Tuesday October 30 2007

Lynn and Iris Earlier this Week

Well.....Today was the bad news day. The doctors had been in and talked to us all yesterday, but today I was lucid enough to begin to ask questions. I think the family had more news and information already than I did, and I either was out of it or not remembering what had been said. When they all came in, they said their tumor board had met, and these are all the different divisions of a patient's management team, and they talked about my diagnosis and care. This is written after the fact several weeks, but they gave us a lot of information about the surgery, answered everybody's questions, and explained again exactly what was done and not done in the surgery. It was mainly called a biliary bypass and they had removed the gall bladder, reconnected the bile duct and took out some lymph glands. I finally got around to asking how much time they thought I had. I think this day he said 3 to 6 months without chemo, and with the chemo perhaps some years, perhaps he said 3 years. I thought I could do a lot more than that. Little did I know then the direction that estimate would change.

I began walks down the hall and around the circular hall, past the waiting room and elevators and back to the room. Twelve laps would make a mile. (No I didn't do twelve laps, just a reference FYI.) I was supposed to walk at least three or four times a day. The windows along the waiting room side looked out over the city, as if you were as high as in a plane, and you could see the Great Salt Lake on the far horizon. This may have been the day I had my first shower. Had to get plastic taped over all the IVs and the foot long incision, which had staples in it.

Iris sat with us most of the afternoon - think I mentioned she is in the midst of moving from SLC to Houston. I got phone calls and beautiful bouquets, and at least once a day I would call Joe and tell him what was going on.

Monday, October 29 2007

Getting Ready for the Surgery

Notice with the nurses how yellow I am.

This was the day of the surgery. And I'm writing so long after the fact, so my memory may be a little fuzzy. It sure will be fuzzy for the next several days, but I'll give it a try.

The time we were to be there was about 8:30. I had to fast and not have anything to drink after midnight. We got to the right area and there was a room all waiting for me. Changed into a gown and my clothes were spirited away in a red plastic U of U travel bag. I talked to more people and filled out more paperwork. An IV was started into my hand and pretty soon a couple of men came in to insert an epidural into my spine for the pain meds. It went in between the vertebrae. There was some waiting for the operating room to be made ready, as this was surgery day and I suppose they were scheduled just one after another. When it was my turn, maybe about 11 a.m. or so, the started something in the IV to make me sleepy and I can remember being pushed down the hall, but not ever seeing the operating room.

I woke up "later" in the special care area of the 5th floor and pretty soon learned that they had not done the expected Whipple procedure. When Dr. Mulvihill got inside, he found that the tumor on the pancreas had spread some small spots onto my liver so it would not have been the right surgery to do. Instead they took out my gall bladder and did a biliary bypass to correct the obstruction of the bile duct and sewed me back up. This was much less radical that the original planned surgery and only took a couple of hours instead of the 5 or 6 that they said in the beginning.

Besides the epidural and IV, I had a tube inserted into the artery in my neck that must have gone nearly to my heart, in case they needed to draw blood, or give me medicine that way in a hurry. And a catheter. There was also a drainage tube in my stomach with a plastic pouch to collect the stuff. That was drained several times a day.

Beverly and Brent, Curtis and Debbie and Betty were all there when I woke up. Although I have no real recollection of conversations, I know there were. The surgeon came in with several other doctors and explained what they had done. From then on there were nurses and doctors coming in nearly continually for one thing or another it seemed and it was really hard to get any rest. I would no sooner doze off and there was someone else there wanting blood or temperature or something. They had me get up pretty soon, whether today or tomorrow I'm not sure now.

Sunday October 28 2007

Last Look at a Full Moon for a While

The University Guest House

where we've all stayed when I've been in the hospital.

These are very old buildings that used to be part of Fort Douglas.

Debbie Moves Us Into the Guest House

Debbie and Cousin Iris Where We Met for Dinner

Nancy, Melita Lynn and Iris at Dinner

Wonderful Friends and Relatives.

Up by about 5, showered and we were ready to leave for Pinedale by 6. I HATE early, but had to do it. Joe got his breakfast and got the car out. We loaded up the dogs and my bags and I drove us in. It was still pitch dark when we got to Falers. Melita and Hank were already waiting and in a few minutes Nancy drove up. She was taking her car. Words can't explain what wonderful friends I have. At first I wasn't sure how I would get down there, but as soon as they knew I needed some help Nancy and Melita said they would drive me down to the hospital.

It was such a nice drive with being able to visit all the way down. We had to be there to get one more bit of blood drawn before 2:30. When they took all the 10 vials of blood they found that I had had a transfusion at some point in the past in one of my surgeries (I suspect it was the hysterectomy) and that I had developed antibodies to it, so they had to make sure they had a match in case I needed a transfusion so it wouldn't be rejected. That sounded pretty serious.

