Mom talkative

Mom was feeling quite talkative tonight.  She was glad to have a visitor after Dad had left for the day.

Mom shared that Monday morning she was fed up, and was mad as a result at the  staff.  So she refused to take her medicine for a while.  Mom feels there might still be hard feelings about that incident, and that the staff are not talking to her now. 
It might just be that they are busy, and she is not initiating talking anymore...

On Monday, Mom is to go to the hospital for a swallow test.  Dad will go along in provided transportation.  The therapist that has been working with Mom on swallowing seems hopeful.

Mom reports that Dad is holding together.  She realizes it is hard on him.  She encouraged my wife, Jodi, to stay healthy so I do not have to go through what Dad is going through right now.

From Dad: Sarah Abbey to take swallow test again

the rehab  told me they are going to make an appointment to have your mother tested for her beeing able to swallow at the hospital outpatient
...they will take us there and back

i have to tell your mother tomorrow

she did good on her rehab today

she used a walker about half way down the hall

...

Mom seems alright and adjusted to rehab center

Dad has come down with a cold that I likely gave him.  So he seemed more tired than normal.

Mom is able to be up and about in a wheelchair, and talking pretty much normally.
Mom still forgets she cannot eat at times, but seems less argumentative about it when reminded.

She is starting to learn to press the call button and wait for assistance before doing things.

All in all, progressing well.

Mom, Sarah Abbey, continues to improve, and well enough now to cause trouble

Hello all,

Dad and I again send thanks for all the prayers, cards, and expressions of care.

I think my Dad agrees that Mom is OK for visitors now.
She is in room 406B of Church of Christ Care Center of Clinton Township.


Mom is talking OK, but somewhat slurred.
Mom's rehab sessions have started.  Today she was able to stand by herself (with a walker, and close supervision).
Mom will need a lot of determination to endure the rehabilitation.

Mom hungry in rehab nursing home

Mom is somewhat settled into the rehab center / nursing home.

Mom appreciates all the visitors she has had at both the rehab center and previously at the hospital.  She also has liked the get well cards she has gotten.

Mom still does not fully comprehend that she is not allowed to eat nor drink for her own safety.  She felt hunger pangs tonight, and was pushing for something to eat.  Jodi and I left before she was able to talk to the nurse that an aid was going to notify.  I fear her stubbornness may cause her to get angry at others for rules set by the doctors.  I fear Mom will feel the staff is being unreasonable and mean, when in reality they are trying to do the best for her.  I pray her stomach quickly adjusts past the hunger pang stage into dormancy.

Mom is also somewhat bored at times, she said.  Dad brought her a word search, which she enjoys working on typically.  However, she has not done any yet.  When she went to try to do it, she did not have the hand dexterity to hold the book and pencil correctly.  Attempting to do so would be good exercise for her, but I fear also very frustrating.

So, she has progressed well, but has quite a way to go yet.

From Dad: Sarah Abbey transferred to nursing home for rehab

From: Harold Abbey

---

sarah abbey was transferred from mclaren macomb to chuch of christ care center nursing home for rehab

its address is 23575 fifteen mile road

between gratiot and harper

clinton township michigan

phone number is 586-285-7113  desk supervisor

she is in rm 406b

she still can not eat or drink as she can not swallow so she has a feeding tube put into her stomach

she still has not walked yet but they are going to work on that

she still has to work on her talking

thank you all for your prayers they mean a lot but she is not home free yet

she has progressed a lot but she still  has a ways to go

god willing she will get back to do things she likes to do

may GOD BLESS you all

sincerely

harold r abbey

Mom moving to rehab center at 6pm today, Wednesday 10/23/2013

Mom is OK to go to the rehab center today.
They have a bed for here at our first choice, Church of Christ Care Center.
They are planning on moving her at 6PM, today, Wednesday 10/23/2013

Hopefully Mom does not get confused between nursing home and rehab center, since the facility serves both purposes.
Hopefully Mom's transfer goes smoothly.
Hopefully Mom can stay there as short as possible.  20 days is a key time length for medical insurance payments.

Praise God.

Mom able to sit in a chair

Mom is getting better day by day.
Today she was able to get out of bed and sit in a chair.

She still is often tired it seems, as she was sleeping when I called the nurse.
Dad and Cousin Sean have been visiting with her.

I have not yet heard back which rehabilitation center will take Mom.  I expect to hear by tomorrow morning.  Perhaps they already told Dad & Mom.

Mom much better, but tired; A bit more info for 10/21/2013

I was able to talk with Dad and Mom a bit at the hospital tonight.

Mom was most of the time half-asleep, but even half asleep she was more understandable than previous days.  She was being fed through the new feeding tube.

