Day 29

The girls are back home again...oh how we've missed them!

 Yesterday afternoon, I had every intention of getting Rob home and settled, and then going over to Mom's to get the girls.  But once I actually got home and slowed down for a minute, I realized I was exhausted...I mean, completely wiped out, so I left the girls for one more night at Grammy's house.

Tonight after work I stopped by and picked them up and they got to come home and see Daddy - they were so happy to see him after almost a week. And now, both of them have landed in their favorite spots...Baylee snuggled in her bed, and Lucy next to the hamper perched up on the dirty clothes overflow.

Day 28

At last...freedom! Rob is doing so well in his recovery, they have released him from the hospital. He has been more than ready to get home.  His nurse took his last IV out, we got him dressed and ready, and they escorted him down to the car.  Bye Bye Kadlec!

Now to get home for some decent rest...where they don't poke and prod you every hour on the hour!

Day 27

Beautiful flowers and first foods!

Today the doctor turned Rob loose on solid foods again.  His first in four days.  He tried a little meatloaf for lunch, and here he is with a little chicken and sweet potato dinner.

And, when I got up to his room this evening, he had received flowers while I was gone...a gorgeous bouquet of lilies and roses from Angie and Mark, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Things are definitely looking up...hopefully he gets walking papers tomorrow!

Day 26

Does this look like a guy who just came out of surgery?  This has been a pretty amazing day!

We started off not knowing what the day would bring for sure. We had just been told by our nurse that she had spoke with the gals in the OR, and that they had Rob's name as a possible surgery, they just didn't have him on the schedule.  Shortly after, Dr. Smith, the surgeon came in and said he had looked at the CT scan they had done on him this morning and his pancreas was looking pretty good. But, even though his pancreas numbers were down, his white count and billirubin were up again. He just really thought that getting his gallbladder out now was the answer to expediting his healing.  So within about an hour, Rob was headed to surgery.

From the moment he got back to his room, his voice was strong, his color was better, he was more alert and the severe headache he had been complaining of for the last day was gone. No doubt he was a bit beat up and wiped out from having his gallbladder removed, and the two-fer of having his hernia repaired at the same time, but overall he just seemed better. Dr. Smith tells us if everything goes as well as he hopes, he'll be sprung from this place by Tuesday.

Once he was out and settled into his room, with a grateful heart I headed across the street to mass - to thank God for the many blessings of the last few days; for giving us great doctors and nurses, for seeing Rob through surgery and putting him on the road to recovery, and for all the love and concern we've been receiving from friends and family. God is good!

Day 25

Here we are on our second full day in the hospital.  I left the hospital for awhile to run home and grab a shower, and to stop at mom's to visit the girls.  On my way back up I swung into Yokes and picked up this cute little puppy (his bandana says 'woof you') and a Feel Better Soon balloon to take back up with me.

I know this is seriously no picnic for Rob, and I just wanted to give him a smile if I could...and I think the puppy did the trick. These have been days filled with firsts for him, and not the kind you look forward to; first serious illness, first IV, first ultrasound and MRI, first hospitalization.  And, the poor guy hasn't been able to eat anything since Thursday except a mug of broth...as he is enjoying in the photo. Not that he's wanted anything else really...between his pain level, and the medication he's on, food is the last thing on his mind.

We did meet with a surgeon this afternoon, and he is leaning toward surgery tomorrow, but might want to look at a CT scan first before making a final decision. I guess we won't know until morning what he's decided. Another night of waiting.

Day 24

This is Rob's Road to Recovery board.  As you can see, lots of reds (no's and don'ts), and not much else going on on it.  We are still kind of in that wait-and-see mode.

He was admitted to the hospital last night, and brought up into a room about 4:00 a.m. They did an MRI on him right before bringing him up, and it shows there is no blockage.  They believe he had a stone, and with so much build up, it finally gave way and he passed it, and is now just left with the after effects.  For now we are trying to make his angry pancreas happy again, and then they will make a decision on what to do with him. 

We are being told there are two options; keep him here a couple days, send him home for further healing and then have outpatient surgery to remove the gallbladder in a week or two, OR, just go ahead and take the gallbladder out now while he is already in the hospital.  Either way, I'm afraid he's going to have to be here for a few days.

Day 23

Well here we are in the ER. Not exactly where I thought I would be spending my night...or Rob either for that matter.

He's been complaining of some belly pain and upset on and off for the last couple days. But tonight he got home from work and was crying out in sheer agony. His pain was intense and he was experiencing some vomiting as well. I knew something was very wrong, so we quickly loaded up in the car and headed for the emergency room.

