Sunday Favorite

Meet Mable Bear Proctor!

I am now a great grandmother to a basset hound puppy! Alex and Brooke picked her up this afternoon to bring her home to be a part of their family. Well, they didn't exactly bring her home, as at the moment they are staying with Melany and Wade. They are dorm parents at Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN and at the moment the dorm they live in is being renovated. I think I will get to meet her on the 4th of July when we have a family cookout at Nathan and Kathy's. She is so cute...and I am not a dog person...but I do look foeward to meeting this little bundle of joy! Melany and Wade should sleep well tonight. They worked so hard in my yard today. The end of the driveway is now visible and the dirt that had bee on it for years has been pushed into the hollow of a stump to make a new flower garden area...both in the stump area and at the end of the driveway. They had hiped to get flowers bought and planted, but that part didn't happen...by the time they were ready for that part it was too hot and they had worked hard and long enough. We will put that part off for another day...perhaps in the morning of the 4th. Wade chainsawed branches, stumps, etc. Along with weed eating the area and other spots. It looks so nice and will look even better when we add a bit of color with some flowers. I cleaned off the front porch...hosing down pillows, chairs, etc. Getting ready for Cheryl's visit. She plans to porch sit...hoping that it isn't too hot for porch sitting! We have been issued a heat advisory for tomorrow from 10am to 7pm. Melanh and Wade brought donuts...that may be my supper tonight? We had a cold pasta salad for lunch and the deviled egg casserole and some fresh cherries. That tasted pretty good on this day of so much hot-outside work. I'm going to go have something to eat...maybe a donut or maybe something along with that donut! Then I am going to sit down and begin the list of all the thoughtful things that people have done for us since Woody died. I need to get that list organized so I can begin my thank-you writing. I plan to go to Sunday School in the morning...the first time in almost a month and after that I will go to church...now it is a very long time since I have been in our church for a church service...I have only attended a church service a few times since Covid. At the time of Covid our church began live streaming our service and we watched that way during the Covid lockdown and then continued after because neither of us needed to be in crowds. The only time I have been to church was a year ago January when Woody was in rehab after his three week hospitalization at Vanderbilt after his gall bladder surgery and complications. So it will be a little strange not hopping back into the car to head home after Sunday School to get watch the service on my iPad. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Activity

I started out the day doing a little stitching when I woke up too early, once again, this morning. After I had a bite to eat for breakfast, I headed outside before it got too hot and watered the gardens. Since the hose was there and the car, too, I decided to wash the car...not the best job, but better than it was. By that time it was getting rather warm outside and I came in and got my grocery list ready. Then it was off to Kroger...the first time since June 1 that I had stepped foot in there. I only needed a few things. It was very crowded in the store today...it's Friday, the 4th of July is approaching...anyway, many reasons for what seemed like half of Tullahoma being there! By the time I got my groceries put away, it was almost lunch time so I ate a quick bite and decided that it was time for a nap! I rested for a while and did fall asleep. I decided mid afternoon, that I would make an egg casserole from a recipe of my mother's. I have an abundance of eggs since I am no longer making Woody a 3-egg omelet every day! I had bought eggs in the morning of June 1 and Woody ended up in the ER that afternoon...so that abundance of eggs hadn't dwindled over the month. This recipe is made with deviled eggs that have a cheese-mushroom sauce poured over them and then baked in the oven till heated through. I had never made this particular recipe, but I remember Mother sharing it with me. She had made it for a brunch she had had for a group of women at her house. She was often trying out different brunch-type recipes for her group of friends and she would share them with me. When I realized how many eggs I have in the refrigerator, I thought of this recipe and decided to give it a try. I had it for supper tonight and it is quite good. I'm going to serrve it to Melany and Wade tomorrow when they come to do some more gardening. I'm also going to make a pasta salad for tomorrow...good weather for a cold salad...pretty hot here. It's been getting into the lower 90s almost every day this week. Pretty humid, also. Oh, I did attempt to change names on things, again, today. This time for our car and house insurance. They told me that it wasn't necessary to removce his name from the policy unless I really wanted it removed. I said, "Let's leave well enough alone!" I didn't have time to attempt to change anything else today...so I will start up again on Monday. I guess it is time to head back to the kitchen to put together the pasta salad for tomorrow so it will have time to get good and cold. I hope to read and stitch this evening after I go upstairs. I have been stitching most evenings...or if I fall asleep, I end up stitching for a little while when I wake up in the wee hours of the night. Or I read in the wee hours hoping to get sleepy enough to drift back off. We have been getting so many sweet notes from friends...everyone is so thoughtful! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Congratulations, Joy!

I just got home from Joy's graduation from cosmetology school! One more rung climbed toward's her future! She is planning to get a job in a salon and also go to Motlow State Community College this Fall. Busy times. Graham got registered at Middle Tennessee State University today...so more busy times and more rungs to climb in his life. I woke up, too early, once again. I'm ready for a time that my body allows me to sleep longer than four hours at a stretch! I played lazy and stayed in my chair for a while this morning before acrtually getting up. When I finally decided to move I picked up my Bristol sampler and cross stitched for a while on it. I did reconfigure my serger today and overlocked the ends of the yardage that I bought recenty. After that I washed both pieces and have dried them, too. So they are ready to be made into something...once I decide what that something will be! This afternoon I met with my financial advisor to change names on the accounts to just mine...a strange thing to have to do! But it is one more thing done. The first thing I have done that needed a death certificate...but he only needed a copy of a cetified death certificate. So at this point I have all the death certificates I was given. I came home and actually cooked for the first time since the funeral...I'm having a bit of a struggle enjoying cooking as I did when I could cook for Woody. Today I cooked the patty pan squash that Melany brought me from their garden. Pretty tasty. I sauteed it with onions and sweet red, orange, and yellow bell peppers...with a pinch of garlic salt and a pinch of Italian seasoning. I enjoyed that before I left for the graduation. The graduation ceremony took place at a church that is onlly a few blocks from my house. There were only six girls in the graduating class so the ceremony didn't take long. One girl graduated with in aesthetics, Joy in cosmetology, and the rest in nails. Joy was one of three who had graduated from high school while working toward her cosmetology diploma. So all in all another pretty busy day. I am pretty tired...ready for my recliner once I get a little more done in the kitchen. I still haven't turned on the TV since Woody died...part of me is enjoying the quiet, part of me just isn't in the mood to sit down in the family room for long enough to watch a program. I have watched a few things on my iPad, but no TV programming...I am behind with the news. I keep up somewhat with drop down headlines on my iPad. I do know that there is a presidential debate on TV tonight...but I am excused from watching that as I don't get that channel! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, just thought about the problems I had posting the blog last night...no problems tonigt, but there was an app update which fixed some bugs...looks like those were the bugs that gave me problems last night...so back in business tonight!

