Sunday June 22 2008

Mary Caroline and Her Family

IN MEMORY OF MARY CAROLINE JORGENSEN

When I checked my email I had a message from Carol that Mary Carolyn has passed away, and am very saddened to hear it. My sincere sympathies are with all her family at this time. Carol said their small family remembrance service would be Saturday or Sunday, so we've missed being able to send flowers. They have asked if they can bring her ashes to the ranch and place them with her mom, our Aunt Ruth. They will do that later this summer, so we will look forward to seeing anyone who can come then.

This morning we got going much better than the last couple of days. We are going on to Jackson and tomorrow we will be there for my next treatment. I called Joe and he said that was o.k. with him -not to come home first, then go back to Jackson. He sounded a little better today. So about 10 I called Judy even though it is Sunday (and got her on an out of town trip) and asked if we could change my chemo from Tuesday to Monday, then we lost the signal. Paige called me back and said they would rearrange a few of their patients and I could come at 8:30. So we made the plan to go to Jackson, and called the Hitching Post - a motel owned by St. Johns Hospital for patients and employees which costs $40 a night - and made a reservation. There is no way you would find a room available in Jackson, and if you did it wold be $200 or more.

Ate some of the continental breakfast here at our hotel, better than most. The place was full of Japanese people, and one lady asked if she could share our table. We got to visiting and they are all on a pilgrimage to the Minidoka Japanese Internment Camp of Word War II. Her daughter was with her and she was an employee of the National Park Service and one of the leaders of the pilgrimage. All the old camps are National Historic Sites now. There were 10,000 Japanese people interred there, and they did a lot of farming, opening new land at that place. She said there are 15,000 descendants now from that camp, and there were a lot of camps - maybe she said eleven? I told her about Ann Noble's CDROM about Heart Mountain, the camp at Cody, and she was going to Google Ann to check it out. During WWII I was a young child and so was she. I told her even as a child I knew the Japanese people in California were all taken away to the camps and all their assets and property were permanently confiscated, and that I thought it was very wrong of the government to do that. Terrible. And I apologized to her for it. What memories that must have been for her, for them all.

We looked at all our options of a scenic drive to the waterfalls on the Snake River and Haggerman Springs (I've seen those all but Debbie hasn't), anything else in range, and decided just to start driving directly toward home. But first when we got to Idaho Falls we had to shop at Walmart. I'm beginning to seriously look for a new camera. Of all they had there I picked the one I wanted and then found that they didn't have any, and none at the other Walmart in Idaho Falls either. I'm pretty certain I've never gone into a Walmart and not bought anything. So that was about an hour wasted. We had some lunch at Olive Garden (with a hovering, loud, talkative waiter) then tried to see "The World of the Pharaohs" at the museum there. It wasn't open today. We headed out of town and went over Teton Pass to Jackson.

We still had most of the afternoon left, so took a loop drive around Teton Park. It is very beautiful right now, with the wildflowers as lush and bright as I've ever seen. The weather is perfect here, cool and spring-like. We saw almost no animals - one elk, maybe two antelope so far away it was hard to tell. Then just after passing Jenny Lake Lodge we saw a very large black bear disappearing into the fir trees. Only a glimpse but it got us excited. It was in super condition with a luxurious black coat. Nearly every time I've ever seen a bear it's been the same thing, a tenth of a second sighting, and I've seen more bears than most people - even Joe (but not Gina!). There were people everywhere and I've never seen more cars up there. Gas prices don't seem to be bothering people too much. So ..... even when we could have stopped and had a restful afternoon, we drove all day long.

Back in Jackson, and it was a total ZOO with the crowds!! People seemed to even be hanging off the buildings - well, covering decks, streets packed with pedestrians and shoppers and such. A month ago at my last chemo treatment it was still quiet here, so there is a hugh difference since then. We ate dinner at Pizza Hut and it wasn't hectic at all there - everyone is downtown. Good pizza.

At Flat Creek on Snow King Drive, there were a bunch of photographers with their huge telephoto lenses watching for something down in the creek. I'm very curious exactly what it is, because it must be something special and different; some kind of rare bird or maybe otters? (Found out Monday they are foxes - a mom with six babies.)

Now we're snug in the motel. It's a little old and rustic, but pleasant, clean, inexpensive, and very quiet. Debbie thought it was like staying at "the lodge". I've gotten the blog written, but there is no connection. It tried to connect me to Snow King Resort or Bud's East Side Liquor, but they must be too far away.

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.