Hospital Day 3

Good afternoon everyone! It's been another busy, but good, day today. The pulmonary team rounded first thing this morning and they are sticking with just the one IV antibiotic and doing the INHALED Colistin until they get the sputum culture back and see what's growing and what it's sensitive too. I'm thankful I don't have to start the IV yet because of it's nasty side effects, particularly that it makes me increasingly dizzy with every dose. It may have to be added if my pseudomonas isn't sensitive to the Meropenam but for now I have a reprieve for which I am VERY thankful! Because of that, I've been able to go on my walks out of the room by myself--I spotted a sign in the rehab area that there is a facility dog that works in that area so I've walked there twice today hoping to see him, but no luck yet! Blue got her first professional grooming yesterday, and she looks amazing! Excited that we will have the finances to do that for her once a month now--and for Mom since she is technically allergic to dogs lol. I definitely miss my hubby and her! Susanna was so sweet to video me playing one last game of ball in the yard with her on Tuesday....so thankful.............Aside from the plan of wait and see what grows, a lady showed up to do an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) so I'm guessing they saw something they didn't like on the heart telemetry that I've been wearing. I had mentioned to Dr. Solomon in clinic last week that when I started wearing my Apple Watch a few months ago I realized that when I get short of breath my heart rate was elevating over 110 usually....even with simple things like wiping down the mirror in the bathroom right before a showing...pretty much any strength related thing it's like my muscles suck all the oxygen out of my lungs and my HR elevates quickly. I've been getting more short of breath ever since the Swine Flu episode in January of 2024, but as usual, I am constantly "triaging" things in my body and didn't think to mention it to a doctor until about two months ago when I saw my PCP for my overdue by over a year "annual" visit lol. At this point, I'm just laughing cause it feels like I'm seeing all the specialists this visit--but I'm also thankful that when you are inpatient that is one huge advantage--you get tests, the results go right to your team, and then they can order a consult with a specialist and they all come to you. Much less time consuming and exhausting than it is outpatient............As far as "hospital shenanigans" today, I got to go outside on the children's patio this morning but it was actually too chilly even with my light jacket because it was really windy so I sat out there for a few minutes but quickly ended up back inside. For my second walk, I went to both gift shops and exercised EXTREME self control cause oh my word do they have cute stuff--especially in the children's area, and one of my closer friends is due in May (I think! I've lost track LOL!) and they had the cutest baby stuff! They also had super soft doggy PJ bottoms! I did take pictures instead of buying things which is an improvement lol. In the adult gift shop, there was a hummingbird thing that said "where flowers bloom, so does hope". Hummingbirds are the animal Grandma chose for us to remember her by--she loved them and always had feeders near her windows, wherever she lived. My facebook memories reminded me that 7 years ago yesterday was the day I said goodbye to her before being admitted to the hospital in 2018 and missed being with her when she passed on the 24th. I still haven't completely slowed down and processed things here because the first few days are so busy with doc consults and figuring out what plan to start and starting it and what works. They are also doing more intensive breathing treatments being around the clock so the waking up enough to sit up and do a breathing treatment at 2AM has been a bit of a challenge--last night I almost fell back asleep like my brother, Justin, used to do to me when I'd wake him up in the morning for high school LOL..............As routine sets in and if I manage to escape having to do IV colistin, I will be one happy girl until my possible sinus surgery next Wednesday, the 26th. Because that would be so late in my stay, I went ahead and re-scheduled my Huntsville OB surgery to April 7th. Making the actual surgery on the 31st wasn't an issue, but getting to the latest available pre-op appointment on the 27th was really pushing it. This way, I can stay admitted a few extra days to get the really intensive breathing treatments etc and then hopefully, Lord willing, be discharged in time to go to the Mercy Me concert on the 30th in Huntsville...and maybe the baptism at church right before at 5, but we'll see. Susanna that helped get me down here is being baptized and I would love to be there in person to hug her after--baptisms are always such an encouraging time but we'll see what I have the energy for...in all reality I'll probably be live-streaming it lol, but a girl can hope! My brain says, "yes, do all the things!" and my body replies with, "Oh really??". Before my hospitalization I was in "go go go" mode because I knew I was crashing anyway, but coming out of it and preparing for the OB surgery I need to be really careful of what I do...and then healing up afterwards for vaction on May 11th is the big goal. We are going to a Dollywood Cabin in the Smoky Mountains with Mom and Dad and the McAteer's who are dear friends from church who are truly like family. We won't be going to Dollywood this time, especially being only a month post-surgery cause coasters would be a big no-no, but I am looking forward to relaxing in the cabin, sweet fellowship, and exploring other things in and around Pigeon Forge that we haven't seen before. It's about time for my evening walk to stretch and get out of the room before night shift and evening treatments......again we are SO thankful for all the love, prayers, and practical support--9 guys showed up to our house last night to help Jord pack up things! We continue to just be amazed at our great God over and over again for how He delights to provide "exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or imagine" as He says in Ephesians 3:20-21. Enjoy some fun pics from my walks so far--and gotta love the South cause in the main part of the hospital is a big cross and a big American flag--just love it here!! Also, meet Sydney, my tech from my last hospitalization that did 4-H and so we connected on all the "farm girl things" and she is currently doing pre-reqs for nursing school. :)