BACK IN THE HOSPITAL

There is an awful lot that has gone on between "There's No Place Like Home" and "Back In The Hospital". OVER WHELMED covers a lot of it on my part. Ken has been getting stronger and we have both been adjusting. As good as it is to have him home it has definitely been an adjustment for both of us. He has been receiving therapy at home and going by ambulance M-W-F to dialysis. For the first three weeks the insurance was covering someone to assist with his needs seven days a week for 12 to 16 hours a day. We still have someone coming to stay and assist him while I am at work but we had to cut way back on the hours.

Saturday, Ken started running a fever and the doctor had him come to the emergency room. He has been coughing since Wednesday night and I don't know if he decided to pick up the cold I have or what. I had been wearing a mask and taking extra precautions around him but with his immune system compromised he is susceptible to anything. The doctor started him on intravenous antibiotics in the ER and they have been doing all kinds of cultural studies to try and identify the cause of infection. A pulmonary specialist has been called in and the plan is to clean out his right lung tomorrow and then culture what is taken out.

Please pray the cause is discovered and the hospital stay is not long.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Well, as you can see, our Christmas tree had a few new decorations this year. Those ruby red slippers finally found their way to the Tin Man's house. As Melanie said, "I don't remember when I have had a Christmas that I was so thankful for all our blessings". We definitely had a lot to be thankful for. Ken's home coming fell 11 days short of ONE YEAR away from home! As you recall - the ambulance took him from our house on the morning of January 2nd, 2008. It was great for our family to be together outside of hospital walls for the last holiday of an unbelievable year.

Our baby Jack turned one year old on December 6th. Last Christmas we watched him sleep while we held him - it was great! This Christmas was so much fun watching him open his presents and then playing with them - he even allowed us to play! If you ever look at "Jack's Place", http://www.maggie-and-family.blogspot.com/ you know what a smart and delightful grandson we have.

GOD'S PERFECT TIMING

I was talking to someone the other day about the blog and my "getting or not getting" it updated. The funny thing is I have five drafts that have not been posted because before I could get them finished things had already changed completely. I am praying that is not the case with this one!!
The title could have been:

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!

That's right ----Ken will be home for Christmas. We are praising the Lord!!! I had scheduled an appointment today on my lunch hour (12:00 to 1:00), to go tour the skilled nursing facility we have been trying to get him into. They have not had a private room available which is what he needed in order to cut down on the risk of infection. It was about 11:15 when I talked to Ken's cardiologist: She says, "I think I have some very exciting news - We are working everything out for Ken to come home on MONDAY" [Pick me up off the floor] REALLY!! All of the details are being worked out for equipment, nursing care, physical therapy and dialysis. I'll tell you more about this part of the story at a later time but, can you say "PRAISE THE LORD"!!!

It is perfect timing - as it always is with God. Hannah is flying in tomorrow night (Friday) for Christmas and will be here until the 28th. She will be here to help her Dad get through this transition. What a burden that takes off my shoulders. Josh, Hannah and myself are suppose to go to the hospital Saturday and learn about his medications, taking blood sugar and giving insulin shots, and what to watch for in knowing if he needs to go to the emergency room. I am so thankful that both of them will be there since I am not sure my head will have stopped spinning yet.

Yesterday, Ken was very down and emotional. He has been ready for a change and it had not happened and he was getting discouraged. I went up to the hospital last night and we talked once again about how God had taken care of us this entire year and we knew He would continue, so we just had to keep trusting. When I called him today after I had gotten the news - He said he didn't want to call me because he didn't know if he had really heard everything right! He still gets confused about things - but he HEARD RIGHT on this one. I asked if he was OK with this - (I can just hear you all saying , "well, duh!") - but he had not been ready to come home before, not even mentally. It will be a big adjustment for him but I believe he is now ready to take that task on.

We are still traveling this long and winding road - the scenery is just changing. Please don't think you can stop praying now - you have held us up all this time - and we still need you!! I can't wait to tell you about him getting home - I promise it will be soon!!

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TIN MAN

STILL AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL!! The last 5 weeks have been hard work for Ken. I have to get back to updating you more often - it would be much easier for me - so much happens I don't know where to start. Ken has worked hard in rehab. I hope to get some pictures posted soon. There were a couple of weeks we wondered if the insurance was going to let him stay in rehab where he was. Their answer was yes - but at this time he is back on the fifth floor dealing with a small setback.

