Sunday Morning Update

Mom is still sleeping (8:05 a.m. central time). Her breakfast is here, but I don't want to wake her up she's sleeping so soundly. Natalie spent the night with her. She said that around 3:00 a.m. her fever broke and her hospital gown was soaked. She had the nurse come in and change her gown. I arrived shortly before 7:30 a.m. and Natalie went back to the motel to clean-up and get packed. I haven't decided for sure if I'll ride back with he girls and catch a flight to Buffalo (where my car is parked) or stay and fly out of OKC. I'll wait to talk with the doctor before making my final decision.

I'll keep you posted.

Some Good News

Today started off with a report that was anything but good. Mom refused to eat breakfast and continued on her ornery stage performance. When the physical therapist came in and wanted her to sit up, she fussed and refused - however, with a little encouragement and because she didn't have the strength to do what she wanted, the physical therapist won! However, mom took her hand and patted the therapist until she got to the upper part of the arm and then she pinched her. The therapist was a good sport about it and we had a good laugh. Mom had to dangle her legs over the side of the bed and then she had to raise each one ten times - which mom did with no problem. After the therapist left, mom took a little nap. When she woke up her sweet side came out and she was thanking us for being there and telling us how much she appreciated us. She ate chocolate pudding for lunch and enjoyed it very much. I spent quite some time asking her questions about her dad, mother, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and she knew the answers. We were all amazed. Shortly after lunch, the girls and I went over to Francie's house (my cousin) for lunch and then took a drive past our old house and grandma's old house before heading back for the hospital. While we were gone, Donnie, Velie, and Robert were visiting mom/grandma at the hospital. When we arrived back at the hospital we were surprised to find out she was being moved from ICU to a private room. That's good news! We heard from the nurse that the CT scan that was taken this morning didn't show any significant change. The doctor said that mom is on a roller coaster and if mom doesn't get pneumonia, or an infection, she'll have a good chance of recovery - however a long one.

Mom has just been moved to her new room and is comfortable and waiting for her supper. She has a new telephone number so give us a call on our cell phone for the new number.

Saturday Morning Update

The doctor came in Friday night around 10:00 p.m. I had just left. The doctor had already been in to see her this morning when I arrived around 7:30 a.m. He said she wasn't doing well and had ordered another CT scan. She has just gotten back to her room from the scan. She wouldn't eat any breakfast this morning and is being very ornery telling me that she wants to be in a real hospital and then she told me that she wanted Donnie not me - to call Donnie and tell him to get here NOW! She told the nurses this morning that she wanted a nurse and when they told her they were her nurses, she told them she wanted real nurses not them. She is very demanding telling the nurse that she wants a blanket - lots of them. The doctor did say that her waving her hand around and kicking her feet and telling everyone what to do is a good thing. Better than her just laying in bed doing nothing. She doesn't look good and tells me that she hurts all over. I did mention to the doctor that I was from New York and was planning on going home Sunday night - he said I shouldn't leave for a few days. He doesn't see her improving. The doctor said he would get back with me as soon as he sees the CT scan.

Once again, I can't get on the internet in her room, so I have to go to the waiting room to update. Francie, Natalie, and Kristen are up here now, so I feel I can leave the room to do updates. I'll update again when I have any new news.



I'll wait to make a decision as to when I leave until Sunday evening.

Friday Update

I have been unable to access the internet today until now. All week I have been able to use the internet in mom's room, but today it was unavailable. The nurses checked to find out why I couldn't get online and found out that the service isn't available in ICU. Hum . . . I used it Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Anyway I'm able to use it in the waiting room. I didn't want to leave mom to come out to blog, but all visitors are required to leave ICU from 6:30 to 7:30 am and pm. So here I am.

Francie, Natalie, and Kristen arrived in Oklahoma City early this morning and got a few hours of sleep in the motel before heading over to the hospital. I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and thought mom looked better. The swelling in her face looked better and she was alert and talking a little to me. I fed her breakfast, grits and milk, and she seemed to be having difficulty clearing her throat. The nurse tried to put a suction tube down her throat and mom would have none of that. So a respiratory therapist came and gave her a breathing treatment which helped. The physician assistant came in and changed her bandage and removed the draining tube. Mom's incision is about 4 inches long. The doctor invited us to take a look at the CT scan that was taken yesterday. He said it looked good but once again mentioned his concern about the brusing in the brain. He said that she has about a 50 percent chance of making it, but if he was betting, he would bet on her. Mom ate lunch; tomato soup, milk, and a little cranberry juice. She didn't seem as sleepy today as yesterday. But after lunch she started having tremors on the left side of her face. She is unable to move her left arm or hand and her left hand is quite swollen. The doctor wanted the nurses to help mom get up today and sit in a chair, so shortly after lunch the nurses helped her up and she sat in a chair for a few hours. The tremors seemed to become more severe so the nurse contacted the doctor. They believe it might be seizures and have given her anti-seizure medication. She has been moved back into her bed, but continues having the seizures and is asleep and is not responding to my questions as she did in the past. Because of the seizures she was unable to have supper.