We came down off Parley's Summit, turned north on foothill and then up Wasatch and right to the hospital. We had to find the right parking lot and the right door to go in. We ended up at the Research Institute again and a nice graduate student took us through the elevators and over to the right place in the hospital. You have to go to the 6th floor and walk through a long hall and back down to the 3rd floor to get there because of the construction. We've got the directions right to get in the front door of the hospital now anyway. Even though it was Sunday, Evan was there and soon came right over to the waiting room they had sent us to, and quickly took the blood. He assure us that they would have a correct match if it was needed.

Next we went and found the Chuckarama for lunch. Nancy wasn't afraid to drive around the blocks until we came across it. After that we went to the Guesthouse and soon they decided they would go to Costco to shop. Melita likes to stock up for her catering there and they did load up the back of Nancy's car with groceries. I waited in the room for Debbie to get there, and it wasn't long before she came. Debbie got her things unloaded and we rested.

I had called Cousin Iris and asked if she would like to have dinner with us. We had planned to go to TGIF Fridays for dinner, mainly because none of us had ever eaten at one, and because we knew where it was, and it was nearby. It was odd that there weren't that many restaurants near the University. You had to go more downtown, not something we really wanted to do when we didn't know where anything was. So after they shopped Melita and Nancy were to meet Debbie and I there. And Iris said she would be there too. When we got there Iris changed the plan to going to the Red Bluff next door, I should have said no the plan was already made. She said it had better food, probably true. So there was Debbie left standing in the parking lot looking for two people she had never seen before while Iris took me off to the Red Bluff. After some anxious time, they all showed up and I don't think any of us thought the food there was so great but we did all find something on the menu.

It was good to see Iris and she said she would be at the hospital when she could to visit. She is right in the midst of moving from her long time home to Houston to be near her daughter because the house and yard in SLC are getting too much for her to take care of. I hope she likes it there. The packing and sorting to scale down must be a daunting task. Her son Steve and others have been there to help her. She was flying out on Thursday to go look for a condo down there and has to be out of the house by the end of the month.

After dinner we all went back to our rooms. Melita and Nancy would head back to Pinedale in the morning after checking out out a few art and craft stores on the way. Thank you so much for your help, wonderful friends.

Saturday October 27 2007

Bighorn Ewe and Lamb Sketch

It was a pretty nice day. Today our SCAG writer's was scheduled, but I told them I'd better not try to come and asked VP Nancy E to preside at the meeting for me. I missed seeing everyone. Instead I made Joe some food he could eat on for several days while I was gone - his Aunt Eva's cabbage rolls, bunillos from the recipe Melita gave me that he likes, and the pancake batter that is like a sourdough and lasts about 10 days in the fridge. I was trying to hurry the roll dough I guess and didn't let it rise light enough after they were formed and they weren't as good as usual. But not bad either, just a little tougher. Sometimes its the weather too. I got Joe's sheets changed and the bedrooms cleaned because Debbie would be bringing me home and be here with us for a while after the surgery. I was realizing that I wanted to keep busy with productive things to keep my mind off all that had been happening and was going to happen. In the morning Joe was to drive me in to Pinedale to meet Melita and Nancy by 7 a.m. at Faler's parking lot. They were taking me to Salt Lake. I had gotten us two rooms at the University Guest House again, one for them and one for Debbie and I. I had been working on getting my suitcase ready for a few days, so just had to be up by 5 a.m. in the morning and get into the car about 6.

Friday October 26 2007

Betty Sent a Photo of a Chukkar Quail She Saw

In a Parking Lot in Mesquite NV

The are originally from Asia.

This was the day I was to call the hospital after 2 in the afternoon to find out what time to be at the Huntsman Hospital for my surgery. Shelly said to get there about 8:30 Monday morning.

Today I used the bare floor cleaner to clean and then wax the kitchen and utility room floors. I had procrastinated that job all summer and fall, so was glad to get it done. It looked real nice. It should last for some time after I get home, so I won't need to worry about it for a while.

I got packed. I knew I didn't need much but a change of clothes to come home in and some p.j.s - and my travel kit - but I didn't go with nothing like I had to Jackson. Although I know I had lots to do there were no other notes for today.

Thursday October 25 2007

Beaver Slide

Used in the Olden Days for Stacking Hay

Joe went in to town today to get a haircut and take the garbage barrels to the dump. He had loaded them onto his truck yesterday. He went to the clinic for his blood tests and got us a little bit of fresh groceries.

I called Cousin Iris today to let her know what had been going on. She lives in Salt Lake so I figured we could go to lunch or dinner when I got down there. Pat in Bend, Debbie, Betty and Judi also called. I got all the laundry caught up and did more housework in preparation for being gone. I've been getting lots of nice phone calls from people as they find out that I'm ill.