Ken did not feel good last week. It was different than just being tired from three hours of PT and OT everyday and dialysis on top of that M-W-F. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray to see if pneumonia was in the picture - not the culprit. He had an echo on Thursday which lead to a heart biopsy on Friday morning which lead to a floor change so he could be treated for rejection. YES, after all this time - but that is not unusual. We were told it was one of those "good news -bad news" type finds. Bad news "rejection" but they are treating that with increased steroids. Good news "Ken's body is getting stronger". Strange isn't it? I'll try to explain.

I continue to find out more and more just how sick Ken has been since February 22nd. The fact that his body now recognizes something different shows that he is getting better. He was so sick that his body didn't know to fight before. UNBELIEVABLE - I am still so amazed at God's creation. The full results of the biopsy will not be known until tomorrow. Those results will determine how long this course of treatment will last. Tonight he will receive his third IV. It is possible that could be all that is needed or he may require seven more days. Yesterday he received a unit of blood as well, so he should be a little perkier today.

Ken and I have both been a little discouraged - he has been making such great progress and getting closer to coming home. It remains to be seen what this will do to his physical rehabbing but also where that rehabbing will take place (don't know it rehab and the insurance will allow him to go back). We have continued to see God working out details and we know He will take care of the steps ahead. At times you just grow weary - in all areas - MIND, BODY, SPIRIT. One very important life lesson I have been learning through all this -God is in the present and that is where I can find Him. When I try to focus further down the road that is when I become anxious and fearful. Jesus calls me to the present, where He is, then He will walk with me down that road and through the unknown.

This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for. The 12th of November, Ken celebrated another birthday, and it is only by the GRACE OF GOD we were able to put another candle on the cake. We are thankful for the many physicians, nurses, techs and therapists who have used their gifts to get Ken to this point. Their hard work and encouragement in both words and deeds have been tremendous. Our family - Ken, Bert, Hannah, Josh, Melanie and Jack are so very thankful to all of you who have held us up from the very beginning of this journey.

WE ARE SO BLESSED AND SO HUMBLED BY THE GENEROUS OUTPOURING OF YOUR LOVE IN SO MANY WAYS.

REHAB UPDATE

First of all, I want to apologize for asking you to continue on this journey with us and then not keep you updated. I think about it -- but that seems to be as far as I get. The funny thing is, I had almost completed an update on September 17th and realized today I never got it posted. In this day and time we are all busy and struggling with issues that affect our lives - thank you for still taking the time to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Well, as you know, it has been four weeks since the last update. That means four weeks in rehab has come and gone. Ken is getting stronger and is making progress, it is just not as much as we were thinking it would be. Every Wednesday the rehab team has met to discuss Ken's case and then the social worker has called to let me know what is going on. For the past several weeks there has been concern the insurance provider was not going to allow Ken to remain there. In this type of rehab facility there is usually more visible evidence of progress taking place, and although Ken is progressing, he still requires maximum assistance on many things. If the insurance allows him to continue, the fact remains there are only about thirty days left that will be covered. My understanding is, when we reach that point, he will either come home or it becomes "private pay" at a nursing/rehab facility.

My conversation with the social worker yesterday left me a little discouraged. Although progress is being made, the next 30 days are not likely to result in any major changes. That means he will still require 24/7 care with a large amount of hands on assistance. There are decisions that need to be made soon regarding his care so the details can be worked out. As we all know - TIME WILL FLY BY.

Ken remains on oxygen at this time and continues to receive dialysis on the M-W-F afternoon schedule. He continues to get three hours of combined PT and OT five mornings a week and shorter sessions on the weekends. Ken's lack of endurance is one concern the team continues to bring up. I was able to see the short session last Sunday and was pleased with what he was able to do - he has come so far. This journey continues one step at a time, day-by-day and you just never know what the next step or the next day will bring - but then that's how life is for everyone.

We both know God will walk us over this next bridge just as He has faithfully done all along. Please pray both of us would have the wisdom to make these decisions as well as strength of body and mind to endure these next weeks. I will update again soon - there is much on my heart I would like to share with you. We feel so blessed to have you apart of our lives.

GOD BLESS YOU