Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Jack surgery update
Just a short note to say that the surgeon was able to get the kidney stone out of Jack's right kidney. However, when Jack was in the recovery room he took a bad reaction to either the drugs or dye that was injected into his kidney. Jack ended up being in recovery for four hours and had several doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists looking at him and taking pictures for a dermatologist to consider there options. When I left him tonight, they still had Jack on benelyn, iv and hooked up to several draining tubes. The surgeon suggested that they would like to proceed with his injection of dye into the kidney tomorrow afternoon, but with this outbreak of hives they won't be able to do that. Jack's spirits are really good and he would like to thank God for having many incredible doctors and nurses provide such good care. He also thanks God for so many good friends that have provided many prayers and best wishes. We both thank God for a successful surgery and pray that he will continue to recover and be back to his healthy self.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
April Winter
This is Calgary when you get as much snow in one weekend as we had all during the winter months. I thought that I could hold off entering a blog until Jack has his surgery, but this has been unbelieveable. Last weekend Jack and I were sitting outside catching some great sunshine rays, and this weekend we were digging out our driveway. We even had to cancel out dinner downtown last night,as the roads were so bad. My car is very light and so you really feel the icy road conditions (that was Jack talking) as today I took my turn driving to church and as long as you don't drive to fast it was okay - still icy but okay.
The poor robins have been huddled together and near our garage door so that when you open or close the door, it seems they want to hop right into the garage. But the real sad thing is that there is nothing for them to eat. Last weekend we saw several robins eating the dried out berries on the neighbors tree. But this weekend, there is nothing for them.
So we are in the count down for surgery and last night we got a call from Marshall Hare who is having 2 differnt kinds of surgery. He asked if Jack got a room yet at the hospital, and when I explained that we won't know anything until Monday afternoon, Marshall said that he would put a word in for Jack and try and get Jack a bed in his room. Now that would be good for visiting and for both of them. However, this is not a hotel so I'm not sure how that works...but a good thought, thanks Marshal!
Well the 1st intermission is over in the hockey game and Calgary leads 1 to 0, so I must get back to cheering. The next blog should be when surgery is over...stay tuned!
The poor robins have been huddled together and near our garage door so that when you open or close the door, it seems they want to hop right into the garage. But the real sad thing is that there is nothing for them to eat. Last weekend we saw several robins eating the dried out berries on the neighbors tree. But this weekend, there is nothing for them.
So we are in the count down for surgery and last night we got a call from Marshall Hare who is having 2 differnt kinds of surgery. He asked if Jack got a room yet at the hospital, and when I explained that we won't know anything until Monday afternoon, Marshall said that he would put a word in for Jack and try and get Jack a bed in his room. Now that would be good for visiting and for both of them. However, this is not a hotel so I'm not sure how that works...but a good thought, thanks Marshal!
Well the 1st intermission is over in the hockey game and Calgary leads 1 to 0, so I must get back to cheering. The next blog should be when surgery is over...stay tuned!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Viva Las Vegas and Home Again
Well we had the new wheels and had to take a quick (and I mean quick) trip down to Vegas. We left around 1:00 pm on April 2nd and returned on Wed. April 9th at 7:30 pm (after a horrible 2 hour wait at customs - but that's another story). We put just shy of 4500 km on the new car and it handled like a charm..or at least that is what Jack said, as I only drove to the border and then I passed the wheel to him. We figured out many, many years ago that Jack is a better driver than navigator. This trip was for total relaxing and shopping at all our favorite places - Outlets, Cracker Barrel, Outlets and then the stores in Vegas. We even had the pleasure of finding out that Wayne & Joyce Holmgren would be in Vegas so we hooked up for a lovely supper at Cesar's with them. The weather was warm, the pool nice and cool and the malls just waiting for us to spend our near dollar investment.
Now driving home we kept a watchful eye on the weather reports and each day we missed out on the rain/snow that was originally forecast. Then last Thursday (already home) the major snow that we were to get on the road finally came through Calgary...great timing. Jack's health was fine but I picked up something and by late Thursday afternoon my voice was disappearing and by Friday 6:00 am, I could barely leave an audible message for my boss to say I couldn't come into the office. So today, Sunday, my voice is still not back fully but I need to get into the office as next Tuesday Jack has his kidney stone surgery and I will be off that complete week with him in the hospital. Good thing that I had 30 sick days in the bank to use.
I have three ladies and Breanne coming over on Wed evening to finish the mint bags and tonight I spent 3 hours just doing the thank you tags that need to be attached to the bags...boy won't I be an expert when my kids go to get married!