Wednesday October 24 2007

Today's main chore was to clean the studio and bring the top bunk bed from the blue bedroom in so I could be in here for after the surgery. Joe helped me take the bed apart, move it and put it back together again. I think its a good place to recuperate. I had been thinking of buying a day bed to put in the studio for quite a while. Then when all this came up, I remembered....Hey we have an extra bed already. It's very comfortable too. Sunshiny day.

Monday Oct 22 and Tuesday Oct 23 2007

Wyoming Views

(Monday Dr. Mulvihill's scheduling person Shelly called and asked if I could be down for the consultation tomorrow!!! Yikes. After several days not journaling I had begun to space a lot of things out. Things were just flying past in a blur. So asked Judi about the days we went down to Salt Lake for the consultation with the doctor. I'm just going to use what she wrote to me, below, for Monday and Tuesday. I am so grateful to Judi for going with me at the drop of a hat. And for the really great notes she took at the consultation. She even drew litttle caricature portraits of each of the multitude of staff that we talked to for HOURS. Her notes have been added to my file for all of these procedures. And she drew her signature moose cartoon on their bulletin board in the prep room. Except for the reason for the trip, we had a nice time together and good company on the drive.)

Monday morning Oct 22: Lynn called Rollie who tracked me down in town and I called Lynn back. She said the doctor in Salt Lake could see her the next morning. We arranged to meet at Rendezvous Pointe for lunch and leave for SLC from there. When Lynn came in for lunch the jaundice was showing. She felt she could do the driving - we went in her car -and she did fine. I was along for backup & companionship, mostly.

Just north of Kemmerer we stopped for some sheepherders moving sheep across the highway to a new field. (They had at least 10 dogs.) We both had our cameras out. We stopped for gas in Kemmerer and then Lynn drove me down through the old part of Diamondville. Very interesting. We stopped at Betty Pfaff's but she was not home.

Lynn had directions for a motel that she'd gotten from the doctor's office. She'd written the word "Marriott" on it (from the drs. secretary)! I had a newflangled GPS that told locations of motels, restaurants and such. We were northbound on Foothills Blvd and the GPS said to turn, so we did. We found the Marriott and Lynn went in. It was the wrong place but they got us going in the right direction. We were staying at the University of Utah Guest House which is part of the old 1862 Fort Douglas. VERY nice. We went to a Country Kitchen type restaurant for dinner and then came back and settled in for the night. Neither Lynn nor I could fall asleep. She got up at 11pm and took a shower & then we both slept.

Nice breakfast provided by the Guest House in the morning and then over to the doctor's office. As soon as we entered the building we met 3 maintenance people. We asked directions and one of them - a nice young woman from Dayton, Ohio - took us through a maze of construction straight to the doctor's office. Lynn has all my notes from that point until she was done with all the consultations, blood draws and test - about 2:30. She had lunch (I'd already eaten) at the hospital cafeteria. Lynn again chose to drive. I felt very comfortable with her driving. She took me on the backroad from Coalville to Echo. We stopped at the Bear River Center in Evanston. I drove from there to Marbleton where it was dark which bothers my driving, so Lynn drove on to Pinedale. She was able to drop me off in town since Rollie was there for a class. I think she said she got home about 8:30pm.

Sunday October 21 2007

Junk Food Dog

Pretty short on notes again, but that's not a bad thing. I must be keeping busy. My old friend Joan called and we had a good visit about all the great and fun experiences we have had together in "the Old Days". Joan's had her share of difficulties in the past years too, but I'm glad that her life is taking a turn for the better. The other thing of note is that I shaved my legs with the epilator....ouch!

Saturday October 20 2007

Horses by the Ditch - Pastel Drawing

Another day short on notes to go on. I talked to Jackie for a while today. Got the Jenny Lake colored pencil tweaked a little more and Horses by the Ditch pastel finished and will take them to the framer next time I go in. I can remember dropping them off but not sure when it was. I just told Ruth to do what she thought best with them and know she will do a good job. The dogs got their toenails cut, then had to vaccuum up all the clippings and get the house straightened up for company this evening. Sheral and Dick came over for dinner just before they go back to Layton. I fixed the crusted baked salmon and and turned out pretty good.

Friday October 19 2007

Old Tibbals House -

This is a Sears Craftsman House ordered from a catalog and built in the early 1900s.

It is on a ranch about halfway to Boulder from our place.

Not much in the way of notes today. I know I've been trying to get the house cleaned up and finish some of the things on my to do list, since I'm sure it will be a while after the surgery before I can do housework, Dr. K said. This is the first day I'm obviously turning yellow, not a good sign. Betty has been calling every day and we have a good visit that helps keep my spirits up. Also my other friends are calling often, and the girls.

Thursday October 18 2007

Dining Room at Rendezvous Pointe

Joe had to go to the dentist today. His temporary crown had broken off last night leaving a big hole in his tooth.

