Here We Go Again

So, Dean met with his surgeon on Friday and he did recommend and schedule another surgery. He will have his surgery at Memorial Herman on October 7th and have a follow up on October 14th. It will be the same surgery as last time, go in, clean up, put in antibiotic beads for a week then remove them and plastic surgery (if needed) to stitch up and then get to healing.  We do expect him to be at Kindred for about 6 to 8 weeks after the 14th. We are not sure if it heals faster than that he may go home earlier than 8 weeks.

Dean feels okay about this 2nd surgery.  We could postpone it but we feel it's better to get this done now.  We now know what to expect but the bad part is his extended stay at Kindred.   HOWEVER since his move to the 3rd floor he is being taken care of now.  We heard from a few of the staff that there is a group on the 4th floor that do not work on different floors like the rest of the hospital's nursing/CNA staff. Apparently because they do not get along with anybody else. Sort of a clique that do not work well with others and love to say "that's not my job" if you know what I mean.  So we are wondering if it was just REALLY unlucky that he was placed on the 4th floor and the rest of the floors are different.  We have been wondering how the hospital is running with as much neglect he was dealing with, but if it was isolated on the 4th floor it makes more sense.  I'll be sure to let everyone know if his good care over the weekend continues.

In other news...
I went to a lovely luncheon on Saturday for my lovely niece Linda. She is getting married in 2 weeks and we could not be happier or more proud of her! She and her future husband Brendan, are really wonderful people and they were lucky enough to find each other.  I offer up best wishes for her and I know they will live happily ever after!

Jake stayed with our good friend Louisa and her family. Jake had a lot of kids to play with but I'm afraid he's still weary about staying new places without me.  He was fine I know and I thank Ms. Louisa and her girls and Bubba for having him over.  We always have so much fun with them!

I also listened to a very disappointing (at the time) Aggie game on the way home from this luncheon.  By the time I got home the Aggies were 1 touchdown behind. Then it was a blur of yelling and jumping up and down for the most AWESOME COMEBACK WIN EVER!!!! WHOOP!!! And what a great fast score followed by some awesome defense in OT! Way to get it done, Ags!

Super Marvel Sunday!!!!

As stated in my last post, Spider-man and Captain America were at the zoo! Jake and I got to the zoo at 11 which was packed in the parking lot!  Then the line to the meet and greet was long but that's why we're there. So we got in line.  An hour later we get in the building only to discover there was an even longer switchback line. We waited inside for an hour and a half INSIDE. But at least it was air conditioned.   We did get a great picture, so that was all worth it!

Spider-man and Captain America!  They were really great!

And the Texans had a come from behind win too!!! FREE SLUSHIES!!!

After the game, Dean had a nice surprise guest!  His mom AND his Dad came to visit!  Dean had not seen Durwood in person since before his surgery and before Durwood's accident.  Durwood was doing really great Dean was so happy to see him again!  We also were able to share our dinner I brought up since I had so much, and had dinner together.

Hospital Updates, and AGGIE FOOTBALL 2014

Monday
Dean had a visit today with his Internal Disease doctor, numbers are all down, he's right on track!  There was some concern in the beginning since his numbers started so high that the ID Doctor thought it would take longer than estimated (6 weeks).  If his numbers continue to come down like this, may get off the IV dripps (BIG maybe, just a hint of maybe) mid to late next week (1st week of September).

Dale came over to help Dean get his macbook and Linda's iPad ready to do face time so if Linda and Durwood just wanna chat face to face, the can!  Thanks Dale for helping out!

We "had dinner" together (google hangouts, told you technology is awesome).  Jake is having issues acting up when we try to video and he completely looses any self control and does all kinds of misbehaving.  We are trying a "behavior chart" and he needs to keep it on "green".  It is starting to work, let's hope we can contain this bad and ignoring behavior.

Tuesday
We learned that his blood test numbers are still looking good.  We got unofficial news that when the IVs stop, he can go home.  However, it may be up to his wound doctor (at Memorial Herman - GREAT doctor really!)  He may suggest him stay a little longer to check him out since it will be difficult to get him back to Memorial Herman once we go home.  And, once we do go home, we may be able to rent one of the sand beds he's been using.  They are noisy, but they are effective.

Jake and I went to the hospital and had dinner.  A miracle!  Dean had Chicken fried steak that was actually pretty good!  Jake spent most of the time playing with his cars and play dough.  Good kid.

