Thursday, home and tired. Thrifty Thursday

 Finished this chart late Friday afternoon.  So, onto #28. I am wondering if I will hit 30 by the end of the year.

I have been asking clients to wait until I return from my trip, and most have been lovely.  There are a few things I will have to get done before I go but very few.

We came home from the hospital Wednesday about noon. I think the surgery went well and there were a few hiccups. We had to be at the hospital at 12:30 and the surgeon ended up behind and Hubs did not go in until 3:30. The operation was 3.5 hours long and Hubs was back in his room about 9 p.m.  

Everything I predicted and had informed the staff came true.  He was without his tremor meds for over 24 hours.  He had a really hard time holding still when he was awake.  He was in terrible pain.  Even though his vitals could bring him out of post-surgery, his mind and body were not there yet.  He could not communicate or make sense of what they were saying.  Of course, he could not hear.  

When they would leave the room, he would whisper Pain-Pain.  Then fall back to sleep, when he slept the tremors stopped, but then again, he would say pain, pain.  I would call and because he could not communicate, they would leave.  Finally, he said terrible, terrible.  I call again and I was somewhat firm.  I again reiterated that he was deaf, he had not been properly medicated for the tremors and he had dementia issues, so coming out from under anesthesia would be more difficult. I wanted him to have some pain meds.  So, the nurse wakes him and says, (quietly) Mr. Haverfield can you rate your pain scale from 0-10?  Of course, he hears nothing and looks at her cross eyed, not being able to even understand her if he could hear.  He can't make rational logical determinations like that in this condition.

I lost it. (See Shirley McClain's academy award winning performance in Terms of Endearment). I thought I was going to have to be bailed out.  She finally gave him some pain medication and then picked up the call button and explains all the buttons to him, as in this is your TV, volume and station, here you order dinner and meals, remember this number and dial, also here you turn off 4 different lights and here you can call me if you need anything.  Then she lays the large device on his chest.  Like he understood any of that. 

Now I brought out the big guns, I told them I was calling my daughters and they would be arriving at various stages.  Number one would come in with a lawsuit written up, #2 would go to her office and get drugs and put them in his IV for me, and #3 just might turn off the main valves to the sewage department for the hospital.  But they could take their chances. Then I was asked if I was staying the night?  Hell, yes, I was. Things got much better after this, and actually the staff was wonderful.  He received very good care.

Home now with a catheter, and a JP drain, and I have to give him shots in his stomach every day.  Unfortunately, I have to set the alarm clock to go off every 4 hours round the clock to empty, his drain and bag.  He should be able to do these things himself, but his hands tremor too much for really fine motor skills.  He would make such a mess.  They tried to get him to do it in the hospital and there was blood and urine everywhere.  He did not close his drain and the bed was soaked in blood.  I know (TMI)  So all these duties must fall to me.   But he is up walking around, and only repeating himself a little.  I am very tired.

It is like taking care of a newborn, only a newborn is sweet and cuddly and smells better. Signe' is going to spend Friday night here so I can get a good night's sleep.

I am paying all the bills I can today and here are the ways I saved money this last week:

1. saved all my spare change

2. saved all my $5 bills saved $1285.00 so far so $100 this week it was crazy with 5's

3. Saved a $1, $5, $10, $20 bill 

4. put $91.47 in my penny can for the penny a day savings challenge for October

5. bought only loss leaders at grocery store

6. found good sale on petite sirloin, package was marked down to $8.98 and then 1/2 off, but clerk did not give me marked down price and I had her correct it saving over $8.00.  You just have to watch them. 

7. Air conditioner turned off for now.

8. using ceiling fans in rooms to cool us.

9. Using a lot of produce from garden for meals

10. received two coupons for $5 off meals at Hospital cafeteria.

11. used clothesline instead of dryer to save energy

12. when I went to buy a shrimp loss leader, they were out so I got a raincheck for later

13. had hospital load me up with supplies for dressing changes, so I don't have to buy these things to care for Hubs

Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and prayers.  It is nice to have an army behind me.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim

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