I went in to see Dr. K and got an appointment for the surgery at the University of Utah. He checked my biliruben level and it was up again. We're all still gathering information. He described that the surgery would probably be the Whipple Procedure, a pretty radical surgery that takes out parts of half the stuff in there and reconnects it all in a new configuration. The recovery time the literature gave was 3 weeks in the hospital and 2 more in a nursing home, mainly for maintenance of all the tubes you would have in you. They were going to do the surgery in a few weeks, but I was worried about it getting so close to winter, especially if I needed checkups down in Salt Lake afterwards and driving down there in a storm. So Dr. K was working on getting the surgery set sooner. First I have to go for a consultation with Dr. Mulvihill at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Institute, then later go back again for the surgery. Don't know the dates yet.

I checked through my email at Rendezvous Pointe and deleted all the unnecessary stuff. The cherry frozen yogurt sounded real good for lunch. I had the dogs with me and we took a couple of walks. Then got a few groceries and went home.

Wednesday October 17 2007

View over near Sheral and Dick's

Not much to go on from my notes on the calendar for today, but I must have been doing some cleaning and organizing in order to be gone for the upcoming checkup and then back again for the surgery. This evening we loaded up "the boys" and went over to Sheral and Dick's for dinner. They made roasted chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and made a special jello salad I could eat. After the hospital food this was wonderful. We had a great visit too. They are beginning to prepare for leaving the ranch and going back to Layton for the winter soon. It was windy, but other than that a nice day.

Tuesday October 16 2007

Squaw's Tit - Mesas on the Back Road to Farson

This was our Mixed Media meeting day and I had to cancel out on going. They had a nice get together and lunch at the seniors Rendezvous Pointe. We got up early and drove to Rock Springs for Joe's eye appointment at 11 a.m. I didn't want to postpone it because with surgery coming up was unsure when I would be able to bring him down for another appointment. He had a side-vision test. We were so disappointed that the eye dr. told him there was nothing more he could do for him. As they have said all along his declining vision is not his eyes, but what the stroke he had did to the part of the brain that processes what you see.

We got the oil changed at the Pennzoil place. The people who run it are quite gay and get gayer every time we go in. Two older men, one's name is Dawn and has long blond hair. The other has a nice perm and hard to describe whether he's a he or a she. But they are very efficient and do a good job - can't believe how quick they are. I'm really not sure if Joe has noticed the situation or not, he's never said a thing. We went to Applebee's for lunch and after waiting a long time to order, waited an hour for the food to come. I don't ever want to go back there again, because the food has really gone downhill too. They did give us about 30 percent off our meals for having to wait. Then I went and shopped at Walmart, more quickly than usual as I was tiring out. We also went to Home Depot to see if they had a smaller fan that would install over the new range, but they only carried the larger ones. We might find something that will fit better at an RV supplier.

If I remember right it was a pretty nice day with afternoon thunderstorms rolling across the landscape on the way home. We saw a few wild horses. We went down on the back road and home on the highway. We got back about 5:30. By now I was running on fumes, so I only put the perishables away, and worked on the rest the next day. I'm sure we had something easy for dinner. My notes say Betty and Beverly called.

Monday October15 2007

Well, this morning was the endoscopy (camera down the throat and into the stomach and intestine) and an EKG (heart). They took me into a room where they started the sedative through the IV and then into the room where the endoscopy equipment was. There were several very capable and personable men and women around doing what was needed. A nice surprise was that one of the special nurses thought I looked familiar and we decided that she was the one who took care of Joe 14 years ago when he was in the ICU for some time after his stroke. I have always remembered her because she was the one who gave me so much invaluable information and advice. I just have never forgotten her.

The procedure seemed to be so quick that I didn't even know it happened, have no memory of even being put to sleep. Just a bit of irritated throat for a while. I was wishing that I would have told Dr. Poore to go ahead and do a colonoscopy while I was out, but didn't think it would be the right thing to do. It would have been painless to do them both at once. So at some point will need to do that. Not too long after when I was awake but still in the recovery room, he showed me the pictures he took and gave me a copy. There was one picture showing the tumor protruding into the small intestine. All the rest of the pictures were good. It looked like the size of a tennis ball, but of course was not. Just very magnified. Dr. Poor said it was likely on the head of the pancreas and the size of about a quarter. He was right on with everything he told me. I admire him very much. They soon took me back to my room and said if I could eat lunch without getting sick I could go home. Judi and Rollie had arrived this morning and said that if I could leave today they would take me home, Judi driving my car and Rollie driving theirs. And if it was tomorrow, then they would get a motel room and have a mini vacation until I could go home. They were so thoughtful to do this, and as it turned out the doctor said I couldn't drive for 24 hours so it was good to have friends there. Judi so thoughtfully brought me a care package of drawing things and books and toys. It was fun checking that out. I tried to get them to go do something fun, but they waited in the hospital until the procedure was finished. I think they went to the cafeteria for some lunch. Yes, by early afternoon they said I could go home, and I dressed and gathered up my stuff. The drive back home was beautiful and we did see a few spots where the landslides had gone into the river. One was huge and nearly blocks the river. It will be interesting to see what happens there in the spring runoff. Judi and I chatted away all the way and I told them I was sure I could go ahead and drive from Boulder to home and they didn't need to come all the way out here. So that's what we did. I did just fine driving myself on home, a little slower than usual just in case. I was very glad to be back home - got there about 5:30 and thankful for my good friends.

