Anyone up for a Super Bowl Party

Mother is back to herself, maybe sometime even when she didn't think so. Us kids and grandkids did not think we were going to or even should have a Super Bowl party at Mom and Dad's house. Mother said sure why not, and then Dad went out and bought tons of party snacks, everything for the big party. The one thing that mother says that is difficult about being home is the bed and sleeping. Although that wasn't a change because she was not able to sleep comfortably in the hospital bed either. So it is time to bring in the big guns and get her a bed that will allow her to get a goodnight sleep. We are going to try everything just short of buying a sleep number. Mother still has to keep her feet elevated when sleeping and also she should be raised at the head for about 30 degrees. So we are bringing over the hospital bed and will fix it up to be comfortable. Today is the Super Bowl we will she how she does with all the grandkids. They might have to play outside all the time.
We will most likely only be giving a updat every two to three days from here on out.

Home

Well, today was the day to finally be allowed to go home. It took a while to get released from the hospital. Mom had to be seen by all of the Doctors and get their O.K. to be released. They said she could go home in the morning, but it wasn't until 4 pm in the afternoon that Dad and her finally were allowed to leave. Dad and Mom left with a list of medicines that she needs to take, and exercises she needs to do. Mari Mar, Chad and their boys came over and brought some chicken soup and cream vegetables (with no salt) and her favorite dessert right now sherbert ice cream (she has a special diet now) . Mom looked very comfortable sitting in her recliner watching T.V. that afternoon. Dad has to help her get up to do anything, and they both look like their helping each other to get up. They could still use visitors so if you have time fill free to stop on by and say hi.

Homeward Bound

Yes it is correct mother was released from the hospital this afternoon. She was very greatful to be home, be able to relax without all the interuptions. Now we just need to make the home life to be very relaxing so she can continue the recovery process.
Talking to mother over the phone you would not guess as to what she just went through, if you didn't know already. You also wouldn't even know that she was laying down and not getting up and doing the usuall. She continues to grow stronger and stronger each and every day.

Just wanting to go home

I went up to visit with mother and she said that she isn't feeling as good as she did yesterday, but still better then she has in the past. Dad was there and Kristi came also during mother's lunch time. She is eating just about everything, I think it was chili for lunch and meatloaf tonight.
Mother did say that they were talking and asking her wouldn't it be great if you could get out of here tomorrow? I think they were looking into that, so lets keep our fingers crossed. Mother is really caring on good conversations with everyone.
We will be moving a hospital bed over to their house so mother could be out in the front room in order to visit everyone. Mother was even joking that we should give a list of things that we would want dad to get for a super bowl party. I don't think we will have it over there if mom is out of the hospital. Maybe we could have it over at our house, let me know if anyone wants to.
I will see if I will add more tonight.

Doing good, Feeling good

Well Mom finally has come out of her tiredness and lethargy and has had a really good day. She is back to herself, very alert and able to get up and around a little bit. She ate by herself and took a small walk to the bathroom by herself (with the nurse right behind her). She finally was able to take a shower tonight, which made her feel even better. She hardly has taken any pain medicine today. She had quite a few visitors today. Debbie (her sister) came and spent most of the morning with her. Ron, Kristi and two of her sons Landen and Braden were here in the afternoon to spend some time with her. Then tonight Chad, Mari Mar and their two sons J.T. and Justin came and spent the evening with her. We kicked back and talked and watched the Disney and Nick channel on T.V. Also, Bishop Jorgenson came by and visited for awhile. He and his wife have been by many times to check how she is doing. She is doing a lot better and getting her strength back, and if she continues she should be able to get out in time to watch the Superbowl at home.

Yea Grandma!!! i cant believe you are able to laugh! way to be grateful for stuff. it'll give you a more positive attitude. i hope you will feel loads better!! it sounds like you already are!I love you!!~kelly
January 31, 2008 12:52 PM

More Information from a Regular Room

Mother is getting along fine when she has too. I was able to go up this afternoon and be there with Kristi, Wendi and Mother of course. Wendi had to leave just after I got there but she was able to help mom eat breakfast and be with her while they moved her from the 4th floor to the 7th floor. Thanks Wendi a bunch..

