Updates...

Where to start...

Duckie had his MRI and CT yesterday and then today he had surgery to remove the rest of the lymph nodes and I think add a drain of some sorts.  I haven't heard how it went except that my Mom thought my Dad was bringing him home around 1:30 or so.  We will know more on the 23rd.  Praying for good news - that the cancer hasn't spread and for a good plan of attack. 

My MIL is improving yet getting worse at the same time - if that even makes any sense.  They moved her to a mini ICU where her nurse only has two other patients besides her.  The pneumonia is breaking up but that is causing more fluid in and around her lungs.  They are doing Neb treatments numerous times a day, plus a suction in her lungs, and has this vibrating thing for her back to help break up the phlegm.  This morning they were using an ultrasound and a needle to remove some of the fluid that has built up around the outside of her lung, which was making it harder for her lungs to expand and contract.  They also had to decide today if she was going to get a peg (?) line put in - where they would feed her food and pills as she cannot swallow without getting some in the lungs.  I am not sure how that went but will find out when I meet Walleye at the hospital after he gets done with work today. Praying my MIL will accept the PEG ling and will continue to get better. 

We met the new RE yesterday and I am amazed!  I can't believe we waited so long to go there. Here's how the day went...

Walleye picked me up from work at 11 yesterday morning.  I had called Dr. E's office around 9 because my ultra sound for today still hadn't been scheduled.  The nurse called me back as I was walking to Walleye's truck and when I told her why I called she said she'd check my file.  Came back and said that Nurse R forgot to call it in!  Seriously?!?!?  Forgot to call in an u/s and here it is the DAY before and I didn't have an appointment yet.  Then I asked about the prescription for the shot and the nurse was confused so I had to explain to her what kind of shot I was talking about and she said she'd check my file, came back and said that the last time Dr. E ordered a shot was may.  I told her that was for the May cycle and we are now on the June one and to please have Dr. E order my shot to my specific pharmacy.  I still haven't heard back on that yet.  So needless to say I was furious when I got of the phone and couldn't get down to the RE's office soon enough. 

So we get down there about 30 minutes early.  We walk in and the facility is absolutely beautiful.  Walk up to the check in desk and the receptionist is so friendly and nice.  We chit chat and she goes over a few things with us.  Then asks to take our picture - I ask why and she said so they can put it in our file so that when they call us from the waiting room they can verify it is the right person.  Also, when talking with us on the phone they can see the photo and who they are talking to.  Isn't that great!  No updating the wrong chart with that in my folder!!!  She asked us to have a seat and we had about 20 minutes until our appointment.  We sat there and sat there and when it was about 40 minutes AFTER our appointment time I was just about to go ask the receptionist what the hold up was and the Dr walked out to get us.  The Dr. himself!  He brought us into his office, said he had read my file but wanted me to tell him all about our experience.  So I started telling him the story, he listened intently, asking questions here and there and finally when I got to the point in the story about the nurse forgetting to call in my u/s order he said "don't worry about it.  We will pick up right here for this cycle.  Just a moment" and he picked up the phone and asked for his nurse to call him as soon as she could.  He then told me he would get me in for an u/s THAT day and a blood draw. (I started to cry!  I just couldn't believe they would pick up right in the middle of my cycle!)   We then went over my last few cycles again, in extreme detail and then the game plan moving forward.  He reassured me that the problems i have encountered with my previous two REs won't happen with them.  His nurse came in and brought me to the u/s room - turns out every u/s will have the u/s tech as well as my nurse in there.  They were very patient with me, answering all my questions and listening to my tell my stories about the past two REs (which they said they hear that unfortunately a lot from patients from my area).  After the u/s they took me to get my blood test.  Then brought Walleye and I back to a conference room and went over the game plan for this and future cycles again - to make sure we didn't have any questions.  They also said that anytime we have questions to feel free to call.  They are open 7 days a week and almost every day (except a few holidays).  They said that after every u/s and blood draw the Dr will review the results by 2 pm that same day so he can make sure we are on the right track for the cycle. Everyone there was SO nice, so patient and so knowledgeable!  I truly feel this is the place we need to be working with.  I feel as though God has really listened to and has answered my prayer for finding an RE that's right for me. I am so thankful!    

Well my timer just went off...I am making my first ever strawberry rhubarb pie today!  Crossing my fingers it turns out as me and pies don't really get along!  Hoping my Grandma has been sending good pie baking vibes down from heaven today - she was an AMAZING pie maker (and well just about everything she made was amazing!).