Sunday October 14 2007

Snake River, Tetons

Did sleep better off and on and watched TV in between. It was foggy this morning and a beautiful view out the window with the sunrise hitting the peaks of the Tetons above the fog. Stayed layed down until about 8 although up and down to the bathroom in the night. Last night I finally began unplugging the IV myself from the wall and not calling the nurse. It was quite a feeling of liberation. Ordered cream of wheat for breakfast, my third meal, about 8:30 after washing up. Things have changed since I was last in the hospital and you can order any time you want from a nearly regular menu. It's called "room service". I liked that. The nurses were in and out, they cleaned the room and made the bed, to take blood pressure etc. I am having no real pain or discomfort to speak of, but did wake up headachy and achy so asked for Tylenol or something. Norissa gave me something in the IV and I felt better soon.

Dr. Poore came into talk again and said my liver enzymes were elevated more again. About 5.5 this time. So I still couldn't have any real food and I was looking forward to that but I'll have broth again. I'm going down the hall to look at the elk in the spotting scope and take a walk. Richard brought me a second gown to use for a robe. There was a computer there so I looked at my email and deleted all the stuff I didn't want. Was able to write to the waow board, Jackie and Betty and will try Bev, Deb and Gloria.

There had been some really rough boys almost beating each other up especially picking on the youngest, four of five of them down at the computer. They were a Mexican family and their grandfather was in the hospital, their parents finally came and took the kids and left.

Then went back to the room after a couple of hours, took a shower and washed my hair. Richard brought shampoo, clean towels and a hair dryer, but I had to ask for them. Then ordered lunch, all liquids and some jello. I got hooked back up to the IV and watched a movie. Later I walked down another hall and found a second computer in a solarium with a different view. While walking I could see there were a lot of empty beds.

About 3:30 Virginia came in. She said Beverly had called her to ask her to come and check on me. We all love Virginia and Calvin. She is a relative of my first husband and my daughters. They grew up in Afton and Jackson.

Then later talked to Betty, Judi Gloria and Jackie. So had good afternoon of visiting with them which helped pass the time. Jackie's husband had recently had a pacemaker put in and then had to be medivaced to Spokane, and she's recovering from a broken leg so she's been having her share of lots of things going wrong right now too. I called Joe after he would have had his dinner , but didn't have much more news for him yet. I feel bad for him with all of this such a surprise and going so fast. Surely he's plenty worried and stressed not knowing what will happen.

Saturday October 13 2007

Tetons

A very long night. A nurse said the elk were out early and bugling. If I raised up in bed I could see them and the National Museum of Wildlife Art across the valley. It was cloudy and looking like rain off and on, but cleared up by afternoon. Awake early and ready to get the tests over with. I showered so I'd be ready when they came for me at 7, but no one came to get me and they weren't sure when it was going to be since it was the weekend. They thought maybe 10 a.m. So there I languished. I noticed that I hadn't shaved my legs in too long a time you know that old thing about making sure legs are shaved and underwear is clean and no safety pins in your clothes in case they unexpectedly haul you to the hospital.

Hooked to the IV and tubes. If I put another gown on fastening in the front like a robe, I could walk in the hall by pushing the IV contraption along with me. I found there was a computer in several spots. I liked the one that overlooked the National Elk Refuge. There was a herd of elk and some eagles in sight. And there was able to go into my hughes.net and work on the email. It had backed up a lot since my computer was down so I deleted a lot and answered some letting people know what was going on - if there was a message there from that person so I could just reply.

Well, about 11:30 the young woman who did the CT scans finally came for me with a wheelchair. I held the IV pole with my feet and she wheeled the chair down through the halls and several double doors. I had not ever been in one of those machines before so it was interesting and quick, total about 5 minutes. It is a laser x-ray. I laid flat on a table and was moved into the big ring - a fraction of the length of an MRI. She said each scan took about 3000 photos in a matter of seconds. Amazing. The Drs. read the pictures, and Dr. Poore came in to talk to me. He's a very nice man, and has taken care of Joe before. He said he remembered us both. He was optimistic at this time but said they wanted her to look further down my abdomen too. Dr. Poore said I could have some "lunch" on the clear liquid diet. Oh, JOY!

