On the Home Front

I have arrived back home and I'm in my sweet bed.:)  Ahhh, there is no place like your own bed.  I am fueled up with 4 pints of blood.  Watch out, cuz here I come!  Oh, how I wish it were all that easy.  :)

I was admitted as observation/outpatient to get the 4 units.  I was able to have a room with a view of the river and watch the sun go down.  BEAUTIFUL!!  THANK YOU, LORD!!  I think around 9 last night was the start of the first unit and around 1 this afternoon I was ending my last unit.  In between each unit they gave me lasix to help with the fluid control.  I should sleep like a baby tonight since they had to do vitals every 15 minutes for the first hour of each unit I received then every hour till the bag was gone, then get lasix, and begin the process over.:)   I had benadryl, solu medrol, and tylenol for premeds before getting the blood, since I have reacted to getting blood in the past.  I also had phenergan IV for the nausea.  Between those meds that was enough to knock me out for the night, but with all the action I had to catch winks when I could.  I napped off and on today and now just about ready to go to bed.

I have to get labs done sometime tomorrow and then on Thursday follow up with the Nurse Practitioner for the Hemotologist. Still a busy week ahead....all the more reason to get some good rest TODAY!!

So greatful that I serve a Prayer Answering God!  There is nothing that is too big for HIM!  Thank you for your prayers, love, and emails!:)

Luv ya-

Jamie
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More blood...

Back in the hospital this evening for 4 more units of blood. Went in this morning for blood tests and blood levels were back down to a 5! 

I'll be sure to update more once I'm able. 

Thank you for your prayers! God's good!

Getting 2 units of blood

I had my Dr appointment with the Nurse Practioner today. I went around 10:30 this morning and did my labs. My appointment was at 2:30 this afternoon and couldn't come quick enough for me. She is at a loss for what to do and why things are going the way they are. My hemaglobin was 5.5 so she had me ready to go to outpatient to receive 2 units before I left the office. She wants me to come back tomorrow morning and have the level checked again. If it is still low they will do 2 more units of blood. I've slept alot while here, just due to being worn out. I have gotten some much needed rest. Just trying to take it super easy due to the shortness of breath and my pulse finally lowering down to the 100-120's. Thank you for the prayers. I'll try to update tomorrow or sometime this weekend.

Luv ya and nite-
Jamie

An Extra Special Day:)

Today was extra special for me!  I am so thankful to have another year of being blessed.:)  So thankful to God for another year to be here and celebrate another year.  Each day is truly a gift from God and I want to always live each day to the fullest.  I have had several very close calls, but God has brought though  each one.

Each day is a blessing and today is extra special with it being my 38th birthday. I was blessed with visits, emails, texts, and a surprise of  wonderful friends at Culvers for some ice cream.  Tried going thru the drive thru, but my sweet husband had something else planned out.  Little by little, friends starting coming in.  What a way to end my special day!  I was showered with blessings and love from my family and precious friends.  I feel beyond blessed.

I had blood work today and spent most of the day in bed due to my blood being a little low and the gastroparesis effects. I am holding in the 9's for my hemaglobin , but can drop very quickly.  On Thursday, I am having another blood draw to make sure it hasn't dropped.  With  the way I feel, it feels like it's lower.  My body responds the same right now if I am at a 9 or a 6.  I still have the rapid pulse like a horse, dizziness, and shortness of breath.  When I go for my appointment they are going to try a new iron infusion on me, so I'll be there for a bit.  I felt terrible on the other iron infusion, but anything is worth a try.  :)

I did change the background again on the blog:)  Was ready for something summery and fun. Hope you all have a great week.  Thank you most- for all your prayers!!

Luv-Jamie

I AM HOME :)

Sorry for leaving you guys hanging wondering if I was discharged from the hospital. I did get the clearance to go home. The Infectious Disease Dr. said if cultures were ok and not growing anything that I could go off both the IV antibiotics. My hemaglobin did drop Saturday morning from 9.7 to 9.3 or something close to that. I am to follow up with my hematologist on Thursday. She will not be in the office on Thursday, so I will see her Nurse Practioner. I have met her in passing and she seems like she's great. I have to do blood work for them on Tuesday. That way they have it for Thursday's visit. I am so thankful it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I am still getting tired out easily. The antibiotics can do that along with my blood still being low. Step by step and day by day God will bring me through!



