Dad 448: Oh, What a Relief It Is

(I think Dad misses his pump... NOT! Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Great day today! Temp only reached around 30°. Good day to clean up our yard with plow and Lew's new snowblower.

 

Congratulations to grandson Zack as he was a finalist (one of three) for the Gaziano lineman award which is based on grades, community service, and football. (As a runner-up he received $1000, a really nice jacket, and a trophy.) Additional recognition he received this year: He was chosen as the outstanding lineman for the large schools. Was also all-state and all-academic team. Great job, Zack!

My bag containing the pump for my antibiotics (given me through an IV) was taken off and PICC line was removed last Friday. The bag was on me for 26 days, 24/7. What a relief! Check Tracy's post on Friday for my picture as I exited the doctors office.

Haircut for spouse tomorrow. It will be cold.

Spouse and I go to primary care doctor on Friday.

Enough for now.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Accomplishments

Now that Dad is free of his medication pump/bag, he is accomplishing a lot of errands. He went to the post office, grocery store, and drug store today — and maybe a few other places! (The sky's the limit!) I believe he also took care of getting the trash/recycle bins to the curb and back.

On Saturday we watched online as Zack was named a runner-up for the Gaziano Award. We thought he should have won (of course!), and we are so proud of him and his many, many accomplishments this year. Congratulations, Zack! You are a fine young man and we are excited to see what the future holds for you!

As for our biggest accomplishment this weekend: Lew and I rearranged the area rugs in our living room last night.  😏

Good Riddance!

Below is the photo that Lew took of my father as he walked out of his doctor appointment this afternoon. He is waving around the bag containing the medication pump. The PICC line is gone! HOORAY!

Dad 447: Pump and Plow

(Dad writes today about a couple things to get rid of. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Well we finally have a temperature above freezing. In fact we expect rain tomorrow. Better than snow.

 

Well I thought I was about to get rid of the antibiotic pump Friday that I have been wearing 24/7 since December 31. I found out today I may have four extra days. I will, however, try to get this bag off me during Friday's visit to the infectious disease doctor. Wish me luck. I guess I can take another four days if necessary. Won't like it but I will do it.

 

Lew bought a snowblower today to help us remove snow. Still have plow truck but thinking of getting rid of it and having someone else plow a couple shots down the driveway. Then use the snowblower to clean up the yard. We'll see.

 

Tune in next week to see just when I got rid of the PUMP!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Puzzling Day

I decided I wanted a long weekend, so I took today off from work (we were open despite the holiday).

I slept in and then finished the puzzle that Debbie's family gave me for Christmas. It was a fun one!

"Holiday Cats"

Dad 446: A Survival Story (Part 4)

Derf Here! Still waiting for tonight's storm into tomorrow.

It took one week of IVs pumping antibiotics into my system to clear my blood. Thanks to all those who poked me to get this done!

On Monday, December 31st, the doctor and nurses checked with me to ask if I'd like to go home. Absolutely YES! Well, if I were to go home I still must take antibiotics for about a month through IVs. I finally agreed and they told me I must get a PICC line. I said "alright" and to the PICC line people I went....

The IV PICC-line is currently in my right arm. A line is inserted up my right arm (above the elbow) in a vein and goes across my chest and then down to the heart. This is why I'm wearing a pump 24/7 that pumps antibiotics three time a day every eight hours. I do believe my time with this pump will be up in about a week. Only then will I be able to recover.

Also, I'm a diabetic now!

Several other things happened that I haven't mentioned but I think you get the picture of my illness. This has been a reader's digest account. I may not have followed exactly when all the activities took place, but I did hit the highlights of my hospital stay. Thanks for listening.

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Dad 445: A Survival Story (Part 3)

Derf Here! Waiting for 1 to 2 feet of snow this Saturday night and Sunday. Now back to my story.

 

I spent my first night in the emergency room area. Sunday morning I was moved to room 395. Now what was causing my problems? After several tests and conversations, the doctors and nurses figured out why my blood was filled with bacteria. My toe had an infection (in the bone) and this caused my blood cultures to be seriously out of the ordinary.

 

During my hospital stay I had an MRI as well as several other tests (including a camera sent down my throat to check my heart valves). The morning after the MRI my toe was removed. The surgeon believed he got all the infection removed. This was confirmed by the pathology report.

 

I had sepsis. A doctor told me if I didn't come to the hospital when I did I would have been gone in a couple days. This taught me a lesson about why a person should be careful when dealing with a scar or bruise that isn't healing. I learned a lot about my physical body in that week.

 

I am home now and still recovering. In my next post I'll show how my returning home presented other problems. Tune in tomorrow.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!