So in a couple of hours they wheeled me back to have another CT scan and also did a sonogram of my abdomen. That one was more involved and even more interesting. The technician gave more info as she worked than they usually do. I do remember my gall bladder was enlarged, and she showed me where the different organs were. Dr. Poore came in to explain what they had found so far. So now they had done a lot of testing. They said I had to stay put there to have the endoscopy on Monday. They would look at a lump or mass right at or around the bile duct which is blocked. He told me what they were finding in the more detailed tests. He drew different scenarios in diagrams on a paper towel, which I kept. It helped me a lot to remember what he had told me. I told him he should sign it when he said I could keep it. The Dr. was worried that if I went home and got sick there that it was a long way away to get back. He didn't want me to go home. So there I laid, and went to the computers again to pass the time.

Later they asked the Idaho Falls hospital for the records from my stay there in March, and I think that was helpful. I questioned and also several more people have asked if that episode might be related to what was happening now, but they all have said they don't think so. I wonder though. Now that I had something to tell him, I called Joe and explained what had been going on the best I could. He had gotten the dogs back about 9:30 that morning and they were happy to be home. I reminded him to feed the cats. Told him besides the chicken and dumplings there was taco meat and enchiladas in the fridge, how to find the tortillas, and asked how he was doing with the new stove. I supposed he had put the dishwasher in today, but didn't think to ask about it.

Tonight I was put on a full liquid diet - it is really awful, even though I knew my taste and appetite was way off. On Sunday I could be on a "full liquid diet". If I didn't get sick on that I could have real food for lunch and fast after midnight. They kept me hooked to the IV. Another night in the hospital. Nurse Patti unhooked the IV tubes and I had another shower and a clean gown. Out of boredom, I read all the writing on the equipment I was hooked up to, and listened to it "breath. It makes a sound a lot like an aquarium.

After "dinner" the phone rang and I knew it would have to be Betty. She used the i-net to find the hospital number. She told me I had to call the kids and tell them what was going on. We spent some time with me telling her about what the doctor said. It was a nice visit and helped break the monotony here. I've mostly had to sit or lay in the bed because of the IV and have watched a lot of TV. So Betty called Debbie (I couldn't call out long distance). Beverly wasn't home. Debbie called back right away. I told her it was just tests.

Friday October 12 2007

Rusty Sunning on Post

Talked to Kay about the Mixed Media show. And to Jo about the new Community Center. Jo is on her way to China with her family for about two weeks. Judi and I had talked about having me watch their dog Buddy while they went to Texas for a month to see their family and I had said yes. So she brought Buddy over for a trial visit and left him while she took a walk for a few hours up in Muddy Canyon. Judi took that errant painting in to give to Kay who would be going to Cody in a week or so and would return it to the art gallery for me.

In the meantime I called for a doctor appointment and they told me to come in the afternoon for a walk-in visit. I got Joe some lunch and I made me a small ham sandwich to eat on the way, and little did I know this was my last meal for about four days. As soon as Judi got back to pick up Buddy, I took the dogs and headed in to Pinedale. Drove right to clinic and figured I'd walk the dogs later - but there was no later for them. There was very little wait to see Dr. K . We talked about what had been going on and they took a blood test for the biliruben. It was elevated from my September blood fair results - from 0.6 and now was around 3.5 I think. There are several different categories and all Greek to me, so I just relied on the Drs. to interpret.

This is where I got onto the fast track and the next few weeks were just a whirlwind. Dr. K. got on the phone and in no time at all I was scheduled for a CT scan and endoscopy in Jackson tonight and he told me I had to go there immediately and check in to the emergency entrance as an outpatient. I said I had the dogs and he told me I'd better leave them with a friend or board them, that I didn't have time to take them home. Even people at the clinic said they would take them, but not of that sounded quite acceptable for the dogs. He called Dr. Dean, the vet in town, and their kennel was full. Dr. Susie didn't answer the phone, so I rushed to go take them back home which would ad two hours to the driving time. When I went past Susie's I pulled in. Her sign and asked if she could take them overnight and she said yes. I called Joe and told him I had to go to the hospital at Jackson and that I would get the dogs in the morning on the way home after the tests. I had toyed with the idea that they could stay in the hospital parking lot in the car overnight but boy! was sure glad I didn't do that. Joe picked up the dogs the next morning after we knew how long I'd be gone.

By then I think it was about 4 p.m. or so. I drove steady and a little fast and got up there about sunset. It was a lovely fall day full of color through the canyons. I watched for those landslides but never spotted the places they were. They were expecting me at the emergency entrance and I was actually all checked in since they have our info in their computers. That was painless. They took me right into a hospital room and hooked me up to an IV and I was a prisoner. I put my purse and clothes I was wearing into a drawer. I was also immediately fasting. Was sure glad I had that sandwich as an afterthought. I thought I'd have the scan that night, but they said about 7 a.m. in the morning. I had nothing with me to be away from home, but then I didn't need anything either. I watch TV about all night, and the nurses and aides did their thing with the monitoring and vitals every few hours. I was so hooked up to tubes that I had to call a nurse every time I wanted to go to the bathroom. Slept about 20 minutes all night.

