Young Lady Casey; and Old Man River

.
.
.


Caseys New Unit
.
.

Good Late Afternoon Everyone;
I am sorry to not have blogged earlier- Just was so worn out.

As was Casey.
So much pain, and so little relief; no matter how much they turned up her painkiller, she could only sleep for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. This is not conducive to healing.

I called the hospital about 3 times Monday night, overnight.
Yes, she was still in pain, and little/no sleep.

This was Casey waking up Tuesday morning- I had gotten there before she'd woke, and gone in search of her nurse. We chatted a bit, and I would go wait til Casey woke...

.
.


This was just after another of her 15 minute naps.
She had just been resting when I had gone in there.
.
.
.
.

10 minutes later, she was up and sitting in a chair...
.
.

Not sure what the heck happened to her back during the surgery,
but when she came to, it was hurting her awful.
Relieved when she walked,
though that made everything else hurt more.
That, and she is so very weak.
One of the nurses came in and helped her get up and about too.

I took over after taking this picture...
.

.

.

They sure have fancy clothes in this hospital, no?
.
.

As we walked around the place, there were different things to be seen. Especially the views from the 7th floor. But sad to say, my pictures were taken through some mighty dirty windows and didn't turn out for the most part.

We came upon this room, and I had to open the door and peek in...

.
.
.

.

Very very cool!

Although I find it very odd that they have NO hypnotists available,
especially thinking how much pain relief may be gained through hypnosis
.
.

Speaking of the view,
this is taken from her room...

.
.


That is The Mississippi River.
.
.

Each time I visited yesterday, there was no great improvement. And oh how it hurts me to see her in such non~retractable pain.
Last night she was still awake so we hiked some more. She IS a trooper!

But her back is just awful. (I still want to know why)?!


As we walked, another nurse at the desk was trying to contact a doctor who maybe would prescribe something for her to sleep.

Her saline had gone dry-
Her nurse, (Mary)? changed the bag.

.
.


We talked a bit, and I even gave her my blog address!
.
.

Casey.

As I left her last night...
.
.

So tiny- So frail
.
.

I came back here, and had problems falling asleep myself... Nice to have the computer for those times.

Later to turn the TV on too. Nothing was on- Bunch of noise and distraction.
That seemed to help.

I didn't wake until it was light out! Not like me at all!
But it was good to sleep too...

I wondered if Casey would call; I did not want to wake her up if she was sleeping.

She did call around 9, and sounded good!
Would I bring her this and that? Of course!

She said they had given her toradol (sp), and that she had also gotten some good sleep.

So I hustled up there fast as I could...

This is what I walked in on...

.
.


Less than 48 hours post surgery!
(Ain't she cute)?!?
.
.
After she had washed up and changed, we were off walking again.
She has gotten rid of her foley catheter, (and her "fall" bracelet)
and can now go for walks on her own.

.
.


.
.
She stopped at a wall chart
to point out all the 'innards' she is missing...
.
.

.
.
And then sat in the sunroom for a bit
.
.

Oops I think this was a Tuesday picture...
Oh well.
We sat there today too.

She eats her ice.
(How very yummy and nutritious)!


.
.


She has been told that she can have clear liquids tomorrow...
Baby steps for my baby girl.
.
And now what you have been waiting for...

Drum roll please?
.
.
.
.
.
.


TADA!!!!!!

"Look Mom, no zipper!"
hehehe

They taped her together!
Using the same scar, and just extending it lower a bit.

.
.

And that is the last two days for us.
Punk needed to see Casey too, so I brought her up to visit this afternoon.

Casey had wanted me to bring her computer.
Maybe she will even feel good enough to blog in the next day or two. Hopefully.

Hope all is well with everyone- My apologies for not getting to your own blogs, or even answering all of your notes.
Please bear with me.

(I can't even get to them right now either- Punk has been patient enough).

Hope all is well with everyone

My love to all

XOXO
Anne

free hit counters

Posted to my Y! 360, Wednesday April 8, 2009 - 05:39pm (CDT)

Just a short note

Good Afternoon Everyone
.
.

