Emotional Week End

Finally on Friday night Jack walked in to the hospital with his stethoscope around his neck and his doctor's bag in hand.  ( Picture will be added later ). I tried to prepare Jack for what he was about to walk into but how do you prepare a two year old who has never been away from his mother?  Janeen was sitting in a chair, all visible tubes and IV's removed, he knocked and entered and stared as if he was in total disbelief.   He ran to the corner of the room crying, Janeen's crying then I started crying: I went over to him and took his hand and told him everything was OK and then he gave his mommy a big hug and kiss.  We visited for 2 hrs. and then jack and I went to the hotel.  We went back to the hospital in the morning as Janeen was being transfered to Serenity House at noon.  Later that evening Jack and I joined Janeen for dinner and quality time at Serenity House.  Jack climbed up in bed with Janeen and held hands and watched a video.  He gave her his gift and of course there were more tears.  She cries a lot and seeing her so emotional just kills me.  She says she feels really strange and so uncomfortable and she wants to go home.  The doctor's have no problem with her going home but I do.  I'm still so worried about clots and infection and MY

 acute fatigue.  We decided to wait til Sunday and see how things were going.  Well, at 5:00 am Jack woke up and said his tummy hurt.  By 6:00 am he is throwing up all over the bed and I thruthfully didn't know where to start.  Keeping him calm was number one, then start cleaning up. By 9:00 am it was the other end and I decided Jack needed to go home.  Thank God for Suzi & Jerry!  They came up and made my day.  I am so tired I can't even tell you.  They took Jack out for some fresh air then brought him back to me and I put him down for a nap. ( A 4 Hr. Nap ).  Jerry stayed with Jack and Suzi and I ran over to Serenity House.  Again, Janeen cried when she saw us and we told her Jack had to  go home.  Obviously this was upsetting news but she said for us to do what we thought was best,  Jack left at 8:00 pm and I'm going to go to bed early and tomorrow do nothing but rest.

Oh, it gets better......parking valet at the hotel changed my lights from AUTO to ON.  I could not tell in the day time my lights were on so after visiting Janeen today Suzi & I got to sit in an under ground garage for over an hour waiting for AAA and then had to buy a new battery.  Oh, not finished yet....housekeeping vacuumed up one of my diamond earings.  They went through the vacuum bags and found it.  You know what, I was even to tired to care.  I have just way to much to be thankful for. 
Emotions are running high right now but I do believe once we get home on TUESDAY Janeen will feel better.  There's just no place like home!    

I just was thinking back to a week ago tonight.  It is so hard to believe how fast this week has really gone.  It is a week I don't ever want to repeat.  I thank God for giving us the strength to get through it and continued blessings for the remainder of Janeen's recovery.   All the prayers said have been answered and I would ask that Janeen remain in your prayers as she struggles to keep her mind on what is important now, HEALING.  This is not the end of the road for Janeen, there will be another surgery 3 to 4 months from now. 

Thank you everyone.  Love, Barb  

Friday The 16th

Good day to all.  I am home now, it is time for Jack to go visit his mommy.  I went to the hospital this morning @ 8:30 and Janeen was crying.  Emotions are running high, she didn't feel well and just needed a good cry.  I held her and we figured out together what needed to be done as she knew I was not going to be with her today.  Her daytime nurse came in and we put a plan in motion and waited for her doctor to come.  Our morning breakfast we ordered for 9:00 am arrived @ 8:15 am.....that damn butler can't tell time.  Needless to say breakfast left a little to be desired but so what, right?  Janeen might feel like crap but she looks good and her doctor's are still shaking their heads as to how fast she is healing. I think after today the only tubes that will remain will be the stomach drains and I've had my tutorial.  I can do this...no problem.

We have all agreed, tomorrow Janeen will transfer to Serenity House.  Those of you who have schedules also have the phone number and she has her ipad and cell with her from here on out.  Just please don't bombard her with calls.  I think texting is the best method of communication or call me.  (949) 433-0492...............It hurts for her to talk still and the side affects of all the drugs make her feel yucky. Once she sees Jack she will feel better but my visits will now become much, much shorter.  Sort of a double edge sword for me but this is what Janeen wanted so Jack will join Janeen and me at the hospital then Serenity House.

All tissue is still looking good breast monitors should be removed by the time I get back tonight.  That means, the abdomen transplant was a HUGE success.  YEAH!!!!  There is some redness on her abdomen that two of her four doctors are concerned about (infection) but she has no temperature and they want to see if it goes away on its own, and feel it is due to surgical trauma in that area. More antibotics now will only make her feel worse.  I had her walk over to the big window to see her stomach in direct daylight (the doctor thought I was genius) and it doesn't look so red.  I look red when I walk in her room, again hospitals do not have the most flattering lighting.  Dr. Straub here thinks she is fine.

