Home Again - Day 37

Today is the first full day Jim has been home from the hospital and it has been a busy one .. .

Jim woke up at 7 and I slept in till 8.

He is very tired so has slept frequently during the day. His appetite also isn't up to snuff. He didn't have any breakfast, had pudding after noon and the pasta at 4:45 p.m.

My devotional study this morning brought me to Jeremiah 29:11 -- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  

My thoughts --

Jesus sets the pace
Not us
We may have much to do
but first and foremost
we must focus on Him,
keeping our steps in line
with His
instead of us moving
on our own thinking.
That is not easy.
We have appointments
to keep
and new ones to make,
but along the way
we need to keep
our primary focus on Him,
so we don't become discouraged.
Discouragement comes
from our own way of thinking,
from our focus on things
other than Christ
and His goals, His mission,
for us
Discouragement is at the back door
moving to the front
when we think our plans
are the best plans
and they should not fail.
We need to keep in mind
who is in charge of all life.
It is not us.
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Our day --

I already had two appointments for today and made two more for next week before both of us (and Bandy the Bunny) left at 9:30.  Bandy had a 10 o'clock appointment for a nail trim. Then we went to MedLabs so Jim could have blood drawn. He's back on Coumadin for his Afib (a complication of his cancer surgery May 12) and will stay on it for several months to see how things go. The doctors at UIHC said that if his heart stays in rythym over a period of time he may be able to discontinue the Coumadin.

After I dropped off Jim and Bandy at home, I went to CVS Pharmacy to pick up 9 prescriptions for Jim plus stop at Klauer Optical to pick up and of course pay for the left contact he lost in the hospital over a week ago. Then there was a noon appointment for the car - just an oil change and tire rotation... Ha! It's not often you can take the car in for one thing and be done, so today was no exception. We needed two back tires which we got at a somewhat reasonable price, plus the free alignment. That whole process took 1 1/2 hours -- you'd think I would have the waiting process down by now.

By the time I got home Jim wanted to go to the Fareway grocery store to find things to take tomorrow morning for our mini-road trip to NE Missouri. And then we got some nutritional protein drinks to help put some weight on him. His current weight is in the 130s. And then we stopped at Zio Johno's for good tasting pasta, which we had soon after arriving home. Jim can't eat very much and he gets full rather easily, but I gave him 5 Tablespoons of mostaccoli (sp?) and he ate all of it, plus a small glass of apple juice.

It's now 5:15 p.m. I have meds to put in the pill container for the next several days and evening meds as well. A suitcase to pack, a car to pack. And the things I didn't get done today, won't be done tomorrow either; it will probably be Monday afternoon, after morning appointments.

Tomorrow morning we have to get blood drawn again at MedLabs. By 10 a.m. we hope to be on the road heading south.

Moving Forward / Coming Home - Day 36

Jim didn't sleep well. His roommate had the TV on all night and apparently the sound was loud enough to keep Jim awake. Plus this morning someone kept coming in wanting to weigh him starting at 4 a.m. He hopes to nap during the day.

The catheter was removed this mornng. Is on all oral meds except the antibiotic. Will start a soft, mushy diet once he has a BM. A lot of things are possible once he has had a BM - he may get to go home on Thursday.

I have 4 days of vacation beginning Thursday. Last week we asked the Lord to make it possible for us to go to NE Missouri, i.e. LaGrange,  at least for a couple of days ... Friday and Saturday, maybe Sunday.

Our immediate prayer request is for Jim to have a BM.

The Lord tells us to Pray without ceasing
to be Thankful in everything
But we are not thankful ...
More often we are Disgruntled
Dismayed
We want this and that and something other
but stuck with something entirely different  -- and then Depression, Discouragement follow us.
The Lord tells us to pray, to give thanks in everything
To keep our focus on Him
But are we
do we
in everything
in all things
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Jim called at 8:45 a.m. New orders came in from Dr. Parekh. Forget the soft, mushy diet. If he has a BM, he will start a regular diet. If he has a BM, he may be able to go home today.

Jim called again at 10:45 a.m. He had a shower and feels "wonderful." Updated orders came in ... he is on a full regular diet and will be given a suppository.  Still needs a BM.

Jim called again mid-afternoon. He has done his duty, albeit small, but done is done, and he is coming home. As soon as I get off work, I can pick him up. And we've been given the green light for our trip to NE Missouri.

