Day Twenty Three Part Two

3:47

Well we won't be checking out of the hospital today. Blue Cross/Blue Shield was closed today so we couldn't get approval to move. Another snag is Brian Center Lincolnton won't even have a bed possible open until January 9th and we don't know how many folks are waiting on that bed or if the bed will definitely be available. So they are checking Lincoln Nursing and Cardinal Care. If anyone can recommend one over the other I would love to hear from you. This is a difficult decision. I so wanted him at Brian Center for many reasons. However, I know his care is #1 priority but, if we could have him in Lincolnton that would help me and the kids out tremendously. The kids would be able to visit more around their work schedule as they both work in Lincolnton. With Donnie working retail, he could come before or after work depending on his schedule and then there is always his days off. Kristi works 9-6 (flexible) at First Baptist Children's Ministry. She would be able to come every evening and weekends. We are still trying to find out if I will be able to stay with him. As of now he can't use the call bell to call for help. He would have to hold the call bell 24/7 to have a remote chance of being to push the button - let alone if he had to locate the bell and then try to push the button. He is unable to change the TV channels without help. With both arms non-functioning in the normal capacity he is very limited to what he can do. PT & OT went well today. I had stepped out of the room for a few minutes just to get some exercise and when I came back they had him up & trying to sit up on the side of the bed. because he is so swollen he can't sit up normally. They had his feet in a chair and the bed was higher than the chair so that helped a lot. They were supporting him as he is still unable to sit up by himself. They would lean him back and have him pull himself back up (just a slight sit-up - nothing like a real work out). However it is so hard to watch. To see him in so much pain just rips my heart out. They had him to try and straighten his arm and pull it back towards his chest. He was able to move it but not able to straighten it completely out. They also had him to rotate his hand and he can't turn it over completely yet. It is very painful for all this movement. Don's arm is still very swollen from the surgery and I am praying that is why he has limited motion. There is a possibility that he wouldn't have full range of motion as he did before. He was very pleased with the PT today. When he was finished he said it was a good work out. He tried to stay awake but just couldn't. He went right to sleep. The fluid is leaving his legs some. By measurement of the output you wouldn't think that he could have that much more fluid in him. However, unless you have seen his legs from the beginning you would probably wonder if he had lost any of the fluid at all. He is still having small temperatures from time to time and I over heard the nurse talking to someone else on staff and saying it was because of the NMS. We still need your prayers!!