It goes without saying it has been an exhausting week but taking care of someone you love is such a privilege. We've shared some incredible moments together this week and I feel closer to her than ever before if you can imagine that.  I'm anxious to see Baby Jack he should be home soon.  I'll blog again tomorrow.  XO  Barb

Thursday the 15th

Where do I start?  I'll go back to  last night around mid-night I made an executive decision to up grade Janeen's  room to V.I.P. Status.  Yep, the room is prettier and she has her own butler.  Her bed sheets have escalated from rash quality to 500 thread count and a lovely duvet.  The hospital sent flowers and a fruit basket which consisted of bananas.  Lot's of bananas.  She gets a menu now that differs from hospital menu and they also cook for me.  I could no longer sustain on candy and bagels.  The cafeteria is so far from her room my old legs said no more......the food needs to come to us. So now Mom is happy and Janeen is happy.  We sit in our Barker Loungers and we look like the odd couple.

Now the good news.  Biopsy report came back NO CANCER was found!  We were so happy to hear that news.  Also, today her catheter, three drains, IV and her pain pump.....All OUT!  She now walks the hall and is able to manage the bathroom on her own.  Her doctors and nurses are in shock. Looks like the schedule I sent out is a little off but I think only by one day.  I am guessing she will go to Serenity House on Saturday.  That's the plan tonight and I don't foresee any change in her return home date.

I was suppose to be home today and relieve my sister and her husband of grandparent duties but I couldn't leave Janeen. They agreed I needed to stay here as Jack is having a blast with them and Janeen was not remotely ready for Jack.  So I spent today with Janeen and tonight she is in a much better place in regards to pain and mobility.  Tomorrow I will come have breakfast with her then head home, go to her house and check  things out, then grab Jack and be back at the hospital hopefully for dinner.  A family dinner @ St. John's Health Center.  Then I take Jack to the hotel with me.  That is going to be interesting, a whole new chapter but I'll report on that as those experiences unfold.

Gotta go I'm being summoned for a photo op!  Then I am going to head back to Shutter's.  I will get to bed early tonight tomorrow is another long day.

Taking care of Janeen has been such a pleasure.  She is an extremely good patient even when she is in extreme pain.  Yes, a real trooper.

Good Night, Barb

Wednesday The 14th

I am in Janeen's hospital room and she is watching Dr. Oz.  She has no idea what I am doing. So, now the update:

She has been up twice today.  Yep, with all those tubes she gets up and I am so proud od her. We changed her in to one of those gowns she didn't want to bring (remember that post earlier) and she looks wonderful.  She had her first solid food 1/2 bagel from the cafeteria. Tomorrow she will walk to a chair and sit up for a while.  I've been taking pictures but I don't think it would be nice for me to post them as she still doesn't know about this blog.  All in time.  Everyone here is so sweet, no complaints from either of us.

Her breasts are doing great.  Fantastic blood flow, in fact when they do the doplar it is so loud.  I do believe they are surviving the transplant.  I think by now there would have been signs of trouble.  I have missed the doctors every day but they would have called me if they saw a problem.  She is much more alert today but she needs to go to sleep.  I'm going to leave and come back later....maybe she will fall asleep if I just leave. To be continued.............Barb    

24 Hours Later

It is now Tuesday evening @ 10:00 pm.  I just got back from the hospital and I am happy to report Janeen is doing great and looks Amazing!  She is in a great deal of pain and drifts in and out of sleep which is what she is  suppose to be doing.  They were going to have her get up and walk to a chair and sit but Dr. Orringer re-thought that plan and told me he wanted to give her some more time.  She is doing so well, she is out of CCU ( she was scheduled to be there for 3 days) and was settled into her private room around 4:00 pm today.  She looks so incredibly beautiful while sleeping, so peaceful and relaxed.  She was able to take a few sips of broth while I was there but water and chap stick are the favorites of the evening.  I simply cannot tell you what her doctor's accomplished in that operating room yesterday.  I took pictures of her tonight so she could see their work and she was blown away. Not only have they saved her life but they are masterfully skilled  physicians. When the surgery finally was over last evening/early today actually, both Plastic Surgeons looked whipped. She had four doctors and at any given time 20 other personnel in the OR. A fantastic team of specialists and they should be so proud of their work.  They obviously love what they do and all were so humble as well as patient and  caring.

I am extremely emotional today.  Thankful does not adaquately describe my my feelings.  I slipped into the chapel while Janeen was sleeping tonight and cried my eyes out.  The little chapal was so comforting and I was alone with God Almighty.  It was the place I was longing to visit yesterday but I didn't want to leave the waiting room and miss my updates during the surgery.