Mother is drinking out of a cup and eating ice. She is also eating the other meals that they bring,.... if they would just bring them on time. Since mother was moved after breakfast to the 7th floor the meal people didn't get the correct information and they sent mother's lunch to the 4th floor. So when all the other patients were eating mother had to sit and wait... she said, and I quote "A person could starve around here, with that kind of service". Yes we had to chase down mother's lunch, and I had to leave before they brought it. Hope she finally was able to eat.

Please check out the information on the side of this blog as we are wanting to do a SINGLES biggest loser contest. I have a spread sheet and a word document that explains everything. Also there is a calender that you can enter time that you might be able to visit or stay with mother. Thanks everyone here are the photos

Dennis & Neva said...
She Looks Wonderful..for what she has been through..Dorothy... You hang in there...you will be jogging down the halls soon. WE LOVE YOU and you are in our prayers. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Ty, THANK YOU for taking the time to create this site.to keep us updated on Aunt Dorothy. Donna has been calling us to keep us informed. May God Bless each and everyone of you. Ron..let us know if we can do anything...Love to youAlways,

Dennis and Neva Bob, Kim and Ryan Angela, Mike, Nile and Olivia Natasha, Justice and Celeste..
January 29, 2008 6:30 PM

A Great Day for Everyone

Mother has been doing really good, she is still very tired, but she does get lots of rest. She has been doing so good that she is now moved from ICU and is on the 7th floor of the heart and lung tower. YEAH!!! This is something that we all have been waiting for, this means she is able to have a little more visitors. Wendi is with her this morning and just after breakfast (which mother ate everything) around 10:00am she was moved to a regular room.
I will have some more current photos this afternoon and will write more information when i get back from visiting mother.

ICU Day Five

First some news from last night, the nurses on the floor was able to get mother up and on her feet and she took a small walk. That is great news.
Today from the reports from Chad, Kristi, and Dad mother is doing great. The nurses were able to remove another IV from mothers neck and they also were thinking about removing the feeding tube. It all depends on how she would eat dinner tonight. Well great news mother had jello, soup, and some ice cream. Mari Mar helped her eat her dinner. She didn't like the cream of mushroom soup and can't understand how Dad can eat it straight out of the can. They removed the feeding tube, and she is also on less pain medication. Mother is also going on longer and more often walks in fact the nurses are setting target distances for her to walk. Although she is still very tired and doesn't want to walk she is doing it, with a little help of course.
Mother is also sitting up more and watching some TV although nothing is on. Hopefully if things keep going as good as they are they might think about moving her to a normal room where she could have other visitors other than family.
Note
If any of you would like to see mother or have mother see you we could hook up a web cam sometime during the day, we will let everyone know when the time will be.
Included below is some other comments and encouraging words by others.

Pam Crist said...
Wow! last I heard the docs were looking for a hospital bed! Six bypasses! That is a family record. Grandma had 5 and my mom had 4! Tad, Rebecca and I can sure relate to what you all are going through. The worst is behind you in my opinion since I hated seeing mom on the respirator and with tubes coming out everywhere! Your mom will recover fast and feel so much better! Please put me on your email list. pscrist@cox.net. Our prayers are with you. Tell your mom that Aunt Barbara says to stay strong. Love, Pam
January 28, 2008 12:48 PM
Donna and Dan said...
Thanks for the update on your mom. I've kept all my kids informed and Berta in Utah. So glad she is coming around so well. She'll be up and doing in no time. Tell her we are still praying for her and that we love her.
January 28, 2008 10:22 AM
Teri and Andy said...
What such great news. Email is a lot easier than trying to call everyone. I would love to help with time at the hospital. I am available Friday, 11:00 to 3:00. Maybe Aunt Debbie will do it with me. Let me know if you want me to take this time.Love, Aunt Terri and Family
January 29, 2008 12:35 AM