We got home at 7:50 p.m. We have much to do tomorrow and he has some new meds we have to hopefully get from CVS Pharmacy. 

Moving Forward - Day 35

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord. More than those who wait for the morning - yes, more than those who watch for the morning." (Psalm 130:5-6)

This morning's devotional was about being aware of unseen things - as in the Lord - as we live our lives in the visible world vs letting our senses dominate our thinking.

What do you suppose our senses are?

• Sight 
• Hear 
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell

This morning when Jim called, I used the sense of hearing, albeit wrongly. I heard grumpiness - he sounded grumpy, yet he said he wasn't. If I continue along the vein of what I perceive, then whatever I think about the situation becomes mine and no longer is God in control. We are. So easy to miss the mark of where God wants us to be. 

The doctors had come in and Jim might be able to start the soft, mushy diet today, dependent on how things progress. He still needs to pass gas, and although he feels like he could, it hasn't been forthcoming. The pain from the heperin shot given  before supper yesterday subsided and apparently the shot given early this morning was not as bothersome either.

This morning I am having a massage - yeah! I won't be up to see Jimmy until later in the afternoon, as I am taking Christina to UIHC to see her OB and hopefully get a date for baby James' delivery.

The massage was wonderful .... when I got home, the clock in the living room said 12:12, my cell phone said 12:13 and there was a message from Jim indicating it came in at 12:14... lol ... and now at 12:30, I can't reach him..... Anyway, his message was that the IV meds were removed and he's passing gas. Another hill conquered. Great news!

Later, I discovered all of the IV meds, except the antibiotic for the urinary tract infection, were discontinued. The IV itself still is intact and will remain in until he leaves the hospital.

These past two weeks I must be residing in the village of trial and error. This afternoon on the way to UIHC with Christina, I got stopped in Coralville for speeding ... 37 in a 25 mph zone. I had just exited the interstate and was heading into Coralville. The policeman just gave me a warning. Thank goodness.

Jim is still on the all liquids diet. His roommate, Mike, went home today, and now he has a new roommate. 

Moving Forward - Day 34

Jim was wakened by the doctors at 7 a.m.

He will remain on clear liquids until he passes gas. When that has been accomplished, he will begin full liquids.

The foley catheter may be removed today and then Jim may start taking flomax by mouth.

Amazingly today was a pretty decent day for me. I actually got some rest ... in Jim's hospital bed of all places. He in the chair watching MeTV and me in the bed reading 4 days worth of The Gazette.

I spent the morning at home, making or changing appointments and paying some bills, and the afternoon at the hospital.

Jim had visitors this morning - Edwin and Eloise Jordan from rural North English. Jim has over the years occasionally filled the pulpit for Brother Edwin at Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church.

Doctors Parekh and Tcheng and nurse practitioner Melissa came by at 3:15 p.m. Dr. Parekh ordered a full liquid diet for Jim beginning tonight even though he has not passed gas. Apparently he did a tiny little bit yesterday, so miniscule he didn't think about mentioning it to me. The foley catheter will stay in until at least tomorrow, but he started taking flomax earlier today. The plan is for all the other meds received through the IV to come out on Tuesday and receive all via mouth. He is being weaned off his pain medication - receiving it now every 20 minutes through the pain button. If he needs it more often, he has to ask for a pain pill.

Jim was given a heperin shot at 4:45 p.m., but this time it continued hurting, continues hurting long past the initial shot. This is unusual, and he is due for another one at 12:30 a.m.

Jim and I spent an hour together in the bed - there was room! watching TV and just enjoying being close.

At 6:15, his supper came - he order blended chicken noodle soup and pureed mac and cheese. His favorite was the mac and cheese, said it was very flavorful, but not so much the soup.

I left at 6:45, and discovered, to my chagrin, that when I got to my car, its battery was dead. So I had to call AAA ... I explained to them where the car was - Ramp 3, 4th floor, UIHC, Iowa City, Iowa. The lady repeated to me, so you're in the main parking lot. No ... no no no. I am in Ramp 3, 4th floor. AAA said it would be up to 9:30 p.m. before someone would come. Really... Someone was praying at that moment ... or many someones were. A lady from Campus Towing called within minutes and said she talked Harold into staying late ... Thank You! and that he would be at my "door" within 10 to 15 minutes. I told him when he arrived and got the battery re-charged, that he was a blessing. I was so thankful for his aid.