Thank you Darren for staying with your sister today so I could get a little shut eye.  I had been going on 2 hrs. sleep in 48 hrs.  Your presence yesterday was so nice and I loved spending those long hours with you.  Janeen kicked me out of the hospital tonight, she said I looked tired and she wanted me to go to the hotel.  No arguement from me and that is where I am now writing this post.

Thank you Grandmoe and Bobo for taking such good care of Jack.  When I told Janeen you were following her directions as instructed she said, " I don't even care I hurt to much to worry about it". I hope you are enjoying him and he is being a good little boy.

I'm signing off, sleep is calling me...........Barb

She Did It!!!!

The OR  just called,it is 11:15 pm, they are applying the  dressings and she will proceed to recovery.  I can't believe today.  So much emotion, ao many prayers and now my girl gets to rest.  I'm crying and I can't see what I'm typing but I'm so happy.  Janeen is now on the road to recovery......I can hardly stand waiting any longer.  I just need to see her and hold her hand.  Janeen's  doctor's are my heroes  and how do you say thank you, not just for their knowledge and surgical skills, but for their caring manner.  I wish you  all could meet this team Janeen had working on her today.  They all have to be  exhausted, God Bless Them All!

What an amazing day. It is a day I will never forget. Thanks to everyone who helped my family get to where we are this very minute.  Loving each other, caring for each other and praying for each other. I love my family with all our dysfunctions and silly squabbles.  We came together as a family and I am so proud of all of us. I don't care how tired I am I have to stay until she wakes up, I promised Janeen and everyone knows a promise is a promise. This  was the  longest 18 1/2 hrs. of my life.

Good Night.......tomorrow is another day.

Barb         

Surgery Update

It is now 4:45 pm and the OR just called and said Janeen was doing fine.  It has now been 8 hrs. and one breast is almost completed.  She has not lost very much blood but they are monitoring her platlets as they were low when they started the surgery.  The report indicated they were on schedule (no complications) and they were about to start the other breast.  They are shooting for a 10:00 pm completion time.  Let's pray that the last leg of this surgery continues to go smoothly.  I can hardly wait to see her.

Her dad went home and Darren and I were watching the football game until some douch changed the channel.  Janeen wants to wake up and know the score....Patriots vs. Dolphins.....remember she is doing Fantasy Football.  Score now is 14 Patriots,7 Dolphins.  She needs the Dolphins to win.

I am beat.  I need a pillow.  My eyes are having a hard time staying open right now. I missed breakfast, then I missed lunch,perhaps I can make it in time for dinner.  Everytime I go to the cafeteria they are cleaning up.  I've met some lovely people today and our conversations have certainly helped the day go faster and kept my mind occupied.  They have all offered to pray for Janeen.  I missed mass at 12:00 pm  as I didn't want to miss the doctor's update.  Mass is every day at noon, I have the rest of the week to go and give thanks and praise.  I really like this hospital and I like my hotel.  Shutter's looks like it just came out of a 1940's movie set.  Very charming.  The big bed there is calling to me but not til I see my little girl.  I lover her more than my luggage!  To be continued..........................................................

Surgery Day

4:00am Sept 12th, Day of Surgery

7:30am, St. Johns Hospital

 



Doctor Jack Straub is practicing his skills on his baby "L".  He is getting ready so he can take care of Mommy when she comes home.

Last night, Dr. Jack practiced his medical skills on L for an hour.  She got her blood pressure taken, shots, ultra sound and temp taken.  Jack then put Band-Aids on L and stayed next to her for an hour.

One More Sleep

Forget your worry....step into Trust and see everything from this moment forward as an answer to your greatest prayer.

Janeen, if you look, you will see how supported you are.  Everything you need is at your fingertips if you look closely enough.

I can not say thank you enough for all the support you all have shown ME through this blog.  I am as ready as I will ever be and anxious to share this blog with Janeen when the moment is right. I'm so happy I decided to do this and I am overwhelmed so many of you have participated and followed us. I will pick it up tomorrow during my long arduous wait at the hospital and hopefully Darren can help me insert some photos.

Off to Santa Monica!  More later...............Ciao, Barb

Two More Sleeps

You must rise to the challenge and meet it with all your strength, strength built from the will to be the best you can be....(Spiritual Truth).

Janeen and I are both handling the final arrangements, squaring away our animals and putting the finishing touches on our homes to accommodate those who will be coming and going during our stay in Santa Monica.  The refrigerators are stocked. some meals already prepared and the pantry is full.  Oh, and the flowers are in place.  I'm so appreciative of everyone who is helping me , I just want my home to look like it does when I'm here.  Both of us are in good spirits also. 

Thank you God for everything and please watch over Leo.
Barb