.
.
Casey is doing alright.
But I am almost ready to go back up to the hospital, and cannot write a whole blog yet.
I will fill you all in later this afternoon.

Love to all


XOXO
Me

Casey, Morning 'Til Night, megacolon pic

Morning 'Til Night.

You asked about the weather?
Suffice to say Minneapolis still needs this dang chart.

Hello Old Man Winter?
"JUST LET IT GO ALREADY!"

.
.
.

And what a long day-
I left Casey at the hospital where she says she is in the worst pain of her life. (These statements inbetween dozing and waking to pain in her front and more pain in her back).
They have upped her dilauded drip- But then it knocks her out and it is worse then when she wakens, or even tries to adjust herself or move.

Tonight will be tough on her- Tomorrow will be worse.
But by Wednesday we will see more and more spunk~n~sass coming back.

For now I must find some sleep. (It's here somewhere)...

And yet I am so afraid of falling asleep and not hearing the phones.

My head is back- almost full force, but no barfing anyway.
I won't take anything because then for sure i won't hear the effing phone.

Wanted to share a few pics before I lie down.

Know that the two photos at the bottom (under my XO's) are from her surgery.

You have been warned.

.

Greg at home-
Waiting for me to bring his Casey back.
.
.
.

.

Just hung up from talking to Kelli once more too...

.
.
.
.
.
Morning 'til night now...
.
.
.
.

.
.

Showing off her healed scar from her TP/AIT .
.
.
.
.

Joking with one of the anesthesiologists
.
.
.
.
.

Showing off her new STYLE!
hehehe
.
.
.
.
.

A bit of a break while she was in surgery-
I came back here and and found Punk loving her little Henrietta
.
.
.

She has taken to crying as the little chicken makes its own noise...
(Mama Milly used to do that with her own toys).
.
.
.

.
And back up to the hospital.
I waited in the waiting room after talking to one of her nurses.
That wait got longer and longer- And finally I went back up to the front.
No one there!
So I found a computer that had some info on it about the patients- It told me that Casey was up in a room already!
Yikes!
So I hightailed it straight up there.

She was resting; just not comfortably... .

.
.
.
.
.


This is how I left her...
In and out of sleep.
Probably more drug induced than comforting.
But she was still, quieted, anyway.

.
.

I will call up there before I rest, just to make sure all is well enough.

Love to all, and for all of your kind words and prayers and reassurances too.
This is plain old tough, and you have helped by being there for us.

XOXO
Anne


**** Now here are the pictures I warned you about.

WARNING!
If you cannot bear to see insides, it is time for you to scroll right on past
(And to my comments of course). ;-)

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


This is Caseys colon before it was removed,

It is longer, and as wide as my arm!

.
.
.

.

.
.
.
.
.
.

The same colon.
OUT...
In the harvest pan.

.
.
.
.

.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Is it not miraculous what the human body can do to itself

and live through?
.
.
.

.
God bless you my Baby Girl
Forevermorelonger
XOXO,
Mama D.

free hit counters

.

Posted to my Y! 360, Monday April 6, 2009 - 08:43pm (CDT)

Update on Casey

.
.
.

Casey pre-surgery this morning...

.
.

What a morning!
Early came too early for us today- (She was one minute late getting to the darn hospital).

Casey is still in recovery, and will be 'out of it' for quite some time.

Dr Sutherland came out from surgery about an hour and a half ago.
He said Casey's surgery went very well, they said he had to extend her scar just a little bit.
He also emailed me pictures! I have not asked Casey yet if I can post them; I am sure she won't have a problem with that, but I still want to ask her first.

He spoke of removing her ng tube already, and that if all goes well she may even be out of the hospital by the end of the week!
(Keep those prayers coming, they are working)!

I have already spoken to Greg, my sister Barbara, and have just hung up from talking to Kelli.
Now who did I miss???
My apologies!

Time to walk Punk again and to get back up to the hospital and watch her wake up.

Love to all

XOXO
Anne

Signs of Spring!

hehehe
So it's fake. Sue me.
(I didn't want to be the only one not posting pics of blooms).

