14 months of courage

Dear Family and Friends,
This evening as George, our yellow cat, rubs against my legs and I can hear Nan is watching Saving Grave on her bedroom TV and of course I hear it through the monitor I am finally slowing down. Her TPN is hooked up for another day, her Adavan has been given, her tummy pumped, pills taken and she is finally back in her bed in the cold room. I keep remembering that just over 14 months ago Nan was just out of surgery in Boston and things were very dicey in intensive care with Amy and the other excellent nurses watching over her. I am so thankful for the 14 months in spite of the challenges and suffering. Each reader of this blog has helped us in his or her own way, thoughts, prayers, cards, emails, financial help, phone calls, groceries, ramp, stair chair, ...... what a difference you have made in our lives.
Nan slept until nearly 9:30 this morning, one of the longest nights yet and she slept pretty much without pain or interuption. At 6:30 I got up expecting her to want to be pumped but she never woke. So I hooked up hydration to offset some of the fluid loss she has with the pumping process and managed to get it hooked up without waking her. Then I sat in the recliner by her bed until past 8 when I gave up on her waking and came downstairs to work and prepare for the day. At 9:30 when I was supposed to be leaving she woke and we pumped her tummy, gave her Zophram, Marilyn helped her take her pills and I hit the road. nan remained in bed until about 1 or so when Marilyn helped her come downstairs where she sat in her recliner for a couple hours, then to the hospital bed for more rest. I had prepared an Adavan in advance and Marilyn gave that to her. Terry, nurse came at noon and hooked up little pigtails on the PICC line, makes it easier for novices like me to work with and saves the PICC line from being jerked about. She arranged for me to pick up needed supplies in Hayward.
I saw a ranchette here in Knightsen, then a condo in Walnut Creek. The lady was just home from saying her final goodbyes to her sister who had died after being ill for a long time. We talked at length about her life and her sister. Then to Subway for a quick Gardenburger sub, then to Oakland to a home where no woman has been for years, two brothers, oh wow what a mess, great little guys but sure needs a woman's touch, then on to Hayward and the Critical Care facility, then home through very slow traffic for a 8 pm arrival. Long day, glad to have the work and very glad to be able to touch Nan's hand again and talk to her.
Nan continues to be weak and to suffer with back pain, background nausea, blockage is the big enemy again.
Now its bedtime. We received a cute card from Barb and Gerry today and Nan enjoyed reading it. I continue to enjoy my birthday and encouragement cards and need to get my new shirt out of the drawer where Keanna stowed it and try it on, thanks to Nikki.
And so it goes, Nan is not feeling well, Marilyn is here and reading a big book but helps Nan with everything she needs during the day. I am trying to catch up work wise and get more organized. I keep trying to stretch the money to pay a little to different medical bills. None are huge bills, the largest being about $2,100 and the smallest about $75 so I pay a little here and there trying to keep them sort of happy.
Thank you for your prayers for Nan. Oh that God would see fit to open the blockage and Nan could enjoy eating a bit from time to time and not feel so lousy.

Thank you

love

tim and nan and marilyn