Wednesday
The unofficial news about coming home in a week is starting to be more official.  This is good news, but he will still need several weeks of down time for all the skin to heal properly.  He will continue to require the wound vac at home, not sure how long.

Durwood is doing well, he may come home as early as Sept 9th, but this causes issues as there are some logistics with their current home that may need to change.

Jake and I stayed home this evening.  Jake watered the grass for us, and the truck, and the chair I was sitting in, and himself.  We had a nice dinner of Chicken N' Biscuits while we "hung out" with daddy on the computer.  Homework and ABCMouse.com, then off to bath/bed routine.  He did really great tonight.

Thursday
Started off good, Dean had a few visitors today, Brian came to see him at lunch, and Doug & Stacy stopped by after seeing Durwood at TIRR.  Jake and I brought up some "Football Food" - Cheeseburger bites and Boneless buffalo wings from Wing Stop - original hot, plane with honey mustard, mild, and Hawaiian.  They are so good at Wing Stop!

The big news of the day of course is that the Fighting Texas Aggies BTHO South Carolina - 52 to 28!!! Apparently NOBODY in the sports world picked the Aggies to win.  Now they know what all of us have know for years!  Never underestimate the Aggies!!!  I don't know what Coach Sumlin feeds his quarterbacks, but I hope he has plenty!  WHOOP!

Also, I just want to say that it pleased me to no end to see Ricky Seals-Jones do so well in the game, AND that he was wearing #9!  He's from my hometown Sealy, Texas, and I knew his Uncle (his namesake) Ricky Seals.  Seals was a star football player (and wore #9) and a track star who qualified for the State Track Meet as a sophomore in the 100m.  Unfortunately just after the Regional qualifying track meet, he was in a fatal car wreck.  It was a really terrible and sad day.  I'm just proud his legacy is continuing with his nephew AND it's just an added bonus he's an Aggie!  Gig 'em Ricky!

(from Sports Yahoo.com)

AND, the ASTROS won 2 to 4 agains the Rangers!  YES!  Let's Go Stros!
However, I'm pretty sad that the Texans lost to 40 to 13.  I sure hope we can pull off a better season than last year, and definitely better than the pre-season.

Friday
So, with moving to the new room, the staffing issues have returned.  And, I'm sure it's going to be really HORRIBLE this weekend since it's a holiday weekend.  He has not had the same Nurse/CNA two days in a row for the whole week.  We did find out that if they don't have enough staff for a shift, they get staff "from the agency" or other Kindred's in the Houston Area, as they did last night.  These staff members are not as skilled or apparently don't know the basics of human communication.  Not sure what's going on there.

I got off work early so I did some grocery shopping and got Jake early and headed out to the hospital. We enjoyed dinner - some bbq sandwiches,  and some extra time together. We just relaxed and watched some tv.  We are so ready for him to come home!!! Hopefully next week!  

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND! !!

Jake had SNAKE for Breakfast this week!!! :) 

 I love pinterest!

Watering the grass and washing the truck.

Learning after Dinner - ABCMouse.com

Are you Ready for some FOOTBALL!

I don't know about you and yours, but around here, Fall brings the best thing - FOOTBALL!  You know that TV commercial running now with the lady complaining to her boyfriend that her friend's boyfriend thinks Sunday is for Football?  Well, he's right by the way, Sunday + Football + two dudes in the house = AWESOME!  Especially since Dean and Jake's fantasy football team (Jake and the Phat Man) is ROCKIN!!!  They are 2 and 1, and the one they lost was 119 to 114 so HEY, not bad!!

Here's Jake getting his Quarterback in Training on!  He had a Faux Hawk for a while, but with no "product" in his hair, it didn't stay.  :)  Mean mommy, I know!

And, Mean Ole Daddy was picking on his friend who is an avid Eagle's fan who generously bought Jake a full ensemble Eagle's outfit!  It's really cute on him, we need to get him a Texans one.  So, this is Jake doing his best "Vick Impersonation".  I had NO part in this!  I PROMISE!  All I did was dress him up and take the picture.  I PROMISE!!  This was ALL Dad's Idea!!!  AND, for the record, Jake didn't cry at all when I took the tape off his head. Tough Guy!

GO TEXANS!!  Beat the Steelers!!!