A Busy Day

I'm having problems with the blog website tonight, It took me jumping through all kinds of hoops to get to this point and it is blockimg me from posting a photo...will just skip a photo and thoe the blog before something else is blocked! Melany came this morning to work in the yard. Today her goal ws to get rid of poison ivy...not an easy task! I just hope that all her precautions keep her from getting it. She came close to getting all out of one area, but jad toncry uncle for today and will get the rest the next time she is here. I weeded mainly in the garden that wraps around the fromt porch. While Melany was here, I texted with Cheryl and we decided when she would try to fly to TN from AZ. Whe through out a dAte and I called my eye doctor to see if I could get my 2nd cAtarct surgery done while she is here. So Cheryl once afain has tickets to come to TN and I have an eye surgeryndate...a little less than a month away. After Melany left this afternoon, I went to the chruch to give two memorial checks for Woody. I came home and had enough tome to call and cancel his Medicare supplemental insurance. That was easy. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the financial advisor. So I am getting underway with getting my name solely on accounts or stopping accounts that were just Woody's to begin with. We'll see how this will go! Once afain, I am pretty tired. The recliner will look prettyngood when I get upstairs! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Promised Fatigue

I think that the promised fatigue has settled in. I took a long nap this afternoon and have done close to nothing today. The funeral home came by with the plants that were given in memory of Woody. And, our/my financial advisor called me. The our/my pronouns are hard to use these days...I guess that things that were ours two weeks ago are now mine...that is hard to get used to. I have done a bit of talking on the phone. To say what I haven't done...I still don't have the dishwasher emptied from our after-funeral meal on Sunday evening. Just no motivation. I had ordered some fabric the week before Woody died. It arrived yesterday. I decided that I would wash it today. Before I wash it I need to serge the cut ends so it doesn't ravel...well, I have the macine set up to do cover stitch and not overlock...so...I put that task off till I felt like setting the machine up and threading it...neither are hard tasks...just don't feel like doing them at the moment. So have set aside that task for another time. Now I need to remember to go back in the sewing room and turn the light off on the machine. I had planned to go out early this morning and water, but didn't think about it early enough. So, even though, it isn't the best time to do it, I watered the gardens a few minutes ago. I will probably go out and water again in the morning. The plants are not liking the hot temperatures. Here is it almost 8pm and Alexa just told me that it is 90°. I did water Sunday morning early, but haven't watered since and there were several pretty sad plants. Melany is planning to come tomorrow to do some weeding, the weeding that she had planned to do when we got called back early because Woody had taken a turn for the worse. two weeks ago tomorrow. A lot has happened in those two weeks! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Tonight's picture shows the kids enjoying some time at the creek after we buried Woody...a good diversion that Melany suggested.

A Day Spent With Family

We left around 9am and got home after 5pm. It was a day to gather with family. Our vehicle was the last to arrive at the cemetery so once we got there (a little before noon), we went on with the graveside time. We sang a couple of hymns, read a couple of scriptures, and, Nathan said a few words, told a new story that he had learned last night about Woody. Some of us stayed till the casket was lowered, but others headed off with Aunt Melany to explore the nearby creek. That helped with sadness with the younger ones! Once everyone gathered together again, we headed off to have a family meal. We enjoyed the food and the fellowship amongst outselves. After we ate, we headed back up the road and went to the momument company to order the headstone. I pretty much had in mind what I wanted and with everyone's help, we soon found one we all liked. We gave the information needed and then headed off to our respective homes. We got back to Shelbyville and Nathan and Graham left us to go look at a car that Graham was interested in purchasing...a red Ford Fusion...same year as mine...so now there are three Ford Fusions in our family...white (mine), white (Abigail's) and red (Graham's). Abigail's is a newer year than Graham's and mine. Kathy dropped me off at my house and the rest headed home. We're all pretty weary aftet our long day. I got home in time for prayer meeting and decided that would go since I have been out of pocket for the last few weeks. It was good to be back with our group. I came home and had a bite to eat...not really too hungry since I had a pretty big meal for lunch. And, now there is a decision to be made...to continue the blog or not...since it was started to keep people informed about Woody, should I keep on doing it sinc the main subject for the blog is no longer with us?? I'm not sure that I can just stop it "cold turkey," since I have been doing it for so many years. I'll think about it...but for the moment I think you will still hear from me regularly...pretty ingrained in me after 15 1/2 years. So...for the moment...to be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Lots of Memories

Tomorrow's date is one full of memories for our families. June 23, 2001 most who were alive in our family were gathered in AZ for my nieces wedding. Then in 2005 I was in AZ on June 23, because tht is the day my father died. And, now, tomorrow, June 23, Woody's funeral will take place. When I set up the day for the funeral, I just chose Sunday...didn't look at the date until I put his funeral on my calendar. I guess it is a date to remember. This has been a busy day, again. I have been mainly puttering around the house. I have worked getting the family room and the bathroom back to non-sick rooms. The bathroom is once again a guest bathroom. I haven't gotten all the medical supplies out of the family room, yet, but that will happen eventually. Nathan, Kathy and 5 of the grandchildren stopped by this morning and changed the batteries in my smoke alarm...it started chirping yesterday. It is in a very dangerous place...at the head of the stairs out over the stair well a bit. Not a battery change that I will atempt! They were on their way to a juggling gig a couple of towns over. Well, tomorrow is about to arrive...just hoping that we all survive the day...I know we will, but having the day so close does put a bit of a feeling of dread into me...and I'm sure the rest! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! The best part of the day was getting to talk with friends from far away...friends from our two years in California back in the early 70s and then my moved-away-from Tullahoma friend in Alabama. Getting to visit and think about long ago days was fun...good memories!