Thursday October 11 2007

We had been expecting the new appliances to be delivered, but thought we would have more notice than they gave us. Falers called about 9:30 a.m. and said they would be here by noon with the stove and dishwasher. Joe went right to work disconnecting the old ones. He really had a job getting first the dishwasher all disconnected. We got the power off, and he unwired and then got the plumbing undone. It was tough and was so tightly connected it took most of the time to get it moved out. Then the stove was taken out and the downdraft fan came out just as the delivery truck drove up into the yard about 11:30. The men were very helpful and nice and soon the old dishwasher and stove were taken out and new appliances were carried in. Joe had to cover the hole in the floor where the downdraft fan had been vented.

This was a long awaited moment, ......But wait!! As they came out of the boxes I saw .......they were the wrong color. I ordered black and these were white. I pretty quickly but reluctantly made the decision to keep the white ones because it would have been another three weeks to have them order and deliver black ones. Joe was the one who kept saying he wanted black. We could do without the dishwasher - I had been not using it for quite a while anyway - but we needed the stove. Both the old ones were basically trashed just getting them out and the men would take them to the dump. They plugged in the stove, and in the next few days Joe got the new dishwasher hooked back up. Luckily since he can do those things we didn't need a service man to come. But now we have the two white appliances and a black refrigerator. Perhaps in a year or so we can get a white refrigerator although this one is pretty new. With both new being so computerized, we had to learn how they worked. It took a little while, but even Joe is able to get all the right buttons pushed.

I had turned on the computer this morning, but when I tried to work with it nothing would open, not even the mouse. I called Best Buy but had to leave a message, the first of several.

I still had the pale b.m. and when I weighed had lost some weight. I had been able to google and find that this probably had something to do with a bile duct obstruction. If it didn't get better in another day or so, I would get a doctor appointment.

Wednesday October 10 2007

Geek Guy Fixing the Computer

I waited all day for Jerimiah from Best Buy to get here, without getting much else accomplished for thinking he would be here any time. Finally he pulled up in his Geek Squad bug about 3 p.m. I sat with him quite a bit of the time while he worked, and didn't feel so great, not sure what was going on with that. Joe and I had leftover tacos and enchiladas for dinner, Jerimiah said he didn't want to eat. He worked on the computer until 8 p.m. and it was running when he left.

I took some tylenol PM and did get some sleep. Also watched a few TV programs through the night.

Tuesday October 9 2007

Cattle Next Door in October

Aubrey and Pat came over for a visit and brought us a couple of large packages of fresh trout, filetted and frozen. I tried to get them to stay for dinner but they wouldn't. They said they would be leaving for Georgia for the winter in a week or two now. We had a nice visit.

The phone was out most of the day again.

This is just my memory working now from a distance - I didn't have it written down - but I think Sheral and Dick came over for dinner and I made Mexican food. That night I didn't sleep all night, feeling sick with an overfull indigestion, although I ate about half of what I usually do at dinner. And then in the night I had a very pale b.m. It didn't mean much at the time, besides being quite strange.

Monday October 8 2007

Betty's Friend and Helper Hans, A Nice Man

Today Joe trimmed a couple more horse feet while I held her. Then went out to check the trap. Well I had caught Smoky. You would think she had learned not to go in there. She must have been terrorized as there were raccoon? tracks going round and round the trap. She was pitiful and glad to get out. I set the trap again.

I cleaned house today. Then after showering, cut my own hair. It probably wasn't the best job this time, but at least I got the back short like I want it, I can never figure why I can't get the beautician to cut my hair the way I want it done. A few days later I had to go back later and get quite a few stray tufts trimmed.

Betty called and said Amigo was gone. She made the decision to have him put to sleep. Although he was still young-ish, he had a very wonderful life for a dog while she had him. He had always had health troubles and Betty put her heart and soul into caring for him. It's always hard to loose your pet, they are such a part of your family and your life. Hans came and dug the grave and he's out on the hill across from her kitchen window.

I worked on the grazing goats pastel painting. Its got a lot to be straightened out.

Sunday October 7 2007

Nube Knocks at the Art Show

This morning Joe got the live trap down and I baited and set it to try and catch whatever varmit is invading the cat territory. I had a nap, an ATV ride with the dogs, and a small walk. Mopped the floors. Tonight we had a nice steak dinner.

Betty has called and said Amigo is pretty sick again, so I am thinking of them often, hoping he will get well one more time. He is at the vet.

