fingers just weren't talking to one another. I couldn't understand it. I kept trying but I just couldn't get into my computer. This was the second day. This is when I called Jeri.

I'm a note taker so I tried to keep a record of what happened, who I talked to and concerns while I was there.

November 8, 2014 - Miami Valley Hospital Emergency

No less than four doctors (no names that I wrote down). Their concerns, Pneumonia, heart and lungs. Oxygen was at (I think) 45. I don't remember 45 what but I do remember that number.

Jeri was permitted to stay in my room with me, thank God. Eric joined her after he got off work and they stayed with me until I was admitted to Cardiac ICU. It was late about eight I think when they settled me in my room.

I was afraid. I was afraid I'd go to sleep and not wake up for a month. I was afraid I'd stop breathing like the last time and I'd wake up vented. I did not sleep well.

November 9, 2014

Doctors unsure of what is going on. Blood tests and x-rays are inconclusive. Heart unlikely but unsure yet. Lungs, oxygen continued with continued x-rays.

Cardiac doctor (don't remember name) began ticking off questions, I answered then he came to 'do you have pets?' 'what kind?' and when I told him he said "get rid of them". His assistant shot him a look and so did the nurse. I was stunned and almost cried. I did a little.

Catheter because of Laxix
Heparin
Prednisone (for lungs)

Jeri and Eric came by for a short time. They were on their way to feed and water Micah and Corky. Jeri will pick up a few things for me while there.

Slept much better during the night. Woke only once!

November 10, 2014

Moved out of Cardiac ICU to Pulmonary. I was barely there thirty minutes when they moved me again. It was just to the opposite end of the the Pulmonary hall. Apparently, one end takes care of the more serious lung cases. I was being moved to the side that wasn't so serious. Thank you Father.

Appetite has returned. Managed coffee before breakfast and was allowed to sit in the chair to eat. Kept thinking about Micah and Corky. I was so unsure of what to do. My health is important. And I love my birds!

Had heart ultra-sound.

Lung Doctor is Dr. Hagaman - I like him a lot. It looks like my lungs are the issue. He's still waiting on a couple of tests. He must have known (without me saying one word) about what the heart doctor said about Micah and Corky. "I see no reason why you should give up your birds." He said it a couple of times.

I had already begun trying to find a good home for Micah. I was thinking Sherri (therapist) would take him.

Jeri and Eric checked on the birds and brought my mail among other things. Randy also called.

November 11, 2014

Didn't sleep too well. Staff in and out for vitals and whatever else. I'd wake and couldn't go back to sleep.

Bathed and had breakfast while I was still in the chair. Didn't feel like stay in it though.

Becky called.

Dr. Goyle. Heart and surgeon. Will have heart cath by Friday. (not doctor who said to get rid of birds)

Dr. Hagaman. Reiterated about Micah and Corky (I was so happy) I'll be on steroids for awhile will go home with them but will continue a therapy regiment or a couple of months (possibly longer)

Randy called. Diana called.

November 12, 2014

Slept well last night and up early. After the vitals and that fun stuff I was weighed. I can't believe how much weight I've lost.

Bathed then breakfast.

Goyle came by asking a bunch of same questions. I think he doesn't quite know what to think.

Becky called.

Dr. Hagaman. Says I still sound very good.. Talked about the heart cath to make sure the heart isn't involved. Fine by me (even though I'm a little scared)

Barbara June called. Debbie text me

Jeri and Eric went to the apartment to check on Micah and Corky. Jeri brought me some clothes and my wheelchair. They stayed about an hour then went to see a movie with a friend.

November 13, 2013

Up at 5:45. Bath, coffee, breakfast and more coffee.

Therapy! Walked about a 100 steps or so with walker. I'll most likely be released tomorrow and they want to make sure I can still do things I was doing before being admitted. I can, thank God.

Dr. Hagaman (I really like this guy) I can go home as far as he's concerned. We discussed the steroids and and I explained my fear of them. I'll be on a low dose which makes me feel much better about taking them.

Dr. Hassan (he's the guy who's watching over me as my hospital doctor) He listened to my lung and heart and says I sound good. This isn't the first time he's come in, he comes in every day. I just haven't mentioned him until now. Oh, he helped me understand the heart cath a little better. He was very kind.

Dr. Ramanahan came in later in the afternoon and began trying to schedule the heart cath. He thought I might be able to get it done that very night. But it didn't work out. Tomorrow for sure and hopefully, early.

November 14, 2014

Jeri came to be with me before the cath. Bless her.

Oh, heavenly Father thank you! The heart cath went amazingly! My heart is 100% fine. I was awake during the procedure and was able to watch computer screens while Goyle poked around.

The staff in that room was quite brilliant. They talked to me the entire time they prepped me. Joked with me a lot and made feel so comfortable. I just couldn't believe how smoothly it all went.

I was to lay almost flat (my head could be raised 30%). I was to lie still. I did. I wanted to go home.

I was checked almost every fifteen minutes or so.

After the first hour, things became a little flurried. Respiratory came in to assess what I might need when I go home. Hassan came and went a few times. Hagaman actually released me.