Supper with the Newly Weds

Nathan, Kathy, Isaac, and Joseph all returned home today after five days at camp. Kathy invited me over for supper with the newly weds. After supper we walked out and saw the tiny house that Nathan and Kathy reently purchased and also saw the first abode of the newly weds...the Dorrell camper...pretty nice digs! The tiny house isn't connected to power, water, and sewer, so it can't be used yet. I got to go inside the tiny house...very nice! I have kept busy today. I started out the morning outside watering and deadheading and cleaning up several spots in the garden where the bulb leaves have dried up. I just raked them up and put them in the yard bucket. I made sure to water the new plants and gave drinks to the rest of the plants, too. My outside work made me tired for most of the rest of the day. I plugged on and got some more done around the house. The kitchen and three bathroom floors all got dry mopped and then wet mopped...a good job done. I washed a load of towels, which I will go transfer into the drier when I get through with the blog. I still have a little to do in the kitchen...but not much. I haven't done a lot of cooking in the last few days...number of runs of the dishwasher are definitely down! We made plans for going to the burial on Monday. I will be hitching a ride with Nathan, Kathy and family. I seem to have moved from a fairly regimented daily schedule to no schedule at all! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Working on Finding a New Normal

My days have a strange feeling at times. I'm not used to having the extra time that I now seem to have! Once again, I have had a busy day. The start was a day to "find things." I had been looking for Woody's wedding ring and hadn't been able to find it. A while back, he told me where he had put it...but it wasn't where he said it was. Today I was looking for something else and picked up a little box that was filled with lots of different things...including a few marbles and lo and behold in the corner of the box was his ring. He had stopped wearing his ring some years back when he got his hand hurt rather badly during a basketball game...it got caught on something and wrenched his finger...from that time on he stopped wearing it. So now I have it...as it is a memory of when I bought it for him all those years ago. I still have the receipt for it in the wedding scrapbook that Mother made for me. The other thing that I came upon was my Social Security card...I thought that I had lost it, but maybe I never carried it with me as I found it in a lock box that he kept all kinds of "important" papers. I was putting things back in the box and found my card up against the side of the box. In this box were his grade reports from college...also his selective service records for the draft. He never got drafted as he always failed the physicals because his blood pressure was always way too high. His number was called up at least once here and then again when we lived in California...but his blood pressure was always too high...they even made him go at various times of the day to have his BP checked when he worked at the Base. I guess he was really nervous about being drafted!!!! So two finds today. I had been meaning to try to apply for a new SS card, but kept putting it off as I dreaded the red tape. But guess I had it all along...just not in my wallet. I did get my plants planted today. Joy came over to bake banana bread. Their oven wasn't working right. So she and I had a nice chat...fun to just sit and talk one on one with my grandchildren! After Joy left, I headed out to finish my watering. While I was watering our church administrator/education minister and his wife stopped by to visit...so another nice visit. I am being well looked after! Oh, I also found two other things today...I found two mint, uncirculated $2 bills. One of them is signed by the United States Treasurer of the day. She happened to be a Cottey College alum. I remember buying the one with her signature...one for us and one for my father. Daddy always tried to have a $2 bill in his wallet. I also found a savings bond that my mother had purchased for me back in 1963...before I graduated from High School. I thought that we had cashed in all our savings bonds...but this one was in an envelope so I guess it got overlooked. It long ago quit earning interest...so guess I should do something about it. I will eventually. I got the last of the throws and the quilt washed today. I got my hair cut...the hair cut that I missed last week, as Melany and I went back early when we found out that Woody had taken a turn for the worse. On the way home, I stopped at the Credit Union as I needed help getting an account number in my bill pay changed. Nathan and I had tried over the weekend, but kept hitting a road block. I decided to just go to them and let them show me how! Our internet bill changed account numbers...why, I don't know...but it surely did make it hard to pay them this time! So lots of thises and thats done today. I did do one more task toward the funeral. But pretty much all is done. I keep thinking of little things, but so far nothing that will make a difference if it isn't done! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Day!

I have accomplished a lot today. I was able to finish the tasks for the funeral...getting information to the funeral home. I think that now I pretty much just have to show up on Sunday! So I took advantage of being at this point and started doing things around the house. First I needed to get all the clothes that I had packed for the hospital stay and get them either washed and put away or just put away. It was not an ordinary just put them away, as I needed to move them to the Fall/Winter closet, as I had taken long sleeved shirts and sweatpants because it was cold in the hospital rooms. So I have been shifting my other colder weather clothes to that closet, too. I have worked on getting the family room back from being a "sick room." I have washed a ton of throws and have found places to store them till it is cold again. I have two throws in the drier right now and when they are through I am through with wash for today. I still have the big quilt that I covered the couch with when it was Woody's bed. And I found a couple of more towels that were next to his chair that need to be washed and put away. But the couch is a couch once again. I even got out the throw pillows that go with the couch that we didn't get out before. I needed to return a library book, so I decided that I would run a couple of errands while I was out. I stopped at the drugstore and got some note cards. Then I headed to the library and was surprised that it wasn't opened. It took me a minute to realize why they were closed. It is Juneteenth. I then headed to Lowes as I decided that I wanted to plant some more herbs. I got rosemary and some lemon thyme and then decided to get a tray of impatiens. Now to get up the energy to plant them! I watered them really good and will attempt to plant them tomorroww. On the way home I decided to stop at the grocery store and buy myself a treat. A few weeks before Woody went to the hospital, he told me that he wished that I would buy myself a steak (He wasn't a fan of steak...he preferred a hamburger.). So I decided to do just that. And, I enjoyed it veery much along with a small baked potato. I was going to have a salad, too...but decided that I wasn't "that" hungry. I have been cleaning...finding that things are pretty dirty around here...at least dusty! I moved a light, that I got to help with dialysis, upstairs next to my recliner. It is Alexa compatable...so I tell her to turn the light on and it goes on. It is one of those lights that has warm to cool light. I think it will be a good light to have by my chair...good for reading and good for my stitching. Of course, on the other side of my chair I have my Dazor magnifier light...that I really use for my stitching...look right through the magnifier part of the light while I am stitching. These days I have to have magnification when I stitch. To take the old light out and put the new one in, I ended up vacuuming fairly well next and behind my chair, which meant moving some stitching items out of the way. My floor still isn't clear, as I still have two piles of wash waiting to be picked up and taken downstairs...but waiting till I am through with my throw washing. I still have lots of medical stuff to sift through and remove from sight in the family room. We are reclaiming that bathroom also, Wade and Melany helped me remove the handles from the toilet and I will put back decorative items in that bathroom that I had removed while we were using it for dialysis and as a place to store some of the medical supplies and other things that Woody needed. Still lots to do...but I guess I have lots of time to do it. Good to keep busy! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Details

I'm tired tonight. I think I will skip a photo for tonight. Today was spent editing the obituary...and, I had a professional proof reader (thanks, Linda!) go over it with a fine-tooth comb...but it is not published exactly as we wrote it. Wade, Melany, and I went to the funeral home and all those decisions have been made. We also stopped and chose flowers for the casket, etc. We had Sonic for supper. I hope not to have to think about the funeral very much tomorrow...just do what I want...doubt that will actually happen, but I can try. I have a couple of things to do that the funeral director asked me to do. I have talked to several friends on the phone. I'm going to make one more call after I publish this. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Arrangements and Perks!

