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Barbara Fritchman Thompson Diary

Week of 15 September 2008

Latest Update: Sunday, 21 September 2008 7:30 p.m.


Monday, 15 September 2008

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Last night we watched the two remaining episodes of Cranford. I hated to see it end. One of the best British "period" series we have seen. Afterwards we watched a new Inspector Lynley Bob also recorded off Masterpiece/Mystery.  It was one of the better ones. We have found the Lynley series to be hit and miss in terms of quality of the shows. 

Dad goes in tomorrow morning for his knee surgery. I have to get him to the hospital by 7:30am. With the early surgery time hopefully all will go well. 

Scott's came to today to treat the lawn with fertilizer and weed control. Since I just put down seed last week they only put out the fertilizer. They will have to treat for weeds the next time. You can't treat newly seeded lawns with weed control until six weeks after putting down the seed. Hopefully tonight we will get some promised rain to wash it in.


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Tuesday, 16 September 2008

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No update.



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Wednesday, 17 September 2008

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Dad's surgery went well. No heart or blood pressure issues. It was a very long day. He did not go into surgery until 10:30 and recovery until 1:15. I talked with his doctor via phone around 1:45. At 3:15 dad was still in recovery. The front desk had his recovery nurse call me on the house phones. Dad could not leave recovery until he could move his toes due to the spinal block they gave him.

The nurse did give us his room number in the Stict Center. This is a three floor building built about 10 years ago for knee, etc replacements, head trauma recovery, etc. The building is attached to the main part of the hospital but is on the other side of where his surgery was done. While we were waiting on dad in recovery mom and I drove around to the that side of the campus. Frances finally went on to work at 3pm.

Since it was pouring down rain, as it had done all day, I let mom out at the door then parked the car in the parking deck. Dad did not come up to his room until 4:15. I left around 5:30 to go by their house to pick up the paper and pull the yard cart to the street then picked up takeout for mom and I. I stayed at the hospital until Frances arrived around 8:30 from work.

He was doing pretty well last night though he was in a lot of pain. They had his knee in the exercise machine all night. That, plus having to sleep on his back, kept him from getting much sleep. Frances too mom back to the hospital this morning on the way to work. I made it to work by 8:15. By working through lunch I was able to leave at 3:45. I called him several times during the day as did Frances.  The physical therapist had him up twice, once this morning, once this afternoon. By the time I got there at 4:15 he was pretty much worn out and was sleeping. He woke up long enough to eat a little of his dinner. His  oxygen levels are not good but all else is fine. I think tonight he was just tired from the days activities and not getting much sleep.

We all left at 6:30. I came home; mom and Frances went to get some dinner. Hopefully he will get some rest tonight and be doing a little better tomorrow.


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Thursday, 18 September 2008

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Friday 19 September 2008

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Dad is doing fair. He had a bit of a setback yesterday. In the morning they tried getting him up but his knee buckled under him. Around noon they started him on one of two bags of blood which kept him in bed all day. I worked until 5 yesterday. When I arrived he was eating a little of his supper. Mom and I left at 6:30. The second bag of blood had just finished going in. I could tell he was very discouraged. He could not move his leg on his own at all.

Mom and I stopped for dinner before going back to their house while we waited on Frances to get off from work. When she phoned to let us know she was home I drove mom over and picked up Frances' PC. Apparently there had been a power failure at her house during the day on Wednesday and it was acting funny. I guess I got home around 9:30, another long day.  Mom is holding up very well. Frances and I are both exhausted trying to work, get mom back and forth to the hospital, etc.

I worked through lunch yesterday and today in order to leave at 3pm. I spent an hour or so visiting dad before headnig back across town to make a library and grocery store stop. I wanted to get home early to fix dinner and have a quiet, relaxing evening at home.

Since I was so late getting home last night and in bed I sat up reading until 11:15 to finish the Lady Georgina by Rhys Bowen. 



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Saturday, 20 September 2008

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I took the 11am to 2pm shift at the hospital. I took dad and me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He has not been eating well and of course hates the hospital food. He loves P&J so I thought that might cheer him up.

The PT came around 12:30. She did some leg exercises then got him up walking on the walker. He went a little farther then he did yesterday but it pretty much wiped him out. Mentally he's pretty down. I am not sure at this point he is willing or able to mentally and/or physically fight hard enough to get back on his feet.

I took the dogs out for a quick play time this morning before I left and again when I got home. Then I mowed the lawn. It is a beautifal fall day. Temperatures only reaching 70 with partly to mostly clear skies and low humidity.

Lasts night I started the second book in the Lumby series I reserved at the library, Stealing Lumby. I was watching the Ryder Cup matches yesterday and today at the hospital. The US was up 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 this morning. After this morning matches they had a 5 to 3 lead.



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Sunday, 21 September 2008

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House cleaning chores this morning. Paul and Mary came over a 1pm to follow us over to Costco. Bob and the frozen foods cooler rode back home with Paul and Mary while I went on to the hospital for the 3 to 7 shift. Mom and Frances were just getting ready to leave. Dad is much more like his old self personality wise. We cheered on the USA to a victory in the Ryder Cup. In case you are unfamiliar, that is the US vs. Europe golf competition held every two years alternating between the US and a European course. This year it was played in Kentucky. Paul Azinger was an excellent coach. We had not won the cup since 1999.

On the way home from the hospital I picked up Bob some dinner at McDonalds. I had grabbed a chicken wrap and drink on the way out of Costco which I ate while the groceries were being loaded up in the cars. I am not very hungary. I'm thinking big bowl of popcorn.



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