Well enough typing - it's time to get to the hockey game as the Flames just tied up 3 - 3 and there is some penalties coming to Calgary...nerve racking...till next time.
Now driving home we kept a watchful eye on the weather reports and each day we missed out on the rain/snow that was originally forecast. Then last Thursday (already home) the major snow that we were to get on the road finally came through Calgary...great timing. Jack's health was fine but I picked up something and by late Thursday afternoon my voice was disappearing and by Friday 6:00 am, I could barely leave an audible message for my boss to say I couldn't come into the office. So today, Sunday, my voice is still not back fully but I need to get into the office as next Tuesday Jack has his kidney stone surgery and I will be off that complete week with him in the hospital. Good thing that I had 30 sick days in the bank to use.
I have three ladies and Breanne coming over on Wed evening to finish the mint bags and tonight I spent 3 hours just doing the thank you tags that need to be attached to the bags...boy won't I be an expert when my kids go to get married!
Well enough typing - it's time to get to the hockey game as the Flames just tied up 3 - 3 and there is some penalties coming to Calgary...nerve racking...till next time.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
New Baby
Boy did I have a good week....my youngest daughter Nicole turned 21, Ryan is now 25 and Breanne is 23 and doing extremely well at her job and gets to go to Minneapolis for a trade show this coming weekend. Plus AMA insurance settled our claim for our trip cancellation and as they told Jack - "the cheque is in the mail"...so we will watch for it. Then on the weekend, Jack and I decided to go and kick some tires around at the car lots. I have never owned a "new" car and so I thought that it was time. Well behold (if this works you can see a picture) but I purchased a 2007 Dodge Caliber, in a sunburst orange. The guys at work were blown away by my choice of vehicles but I think that Jack and I are pretty sporty people. We feel young at heart and you know the saying, if you feel a certain age, then you will be that age. Regardless, I am feeling the love from this car. It even has a mini cooler in the glove box for keeping your water or pop cold to drink. It gets 35 miles to the gallon (whatever the conversion is, not sure) but highway is 42 so Jack and I have decided to do a road trip sometime next week to wherever the car goes. Looking forward to the trip but most of all to driving. Here's hoping that my skills in copying a picture will work.
PS: Happy Belated Easter to all that read our blog.
PS: Happy Belated Easter to all that read our blog.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Surgery update
Jack and I went to the specialist office today to find out whether or not he would need surgery on the removal of a large kidney stone - and yes he does. The stone continues to grow and in just over 2 weeks has gone from 2.0 to 2.1 cm in size. The stone that was removed a couple of weeks ago, was 1.0 cm in size...so quite large.
Jack will have surgery on Tuesday, April 22 and will be kept in the hospital for 2-3 days. A catheter will remain in the large kidney after surgery for 2 days. This will allow the doctors to run dye into the kidney a couple of days after surgery, to determine that the kidney is functioning in a normal state. The stone is sent to a lab to determine what kind it is etc. and then a follow up appointment to the specialist will determine if Jack has to be on a special diet.
The down time will be at least a good month before Jack can hit the golf course...and if you know Jack that was the first question that he asked. I on the other hand wanted to know if would be able to help in May to set up and take down at my parents celebration weekend, but I was clearly told "NO". So I guess that he just takes on the supervisor role, which I'm sure won't bother him to much. As well he can't vacuum, pack around groceries etc...I'm not sure what he will do - perhaps just sit in the hot tub and take it easy!
But being more realistic we are quite pleased with both the urologists that we have seen and am very pleased at how fast they can get him a hospital bed to have everything taken care of. But as we both have said all along, this must all be entrusted in God's hands and we believe in that. God will be there to make sure that things go all right and to that we say "Amen".
Jack will have surgery on Tuesday, April 22 and will be kept in the hospital for 2-3 days. A catheter will remain in the large kidney after surgery for 2 days. This will allow the doctors to run dye into the kidney a couple of days after surgery, to determine that the kidney is functioning in a normal state. The stone is sent to a lab to determine what kind it is etc. and then a follow up appointment to the specialist will determine if Jack has to be on a special diet.
The down time will be at least a good month before Jack can hit the golf course...and if you know Jack that was the first question that he asked. I on the other hand wanted to know if would be able to help in May to set up and take down at my parents celebration weekend, but I was clearly told "NO". So I guess that he just takes on the supervisor role, which I'm sure won't bother him to much. As well he can't vacuum, pack around groceries etc...I'm not sure what he will do - perhaps just sit in the hot tub and take it easy!
