What a busy day! Ed came home from Los Robles today and we got re-settled at Lou's house, unpacking all the hospital belongings and getting everything re-organized and at the ready for UCLA. The doctor who will be caring for Ed while we're there called today and told me there is a huge waiting list for the first available bed, but we're at the top of the list and to stand by and drive over as soon as the call comes. Not sure when it will be, so we have everything ready. Hopefully it will be Friday. (Seems a little like the packing and stand-by routine that expecting parents go through.)
Ed did much better with the Rituxan yesterday than he did the day before with the test dose. Dr. Menco says thats why they give a test dose - to give the body a chance to get used to it and not react so violently the second time. His white count went down by 50% today, but we were expecting it and know it will come back, just like last time. Lots of hand washing, sanitizer and alcohol wipes going on here!
The home health care nurse just left and she was able to help with the painful butterfly needle in the port - it's been bothersome all day. Ed's back on the TPN hyperalimentation and his other meds -- he's smiling now as he watches his favorite show AFTER the Factor ......... WIPEOUT! Certainly at two opposite ends of the intellectual spectrum, don'tcha think?????? I'm really hoping we're back on our usual recreating schedule of motorcycle riding, RVing and boating LONG before he discovers Jerry Springer and soap operas! Let's Make a Deal has already become a daytime favorite, which I have to put up with given my own game show penchant for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
Our big news of the day....... don't be afraid...... Ed had two teaspoons of chicken noodle soup broth and a quarter of a graham cracker today. It's the first food he's eaten in 5 weeks, so that's good news. We're going to keep working on that a little each day.
Lou just brought out some soup and sandwiches, so I'll log off for tonight. I'll be back tomorrow.
Liz
Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Engelker, glad to hear things are going well. Congrats on the chicken noodle soup with a graham cracker chaser! That's progress! Today - chicken noodle soup with a graham cracker, soon - pepperoni pizza wedding cake with a silver bullet back! Take care and love you guys, TC
ReplyDeleteMr. and Mrs. Engelker.....hmmm. That's going to take a while for me to get used to, but I'm terrifically happy for you 2, and wish you a very LONG and prosperous marriage! Good weather is on the way soon, and I want us all to meet up again at Lake of the Woods!
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