The photo shows the perks part of all this "funeral stuff!" Sweet Becki brought over homemade cinnamon rolls...yummmmmmm! Word gotto these two and it didn't take long for them to show up to enjoy the yumminess! Esther and Elijah brought me a Sonic strawberry limeade...a favorite of minee...so more perks! This has been a busy day of phone calls and more phone calls and texts and more texts. The couch in the living room has sort of become my officr. I have papers with all kinds of notes on them, church directories for phone numbers, cell phone and regular phone...all trying to get ready for the funeral. It has been decided that the visitation and funeral will be on this coming Sunday, June 23. Visitation will be from 2-4 with the funeral following at 4. I have talked to the funeral home and been given a list of items that we need to take to the funeral home tomorrow. I have called the church to get things ready. I have called about music. I have called about pall bearers. I think the word of the day is "arrangements!" I have also talked with friends and family. I also talked with medical facilities that had treated Woody to let them know. About the only normal thing that I did today was I went outside and watered my gardens since it is so hot. Well, more funeral business just took me away from the blog...so I will say...To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Rejoicing Yet Sad

This afternoon about 2:11 Woody's long health fight came to an end...a very peaceful ending. Melany, Wade, Nathan, Kathy and I were with him. We spent his last hours reminiscing, talking, a bit teary and at times laughing. We samg some of his favorite hymns. Alex, Brooke, Graham, Joy, Esther, Elijah, Isaac and Joseph were with us for several hours in the morning. When lunch approached Alex and Brooke drove them to Melany and Wade's house where they ate pizza and hung out...playing games and watching TV. We headed back to Melany and Wades after he died. I gathered my bags up and placed them in Nathan and Kathy's van and we all piled in and headed back to Tullahoma. Something that you may find interesting: at one of Woody's stay in the hospital at Nahsville Vanderbilt, Woody was asked to participate in a brain study, which means that at death he would donate his brain to be studied. So that may be where his body is now...at the Medical Examiners. AFter that he will be transported to our local funeral home who will be handling the arrangements. Woody isn't done traveling as after the funeral he will be transported to McEwen, TN to be buried on the Proctor family plot on the farm where Wade grew up. The funeral will not be right away as Nathan and Kathy and the minister we are asking to help with the funeral will all be away this week. So we are guessing next Monday at the earliest. The funeral home has alredy contacted me and I will call them in the morning to get more information. We will have visitation and the funeral on the same day and then bury him the next day...probably. I am still numb, but really knew that this was going to be the time that Woody would no longer make his way back to our house...so that has prepared me somewhat. We'll see how I handle it as the days go forward. We are all very sad...just because we miss him...BUT...we all rejoice because we know that he is in heaven. What a Father's Day gift = to get to go be with your heavenly Father! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Love Abounds

Such a sweet wedding. And, now our sweet Abigail has added "Mrs." to a new last name. I was escorted down the aisle by two very handsome boys all dressed up in suits. Isaac and Joseph escorted me to my seat. Melany gave information needed for Woody's move to Alive Hopice in Murfreesboro, before she left to head home to get ready for the wedding. Wade took over for her until transport came to whisk Woody off to his new abode. I went back to Murfreesboro with Melany, Alex and Brooke. Melany and I changed from out wedding garb and then headed off to Alive Hospice. It is a very nice, peaceful place. Very nice rooms...much like being in a nice hotel room...very spacious. Woody seems sleepy tonight...he was just given pain meds. Now I am hoping for something for his cough. They were giving him something that helped his cough at Vanderbilt. The nurse here is checking to see if she can find out what it was. She said that it should be listed on his Vanderbilt records. I hope so...his cough isn't as bad as the night Melany and I were up almost all night because of his coughing. But it is bothering him and keeping him from being able to fall asleep. He dozes and then the coughing starts again. Melany headed home for a much deserved rest after two nights staying all night. I am happy I have a recliner. There is also a couch which can be made into a bed...though I have been told that it is more comfortable to leave it as a couch. I will leave it as a couch since I want a recliner! Well, I guess that is about all there is for tonight...a good day for the Dorrell/House families...and at the opposite end of the scale...not so good considering where Woody is and why! We will keep on keeping on! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The Next Path: Facing Reality

Last night I was pretty brief with the blog as I had some information that I held back till I could tell Nathan, Kathy and family. I waited to tell them because last night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and I didn't want to put a damper on the fun festivities. But along with great joy sometimes great sadness. Yesterday we made the decision to place Woody on hospice care. Melany, Nathan, and I knew that on down the road this would probably be the path we would hav to choose...just weren't expecting it quite yet. Once that decision was made everything was stopped including dialysis for his care...what was added in were things to keep him comfortable. The first doctor we talked to indicated that we could do the hospice right there at Vanderbilt. The next doctor continue less than the first doctor...stop tube feedings, take out nose, which he was very happy about, let him eat little bites of pureed food if he wanted. He did try a couple of things but lost interest quickly. But at least he doesn't feel deprived now. The third doctor today told us that it would be better to leave Vanderbilt and go to a facility that specializes in hospice. There is one in Tullahoma and one in Shelbyville...but of those said that he didn't qualify. I didn't ask why! Wonder if he was too sick or not sick enough! But there is one in Murfreesboro that the lady on the phone is sure he will be accepted and to expect him to be transferred tomorrow. There is paperwork...supposedly all can be done online on a link they will send. They are supposed to make contact in the morning before noon since I will be involved with the wedding for several hours tomorrow afternoon. This is all a jumble. Nathan came up this afternoon to see Woody and I hitched a ride back to Tullahoma. Melany is staying the night...again and Wade is going to come spell her tomorrow morning so she can go home and get ready for the wedding. Nathan and I stopped at the church where the wedding will take place tomorrow afternoon. We got to see the decorations in progress and Nathan did a couple of Honey-dos! He brought me on home. I plan to do a few things around the house and repack my bag to stay wherever Woody lands...until I have to go back home for my 2nd cataract surgery that is supposed to take place on Tuesday. We had a really bad night last night. Woody coughed about all night...but is much better today as they have added in another med to help break up all that mucus. He also got to be very itchy this afternoon so they gave him benadryl. He is resting peacefully according to Melany. So I guess they are working on the "keeping him comfortable part" of his care. When awake, he has been fairly alert...conversed with us and his medical team. So we are coming to grips with his long road of fighting so much to come to an end. Hard to face the reality at this point...but at this point it isn't real! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Vanderbilt Day

I laughed about last night's blind-blogging spelling when I read it after it posted. Woody has had a fairly quiet day...awake today, but not as alert. We have had a time keeping his hands away from his nose feeding tube. He wore mitts last night so he was kept away from them...and, I could sleep. I did sleep fairly well. He has done a lot of coughing. The nurse said that his right lung was sounding much better, but that his left one was still quite congested. Melany has spent the day with us. The highlight of Woody's day was they let him try a little food again...he had several teeny tiny bites of vanilla ice cream and a few teeny tiny bites of pureed pineapple. He remembers the ice cream most...but really liked the pineapple better. To be continued. Be sage! Be well! Be cautious! Tonight is Abigail's and Payton's rehearsal dinner. Let the wedding festivities begin!

