ola' from the ER

wow....it sure has been a long day for hubby. last night we had planned to get up this morning, drop mr. k at school and then head down to vote early and then take Lu to breakfast. hubby was a bit disoriented (enough to worry me) and his right ankle had swollen so much durring the night that it looked bruised all over the foot up his calf. i decided i'd take him down to ER just to rule out new mets....dear dear friends covered my little ones and we headed down. we got right in (wed. must be a slow day) and he was evaluated. chest/doppler and brain scan later it was discovered that hubby has blood clots in his legs and one in his lung. there are NO METS to the brain!!! his hemoglobin and platelets were low enough warranting a blood transfusion and a blood thinner was administered to help widdle away at those clots.
the folks down here have been more than accommodating.
the James is a busy place this evening and we won't be getting a room until tomorrow. we are sequestered in a 'stable' room area of the ER and are last in the row of beds against the wall...so that is better than being between two curtains. at about 11 i will be able to get a cot and lay down next to him.

What does this all mean you ask??

- he will be taken off the trial med but will be able to still take the alimpta
- he will most likely need an oxygen machine at home now.
- he will need to take a daily shot (in the tummy) of this blood thinner. i'm not worried however..cuz i know plenty of nurses in the hood that can do that for me...
- he will be here in the hospital for several days to monitor the clots
- he may have his lung drained again.
- these are all 'normal' events of the cancer...and it is NOT a unanticipated event!
- he's got plenty of fight in him and is obeying the doctors (asking a lot of questions) but doing as he's told.


we had two guests of honor today while we waited for different tests. fr. lumpe came to see how we were doing....he is such 'a peach' like he would say. we DID not do Last you know whats; just in case you are wondering....!!! it was funny...when Fr. walked in..hubby said 'i hope you aren't here on official business' it was cute!!

then Dr. Mayo from the ID dept from which hubby graduated came over to see hubby. this particular teacher really has an impact on hubby. as most of you know, hubby is not very forward with compliments....nor is he forward with critisms...so, when he offers an opinion on a 'person' it is a big deal! from the time hubby was accepted into the ID department (one of only 29 of the 180 that had applied:):)
he felt a particular respect for Dr. Mayo...he worked hard to get Dr. Mayo's respect. and i'd say that he got that given the fact that the Dr. came right over to see hubby when i called this afternoon.
hubby had been talking about calling him once we got back to town..but hadn't made that call yet...so i figured might as well call since i was close and had time to talk. they had about an hours visit b4 the big girls got here.
thanks to papa who brought them down (and walked three blocks from the nearest parking spot) (and fed me). the girls got to see that daddy is going to be just fine!! they even got to see what a bag of platlets looks like!!
hubby's mom and dad showed up and had a little visit as well.
i can't imagine the feelings they must be having.
thanks to nana who stuck it out back at the ranch with the wee ones and who will be spending the night in teh guest room so that i can stay here with my guy!!

i know that we are in your prayers. you are in ours.
i know that i can call if i need something. and we would want you to call if you need something.
i know you love us. and we love love love you!!!

he is almost done with the transfusion bag....then i'll give him his sleeping meds and then i think we'll both check out for a while.

big girls will be going to school
i have a doctors apt. in the morning and g&G B will be over to babysit
in the evening the kids and i have our first meeting at the counseling center.

**thought of something you can do: would someone call Chris R at the Knights to tell him that hubby will not be home for rosary after holy hour please!!!

** would someone also call school to let the Mrs. P et. al what is going on please?

** my friends down south..would you call Fr. Jerry to let him know as well??? Brandi...i bet i can count on you for this right??!!!

** on my gosh....Bret would you tell Barb what is going on ...she'll worry when she doesn't see my van!

alright...i'm going to sign off.. this wirless network worries me a bit....
and i'm wanting to mark up this LLBean winter catalog i found in the waiting room!!!
Love Love Love the Bean....

goodnight all!!!!!