Your continued prayers will be appreciated.

Thursday afternoon update

Mom ate a little lemon pudding and drank some milk for lunch today. She has been sleeping most of the day except when we try to talk to her and bother her. She immediately falls back asleep. They are taking her now to get the CT scan. We had a good lunch that a couple from the church brought up to us. Francie (my cousin) is here. She took care of mom while I ran to her house to shower and change clothes.

Doctor's Report

I fed mom breakfast this morning. She ate a little cream of wheat, drank some milk and a sip of orange juice before falling back to sleep.

The doctor came in to see her. He ordered another scan of the brain. The right side of her head is very swollen and there has been no drainage. She has lost some of her grip in her left hand which the doctor contributes to the bruising in the brain. He wasn't too encouraging as to her progress so far. He requested that he talk to Rachael and fortunately I was able to reach her on her cell phone. The doctor doesn't see her improving. I'm very worried about her.

The nurse just now took her temperature and it is down a little.

Natalie and Francie are leaving today to come to Oklahom City to be with grandma.

We both made it through the night

The night went by rather quickly with not much sleep for either one of us. The room is so cold, I can hardly stand it. Mom is running a fever, but is able to answer questions correctly every hour. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray which they came and did around 5:00 a.m. Many of her I-V's have been removed which should make her more comfortable. She keeps asking when she can go home. Her nurse said she is doing pretty good. The nurses here are wonderful. They are so sweet to mom - treating her with love, respect, and care. The doctor will be in sometime this morning. I'll wait to go to Francie's (my cousin) house to clean up until after the doctor comes in. I don't want to miss him.

I slept (napped) in a semi-reclining chair with several blankets.

I'm spending the night

I'm going to spend the night at the hospital. My mom's blood pressure is high now and the nurse just gave her something to help bring it down. She was a little confused a little while ago, answering the nurses questions, "where are you?" "India" She didn't know the year, or month, and didn't know who I was. But, since the nurse has asked her questions again, and she answered them correctly. She keeps calling out for someone to help her, and then says she wants to go home. She's asking where Donnie is. She says she can't stand it.

Poor mom, I wish there was something I could do for her.

A couple of church members came up just a little while ago and several of the members will be bringing lunch and supper to the hospital for the family the next few days. I thought that was really thoughtful of them.

Mom's room is really cold. I'm freezing. I'm going to try and get a little sleep, but I'll post if there is any change.

Update

Grandma is back in her room in ICU. Her coloring is good. She woke up and knows that she has had the surgery and knows who we are. She's sleeping now.

Waiting

We were told to go to the ICU waiting room and a nurse would be out to talk to us. We've been waiting for at least a half hour. No nurse. Wondering what's going on.

Doctor's Report

The surgery is over and grandma is in recovery. The report wasn't as good as I had hoped. But, she made it through the surgery. He is concerned about the expanding of the brain. But most of all, his concern is with the bruising she has on the brain. He said she would be in the hospital for weeks and then go to rehab. He is concerned about her age and the severe bruising on the brain - he even mentioned that she might not make it but he is hopeful.

Update

Just received word that she is doing well - still in surgery - might be another hour.

No news

It's 5:10 p.m. central time - we've heard no news.

Update

4:50 p.m. central time - no new news.

Just taken into surgery

4:25 central time mom was taken into surgery. The doctor said it should take about 45 minutes to an hour. A little bit different time frame than what the other doctor told us.

Still Waiting

The anesthesiologist just came in and talked to us - the doctor should be here in a few minutes. The surgery will take about an hour and a half then she will be in recovery for about an hour. They will come out to the waiting room and keep us updated.

Update

Mom is in the pre-op room. She was dizzy when she arrived here and her heart rate dropped. She complained that she was going to pass out. She seems to be resting now.

Just a few thoughts

Last night (Tuesday evening) grandma ate stewed tomatoes, roll and butter, and drank milk. She was alert all day and very chatty.

Today, she isn't doing anything but sleeping. She is hurting all over (she says).

Just a little over an hour before the scheduled surgery. Donnie, Velie, and Robert are all here. Donnie is reading over the paperwork that has to be completed and signed.

Prayers please.

12:30 p.m. update

The nurse just came in and took grandma's vitals. They are fine. The nurse woke her up and asked her her name, where she was, and what year it is, and she was able to answer them all. She immediately fell back asleep and is sleeping now.