Another View

Woody was moved to another step-down unit...they needed room on the burn floor. this is a nicer room with a nicer view. I had a good eye visit this morning. My new eye is functioning 20/20. Melany and I came back early because Woody has taken a turn for the worse. They finally are saying he has pneumonia. He's pretty rattly. He was awake when we got here and has done more communicating today than the last few days. They have discontinued his feeding through a tube as they are afraid he will aspirate. Just in a holding pattern...just wait and see! Nathan just stopped by on his way to a juggling program. Woody was awake when he got here, but got tired out from the room move and is now sleeping peacefully. We're trying to get another chair. Certain things are at a premium around here...chairs, pillows, wedges to keep patients on their side, and the list goes on. this will be short. I left my iPad keyboard at home and at this point am thping this blindly. To be continued! Be sFe! Be well! Be cautipus!

Sleepiness Prevails

I think that sleepiness prevails for all of us...Woody, Melany, & me. Woody is still sleeping most of the day away. He did have a little interaction today...but not much. The neurology team has pulled the seizure med...hoping that might help him wake up. He had dialysis and the medical team hoped that would help him wake up. Literally he is still a mystery and we are all grasping at straws. I guess just taking it moment by moment. We don't know how he did with dialysis since Melany and I left for Tullahoma when he was taken to dialysis. Melany staying the night. I go to the eye surgeon in the morning to have my "new" eye checked and to have measurements taken of my other eye. Next eye surgery is a week from today. We had a nice visit from one of our prayer group, Becki. It was good to see her familiar face coming down the hall! Woody did respond in a way to Becki to being there, but really not communicative. Then this afternoon another from our prayer group (also our neighbor), Valinda, stopped by and we visited for a while. Melany and I stopped at a 50's-style restaurant here in Tullahoma and had good hamburgers and I had fries and Melany had onion rings. We decided to come all the way back to Tullahoma for a late lunch so we would miss traffic in the towns between here and Nashville. It was a good decision as it was a good lunch. I had eaten one of their hamburgers before. This is the first time I had eaten inside the restaurant. Melany brought their shampooer and did the carpet in Woody's room, the family room. It looks sooooooo good! She also did some weeding and I watered the gardens in anticipation of the hotter temperatures that are predicted. I have my eye appointment in the morning and then a hair appointment (my wedding haircut!). After that Melany and I will head back to Vanderbilt. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Coming or Going or is it Two Steps Forward, One Back?

This is an old picture that I took on one of our trips either coming or going from Vanderbilt in our days of Woody getting Melanoma treatments at Vandy. This photo of the miniature donkeys is a favorite of mine...reminds me of a push-me-pull-you in Dr. Dolittle...or my thoughts of what one might look like! But in this case it reminds me of not really knowing what is going on, what direction we will be going tomorrow and whether we will move forward or backward. Today has been a bit of a backward day...or so it seems to me...but maybe it is part of Woody's healing and coming back to us. He slept very well all through the night. BUT he has never really awakened today...just snoozed most of the day. He responds slightly, but really didn't answer doctor and nurse questions, etc. They are now addressing a very swollen arm and trying to figure out how they can not use that arm for an IV. (He did have a doplar/ultra sound of his arm today. Nothing back from doctor yet about that.) He has two IVs in his leg, but most of the nurses are not happy with using leg IVs. I saw the doctor who thought yesterday that he might be close to discharge...he had a different picture of Woody today and said that discharge wasn't imminent...which the nurses and I already knew! They chose to not try a swallow test today as they were sure he would fail since he is so out of it. Maybe tomorrow. He will have dialysis again tomorrow. He had PT this morning...mainly figuring out what all he can't do! Of course they are evaluating him for when he is discharged. I may have already said this, but will say it again...sorry if it is a repeat. But they are suggesting discharge to a care facility till he is a bit stronger. I told him that was acceptable as long as it was in Tullahoma (only two facilities there) and that if he can't be placed in one of them, then we will move in a hospital bed and have him come home. I have purchased a lift and sling that Nathan found for us. We still have the lady who needs to come to evaluate him for a power chair that reclines...so "things" are in place that way if need be. I have to have him close so we won't have a fiasco that we had when he was in a facility in Nashville. I want to be able to check in on him whenever I can...different times, etc. to keep an eye on his care. Plus I want him to be able to go back to his dialysis center where they know him and know his dialysis procedures. He has been approved for ambulance/stretcher transportation to and from dialysis so that can be worked out. If in a center, he will also be transferred via ambulance. So those are decisions that we are facing. Of course, if he comes home then home health will become involved again. But today has been a treading water kind of day! Hoping the sleep is what he needs to move on again tomorrow! Will let you know as we continue this tale! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Abigail and Payton's wedding is getting closer! They picked up Abigail's dress the other day to be steamed. Today they picked up the two bridesmaids' dresses and the shoes for the three girls...plus a couple of gifts that I had for them to pick up. I'm thinking that the wedding items I was holding have now left the house...and my next wedding duty is to get to the wedding...by hook or by crook!