Jim and I have received so many blessings, in recent days, weeks, months. God is in control. Jesus is at the helm. Keep Him at the forefront of your life of whatever comes along. You will be astounded what He can do, what you can do through His power.

Specific prayers would be that the residual of the heperin  shot would go away and that he will not continue to be in pain after the 12:30 shot is given and that he is able to pass gas or otherwise.

Moving Forward - Day 33

We both woke at 7 this morning.

Jim reminded me to put the flag out. Today is BeeJay Bunny Boy's birthday - he died two years ago and would have been 15 today - on Flag Day. So the flag is out in his honor and for our country.

My morning devotional was in Isaiah 61:10, but God led me to Isaiah 62:10 --

"Go through,
Go through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people;
Build up,
Build up the highway!
Take out the stones,
Lift up a banner for the peoples!" 

A most interesting verse in many ways.

One, because God has given me a book to write about the stones that lead us astray and guide us to the Rock of Jesus

Two, because it is a command to God's people, to Jim and I, to go, wherever we are, proclaim His divine word, take out the stones - the stones of darkness, of fleshly pursuits, to encourage, to show the way of Christ to all.

When I called Jim at 9 to share this verse, he said the doctor was in and he is to start clear liquids. He may be able to go home in a couple of days. Jim wants to go home on Tuesday.

I was up to see him between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Today's menu included 8 ounces of apple juice, a snack-size jello, and for supper, hard candy.

Jim says his pain is letting up some, making it easier for him to get around.

Moving Forward - Day 32

It's a new day.

The winds may blow
The rains may come
but it's a new day
a God-created day
and you are a new person
today, this day.
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Jim called at 7 a.m. Both he and his roommate, Mike, slept well through the night. Said he is stll in a lot of pain - in his tummy - always pushing the pain button (every 6 minutes), and would like it to go away. So that's his immediate prayer request.

It's another work day for me, so after I visit St. Ludmila's Kolach Festival and buy a dozen poppy seed kolaches for myself and deliver some to Miss Anna, work will begin anew.

It's after noon. Jim just called and the NG tube is out - a day early. He is so glad and says maybe he can start taking liquids (sips) today. So far there is no doctor's order indicating he can drink anything.

Moving Forward - Day 31

Today marks 1 month since Jim's first surgery to remove the cancer in his esophagus.

I didn't sleep well. Woke first at 3 a.m., after 4 hours of sleep, then at 5 and then decided to get up at 5:30. Made some hot green ginger tea and settled down for Bible study.

I read about the Lord being my song and pursued that ....

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid
For YAH, the Lord is my strength and song;" (Isaiah 12:2)

"Sing to Him a new song." (Psalm 33:3a)

"I waited patiently for the Lord,
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry
He also brought me up
out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon arock,
and established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth -
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear;
and will trust in the Lord." 
(Psalm 40:1-3)

My writings ...

Behold!
See!
Look!
Yahweh
My Lord
My Salvation
My Strength
My Song

My Song
of Praise
new
for every moment
a new song
where I have been
where I am now
wait silent
for Him
My Lord
who moves me
upon the rock
of His Son
My Jesus
a new song given
to me
my footsteps established
my handholds tightened
my mouth sweetness overflowing
praises come.
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

7:05 a.m. - Jim called. The doctors just left. The report is good ... great .... actually excellent!

A resection was not necessary. Part of the colon was twisted, so it was untwisted. The area where the blockage was was cleaned out. The NG tube will be taken out in 2 days and he will resume a full liquid diet.

Jim said the doctors commented, "It wasn't as bad as they thought it could have been."

The pain button attached to the IV is back in place (like what he used right after the first surgery), so he can receive medication every 6 minutes as needed. Jim said it is real painful when he hiccups or coughs.

The nurses will be getting him up today for short walks.

Plan is he will be able to go home by Wednesday.

Hallalujah! Praise the Lord!

UnityPoint Home Medical came by shortly after noon to pick up the IV pole, travel backpack and feeding pump. It's up to us to get rid of the nutritional supplement - we have 4 cases and 2 weeks worth of IV bags that we no longer need. Jim thought Hospice Compassas could use them or maybe one of our readers. If you are interested, let us know.

We talked with each other through the day. He took 3 walks and sat up in the chair as often. His tummy still is painful.

