Sleep Deprivation.... Restless Confusion

My mom called me this morning to let me know that she had just returned home from a night at the hospital. The staff called her at home last night to let her knkow that my dad was really confused and anxious and asked her to come up. Mom went up and said he had a restless night. I asked her if she thought it was sleep deprivation and she said yes.

I've always heard jokes and complaints about not getting any rest while you're in the hospital. After watching my dad this past month, I understand it on a whole new level now. Not that anyone is doing anything wrong, they're not, they're just dong their job. But the nights I would go up and spend a couple of hours with him, he would barely be able to keep his eyes open for longer than a 2 minute period. He'd be in a dead sleep within 5 minutes and, low and behold, 10-30 minutes later someone was coming in to silence a beeping monitor, give him medicine, check vitals, do breathing treatments... you name it. There is a lot involved in taking care of a person in my dad's current state. It was painful to me to watch him only get these 30 minute at naps. We all, those of us with kids, remember those early days of infancy when our children didn't understand what it meant to really sleep. When I was getting two hours of sleep at a time, I was an absolute ZOMBIE. I think that was the hardest part about having a baby... the sleep deprivation. My dad is operating on a four week sleep deprivation. Tough.

Please pray for him, and my mom, they are both exhausted.

Thank you for your concern and prayers. They are absolutely priceless.

My Dad is feeling better.

My dad has received two units of blood and a couple of different IV antibiotics. He was due to have another unit of blood and a different antibiotic tonight. Mom said that he looks so much better. Determining the cause of his anemia hasn't been addressed. I'm not sure the implications of it all. My understanding at this point is that it's either due to a lack of producing red blood cells, or it's an issue of internal bleeding somewhere. It seems as though finding internal bleeding isn't as easy as it appears on TV med shows. And diagnosing and treating blood production issues doesn't seem to be much simpler. I am unclear as to whether this could be one of those 'wait and see' issues that may end up resolving themselves. I am assuming that they're trying to get his pneumonia and anemia addressed and stable, then moving forward from there.

My mom is still tired, but such a trooper. She is an amazing care-giver, wife, mom, and nurturer. I'm happy that my dad has her at his side. More prayers for my mom would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for your emails of concern and support. It truly is overwhelming to receive the love and concern from so many. For now, there really is nothing that can be done, other than prayer. Wait and see is where we're at, I think.

Again, thank you all so much for your care and concern! What a blessing you all are in our lives!

Many hugs to you and yours,
Jenny

Current update on my dad.... Robert Morrissette

[The picture above was taken in May 2007.]

I know it's been a while since I've updated anyone, and I'm sorry. I haven't been really sure as to what to write.

This is a synopsis of the past month:

My dad had open heart surgery for valve replacement on May 19th. He had many complications, mostly surrounding his breathing (COPD and emphysema), that kept him in the hospital for three weeks. One of the issues they revealed is that my dad has something called silent aspiration. Which means he is aspirating clear liquids when he drinks them. From that point on, my dad has been drinking everything with a thickener in it to make it 'nectar' consistency. He was discharged from the hospital last Monday, June 9th. Thursday, we found out that a culture taken the day he left the hospital revealed that he had a MRSA Staph infection in his lungs. He is being treated for that and all is going smoothly with it. This past week hasn't been as successful, or with any progression. He has been showing signs of sliding back. My mom was concerned, given her medical experience as a lifelong nurse, with the signs that she saw and, upon his MD's instructions, took him to the ER yesterday.

They did blood tests and x-rays on my dad that quickly revealed that he his very anemic and has pneumonia. For those that are wondering numbers, he was 7.7 and on June 3 (the last time it was checked) he was 9.8. According to my mom, that is a rather significant amount and a short time frame to loose that blood. Obviously, my dad, much to his dismay, was re-admitted to the hospital last night. They are treating him with IV antibiotics for the pneumonia and giving him a blood transfusion. Hopefully the two will make him feel much better. Pneumonia preventing oxygen from getting in the blood and then low blood supply taking the oxygen... makes you feel really sleepy, weak, winded, and just overall crumby. We certainly saw that in him.

As far as the reason for the anemia, I'm not sure. Last night the MD's didn't discuss it. I think they were seeking to get my dad stable, and I would imagine it's a conversation that will be happening today.

As for prayer, it's greatly appreciated. My mom, Judy, is exhausted. She has many big decisions on her plate right now, both professionally and personally. Please raise her up such that she may feel peace in her decisions and receive rest for her weary body.

I will do my best to keep you posted here. It's easiest, then I don't have to worry about leaving someone off the list. Thank you all so much for your calls, emails, and prayers. It means so very much to us.

Many hugs and much love to you and yours...

Jenny

Memorial Day Pics

Here are some pics of the kids from Memorial Day...

Every Memorial Day I take the kids to the local cemetery in Harrisburg to honor those veterans that have passed. I buy several items from the dollar store (usually american flags, but this year it was patriotic crosses) that each of the kids use to honor a veteran that they choose and they say "Thank you for serving our country". You may see on the headstones that not all the veterans we honored were ones that were lost while serving our country, as Memorial Day is supposed to be. It's a little difficult conveying that to the kids at this point, so we honor all veterans and I clarify. Next year I'm going to find a cemetery dedicated to those lost while serving and make sure that the kids understand all the more what Memorial Day is for. See below for a reminder...

May we never have to know the pain of truly loosing a loved one like this. May we always be grateful for those that are willing to serve at all cost and their families that are praying for them to return home safely.

God Bless America! Thank God for the United States Soldier!

Love, The Weems Gang