A Different View

Not as nice a view nor as nice a room!!!! He got moved sometime this morning. Not long after he got here he was taken to dialysis so the nurse has had trouble filling in the blanks. He was transferred to the Burn Unit...a place that seems to have rooms when other places do not. He has been in a different burn unit here once before. Both Melany's and my stomach sank when we were told where he was as we remembered distinctly the smell in the other room he had...not a good rembrance. I even told her that if his room was bad like the other one that I would go home with her!!! But this room doesn't have a burn smell. But they are so busy here that I don't expect to see a nurse very often. I guess Woody is one of her "easy" patients! Hope that is true! As I mentioned he had dialysis again today, no incidences as far as I know. He is more coherent than yesterday. But still not totally with it. His assigned doctor called and talked to Melany and me a little while ago. I think he thinks he is better than we think. He even mentioned discharge. I asked about the feeding tube in his nose and the fact that he hasn't passed the swallow test yet...I don't think that they have given him a swallow test today. He had rehab evaluation...of course, their evaluation is that he needs to go to a care facility after he is discharged. I told the doctor that I am not opposed to that as long as it is in Tullahoma and that he can use his dialysis center. That really narrows the possibility! I told him that the next option was home with a hospital bed, home health, etc., etc. We will see what we will see. I feel at this point we are in limbo. I don't expect him to be discharged as quickly as the doctor thinks. He thinks that Woody's mental status has cleared enough to follow instructions for the swallowing...I'm not so sure about that. I guess all we can say is that time will tell! It is a little eery on this floor of Vandy...the 11th floor. This is the floor where Woody received his IL-2 treatments...long periods of time spent on this floor...not pleasant memories...not that any hospital stays are. Woody can talk, though very hoarse. When we got here, he told the nurse our names. Later in a conversation I asked him if he knew who was getting married this coming Saturday and he said, "Abigail." He's still a little confused on things like what year it is...he gave his age instead...though he missed his age by 10 years...guess he wants to be younger! We'll get things straightened out...as he has straightened things out a lot since yesterday. I am here with him until it is time for my appointment with my cataract surgeon...unless he gets discharged before then! To be continued...one way or another! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

2nd-Hand Info

All my information about Woody tonight is 2nd hand. I was at home all day today. Melany and Wade went to see him. Melany worked more on his hair and managed to get all the glue out of it from the EEG leads. He is connected to nothing except IVs and I think those are only for meds. He had a swallow test while they were there and did not pass. He is allowed to have a few, very few, ice chips every hour. They did put a feeding tube down his nose. He can't afford to not be fed. When Melany and Wade left they were still waiting for x-ray to come check the position of the tube so they could start his feedings. He is hungry...asking for eggs, his comfort food! His mind isn't exactly clear...it wasn't totally clear when he went into the hospital, but this is different...may be due to being asleep for so long, just being in ICU, or the fact that they gave his some pain medication that I questioned...but that was approved by "the team" and it was "only" a very light dose. Well, the last time he got confused due to medication, he didn't come out of it for months...some of you will remember his "running for President!" (major eye roll inserted on my part remembering that) The plan is for him to be transferred to the step-down unit. Who knows when that will happen! The nurse is supposed to call me when that happens. From what Melany understood, he may well still be in ICU when we get back there tomorrow...transfer doesn't happen very quickly there. Melany and Wade saw several sets of doctors while they were there...so we did get some information. We did find out that they have put him on a seizure med, but that they may take him off since they don't think that the big seizure he had last Saturday had anything to do with dialysis. I guess they are still trying to figure out just exactly what is going on with him. I had been told yesterday that he would have his next dialysis on Monday. Today they were saying that he will have dialysis tomorrow. In the rounds yesterday they said that they were trying to get him on his Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule...so who knows! It really doesn't matter as once he gets back to our clinic, they will get him on the schedule they want hin on. I continue to be really sleepy. I'm sure that it is a combination of "things" that have been going on with Woody and me going back and forth to Nashville plus my eye surgery...my eyes feel tired. I have been trying to rest them today...lots of sitting in my chair with my eyes closed. I have done a load of wash getting ready to repack when Melany gets here tomorrow morning. She is coming to take me back to Vanderbilt. I ran a couple of errands today. One of them was a stop to get some sunglasses...at the moment I only have one lens in my glasses which means I only have sunglasses for one eye as my glasses have transition lenses. It was fun to pick out a non-prescription pair of sunglasses...hadn't done that since I wore contacts many, many years ago. I made a couple of other stops and then headed home to put in my eye drops. I'm just lacking one more pair of drops for today. Just two more days for the antibiotic drops then it will just be the steroid for another week...of course it will be time to start the drops in the left eye as I stop doing them in the right eye. Perhaps I'll have more to report tomorrow night since I will be there then. My eyes close earlier this past week than theyh have in a while. Hard to keep awake till time to put drops in. Last night I didn't, but the alarm on my phone did its job and woke me up. Eyes are wanting to close right now...hope the blog makes sense! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

What a Difference A Day Can Make

Woody was getting better last night, but by this morning both his eyes were open. He was making eye contact, answering questions with yes and no nods, following requests, etc. All the docs were impressed with how mich progress he had made since they saw him yesterday. They cut his breathing help way back to see how he would do and said that if he was doing okay in 30 minutes they were going to take the breathing tube out. The main team is the one who decided this and they are headed by neurology. One of the reasons they wanted his tube out is that they had decided that he wouldn't have one of his "spells" if he was still intubated during dialysis. They were still interested in seeing him have one of these during or soon after dialysis. And...guess what! He did just that! He had one of his episodes during dialysis. I was not a witness to it as Nathan came today to see Woody and then he and I headed back down the road so I could come home for a couple day respite. I found out about it when I called the nurse a little while ago. I decided to call before the nurse he had since 7am left at 7pm. I was calling to see how he was doing off the breaathing tube instead heard all about his "problem" during dialysis. The neuro docs can be happy...but then again...Woody was not hooked up to the EEG machine so no graph record of the "spell!" Oh, well, it was witnessed by the dialysis nurse and his ICU nurse. His ICU nurse said that it took about 30 minutes for him to come back to himself. But that once again he knows whoj he is and can answer their questions, etc. I'm wondering if he will don the EEG leads for his next dialysis at the hospital. Now back to taking out the breathing tube. He hasn't had trouble breathing except that he has a lot of "stuff" to cough up so that has been an issue and a lot of suctioning has been going on. The nurse said, when I called, that at this point that they weren't going to reintubate him...but the next shift might decide to. They told me this morning that he was a good candidate for having to put the tube back in. They won't say that he has pneumonia...but he is rattling when she listens to his chest. He can talk, but it is very raspy. They asked him what his name was and he said "Woody" with a very gravelly voice. The next time he spoke, he was quieter as I figure it hurts to talk. He was surprised to learn that he is at Vanderbilt in Nashville and very surprised that he rode there in a helicopter. I imagine he was a bit disappointed that he doesn't remember the flight! He was happy to have a clean shaven face. The nurse offered to shave him and I had brought his electric razor. He dozed off and on today, but any tme someone spoke to him, his eyes came open and he would nod an answer or do waht they said. He also tried to get his hand to his nose. I asked if it was itchy and he nodded "yes." So I itched it for him...he has oxygen so that always makes his nose itch...reason I could anticipate his need! He's still very sick, but much improved over yesterday. I am hoping that is the way each day goes for at least a while! I questioned going home today at this point, but then I knew that I needed to get some rest and rest isn't easy to come by at the hospital. Melany and Wade will be going to see him tomorrow and then Melany is coming to get me on Sunday to take me back. Ring around the rosy! I didn't realize how tired I was till I went outside to deadhead a few flowers...I didn't think that I could finish doing what I planned to do. So I am planning an early night tonight. I was thinking no alarm in the morning, but...I have an alarm set to take my first round of drops. As sleepy as I am, I will still get a good night sleep if I fall asleep as early as I think I might. Nathan and I had a good late lunch on the way home so I just plan to eat a little snack tonight and make myself a cup of herbal Alaskan berry tea that Melany and Wade brought back to me from their Alaska trip last week. I can't believe that a week of June is already over and that I have spent almost all of it in one hospital or another or in a vehicle going or coming from said hospitals! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Awakening Slowly