I arrived at his doorstep shortly after 6:30. We had the room to ourselves for a while, until his new roommate, Mike, got settled in. Mike's arrival was brought about through a heart attack.

Jim and I took a walk down to the visitor lounge and looked at photos I took of our improved bath tub area  upstairs. I left the hospital at 9:15 p.m.

FACEBOOK COMMENTS

• 

  Paul D. Plavnick So glad to hear this update. Continuing to pray. ><>+<><

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 7:31am
• 

  Amy Pearson Scofield Thank you Lord!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 7:34am
• 

  Janice Weiland Amen! God is Good!!! So Good!!! Thanks for the update. Will continue to pray!!!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 7:47am
• 

  Dianne Weldon Praise Jesus! !!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 8:03am
• 

  Marian Nagel Manzke Sounds good!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 8:42am
• 

  Paulette Kmetz Yeah!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 8:48am
• 

  Diane Clouse Another answer to prayer!!! smile emoticon

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 8:55am
• 

  Marcia Elliott Praise God!

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 9:08am
• 

  Jeanette Sue Sheetz Awesome!!! Hugs and Prayers heart emoticon

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 10:49am
• 

  Paulette Titus Praise God!! God is great, all the time! We never should doubt His wisdom in our trials. I sent a card to your home because I didn't know how long he would be in the hospital when I mailed it. (((HUGS)))

  Unlike · Reply · 1 · June 12 at 11:23am
• 

  Mary Sue Rozek Answered again.

  Like · Reply · June 12 at 1:13pm
• 

  Patricia Smith prayer is a powerful thing is it not? keep up the good work jim

  Like · Reply · June 13 at 6:31pm
• 
  

Procedure - Day 30

Jim called at 7. Dr. Yerkes was in and said time frame for the scope and possible surgery to take care of the blocked bowel is mid morning or first thing in the afternoon. Jim and I think that might be around 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.

I arrived at Jim's room at 9 a.m., Pastor Dan and Lily shortly before 10. Tentative hour for procedure changed to 11 a.m., but 11 o'clock came and went, with no sign or word from anyone in OR.

At 1:30 p.m., Jim was taken to pre-op on 5th floor and by 2 p.m. was heading to the Operating Room. That was the last I saw of him until 7:25 p.m., when he was brought back into his room on 4th floor. I learned he was taken to recovery at 5:40 p.m.

Someone from his team of doctors was to come talk to me and/or us about the procedure, but that didn't happen, so I cannot tell you exacts. I am hoping tomorrow morning I will have answers. I had heard the OR was a busy place today and Jim said the recovery area was filled.

When he came back into the room, good signs were he was alert and able to move from the bed surgery personnel brought him in on to the one in his room. He was glad to see me. The UIHC doesn't let families into recovery.

The J-tube has been removed, which he was glad about. The NG tube in his nose remains, but perhaps that too will come out in a few days. Also he is still under NPO orders (Nothing By Mouth). Can't be on that forever, or he'll weigh nothing. His nurse gave him a pain shot and anti-nausea medicine.

Among things he said he was looking forward to:

• sleeping in his own bed and sitting in his recliner
• not having the IV pole 
• being able to get up to answer the door without the IV pole falling over
• not having to cart nutrition stuff in a backpack everywhere

I did a lot of sitting. I was eating lunch when Lorraine came by and we had a nice visit. Many called, but I had no answers. 

I did my morning Bible study today at 5 p.m. The verse, from Luke 1:79, says, "To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feed into the way of peace." 

This is what I wrote, a prayer ...

May the Light of Jesus
guide us
our feet
our hands
our mouths
into the way
of His Peace

We cannot
be led
unless we are
focused
We cannot
be focused
unless it is
in Him
with Him
of Him
we believe
with our
every breath
and fiber
all He
proclaims

May the Light of Jesus
remove
the dark intrusions
that settle
on our bones
into our eyes
out of our mouths

May His Light
revive us
renew us
restore us
refine us
redefine us

May His Love
become our Love
His gentleness
His kindness
His Patience
all become ours

May His Truth
be shared
May His blessings
surrond us
transform us
through every trial
we face

May His glory --
the Light
of our Lord
and Savior
Jesus
forever shine

May we be
partakers
of that Light
and through our lives
lived
pass on
that Light
of His
to another
and another. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

I left the hospital at 8:45 p.m., stopped at McDonalds for a fish sandwich, and headed homeward. Within 15 minutes I was near the North Liberty exit and the wind picked up and the rainstorms followed. It was not a good place to be caught in. Traffic slowed to a crawl and most of us put our emergency flashers on, often stopping alongside the interstate, under bridge overpasses for a brief respite. What is normally a 30-40 minute drive home, took an hour and 15 minutes. I talked to Jim during my stopping periods and he called once to tell me to take the 32nd street exit, not  42nd Street NE as it was flooded. I was glad when I arrived home. 