Saturday October 6 2007

Jenny Lake Colored Pencil

Today is Joe's birthday. We didn't do anything special, just a nice dinner. I figured his reupholstered chair would be his birthday present.

Joe trimmed a couple of horses feet while I held the horse. We did this for several days until he got them finished. It's amazing that he still does this, because it tires him out pretty bad and if they acted up, kicked or something, he could get hurt pretty bad.

The phone was out all day and here it is the weekend again. I think Charm reported it for us. Sandy at the phone co. says they are working on our system a lot of the time and will be putting a new phone in for us soon.

Today I finished my Jenny Lake colored pencil drawing. I will NEVER do a colored pencil drawing that big again. It took forever to get it done. That one is also ready to go to the framer. It will be my piece for the Mixed Media show theme wall. Our theme this year is "The Blues". The annual holiday show will be hung November 12.

Some kind of animal has gotten into the cat food and water several times and made a mess. I'm guessing from the tracks its another raccoon.

October 5 2007

Road to Storm

There was rain and wind all day and very stormy. Quite a bit fell.

I called the kids and visited. My sister Gloria and her daughter Donna from Arizona were up in Vegas visiting the family. Debbie made dinner for her and my other sister, and they all got together with Beverly's family too for family time. The next day they all went to lunch and had manicures/pedicures together. I felt a little left out and alone knowing they were all together.

Jerimiah from Best Buy finally called and set up a time to come next Wednesday.

Thursday October 4 2007

Raven in the Studio

Today I spent cleaning the house and doing laundry. I took a nice nap.

It was about 50 degrees all day and night. By evening we started having a thunder storm and it poured rain. It must have rained most of the night. Rain is so welcome.

There was no promised call from Best Buy. But Sheral and I visited on the phone for a while.

Wednesday October 3 2007

Nube and Bobbi Next to Bale Wagon

Had a morning call from Best Buy. They said Jerimiah would come over next week to work on the computer here. So I called Judi and asked her what she thought about going to Mesa Falls in the spring. The waterfall would be much more spectacular then, So that's a possibility.

Tonight there was a meeting for the Fine Arts Center at the new visitor center. So I fixed an early dinner and went in for that about 7 p.m. It was a pretty drive in, but going home in the dark watching for deer late at night is not my favorite thing.

Tuesday October 2 2007

Today was warm and sunny. Joe went in to Pinedale and the clinic to get his protime test. He brought back a few fresh groceries. I saw Tigger, the cat with the cut off tail, from a distance and she seems to be healthy, although each time it seems like the tail is shorter.

Judi and I are talking about taking the computer to Idaho Falls together, staying overnight, doing some exploring in eastern Idaho and driving up to Mesa Falls, a place I've wanted to see for a long time, then going back to pick up the computer.

Not much else of importance must have happened.

The picture is of my friend Ruth at a workshop this summer. She's on the right, cutie huh? She's a grandma now. The teacher is Jeanne McKenzie, and they were over in Dubois. They got on the cover of this magazine.

Monday 9:31AM
This is Lynn's friend, Judi. HI! Lynn just called and said her computer is not working...again. So, hold off on emails. She'll be back as soon as possible. She might have to take her computer to Idaho Falls.

Monday October 1 2007

Cottonwoods Willows Rabbitbrush - Pastel

This morning I made a list of all the computer problems so I could let Best Buy know the details. Until the comuter is repaired there will be no more blogging - and with yesterday's blog I'll gradually be catching up about six weeks of journaling - I'm now writing the next 5 weeks about the end of the first week of November. Hope it's not too confusing until I get to the present. It will be sketchy anyway. I'll add new photos in later.

Today I called Jackie to visit with her and let her know that with no computer I couldn't help with the WAOW work. I always enjoy talking to Jackie. She is such a special friend. I'm very grateful to have her presence in my life. We have a lot in common. She is having a new studio built, which is quite an event for an artist. Her husband is having health problems and remember Jackie had broken her ankle not that long ago. I also had enjoyable phone visits with Judi and Betty Pfaff.

In the afternoon I went out to feed the cats and since I had been thinking that they needed a warm place to sleep this winter, went in the back of the shed to see what would be best to do for them - either put back their tent on the baler or fix something in the wagon. Lo and behold, Joe had made them a little custom fit "bedroom" in the wagon box. He had it all lined with an insulation and it has a little door. The top comes off in case you would need to clean it out or anything. He had put the cat bed rugs into the box and covered the whole thing with a folded tarp for more warmth and shelter. I hadn't even mentioned anything to him about where the cats were going to sleep after he rearranged everything in the shed, and he did it all on his own. I was grateful and impressed and told him thank you.

Today I finished two new pastels and they are ready to go to the framer now. And the dogs and I went out to get today's mail on the ATV. It was a very nice fall day.