Back at ER

Sorry to say, we're back at the St Joseph ER. Not even sure why. She's been really dopey all day, starting with falling out of bed this morning. My biggest concern is that we haven't been able to get her BG down since last night. The Oncology Doc and Kaiser Nurse both thought we should come here.

Unbelievable

The unforeseen expense: Last night someone cut and stole the copper pipe from our HOA's sprinkler valve, leaving the uncapped pipe gushing water for eight hours. The loss isn't covered by insurance, and the water company's not inclined to make an adjustment in the bill for the water usage. Replacing the valve alone will be around $1,000.

Hello, Geese

Nice day for a bit longer walk...

Headed home

Finally got K processed out, and got someone to transport her down to the car, around midnight Wednesday.

Not out yet

They're trying to get K out today, but one thing after another is slowing things down.

Coming home soon

K says she's coming home today! I'll believe it, when I see it.

No idea

Hanging out at St Jo. We've given up on guessing when they'll discharge her.

Mini Outing

I was allowed to kidnap Kristan for a little while tonight, so I took her down to the car to see Mandy. They're concerned about fluid buildup and a high white cell count. They'll deal with the fluid by dialyzing her again tomorrow. The WBC could be more infection, or the Leukemia rebounding because she's been off the meds for two months.

New Apple IOS 5

After (belatedly) watching the 2 hr Apple keynote video from the developer's conference, I'm pretty excited about trying out the new iPhone's IOS 5. And the new Mac OS "Lion" upgrades sound pretty awesome too, for that matter. Maybe I should get a Mac, sooner rather than later! See http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/11piubpwiqubf06/event/

Sleeping

Kristan got some decent sleep last night, which is a big deal in our lives. She's not coming home from hospital today... long story, she says... tell you later, she says...

Settling down

It looks like things have stabilized. K won't have any transfusions, or any more surgeries, during this hospital visit. Dialysis tomorrow morning, then maybe she'll be discharged to home.

Bleeding less

Trying to relax a little, watching "Royal Pains". K's foot appears to be bleeding less now. So maybe she won't need a transfusion after all. Hoping...

Good blood flow

K's getting dialysis at St Jo this morning. Her foot was bleeding like crazy last night. They had to change the huge bandage twice, in the three hours I was there.

New room

They put her in a different room after surgery. 10th floor with a commanding view.

Out of Surgery

Kristan had surgery today. Got out a couple of hours ago. Dr Nauts says there were areas of infected tissue that weren't getting blood flow, and some infection in the 3rd metatarsal. She "cleaned it all up". Probably will need antibiotics for awhile. If K heals up well, she may be home as soon as Saturday, but as they say, time will tell...

Weird evening

Weird evening. Wheeled Kristan out to the car to see the dog, then went for a little outing around the block. Mandy was walking in the grass, then yelped and obviously had major pain, limping on her left front paw. We couldn't see anything, no matter how hard we looked, or how bright a light we brought to bear, but Mandy was in terrible pain, shaking and panting, which she never does. Took her to VRCC, the Vet ER on the way home, and they found the tiniest thorn you can imagine, barely visible to the eye. It was so small, it just about fell through the holes in the gauze she carried it out on. She's better today. I hate it when my girls are in trouble, especially at the same time.

Update 8/31

Heading up to St Jo for an evening visit. K says her leg is looking better, but the foot not so much. Ortho is paying a visit tomorrow. Dum, da dum dum...

Still here

Dinner with K. She's still at St Jo. They're still interrupting her sleep every chance they get, but she's managed to catch a few hours. She finally got dialysis this evening.

Xfer to St Jo

Kaiser had her transferred to Exempla St Joseph hospital. Her left leg is swollen and hot, and the MRI suggests she has pneumonia.

K at Littleton ER

She got to Dialysis over an hour late, then was unresponsive after she got into the chair. Not completely surprising to me, since she didn't sleep last night or today. But she might also have a foot infection, so I'm glad they sent her. I just hurried over from work to meet them, and curiously, they took a long time to get here.

Neuropathy.

Interesting. The Neurology doc says my numb toes could be caused by a copper deficiency. Which could be caused by taking a Zinc supplement for the past few years, when I didn't really need it. Today's lab draw will reveal more...

K Foot Update

Hanging out at Kaiser Ortho. Her feet are better in places and worse in others. Sigh.

A short respite

We saw K's oncologist at his new location on Ogden St. Her WBC is down from abnormally high a few weeks ago, to subnormal. So he told her to lay off the Tasigna for a couple of weeks, wait and see what's up.

Lost weekend

K and I have been fighting cold symptoms since last week. The virus hit with full force yesterday, and we pretty much lost today to coughing and dozing and using up tissue boxes, while watching TV marathons. Neither one of us felt much like getting out of bed to fix anything for the other. This is another one of those many moments where we really miss our Moms.

We got caught by surprise this evening, by a phone call from the Dialysis Center. K had missed her Monday afternoon appointment. We were both feeling so miserable, we completely forgot about it. I hit a new lifetime low while driving her over there - I had to pull over to use a sick bag. Ugh. Gross.

Oh yeah. While driving to pick her up from dialysis just now, I was reminded, by the firework shows all around, that our lost day had special significance. So here's a belated "Happy Independence Day!" to all...

Trending better

K saw the Ortho folks today about her recently developed foot wounds. They cut away a bunch of bad tissue and left a foot that's ready to begin healing.

Foot issue

She says her foot looks bad. She's got an appointment with Wound Care tomorrow.

Red Spot

This red spot (click here for photos) showed up on the front of my bicep recently. Sis says it looks like ringworm. Thoughts?

Ducks at Clement Park

Ken and Freddie and I enjoyed watching the ducklings playing, while walking Mandy around Clement Park.

New CML Med

K's Oncologist finally came through. Kaiser just sent the first batch of the alternate CML med Nilotinib. The Doc says moving to this med "isn't settling" for something less than the Imatinib she was using, since it has stats as good or better.

Softball Win

I felt slightly crazy, playing a double header at 8 and 9pm tonight, but it *was* hugely satisfying, if a little surprising, to win 'em both!