After some quick lab tests they've told us all of his enzyme levels are elevated in his gallbladder, liver and pancreas. In fact, the normal range for one of the enzymes in his pancreas is 350-400...but his is 27,000!! They believe he may have a gallstone stuck in a bile duct causing everything to back up. They think they know right where it is, and have drawn a lovely diagram for us, explaining where it is and how its affecting Rob.  He will most likely need a procedure in the morning to have it removed.  I think we may be here for a little while.

Day 22

It's my new favorite beverage. Technically it's Rob's SodaStream that he got from Mom for Christmas, but I'm enjoying it very much myself!

Tonight I made another 'batch' of my favorite...a combination of cola and tropical punch.  It's delicious!!  Rob, always the more basic and natural kind of guy just enjoys squeezing lemon and lime juice into his for a fizzy, refreshing soda water.

Day 21

I know what they say, there's only two things you are supposed to do in your bedroom...sleep and...well, you know.

I already know this, but I have to say this is one of my favorite things to do.  We call it a picnic in bed.  Some nights I get home from work and I'm wiped out and cooking a full dinner seems like too much effort.  So usually we order take out, or it might just be quick sandwiches, or something of the like, and then we spend the evening on/in bed. We eat, watch some TV...maybe catching up on some shows, and in general just hang out all evening in our bedroom. And that's what we did tonight, and I enjoyed it!

Day 20

Unlike my scrap space, I have no 'before' photo.  However, suffice it to say, this desk looked like a cyclone hit it, just like my scrap table.  I spent a couple hours tonight sorting, purging, and filing away paperwork and bills. What a good feeling to fill a sack full of trash and get rid of it!  Why I wait until it piles up, I do not know.  I'm hoping to start a new habit...Monday nights will be mail and bill sort nights.

 He doesn't know it yet, but next stop...Rob's desk...shhhhhh :)

Day 19

Today was the final playoff game for the Seahawks. They played the 49ers for the NFC Championship, and won 23 to 17. They are headed to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.

I'm not much of a sports fan, and really not a football fan, but you have to root for your home team, right?  Mom has been paying pretty close attention this season, and I knew she'd be watching the game this afternoon, so I asked her if she wanted to come over and watch with Baylee and Lucy and me. She agreed, and so she watched the game, while I did some chores, made some Harry and David dip and Rice Krispie treats, and uploaded some photos for next weekend's scrap camp.  It was nice to have some company in the house...and the girls LOVE their Grammy!

Congrats Seattle...see you February 2 at the Super Bowl!

Day 18

Oooooh!  Now that's a good start!  The other day I posted a pic of my cyclone of a scrap space.  Tonight, while Rob was working, I got in there and got it decluttered, and about 80% organized - I still have some stacks of things to go through.  But tonight I purged some stuff, put lots of stuff away where it actually belonged, and even organized my scrapbooks and some supplies.

Woohoo!  Yay me!  Keep up the good work!

Day 17

That Baylee-girl.  Even when she's naughty, she's cute.

I picked up a new bag of food for the girls after work.  Mom hauled it in for me tonight, and set it next to the couch, and asked, kind of jokingly...'The girls can't get into this, can they?'.  Well I disappeared into the bedroom and bathroom for a few minutes, and realized I was hearing a LOT of rustling in the living room  Busted!  Baylee WAS in fact trying to get into the food...she had knocked the bag over, pushed it a couple feet across the floor with her snout, and was trying to dig her way in!  That nose...the nose knows I tell ya!

Day 16

Yum...Doesn't this look like a nice dinner?

After a long day at work, then some grocery shopping, putting all the food away, and doing a few chores around the house, preparing anything fancy for dinner was just not going to happen tonight.  So I made a prep-and-walk-away kind of dinner...Shake and Bake pork chops, a Marie Callender's Vermont White Cheddar Macaroni bake, and some broccoli.  I put it all together on a plate for Rob, so he can warm it a bit and have dinner when he gets home from work...and I just liked the way the plate looked - colorful, balanced, and yummy.  It's what's for dinner...

Day 15

A dinner double date with the Huntingtons.  What a great last minute plan that worked out lovely!  Trina texted me this afternoon to say that my Close To My Heart order was in. Then she asked if Rob was off tonight, and if we would like to double date with her and Tom.  Yes and Yes! We met at Texas Roadhouse just after work - where we both had gift cards (mine was a birthday gift courtesy the Huntingtons, ironically enough).  We had delicious dinners, and some good chatting...when the music and noise of the place allowed (a LOUD)!! 

Thanks for the invite...we'll have to do it again soon.