I am so tired! Yesterday was a long day of tidying the house and cooking and then entertaining family. I have to give props to my hubby Steve as well as son Derek and his Gaby. They really came through helping me -- especially with Jill absent. She's my right hand when it comes to these things and I miss her being in Chicago this weekend.
It has gotten quite cold and Mom decided to stay home rather than join the usual feast at my house. This meant staying home alone. My aunt Jo, who herself lost her father this year, loaded up 2 plates and took them to have dinner with Mom. What a sweetie that Jo is! I'm sure it was easier for her as well to be away from the craziness that always happens when we get the Hall family together at holidays. My son Derek and Kris's son Tye hooked up a laptop at the hospital and hooked up another to our tv. So we were able to Skype with Dad at dinner time! We heard the doc come in to give dad the plan for his bronchoscopy biopsy and then we even sung Happy Birthday to Dad! I've posted a link on Facebook. My blind uncle Gary has been talking smack for a year now about beating Derek at Wii bowling. So the game was on and the room filled with spectators as we watched Gary throw strike after strike defeating Derek again this year. It's quite entertianing when a blind man outbowls a 20-something.
Once everyone had left, in spite of being exhausted, I headed to the hospital to sit with Dad for a while. He was exhausted from his many visitors. His left lung remain inflated. We talked about the tests that would follow Friday (today). I tidied his room, tucked him in, and watched a few crime scene shows with him before leaving.
This morning my sisters and I (as well as my darling niece Abbie, Lori's daughter) joined Dad as he went for his test. He was in good spirits. I commented that we were the Macy's Day after Thanksgiving Day parade as we marched to the endoscopy section. Mom's brother Eddie joined us.
Dr. Homsi told us the scope appears to be successful in that he retrieve 16 tissue samples. He isn't certain if he was in the precise spot because the area is where the 2 lobes of the left lung come together and there is the membrane that holds them together. But he went every direction he could and took samples along the way. Dad's lung remained inflated and he tolerated the procedure well. Once he was in recovery, the others scampered back to their other activities (work, caring for Mom, etc.) and I stayed with Dad until he was moved back to his room. I was smart enough to remember to ask for the warmed blankets before leaving endoscopy because they don't keep those on the floors. And it's cold today -- frost on the windows cold. So he was toasty and woozy. It will be about 4 hours before he can safely eat or drink. He thought he was awake enough to read the paper but he quickly realized he should just sleep. So I tucked in and left for home.
Gaby, my dearest son's dear fiance, is eager to put up the Christmas tree today. She always does the one at her family's home in Peru but she's not gotten to do that for 2 years now. And I'd be glad to have her do our tree. She seems to think this will be a bonding experience for us but I'm so pooped I think supervising is more in line with my energy today.
All in all, the last 36 hours have been pretty good. I met a future cousin-in-law and her daughter, my uncle Bob's new bride, and a cousin's new baby. Joseph our Taiwanese friend drove in from OKC for the party and our neighbors joined us for a bit. Gary's friend Ina from the center where he lives joined us again this year as well. Izzie (our youngest Westie) loved snuggling in Miss Ina's lap. And I think Ina enjoyed Izzie.
I'd better get that tree and trimmings ready for Gaby to start soon. I'd like a nap before returning to parent duty tonight but that's ok if I don't get it. I'll sleep like a baby tonight!
No comments:
Post a Comment