Update on Grandma Annie

This morning when I arrived at the hospital, my mom was still sleeping. She is still sleeping - talking to us when we ask questions, saying she justs wants to go home. She says she doesn't feel well. She had a fever last night. I spoke with the doctor this morning and asked for the surgery to be scheduled for today. He scheduled it for 3:15 p.m. today. My brother has agreed for her to have the surgery and says he will sign the papers this afternoon. It's so sad to see mom just laying there not wanting to talk or visit. I'll update throughout the day.

I'm in Oklahoma City

Grandma Annie

My mom and me.

Grandma Annie and Francie (my cousin)


Monday around 5:15 p.m. I received a call from my cousin telling me that my mom had been in a car accident and was in the intensive care unit with bleeding on her brain. Soon after arriving at home, Rachael and Lori had made arrangements for me to fly to OKC. I left at 1:30 a.m. to drive to the airport and catch my flight. I had a connecting flight in Chicago. I arrived in OKC around 9:30 a.m. I'm now at the hospital with my mom. She's pretty spunky but her injuries are quite serious and she is scheduled for surgery today at 2:30 p.m. Rachael has spoken with the neurologist so I'm thankful for that.

You're Not Going To Believe This . . .

We've been having a wonderful time visiting Moscow.  We have the absolute best tour guide, host, and entertainer - all in one.   Today, Tami taught us how to use gypsy cabs which is another term for  hitch-hiking.  I would never hitch-hike in the states, but in Moscow, it's O.K. You just stand on the side of the road and stick your hand out and a car soon pulls over and you agree on the price and everyone jumps in and off you go to your destination.   Jack loves hitch-hiking and spent some time this evening (I should say, wee hours of the morning) talking to his dad, grandma and grandpa about our adventures.  

Today was Victory Day here in Russia.  A time when they celebrate and honor the end of World War II and those that served in the military.  It is a tradition to honor the World War IIveter veterans by giving them a flower and the children gave white tulips to one of the soldiers they met. Victory Park was packed with people.  Each adult held tightly the little hand of an assigned child.  To get to the park we took the subway - Chris drove and met us there.  The flowers were beautiful at the park and we enjoyed walking around.  The children especially enjoyed climbing all over the war tanks that were on display.  There was a beautiful display of fireworks to end the day of celebrations.  

And, that's when we realized that this was a once in a life time event to attend, because the crowd was overwhelming.  There were thousands and thousands of people.  We held tightly to the children's hands and stayed close together.  Chris had driven the car and parked there, so we divided up the gang into two groups - those that would ride in the family car and the other group that would hitch-hike home.  Tina and Chris took the little girls and headed for the car.  It took them quite a long time to get through the crowd - having to walk through a tunnel under the street - once on the other side they were ushered by uniformed police wearing helmets and holding a club to another area - an area they didn't want to go because it was in the opposite direction of the car.  Since they had children with them, the police allowed them to climb over the fence rather than go around in a different direction.  Chris climbed over the fence and the kids climbed through the spaces between the bars of the fence.  Tina had a little problem deciding how she was going to get over the fence and decided to try the way the children did it hoping she wouldn't get stuck.  She made it just fine!  The second group that consisted of Tami, Rachael, Jack, and me were pushed and shoved along with the other thousands of people to find another way home.  The subways had been closed because of the large crowd.  You could tell that people weren't sure what they were going to do.  The streets were lined with police - you weren't allowed to cross the street.  Finally, Tami noticed a bus that was going in the direction we needed to go, so we got on.  The bus was packed with not even standing room available before the driver finally took off.  Before reaching the designated destination, the bus stopped and everyone was ordered off.  Following along once again with the crowd (still thousands) and streets lined with police.  The police were making people go around a block rather than go across the street and fortunately, Tami, was able to convince one of the police officers that we had to go across the street and he let all four of us go.  As soon as we were able, we stepped out into the street and - yes, we hitch-hiked at 11:45 p.m.  

When we arrived home, Chris and the rest of the gang still weren't home and we didn't have a key to the apartment.  To make things worse, Rachael and Tami needed a "potty".  I suggested using the large bush in the front of the apartment building, but they both shook their head at that idea.  So I suggested that they knock on the door of the apartment that had lights on - which they thought was a good idea - only to be disappointed by no one answering the door.  So we walked about a mile to a little coffee shop.  Fortunately when Chris and the gang got home and realized that we hadn't made it home yet, he called and we begged for him to come and pick us up at the coffee shop.  

Soon everyone was home and having a great time talking about the adventures of the day.  It's now 2:15 a.m. and almost everyone has gone to bed.  Tina and I are still up but I think that's going to change real soon - as soon as I post this.  I'll probably need to edit this later. . . 

Tami put a few pictures on here for me, and I accidentally deleted some of them.  I'm not sure how.  We have lots of pictures and I'm sure Tami and Rachael will be posting pictures just as soon as we all get a little sleep.