Dad said she earlier in the day had a bit of pain from the tube operation.  The staff said it should feel better by tomorrow.

Mom also had a therapy treatment today to try to help her get throat strength to be able to swallow correctly.  However, Mom could not take the pain of the treatment yet.

The rehab center selection is in process.
The number one selection is Church Of Christ Care Center, where my Aunt Edith lives.
I pray there will be a bed available for Mom there.

Aunt Vera and Dad reminded me that the place Mom stayed last year, Henry Ford Continuing Care Center- Roseville, was not liked at all by Mom.  Mom also caused quite a bit of hassle there, so they probably do not like her either.  Mom said no way that she would not go there.

I do not really have a 2nd and 3rd choice picked out, so I hope I will not need them.  If required, I guess I will rely on distance, lack of previous bad experience of Aunt Vera's family, and Medicare site ratings.

Mom moving to rehab likely Wednesday

Mom now has a feeding tube.
Mom is much more understandable than when the doctor interacted with her on Friday.
Mom will probably move to a rehabilitation center on Wednesday.

From Dad: mother was talking better today

From: Harold  Abbey to Howard:

---

your mother was talking better today
they will put in the stomach  feeding tube tomorrow morning
he said  she will feeling funny for a while
i hope she gets her movement back or she will be trapped in her body and i do not want that

Mom about same

I just called the nurses station to get an update.
Mom is still to get the PEG feeding tube tomorrow.
She is speaking very minimally.

So about the same as yesterday, no significant change for better nor worse.

Dad is there visiting now.

Mom improving slightly, very weak, and is to get a permanent feeding tube

Mom is resting somewhat comfortably.
Mom is still very weak.
Mom is not able to eat normally, and may never be able to again.

They put a temporary feeding tube down her nose into her stomach.  It does not seem to bother Mom, other than perhaps making her nose itch sometimes.
The doctor said she could not swallow food without risk of it entering her lungs.  The options were to get a permanent feeding tube or put Mom in hospice.  Dad and Mom decided that the feeding tube was the best choice.  Dad is sad about that,  but was encouraged by hearing Jodi's grandfather had one and did okay with it.
Unfortunately, Jodi and I were exploring the gift shop while the doctor dropped by to consult with my parents.
The new tube would be put in on Monday at the earliest.
Mom is weak, and her coughs do not seem very strong.
Mom is able with great difficulty to say words, but very unclearly. 
Her breathing still seems labored.

Mom's tongue is very dry and coated.  The nurses have tried to moisten her with a small sponge on a stick, but the taste is very bad to Mom. 

She is getting more control of her arms.  She was able to lift her hand to scratch her head today.  She was also able to squeeze my finger firmly.

The hospital staff are taking good care of her.  Everyone seems very nice., and they check on her and Dad quite frequently.

Mom was able to indicate that she was not in pain several times today.
She seems very tired.  She also is not as fidgety as previous days.

Dad greatly appreciates all the prayers given on their behalf, and wanted me to be sure to say thank you.

From Dad: Second thoughts on having lots of visitors for Mom

From: harold abbey

---

i am sorry

i do not think sarah is stong enough to see a  lot of people

i do not know what i was thinking

when she gets better she would like to see you all

please forgive me for being so stupid

she is still very week

thank you again and please keep praying for her as she still has a very  long way to go

i do not know what i was thinking

hope i guess

thanks again

love

harold r abbey

From Dad: Fwd: sarah abbey

From: Harold Abbey

---

sarah abbey was moved from icu today to room number 465
she can have visitors
she has been getting messages back and forth by nodding her head yes or no
i thank you for your prayers
she is not out of the woods yet
she still needs all the prayers she can have as this is the first day
she could talk to us
the visiting hrs are 11am to 8pm
i am sure she would like to know that she is cared about
thank you for all you have done
god bless you all


love

harold r abbey

ps
i am sorry but i can not type

harold

---

Comment from Howard:
As evidenced by the above, Dad can indeed type enough to press keys on the keyboard, but it takes him a very long time.  He has never typed well, and has gotten slower over the years.

Mom very responsive.

Praise God for His healing power and mercy.  Mom  was moved today from ICU to room 465.
She was able to indicate to Jodi and me that Dad and cousin Sean had visited her earlier today.   Her verbal yes and no were able to be distinguished,  and she shook her head also.   She tried to say more complex things but they could not be made out.   She seemed to have  a slight smile in her lips and eyes a couple times.  She kept lifting her arms,  but could not do what she desired.  We could not figure out what she wanted.  She is able to squeeze slightly with her hands.   I actually worry now about when she gets a little better, that she might try to pull out tubes or get out of bed.   Mom strongly agreed that she did not want to pull out the tubes, but while sleeping we do things sometimes we would not do when awake.