We were supposed to have left Sunday to head to Texas, to see my "In-Loves" Obviously we are not going with all that has happened the past few days. I am very thankful that it happened then, rather than get there and it all happen. The kids were all bummed about it at first. Then we explained that we would not be able to go and do things with me stuck in bed all day long. They all understood and took it well. We all know it's for the best that I wait to be built up a bit stronger.



Normally we attend the Memorial Service in Bureau, and take flowers to all our Grandparents graves. We didn't make it this time. Maybe toward the end of the week or next week we can. I did venture out with Shane and the kids to Menards and Hyvee. He bought some extra plants and Shane is going to spruce up the landscaping. I asked for a huge hanging basket for Mother's Day and my Birthday. It's an overflowing basketfull of purple and white flowers. We clipped the tops of the hanger off and it looks like we planted it like that. We had our own minature cookout. We picked up brats and put them on the George Foreman. Hyvee has some awesome brats. The pineapple brat is the all time favorite at our house. I made a small dish of potato salad and served chips too.


I'm calling it a night in just a little bit. I hear my bed calling my name:)

Luv Ya-
Jamie

Post Number 90 and Out of ICU

I got out of ICU!!! Sorry girls... you are awesome nurses, but there is a little more quietness on the regular floors AND I can see my precious kiddos:) My hemaglobin was 11 something at 9 last night and by 5:30 this morning it was 9 something. Not surprising to me. I walked from ICU to my room. Room 414 is my lodging place at this point in time. I put a request in for a NEW room. You see, the NEW rooms have showers with a bench in the bathroom and the old rooms have a sink and toilet. I have had enough of my share of spit baths:)!! There's just something relaxing about being able to take a shower and have some normalcy to life. :) I have taken a couple naps today.:) I had occupational therapy and physical therapy come and evaluate me. Passed the OT but needed help with some strengthening in PT. They showed me a few exercises to do in the room and walked with me in the hallway.



Shane brought the kids up to see me. Matthew was all excited about his field trip-bowling and getting a strike. Kailey brought a folder she made of memories throughout the school year. Kelsey told me about her day -babysitting with Aunt Chelle. It was fun, hearing about their day and getting hugs and kisses from them. I took a little snooze while they were here and Kelsey was sitting on my bed and held my hand. Precious Memories for this Mama to hold too!



The Infectious Disease Dr. came in this afternoon and said the cultures are coming back clear. If the final report comes back negative tomorrow, he will take me off the 2 IV antibiotics.:) One step closer to HOME. Not sure when I will get to go, but I'm ready. I'm not sure when the plan of discharge will be, but it would be nice to be home for Memorial Day. Guess we'll have to see what tomorrow holds:).



I called and cancelled my appointment with the hematologist yesterday. Today I called and asked about setting up another appointment. She will be out of the office next week, but they want me to see the Nurse Practioner and do blood work on Tuesday or Wednesday.



I am so greatful for God protecting me. HE is so good and I am VERY thankful that this was not a line infection. Thank you for all your prayers, love, and emails!:)

Luv Ya and will try to post an update sometime tomorrow.:)

Another Update From Room 455

We've had a lot of excitement in the past few hours! Today I was finally able to muster up strength to take a bath at the bedside. While I was resting from being wiped out from that, the nurse came in saying that with my blood being so low, my Dr wanted me to see the GI Dr while I was here to have an endoscopy to make sure that I wasn't bleeding in my stomach. I went down around 4:30 and had it done. All looked good. He took 2 biopsies just to be on the safe side. I had just gotten settled in the room and the Infectious Disease Dr. came in and checked me over. He is giving me 2 antibiotics thru the IV for now until the blood cultures come back. Hopefully by tomorrow we will know if they are growing anything. At 8 tonight I finished the 4th unit of blood. I've had some pretty awesome nurses. Some are new and some I have gotten to know and build friendships with. So thankful for God's little and big blessings in life. Hopefully from here things will stable out and be good to go. I'll try to update tomorrow. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!

LUV-JAMIE