Then it was a waiting game. I needed oxygen to go home with. They ordered it but it took forever for them to get to the hospital.

I tried to write down names (I should have been writing them down all along) of the nurses and aides who were so good to me. Jordan (my first nurse, she was really good). Kim R., Pat, Tashya, Sarah - this isn't even half of them. I was taken very good care of by everyone. If someone can have a good hospital experience, I did.

We didn't get out of there until around four or so and almost five by the time we got to the apartment. I went straight to Micah's cage and I was sure he had stopped eating, he felt so light on my hand. He talked to me (in his way). He looked like he had been frightened and of course he was. I felt so guilty. Then I went to Corky and a even she looked like she had been off her feed. She stuck her tail through the cage and let me stroke it. I kept stroking it and talking to her until she pulled away.

Oh the guilt!

I had to wait for the oxygen company to come and set me up for the night so I told Jeri and Eric to go home. It was late and Eric had to work the next morning.

As I moved through the apartment putting things away, Micah would call to me. Each time I left his sight I'd make sure to keep talking to him so he knew I didn't leave.

This would be a really long day. Oxygen didn't get here until nine-thirty and we didn't get done until almost eleven because of all their paperwork.

Sleep came easily. I'm home again.

Family Home November 2, 2014

Shelby came home. I love it when he makes the trek from Florida. I miss him so much. This year, his daughters and their husbands (two of three are married) came with him. I was so excited about this! And of course, his grandchildren, four of them.

My niece, Sarah and her family also made it in. She came in, in time to visit before the gathering. She brought Adam, her husband and her son Rahlyja. I hadn't seen Rahlyja since Mom passed. She and Adam married in 2012.

It really was a perfect day of family.

We set up here where I live. The community room was perfect for it. Add to that the kids could go outside and run off energy; the likes I haven't seen in years. It was cold but they didn't care.

I'm going to post photos here but I'm going to list everyone that came because I want a good count of the day. I think we counted just under forty people who attended.

Randy, Lisa,  Luke
Kelsey, Jeff, Mason
Jenny, Tabitha
Sarah, Adam, Rahlyja
Shelby
Catie, Jonathan, Elisabeth, Victoria
Anna, Gabe, Evelyn, Eleanora
Lee
Jeri, Eric, Bryon, Allison, Arlo
Shirley (me)
Barbara, Tom
Diana
Jim, Sandy
Rollin
Rick, Ann
Jennifer, Jherek, Aleyna, Madelyn

Sarah's visit the day before gathering

Rahlyja ~ Sarah  ~ Adam

Rahlyja

 Shirley and Sarah Elizabeth

 Beautiful Sarah

Adam

I liked this photo of Adam looking at Rahlyja

November 2, 2014

 Jonathan and Gabe

 Lee Anne and Shelby

Victoria and Catie

Victoria and Catie
Anna Lee and Eleanora

Jeri and Lee

 Catie and Shirley

Anna and Lee

Eleanora

Ellie

 Evie, Anna and Eleanora

Evie and Lee

These photos are from the few I took. There are more. Some haven't been posted yet.

This was such a beautiful day. I love my family and it was wonderful being so close to all of them today.

Most of them were on their way home this very day. Shelby would stay a little longer. Paula was on her way so they could visit with their good friends in Yellow Springs.

When Paula made it in, some of us got together at Marion's in Troy.  I took a few pictures there too.

Shelby

Lisa, Luke and Randy

Eric, Jeri and Shelby

Jeri and Shelby

Paula. She doesn't change!













I always relive days like this after everyone is gone. I try to remember what my ears heard, not just what my eyes saw. My favorite was the kids. They didn't know one another yet they seemed to gravitate toward each other. Rahlyja took on the girls and more often than not the girls seemed to win. Later, Rahlyja and Arlo and Luke. Even while I was inside and they were outside running off their excitement, I can still hear them laughing and calling to one another.

Silent Night Standoff - Book Review

“She wasn't on duty. She’d just stopped in to cash a check for her upcoming Christmas party for homeless families.”

But it wouldn't be just another day for Skyler Brennan. Bonnie and Clyde was in the bank, waving weapons at everyone. Bonnie and Clyde, what the media was calling them, had everyone on the floor as hostages in the bank and Skyler was one of those hostages. To make matters worse, Skyler could tell Clyde was coming down from whatever drug he had taken. She was a negotiator but could she negotiate the safety of everyone in the bank?

Deciding rescue was best left to her team, the very people she knew and trusted; Skyler would do her best to protect as long as she could. However rescue came, not just from her team, but a man she thought she would never see again. Logan Hunter, the man who broke her heart by choosing his career over her, had unknowingly come to her aid.

The intensity of “Silent Night Standoff” will keep you immersed  as author Susan Sleeman puts you on the edge of uncertainty. She will take you through the twists and turns of, not just the case, but Skyler and Logan. You’re also introduced to her team who are her most trusted friends. You will not want to put this book down.

Susan Sleeman writes for Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. “Silent Night Standoff” is the first book in the First Responders series.