But being more realistic we are quite pleased with both the urologists that we have seen and am very pleased at how fast they can get him a hospital bed to have everything taken care of. But as we both have said all along, this must all be entrusted in God's hands and we believe in that. God will be there to make sure that things go all right and to that we say "Amen".
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Dr. Baverstock
Jack went into Rockyview Hospital on Friday, Feb. 29th and had a good size kidney stone removed from his urinary tract. Dr. Baverstock had Jack watch on the tv monitor while him and his assistant tried to remove the stone. Medical intervention is so unique now a days. You can not only get into someones body but you can take a camera with you and see almost anything.
After the successful fishing exercise it was determined that Jack cannot have the large 2cm kidney stone that is left in his kidney zapped to a million pieces. He will have to go back and see another urologist to have this one surgically removed. We are waiting to hear from the next specialist as to a date that this can be booked. We truly want to thank everyone that sent cards, flowers, books and lots of prayers. We feel very blessed to have so many praying for Jack's complete recovery. Thank you friends!
This situation has put a new perspective on our family dynamics. In life we all try and see where we fit in with the order that we are given. When we remarry for the second time around, we must go through this exercise all over again. This situation allowed me to talk about things that Jack and I have been talking about for sometime. Everyone needs a plan in place should a serious situation come up or even the inevitable - death. When making phone calls to 2 of Jack's kids we discussed what/who would be notified and who would be involved in making decisions. I have always wondered how this discussion would go but I actually felt good about all the angles discussed. Jack and I have talked at great lengths about what each of us would want and who we would want to be around us - the only difference is that we had to put some of this in motion. You could call this a "dry run" for the inevitable. I think that the cards are on the table and everyone knows there order - I just hope and pray that we don't have to go there for quite a long time.
After the successful fishing exercise it was determined that Jack cannot have the large 2cm kidney stone that is left in his kidney zapped to a million pieces. He will have to go back and see another urologist to have this one surgically removed. We are waiting to hear from the next specialist as to a date that this can be booked. We truly want to thank everyone that sent cards, flowers, books and lots of prayers. We feel very blessed to have so many praying for Jack's complete recovery. Thank you friends!
This situation has put a new perspective on our family dynamics. In life we all try and see where we fit in with the order that we are given. When we remarry for the second time around, we must go through this exercise all over again. This situation allowed me to talk about things that Jack and I have been talking about for sometime. Everyone needs a plan in place should a serious situation come up or even the inevitable - death. When making phone calls to 2 of Jack's kids we discussed what/who would be notified and who would be involved in making decisions. I have always wondered how this discussion would go but I actually felt good about all the angles discussed. Jack and I have talked at great lengths about what each of us would want and who we would want to be around us - the only difference is that we had to put some of this in motion. You could call this a "dry run" for the inevitable. I think that the cards are on the table and everyone knows there order - I just hope and pray that we don't have to go there for quite a long time.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Dr. Love (this should say it all)
We were back at Peter Lougheed Hospital this morning where Jack got a second visit with Dr. Love. I believe that with a name like this, it's more comforting to be in a hospital setting.
Well Jack did very well with his test. His body seemed to be more receptive to having evasive equipment down his throat and shooting dye into his duct, located in the liver. After only a short time in surgery it was determined that there were no gall stones or accumulation of bile. This is kind of baffling given the yellow jaundice look and his blood cell count. However, we are very happy to hear that both the pancreas and liver are in good working order.
The next big test is when Jack has to go to the Rockyview Hospital to see a Urologist. This is the only other explanation that a gall stone got into the urinary tract and caused all these problems. Medical science is so mysterious and yet a person just has to go with the system. God has a plan for everyone and we know that we have been truly blessed with so many people offering prayers of hope, recovery etc. for Jack. We thank everyone for helping us get through the past couple of weeks.
Well Jack did very well with his test. His body seemed to be more receptive to having evasive equipment down his throat and shooting dye into his duct, located in the liver. After only a short time in surgery it was determined that there were no gall stones or accumulation of bile. This is kind of baffling given the yellow jaundice look and his blood cell count. However, we are very happy to hear that both the pancreas and liver are in good working order.
The next big test is when Jack has to go to the Rockyview Hospital to see a Urologist. This is the only other explanation that a gall stone got into the urinary tract and caused all these problems. Medical science is so mysterious and yet a person just has to go with the system. God has a plan for everyone and we know that we have been truly blessed with so many people offering prayers of hope, recovery etc. for Jack. We thank everyone for helping us get through the past couple of weeks.
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