Good Evening Everyone!
As I write, it occurs to me that I don't remember how to write a blog anymore. It seems like so long ago. But it really wasn't. Just so much has happened, and many miles removed from the scene of the crime, as it were.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend...
Yesterday for us was the trip here. Uneventful for once. But we did wake to snow this morning.
.
.

Maybe not so 'uneventful' for these folks though...
The smoke was lots thicker and darker a few miles back.

.
.
For most of us, 300 miles is no big deal. (And it really isn't for me either)- But things got tough as I began to see the aura that precedes my migraines about 75 miles out from arrival.

Getting sick in a car is no fun. But I was better by the time we got here.

For Casey's last big meal, we ordered Applebee's.

.
.

Our steaks, by the way, were ordered rare.
Ummm... "Yeah, right"
(But they were eaten none the less).
Just no "Mmmmm's" to be heard in this room.

.
.

Methinks Casey was digesting.
.
.

For breakfast, part of a waffle for her, and then this GIANT muffin
Both from Perkins

.
.

Chocolate...
With chocolate chips too.
It wasn't finished, (but it did get completely scalped)!!!

.

I didn't eat, my tummy and head still "off" enough for me not to...

.
.
I did get a few pictures in and posted to Flickr.
And Deb, I cannot find the ones of Punk with her new birthday toys from you!? I must have already downloaded them to the other computer. Know that Greg saved all those pictures.

As you all know, it was Punks birthday on the 27th.
.
.

My Little Miss Punkin
3 whole years old.
My favorite picture, ever, of her.
As she waited by the refrigerator door.

.
.

We had to run to town on her birthday to pick up a prescription.

She wasn't particularly happy with me for not giving her a present.

.

.

.
.
Unbeknown to herself, I did pick her up a few things at the Rx store.
And then we headed home.


She had to wait outside while I went in...
Still mad at me too.
.
.

That wild whisker has since been trimmed!
.
.
After a few moments she gained entry to the house...

Funny she knew just where to go???

And she even SMILED!!!!
.
.

.
.
She peeks!

...

But needs a closer look...
.


.

.
.
I do believe she liked what she saw!
.
.

A squeaky squirrel, among other things...

(Like a new frisbee that fell apart after 3 throws).

.

Spring is slowly but surely beginning to be sprung around Flintville.

The first sign this year is being able to actually see the picnic table back by the woods.

.
.


.
.

Then there is some kind of life that has remodeled my barngrade.
Not sure I want to know what kind either...
.
.

.
.

There is spunky & sassy life too!
.
.

.

.
And Mr. Miller even gets to come over!

He steals Punk's Sponge Bob toy.
.
.

.
.
But gets that one taken away fast.
It has now become a 'game' for them both.


.
.

.
.
.
.
There is "life" of the six legged variety out and about...
.
.

.
.
.
.
And of the two legged, double winged variety too!
.
.


Sure are noisy!
And most welcomed!
.

Unlike this "thing"
Whatever it is... ?
.
.

maybe I don't want to know.
Thankfully it was outside...
.


.
.
Spring is when all your friends come out of their own little holes and come visit.
.
hehehe

.
.

.
.
And they love you just enough to tease you...
.
.

.
.
Spring brings neighbors over too!

This is Julie with her new friend,
"Lady"
.
.
Lady is a mere 9 months old.
Basically unwanted by the people that were selling her
because she didn't have a patch over her other eye too.
.
.


Patch or not, methinks Lady is just a doll!
.
.

I'd better close. I have Punk waiting patiently to go outside once more before she sleeps.
I shall post this now and get out there to walk a bit.

We will leave early tomorrow; needing to be at the hospital for 5:30.
Casey is on clear liquids 'til midnight and then nothing for who knows how long. (Hopefully she enjoyed that steak)!

Please keep her in your thoughts...

My love to all

XOXO
Me

PS

Casey posted a new blog last night.

Please CLICK HERE to visit and to answer her questions

free hit counters

posted to Y! 360, Sunday April 5, 2009 - 07:40pm (CDT)