This is the view out Woody's window of a courtyard between Vanderbilt Medical Center buildings. Those are two very large magnolia trees...just think they reach to the 4th story windows. There is a man walking down in the courtyard to give you an idea as to how big they are. The sun is beating in the window, which I am enjoying as they have the thermostat turned down to keep the room cool. I am defeating that with the screen/blind pulled up and the afternoon sun streatming in. The side of the room where Woody is is still cool. Today has been a day of more progress for Woody. The brain doctor said that his brain waves were reurning to normal but not all the way there yet. He has had his eyes open more today and has started more consistently following commands like "give me a thumbs up" or "wiggle your toes." When the medical team gives him the orders he doesn't follow them as well as he does when I ask him to do the same task. I was given a task by the brain doctor to clean up his head/hair once they removed all he leads from the EEG. What a mess...they attach the leads with a glue/paste-like substance. The doctor said that it can be irritating to the skin. It is close to impossible to get off. I was given wash cloths, a comb and one of those dry shampoo caps to help with the job. I worked for a long time and decided that it would have to do for this time. I may work on it some more tomorrow. Pretty hard to wash someone's hair who is pretty flat in bed! I think it is pretty stiff. I told him that he could have a style of stickky-up hair like Cheryl...asked if he wanted that style...he shook his head "yes." Not sure he knew what he was saying yes to that time! I'll bet my sister is laughing at him wanting her hair style! I am on my third set of drops of the day at the momeht. Waiting on the timer to say it has been five minutes since I put the first ones in. The phone has been a big help reminding me. One more set tonight and I will be through with my third day of drops...only four more days of one kind and then another week beyond that for the other drop. Done till 10pm! I have been pretty sleepy today...didn't sleep the best last night...first the couch is not very comfortable and second it was pretty loud out in the hall all through the night...nurses were very talky and giggly. Woody's room is right across from the nurses' station. I have read a little and talked to a lot of folk about Woody. The consensus is that he is improving, but it is still a ways till they can remove the breathing tube. His eyes have been open more and he has followed me and I think that today he has focused on me. When I was "fixing" his hair, I mentioned that we needed Joy for this job and he nodded strongly in the affirmative. Another strong "yes" he gave was when I asked him if Arby's sounded good. As the brain team said...yesterday was better than the day before and today is better than yesterday. Looks like we are heading in the right direction. Becky from Fresenius Dialysis Center called this afternoon to check on him. She said that they were all wondering about him and that patients had asked about him. Looks like patience for the patient is what is being called for. I did just pull the blind...it was getting a bit much as the sun is setting...I couldn't even see the iPad screen and I had the screen turned away from the window. I'll keep you posted. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Legal to Drive Without Glasses…With One Eye

I think that my surgeon was pleased with the results of his surery on my right eye yesterday. I didn't tell last night that he did run into problems with the laser part of my surgery due to the steepness of my eye...he had trouble getting "something" to attach without a bubble...it took him four tries...but he was successful. Today he ordered whatever it is with more steepness for my next surgery. I will go back in a week for another check on this eye and I assume measure my left eye for my next surgery. I did have them pop out the lens in my glasses on the right side. I was trying to go without my glasses and I could see pretty well, but then I got a headache and I decided that I would go back to wearing my glasses with only one lens. I picked up a book from the library that I had put on hold for Woody. I started to tell them to give it to the next person and then decided that I wanted to read it. So it is sitting next to me. I'm not sure how my reading eyes will work with the new eye and the old eye with tri-focals. But I will try. Need something to while away the time! Woody is just about the same. He had dialysis again this afternoon. They are trying to see if they can get him to have one of his "spells" but so far no go. One of his doctors just stopped by and said that they are still just waiting for him to wake up so they can take the breathing tube out. We keep telling Woody that. He is having a few more what are probably involuntary muscle movements. The one thing that he did a little earlier was nod "no" when I asked him if he was having trouble breathing and then again a little later when I asked him if he was cold. We will see if he can consistantly answer yes and no questions by nodding...of if these two or three times were just a fluke. The unit has gotten quite noisy...shift change. Things will calm back down shortly. They did tell me that he won't have dialysis again until Friday. His white blood count is back in the normal range. But I think they still think he has pneumonia, though a test that was sent off does not show he does. They are redoing the test as what he is coughing up tells them a different story. He continues to breathe on his own. His blood pressure went a little low shortly after dialysis. But it has come back up. All his vitals continue to be good. Woody continues to be a mystery to his care team. Melany headed home after rush hour (hopefully). I will stay a couple of days. If all goes according to plan, Nathan will come up on Friday to see his dad and then take me home. Melany will drop in to see him over the weekend. Of course, this is all subject to change! I have been good and doing all my drops at the right time...just two more to go at bedtime...that is for today...then the drop regimen starts all over in the morning. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I Can See Clearer Now!

