A trip to the Emergency Room.

   

     Now here is some culpability on my end.  Really hope that is the correct word.  Since this was set up I bought her a pack of smokes.  There was a smoking program at the rehab center.  Had to make apologies for that when I called her a liar.

     There is almost nothing creepier than an empty E.R.  To me at least.  We got there.  They did the usual.  I brought her stuff in and left her ensconced there.  She was to call me to let me know when she got to the rehab.

     Long story shortened.  She was in Congested Heart Failure.  There is enough out there for you all to look it up.  This was news.  So she would be there for a few days. Things did not go well and I don't mean health wise.

     B.I.L went up.  There was a fuss about her going for a smoke.  Apparently they no longer let you smoke in front of this hospital anymore.  But that wasn't even the issue.  A wheel chair was never brought up.  Okay the next night was mine.

     She was in her bitchy mood. We were going to the lounge.  It was on the same floor.  I saw no real reason to deny this request.  Wheel chair was brought forth.  Nurse offered to help.  Sister wanted to wait.  Well I didn't notice but the nurse did.  She'd dropped a smoke and a book of matches.

     There was a bit of a row.  She demanded to be let out front to smoke.  They said no.  Things began to get loud.  They said she couldn't go out with the heart thing.  So she took it off.  This brought nurses in thinking a problem.  Then she said fine.  She was going to go to the bathroom.  She did.  And they smelled it.

     Yup, in a hospital room, with oxygen on, she was smoking in the bathroom.  They busted the door made her flush it. And that was that.

     At some point she came to her senses and when it was she an I in there she asked if they were going to ask her to leave.  I went out and told the nurses she was ready to apologize.  

     Upon returning home I related the tale to the B.I.L., who had a few choice words to say.  Then as I finished she called begging me not to tell him.  To his credit he never did.  Another tale.

     At some point there'd been a room change.  I'm actually not sure what transpired.  I think a nurse had been mean or something.  The phone rang at about 2 in the morning.  I woke up B.I.L. shaking me, saying the typical "I can't do this anymore you talk to her" handed me the phone and walked away.  Lovely way to be woken up.


"Morning."
"You have to come and get me right now.  I am not staying here another minute." there was probably a rather lengthy explanation that time woven away.

     I explained that they did not release people out of the hospital at 2 in the morning.  I also explained I was most likely not getting past security in the E.R.  As most hospitals, this one closes the main entrance and  you go in through the E.R.

     There was some more unpleasantness and she hung up on me.  B.I.L. was standing looking utterly disheveled.  I told him to go back to bed, I'd take the next couple of calls.  Phone rang.

"Well are you coming to get me!?"

"No I'm not.  Sorry."

"Fine then I'll call a cab!."

"I'll leave the porch light on and unlock the front door."

     If a cell phone could have a receiver to slam down, that would be what happened next.  But in this age of technology she just hung up on me.  She called back about 30 min. later and apologized.  She also said she was going to stay the night.  

     Part of me wishes this was all in order in my memory.  But it just isn't anymore.  This is the best I can offer.  If there are any repeats or such, just blame the authors memory.

     As I recalled we got a call from the hospital, another 2 in the morn call. There had been a cardiac event and she'd stopped breathing for a length of time.  She called later and cleared it up.  And this goes by what I've said before in these entries, Stay Alert!

     Long story short.  They knew about the C.H.F.  They knew she needed a CPAP machine.  They just didn't provide one.  That was what happened.  All was fine.  She was back in rehab 2 days later.

Me, Coffee, and a synopsis

Coffee and I say good morning.  But let's continue as the bakery calls me this Sunday morning.

     So I made it back to the hospital, to the room. to find my sister very in and out of it.  Full of stuff to say without saying anything.  Apparently my Brother In Law was on the way too.  How I beat him there in rush hour traffic is still beyond me.

     There were 2 choices on the table.  She could be released or sent to rehab.  We all opted for rehab.

     Let's just say the day was full of oddities.  B.I.L. left about 1.  In case you don't recall, and why would you, he'd been up since 2 in the morn the previous day.

     I went home at some point.  Got a phone call in the evening that she was to be transported.  So all was well.

     Mind you I'm leaving out a few things.  1 or 2 that I remember and others that are fuzzy.  For instance it could have been her that called to say about the transport.  I've little recognition if she arrived that night or the following morn.  But thankfully we were done with that hospital.  Now the fun could begin in earnest.

     At some point we'd see her in rehab and rearrange her room a bit.  A bit of a nicer room.  Looked out into a little courtyard where there were picnics.  And if you strained you neck to the left you could see the gym.

     I think she started using the gym the following Monday.  But all was sort of well.  I want to say this was in March, just unsure how deep.

     Okay, glad to see a few are already back for the misadventures.  This is it, coffee just about gone.
Bakery is calling me like no ones business.

     Have some pico de gallo left over from last night.  Going to introduce it into and egg and toss it on a roll for breakfast.  Go enjoy your Sunday.  I'll be back again.

-later

We may be rehashing hash...no not hashish...would be nice tho.

     I'm really in an awkward position.  Physically.  I'm twisted in a chair.  My right forearm is barley on a desk.  My left arm is just hovering having no real place to land.  Not to mention that I am twisted to the right, no room to put feet straight.  Part of why I don't blog from here I reckon. 


   Going to try something.  See if I can record a few blogs every so often so's to give you something to read daily.  See if that happens.


    We'll start with my sister.  She's taking up a vast majority of my time now.  You may recall that a few posts back I told you my company was relocating.  The same night I went to see her in CCU.


     It took 2 days for my brother in law to find out, thankfully he asked before he could spill the beans.  She still doesn't know.  She eventually came home briefly from that hospitalization.  And I mean briefly.


     She was in no shape to come home.  Worse than that the hospital made me go home to get her an oxygen tank to bring her home with.  Mostly due to discomfort right now, I'll spare the details.  She lasted 30 min in the house before we had to call for an ambulance to bring her back.


     Turned out in part she had a new bladder infection.  She had just refused physical therapy rehab when she left.  She know realized she needed it.


     Had to break the news to the brother in law when he got home.  Expecting to see his wife.  I don't really remember how long the next hospitalization lasted.  But room was found for her in the rehab center literally across the road from the hospital. 


t.b.c.

The next day.

     Saturday reared like it often does.  I've decided to treat myself on the weekends.  1 cup of coffee and something fun for breakfast.  Discovered that I thoroughly enjoy an egg on a bagel.  No not just that.  But this isn't really a food blog and we'll have food aplenty in this one entry.

     I took the meat which I defrosted in a big red bowl and put it on the counter.  I was very much scowling, this was not stew meat.  But I bought it and continued.  

     To say that the flouring and browning of each and every individual piece was a mind numbing chore.  That would be appropriate.  As each slice had to be done individually, I was more and more sure that this wasn't going to be great.  And I'd not allotted enough time to check on the herbs for seasoning.  It was getting late, I wanted this to be ready for 6 at night.  Needed 10 hours on high.  So had to be good to go by 8.  
     
     By the by, I'm writing this a week later on a Saturday and enjoying my cup of coffee.  Just saying.

     Quartered potatoes, halved carrots, browned meat, deglazed pan, into crock pot.  Used a boxed beef broth.  Only seasoning was the flour and the clove of garlic I put in.

     Brother in law visited sister, who was in ICU.  More so they could keep an eye on her blood sugar more than anything else.  It was over 700.  

     Course the 3 steroid shots and the near six pack of soda on way to hospital and in E.R. didn't help.  Oh well.

-later