Ethan’s Journey

 Ethan was up in the night with more stomach upset. This time he was nauseous and feeling like he was going to vomit. I sent a communication to the transplant team and tentatively scheduled an urgent care appointment. Ethan chose to call out sick which he has never done. Not even with his pneumonia’s. Yesterday he said “NO URGENT CARE” today he is waving the white flag. I am proud of him for recognizing that he needs a break. I have to be careful and make sure he knows that HE is calling the shots and I am just here for guidance. We talk through all the options and the pros and cons of each. Then HE chooses the next step. I started moving some of my appointments to this evening. It hit 9:00 am and I called the Transplant team. I received a call right back directing to go to the lab to rule out some bacteria overgrowth as well as assess hydration, electrolytes and rejection medications. We had to collect a-hem….a sample….to be tested. We went to the lab. And waited and waited for ab...

 I figured Ethan would be run down a little bit today because of his long drive yesterday.  He kinda threw a curve ball. He was planning on going over to my Mom and Step Dad’s house. It was a little bit before and he told me he felt “weird”.  He had mentioned earlier that his stomach was a little off. He had off and on cramping.  “What does weird mean?” I asked him. “Like I am chilled today and I don’t know if I should go to Mema and Beba’s because I don’t want to get anyone sick. I almost think I have a fever.” I checked his temperature and he was 99.7. Not bad but in true Ethan fashion, not normal. I needed more information and began my “subjective”. We use SOAP notes in veterinary medicine.  S-Subjective - you collect information on the owners/patient’s (in human medicine it would be the patient) perspective of their ailment. O- take actual measurements and factual data. Temperature, pulse, blood pressure, weight. A-Assessment- the doctors reviews the subject...

 Today I saw an ad for “Last Minute Memorial Day Outfits”. Ummmm…..are these outfits for 2025? We have well over a month to Memorial Day. What the heck? Also, am I the only one that will wear the same clothes on Memorial Day as I wear any other day of the week? Then I was annoyed. I was annoyed at the ad, annoyed with people who wear Memorial Day outfits. Just annoyed. I looked down at little Jiminy all curled up and sleeping. HE NEEDS a Memorial Day outfit. I have a tiny top hat that looks like a flag. He will look dapper in that! I am sure someone will get annoyed that I dress my dog up. So I guess that is a wash. It was so beautiful out today. Our yard is so mushy. There is visible standing water on all sides. Paul was pissed because he “couldn’t do anything” outside. He proceeded to fix a friends car (outside), dig up some weeds (outside), troubleshoot out gutter situation (you guessed it, outside). I had the windows open on ever side of the house. I was chuckling because he wa...

 Last night I tried something different. I used one of Ethan’s old mold-able rectangles and placed it under my back to sleep. It’s like a plastic bag with play-doh in it and it was helpful for Ethan when we had to worry about bed sores. I laid on my back and it created my back to flex in the opposite direction of sitting. The small of my back was pushed towards the ceiling. I slept the entire night like that. I wouldn’t say it was comfortable, but it wasn’t so uncomfortable to keep me awake. I am really good at sleeping. This morning I figured I was either going to be significantly crippled or feel much better. I was delighted that my back felt pretty good. So weird! I was busy after work today. I dropped off stuff at Goodwill, picked up groceries, went to the ATM and on my way home I got a call from Avery. Paul had told her to drop her car off at the house so he could remove the snow tires and put regular tires back on it. Avery needed a ride back to her apartment. She met me at t...

 April is one of my least favorite months. I don’t care for the yo yo in temperature, the massive amounts of rain or stepping outside to see Lake Diiulio in our front yard growing even bigger. April shower might bring May flowers, but it also brings mud and lots of worms on my driveway. Sooooooo many worms. So many worms that it SMELLS like worms outside. Yuck. Why do I know what worms smell like? At least we have had impressive lightening shows and good cracks of thunder to enjoy. I have been enjoying watching my flowers growing. Don’t get me wrong! April is still terrible. I have decided that my favorite jelly beans are the Nerd jelly beans. I bought a bag on clearance. Only one bag this year because I am trying to make somewhat mature choices. I really just LOVE jelly beans. I went down and saw my Mom today. She is a trooper. Her eye is scratchy and watering and healing well! Yay! Her other eye is bloodshot and bruised too. I got to see her battle wounds and thy were impressive....

 Today was uneventful. I sent communications to the kidney transplant team to set up Ethan’s next appointment. He has been feeling ok. He still gets tired.  My mom is doing good after her eye surgery yesterday. I am going to see her tomorrow.  Moe enjoyed the nice weather. I tied him out on the front porch to lay in the sun. He loved it! You can’t see it but he did have a leash on just in case someone was near the yard. Sarah came over after work. The rain started shortly after. Rain makes me tired. I barely made it to 9:00 pm without falling asleep.

 My Mom had surgery on her eye today. I went along to help.  When we arrived at the hospital, I hopped out of the car to get a wheelchair for her. It was pouring rain. The first wheel chair I grabbed looked like someonepeed their pants in it. Nope! I went to the next one and it was dry. Mom quickly got into the wheelchair and we got out of the rain while Gene parked the car. I asked Mom if she wanted to do wheelies, but she did NOT want to do that. Ha! We went to the surgical center and got her all checked in. We waited and waited and they finally too I he in the back. I stayed in the waiting room out of the way, quietly working. The other people in the waiting room were pretty respectful. No one was obnoxious! Two plus hours later and they finally took her back to have surgery. She did great! When we went to see her afterward she was still groggy. The nurse gave her a choice to make “Do you want to get dressed here or in the bathroom?”  Mom replied “I don’t want to think...