She told the nurse that she was not in any pain.   Her body is too hot, so she has cold packs.   Her blood pressure is also still troublesome,  and she can not yet take oral medicine for it.  She is breathing very heavily,  and mostly through her mouth.   They have oxygen by her nostrils, but her breathing still seems very laborious.

So very good progress and much less fear from here on.   I expect it will be a long time healing, but I praise God for his healing power.

Stable

Nurse AM shift change report: uneventful night,
which is a good thing.

Prayers work.  I praise God and thank you all.

From Janet Blay, who visited Mom earlier today

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Oct 17, 2013 6:15 PM

Hello Howard

I thought I'd write a short note to let you know I went to visit your Mom earlier today.  She was breathing on her own and looking around and moving her head a little bit but I don't think she comprehended anything.  I held her hand and told her how much I appreciated you writing me to let me know what happened and also told her I called your Dad last night and we talked a while.  I made sure she was covered up nice and warm before I left and told her I expected her to be tough and fight to get through this.  We're all praying and ...

Janet

Mom resting, lung rattling slightly,

Dad is really scared.
Nurses seem calm,  and attentive.
Breathing and blood pressure the main concerns.
I still think she looks much better than last time hospitalised, so I am hopeful.
Doctors at one point,  when breathing and blood pressure were way too high wondered if she would make it.   Now it seems like those areas are large concerns, but not immediate emergencies,  at least not constantly.

She is often responding to voice now, by opening eyes. 

More prayer is needed.

Mom in dangerous time

Good news: mom off breathing tube.  Mom has opened up eyes a few times in response to voice .
Bad news: mom had to be medicated heavily when taken off breathing tube.
So as drugs wear off a risky time.

Thanks for your prayers.

Mom still sleeping, but opened eyes once

Mom has had slight improvement today.

My father and Aunt Vera visited her today.

The breathing tube is still in, but turned down a bit to allow Mom to exercise her lungs some more.  They also reduced the sedation some more.

They tried removing the ventilator, but it was on the fence if it would go smoothly.  So it was decided to give her another day before proceeding.
So she is still on full ventilator support.
The first thing tomorrow they will try the same procedure again to take the tube out.  One of her mineral levels were low, so since that is now under control the doctors have more hope of proceeding with less difficulty.

The neurologist feels like she will recover ok, but that it will be slow going.

They are also giving her a bit more solid nourishment according to my Dad.

The nurse pried open her eyes once to check the pupil response.  After that, Mom opened her eyes on her own in response to people talking.

So for tonight, Mom is relatively comfortable under sedation again.

Thanks for the many e-mails of encouragement.

Mom still sleeping, slightly more responsive.

The hospital is trying to wean Mom off the sedation medicine that is keeping
her asleep. However, everytime they start, her blood pressure goes up.
They have reduced it some, and she is moving a bit more now.

When Dad talks to her, he is unsure if her movements are voluntary or
involuntary. It looks like she is trying to open her eyes sometimes.

Mom still stable, just sleeping

Mom seems to be in a holding pattern for now.

Cousin Sean and my Dad are visiting Mom right now.
Sean reports that the situation is same as yesterday, resting and slight fidgeting.

The neurologist visited this morning, but no report of his findings have been given yet.
Mom is still on a breathing tube, and still sedated quite a bit.

Dad is still rethinking the events of Saturday, wondering if he could have done better.  He has been there since 1pm.

Visiting hours are 11 to 8pm.

Sarah Abbey stable, and just sleeping, in hospital

My mom is stable, in Intensive Care at McLaren Hospital.

She looks much better than last year just after she had been admitted to the hospital.
She is sleeping, and slightly fidgety in her sleep, as is to be expected.

From my Dad: Fwd: sarah abbey in hospital after seizure

From my Dad:

sarah abbey had a seizure saturday.

she was taken to mclaren hospital the old mt clemens general

she in icu-10 room isolation

they are trying to find out why she had the problem

she can not talk or tell us anything

only immediate family can visit

nurses phone number is 586-493-3294 to find out she is doing

please pray for her

gods will be done

thank you

harold abbey

Morning sickness remedy ideas

Jodi did some on-line research on morning sickness for someone we know currently suffering.

I do not believe everything one reads on web pages, so please take care with the below.  I am tempted to call them old wive's tales, but I would not dare call Jodi old.
However, maybe something is interesting and something one would like to try anyway.

We tried to arrange them so each paragraph has the summary/item first, and then descriptions.
So you can read just the first sentences, and if any interest you, then read the whole paragraph.

In any case, I hope people with morning sickness feel better soon.

Regards,
Howard