ICU Day Four

Well it is Sunday and from the good news that Chad shared with the family was awesome to hear. The hospital moved her from the 2nd floor ICU to the fourth floor ICU. In fact it is a new wing just opened today so everything is new. Cindy has been down there most of the day, and it is good to have her helping mother. Thanks Cindy. Mother is doing so much better she is able to talk to you she isn't carring on long conversations, but for her to recognize everyone and speak to is great. The nurses were able to remove some of her IV's that were in her neck and one in her wrist. She still has the feeding tube, and a heart regulator in her neck. She is able to suck water from a spounge. Just after we left the hospital, Kristi called and Dad, Cindy, Kristi and Saul were there and the nurses might try to get her to stand up and walk around a little. The biggest difficulty is the pain medicine that she has to take really makes her sleepy, and draugy. Anyways to everyone if you have been down there or would just like to share something with Dorothy and others please leave me a comment anytime. Please review the photos.

Garett and Rachel said...
We have been praying for you non-stop and wish you a speedy recovery!
January 27, 2008 8:24 PM

The day of awakening

Early this morning Chad called and gave us an update. Chad said that mother has come around and is recognizing people and talking. She is doing great, they will be moving her up to the 4th floor. Later after Noon she will be able to take visitors. She has put a smile on many peoples faces. Cindy was able to stay with mother most of the day.

ICU Day Three

Mother is doing much better, she looks more like herself. She is still unable to talk or to recognize anyone, but I think she is more resposive to peoples voices. She is trying to talk, it sounds like. The nurses said that mother is just really tired from what she just went through, and that she needs lots of rest.

ICU Day Two

Cindy came in from Minnesota and was picked up and came to the hospital to visit and see mother. Also in the morning Debbie and Terri was there, and had the oppurtunity to visit with their sister.
Mother started to move around more and was opening her eyes. Although she was not speaking to anyone, was really recognizing anyone. She would turn and look when you spoke to her. The doctors and nurses were always watching her blood pressure and trying to get her to wake up more. They decided to remove the breating tube and see how she does on her own. that was one less tube that mother did not need in her.
Later that afternoon mother started to move around much more and keeping her eyes open she also was making some noises. As the children all went into see her each one tried to get her to look at us more. We also spoke with the doctors and nurses and they had mentioned that they were going to look into to see if she might have had a stroke. Althought they more thought that it was from the medicine that they were giving her for pain and high blood pressure.

ICU Day One

We expected mother to be kind of out of it, especially with a breathing tube and with her hooked up to so many moniters. The nurses and doctors assured us that all was going as planned. Her blood pressure was good ( for Dorothy) and her oxygen levels were good as well.

The Day of Surgery

mother was nervous but was very strong. The doctors told us that the surgery was going to be Today around 12:30pm. The family all came around 11:00am and we were able to give mother a blessing. Debbie also came and visited. As they prepared mother for surgery (which took quite a long time) she really had to go to the bathroom. Just as one nurse was going to get her up to go the other came in and said that it was time. The doctors had explained to the family how the proceedure was going to happen. The surgeons said that the proceedure was going to take about 5 hours.
After the surgery mother was taken to ICU room 2T-22 where some of the family was able to visit her. She had 6 bi-passes a record for her family.

Waiting for surgery

Dorothy was doing great in the hospital, although she wasn't able to get much sleep as we all know with all the visits from the nurses coming in and taking vitals, etc. Today mom was able to eat, she was glad about that. Since her first proceedure that she had to fast for, it was good thing to eat again. The doctors came in and said they were going to take her down to the forth floor for another test and again she would not be able to eat or drink anything.
Later that evening Ty returned to the hospital and stayed the night, giving dad a chance to go get some rest. Mom was in great spirits, Ty and her talked alot almost to midnight.

Arrival at St. Joseph's

Dorothy arrived at the hospital via ambulance and she was checked into a room on the seventh floor in the Heart and Lung Tower. Her doctors wanted a few more tests in order to see what their next step was going to be. Chad spent the night at the hospital and kept mother company.

Initial Hospital Visit

Dorothy went to the doctors for a visit and to have a proceedure done where they use a camera and go look at her heart and lungs. During that proceedure the doctors saw that there was some blockage and they thought she should go to St. Joseph's Hospital to recieve surgery.