Set Back - Day 29

Jim called at 7. Said he woke at 3 when his roommate called for the nurse. Then later he had pain in his back, so asked for pain shot. At 4:30 he had x-ray of abdomen, followed by labs and vitals. He was waiting to see the doctor.

My Scripture reading this morning:
"My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength. And my refuge is in God." (Psalm 62:5-7)

I write:

Is it the doctor
Is it the plumber
Is it the results
that we -- impatient --
wait
Perhaps
But more likely
it is God
alone
for whom we wait.

Silent
with tears streaming
down our faces
voices distraught
with the mess
of the day(s)
previous
and current
a moment yet to come
this day or another
God holds.

Our trust
does not waiver
It is with Him
He is the one constant
that stays

Our expectation
is for better
but better or best
comes to us
through God's strength
received
according to His will

The Lord is with us
every step
every direction
left or right
up or down
surrounding us

Remember Him
at the forefront
Do not be moved.
(c) Cathy Orrick Luders


Jim called again at 8:45 a.m. Dr. Jason Tcheng was in. The x-ray continues to show blockage. They were hoping the obstruction would resolve itself. Dr. Tcheng said they may do a scope tomorrow -  a small incision in the abdomen. Depending upon what is seen, it could turn into surgery, with a larger incision, to take care of the bowel obstruction. Jim hopes he will have some answers by the time I get there after work tonight.

A poem sent by my friend Lorraine - it is written by  Amy Carmichael, who died in 1951.

Thy Way Is Perfect 
Long is the way, and very steep the slope,
Strengthen me once again, O God of hope.

Far, very far, the summit doth appear;
But Thou art near my God, but Thou art near.

And Thou wilt give me with my daily food,
Powers of endurance, courage, fortitude

Thy way is perfect; only let that way
Be clear before my feet from day to day.

Thou art my Portion, saith my soul to Thee,
O what a Portion is my God to me.

~~~~~

Jim has lost his left contact ... in the hospital room's bathroom. Another has been ordered - probably be here Monday.

Nearly 1 p.m. -- Jim called a few minutes ago. Drs. Parekh and Yerkes were both in. They plan to do a scope Thursday, but at this moment don't have a time. They may be able to give him a better idea later today. If the obstruction is twisted, it can be untwisted via the scope. If it is more extensive, they will remove the small intestine and be under general anesthesia. He would be in the hospital another 7 days.

It is after 11 p.m. We still do not know a time. Perhaps tomorrow morning we will know something definite.

Set Back - Day 28

I woke at 6 this morning. Jim called at 7 - he had an x-ray of his abdomen at 5:30, which still shows some blockage. The doctor will compare today's x-ray  with yesterday's and go from there.

I called Kenway Service and Drain Cleaning at 8 and they will squeeze me in to check out our sewer issue.

From one blockage to another blockage.

Plumber just called - 8:15 ... they're coming now! Thank you Lord!

8:50 a.m. - the line is open! Just everyday stuff clogged in the drain. And the price was reasonable! Now to turn on the air and get some bleach to get rid of the smell.

Thank you so much Don and Carol, Lorraine and Bob and so many more.

I didn't get up to see Jim until 2 this afternoon. Dr. Yerkes never came back after this morning's visit - believe he was in surgery most of the day. The only order that came in was to re-insert the foley catheter. He apparently hasn't been able to void on his own since Monday morning and I guess it was decided might as well put the foley in rather than doing a straight cath.

Bile has stopped coming out of the NG tube, his stomach doesn't cramp as much, he doesn't need the anti-nausea or pain medicine as often. It looks like things are improving, but .... he will more than likely have another x-ray tomorrow of his abdomen.

I am working tomorrow, so won't get up to see him until closer to 7 p.m. I will try to update when we visit via phone.