I was the first first patient at the Surgery Center this morning. Everything went quite quickly. As far as I know all went well and I can definitely see a difference in the vision in my right eye. I am actually not wearing my glasses as my new eye is compensating for my old eye...or so it seems. Though at this point in the day, both my eyes are feeling tired! I have one more set of drops and then I will put on the patch they want me to wear tonight, the first night after surgery...afraid that I might reach up and rub it during the night. Rubbing this eye for the next month is a big no-no! I have an appointment with the surgeon in the morning. If all is well, then Melany and I plan to head to Vanderbilt, Nashville after lunch. We have called a couple of times today to check on Woody. He is pretty much the same. One of the nurses said that she did see a bit of improvement over yesterday. He is breathing on his own, but they will not remove the tube till he is awake and they can evaluate him as to just what is going on. He is getting nurishment now...thank goodness...he can't afford to lose weight...but I'll bet he has. His white count is still a little high but is trending downward. He had dialysis again today. We were told that they drew no fluid off yesterday and that today they were going to draw some fluid off...I wonder if they were testing to see if they could throw him into one of his spells that he gets sometimes during dialysis. But that is just a guess on my part. Melany and I have pretty much lazed around today. Melany has done several jobs for me...keeping me from bending or straining. I plan to spend the next two nights and then either go to Melany's or home for the weekend...it will depend on how Woody is doing. Our plans have changed a bit as today Cheryl called and she said that she has decided to postpone her trip here. Her airline/ticket allow her to cancel her reservations up to almost the last minute and then can rebook another time using her current ticket. So she will come, just not a week from today. I am a little sad, but it is probably best since there is no telling what I will be doing in the next few weeks...other than a wedding which is a little over a week away and then my second surgery two weeks from today. Time marches on while Woody sleeps away! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Still "Napping"

Tonight's photo shows a gift from Melany and Wade. They just returned from a cruise to Alaska with the last port before returning to Seattle being Victoria, Canada. We just had a cookie for our supper dessert...pretty tasty. Today has been a day of seeing many medical folk...not exactly who all, but it was good that I stayed there last night and was there to meet up with lots of folk. He is still a mystery to them...so far no explanation for what is going on. He s still very much asleep. He did open his eyes just a bit today and also started moving and did react to pain. We left about 2pm to beat rush hour in Nashville and at that point he hadn't had dialysis. It is still thought that he just doesn't have the sedatives out of his system...and he did get more sedative yesterday for the lumbar puncture...so he has had a lot of sedatives and he doesn't process them out of his body very quickly. They are waiting for him to wake up before they remove the breathing tube. He was "coughing" more today and they were suctioning out his tube more today than other days. They do say he have a touch of pneumonia and that may be the infection that white blood count shows he has, as no other infection has shown up. MRI was good with no sign of melanoma tumors or stroke as did the CTs show, The EEG shows no seizures. They did leave him hooked to the EEG till after dialysis as they want to see if he has one of his episodes during or after dialysis and see what that might show on the EEG graph. All his vitals are excellent...blood pressure very good. The Lumbar Puncture fluids were clear. So your guess is as good as his medical team's or ours! Just a waiting game at this point. Melany and I are home so she can take me for my cataract surgery in the morning...another early day. I'm sure that I am leaving something out, but you can get the general gist that things are pretty much the same as yesterday...just with more test results. He is getting excellent care. To be continued tomorrow...if I can see to type! ;) Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Helicopters Overhead!

Once again we are in the area where the helicopters land overhead. Tonight's photo I snapped with my phone just before getting into the car to head back to Vanderbilt in Nashville. We had quite a trip back...a trip that usually takes no longer than 1-1/2 hours took us 2-1/2 hours. There was an accident and drivers didn't heed the warning that the right two lanes were blocked...they kept going over in those lanes and moved right along to only have to merge when they got to a point thus slowing the rest of us down even more! But we finally got here. The pastor of the church where Nathan is children's minister and his wife were here when we got here...they also got caught in the traffic slowdown, but they must have gotten on the road a little before we did! Woody is no longer sedated, but so far hasn't awakened and isn't following commands like "squeeze my hand." They are hoping to wean him off the breathing tube once he wakes up more. I remember in the past that it takes him a long time to become "unsedated!" Before Nathan left, he put the ESPN Sunday game on Woody's TV...number one reason...the St. Louis Cardinals are playing...that SHOULD wake him up. I have been updating him on the score...especially when the Cardinals score! He is moving more than yesterday, but not much. They did try to start weaning him off the breathing tube this morning, but he didn't start breathing on his own when he was so sedated...hoping now that he is off those meds that he will start waking up. The doctor called me this morning bringing me up to date...saying that he had spiked a fever in the night so they wanted to run some tests...an MRI of his brain for one. I was not surprised at that as they need to look at his brain for several reasons...but one being to see if his Melanoma has spread to his brain. At this point the MRI results have not been posted. The nurse said that he would let me know when the results come in. They also wanted to do a lumbar puncture to make sure that there wasn't an infection in the spinal fluid. The report, though not a formal one, looks pretty good as the fluid was clear...not cloudy. I had to give permission for that test. They have done EEGs on his brain and there has been no futher seizure activity. He will have dialysis tomorrow as they need to clear the dyes from the MRI from his system. It is good that this is the first day for him to have dialysis here as tomorrow is the day he was supposed to start on hte Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule...so that will begin on the day planned by his dialysis center. I have to call them first thing in the morning to let him know where Woody is and that he won't be in their center tomorrow and that they need to notify the stretcher transport not to pick hin up. I am spending the night, as that will let me be here early in the morning when his medical team comes in so I can find out what their thoughts are...at this point I think that he is still a mystery! Woody has always been up for a challenge...so guess that is why he is good at handing out challenges?!? Here comes another helicopter! Trying to think what I have left out...still a lot to process! Melany will come tomorrow to check on her daddy for a while and then she will take back to Tullahoma so we can be up and out of the house early on Tuesday for my cataract surgery...can things get more complicated...probably...remember we are apporaching a wedding...less than two weeks now till Abigail and Payton's wedding! Lots going on in Dorrell households! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Just read on the back of my badge that I have to turn this badge in at 9pm for a night badge and in the morning at 8am for a day badge...rolling eyes a bit at this!!!!! More news tomorrow! Oh, and, his vitals are good.

Not the Best News

Just a quick post tonight. Nathan and I are in the waiting area at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Woody was helicoptered here earlier. I had to call 911 when he became rather nonresponsive this afternoon. They ran tests at Tullahoma's Harton. It was decided that he needed to come to Nashville after he started having seizures...they have intubated him and sedated him. He was calm and peaceful when I left him. Nathan and I got to Nashville a little while ago. We are about to go to his room. Well, we are in room. He is resting peacefully. They are not sure what exactly is going on...no sign of a stroke on the CT. I have decided not to spend the night. He is sedated and has the breathing tube so I will let him rest and let God, the doctors, and medical team and do their work! As Woody would say, "To God be the glory." To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!