From the hospital

It's been a rollercoaster of a day, really thankful to have the support of both daughters and their guys. Right now Bob is not in crisis. In fact he's eating crackers and watching football. But pulmonary embolisms, his doctor said, are a major cause of sudden death, which could have happened any time during the last few days - freaks me out. I asked the doctor if sudden death is still a risk and he says not really, that the blood thinners give protection against further pieces of clot breaking off. There will be more medical tests tomorrow to look for clots in legs and heart and for possible genetic causes. Being with Bob, he doesn't seem very sick, not in pain or exhausted - I'm scared of the tests tomorrow though. tEsts are supposed to be good because they give information that leads to cures. I really know that. I'm just scared of information in situations like this. Completely irrational. I love it that you've been posting, Ruth, and thanks, Joanna for the ride and the love getting me down here in one piece. I'm glad Joanna took Lobo home and Chris and Ruth will take care of him. I'm just walking away from my practice, which feels crazy, for these few days - this week. I'm trying to leave messages, but people are just going to have to get along without me for now. I don't feel like I have any extra emotional strength for anybody.

new and improved update (now with actual information)

Bob called again to update me. My renewed list of "what I know" follows: (be aware that details may be screwy)

• He has "spray"s of small pulmonary embolisms in both lungs
• They think the embolisms may have caused the a-fib
• They did an echo cardiogram and will be doing more tests on his heart to look for clots there (because clots in the heart go to the brain and that is BAD!)
• They are taking it slow because they don't want to dislodge any clots that could be in his heart (again--trying to avoid the capital B-A-D)
• He is feeling much better now (oxygen is GOOD)
• He will be on cumadin (spelling?) for the foreseeable future
• They are looking into causes (maybe genetic?)
• They are projecting 3-5 days in the hospital followed by home rest with him back to work in two weeks (though I'm unclear if that is two weeks from now or two weeks of recovery--I'm guessing the later?)

Wait and See ?

I just got off the phone with Bob who sounds comfortable (and happily recounted for me the music and audio book he's listened to and the pages he's read while waiting in the hospital--so I'm pretty sure he feels better). They have done a CT and he's on a medicine designed to help with the a-fib. They are thinking/hoping/wondering that they may be able to get the a-fib under control (with meds or by removing a clot if there is one--they don't have results from the scan yet) and send him home. I'm not clear on a time line but it does seem like they are taking good control of him (and Mom is spending the night).

New News is No News

Joanna and I just spoke (quickly with two few details): Here is what I know now:

• Bob will stay the night.
• They are preparing to run "some kind of scan" (and had to run "a different one than usual" because of Bob's iodine allergy). Joanna did not know if the proposed scan was a CT as recommended by our doctor Uncle.
  
• Nobody seems freaked

I'll continue to post as I get news but it looks like it won't be much and it won't come fast. (Such is the curse of the blessing of being non-emergent).

Still Waiting

I have no news. Last I heard (several hours ago) Mom and Joanna were in San Antonio (about a quarter of the way). I hope I'll hear more soon.

I'll post when I know anything.

Bob is in the hospital

We woke up this morning to a phone call from Bob telling us that his (doctor) brother had told him he should go to the ER to make sure he didn't have a blood clot in his lungs. He followed directions and took himself to the ER where he had a chest X-ray (which we are told looks like probably does not have such a blood clot) and it was discovered that his heart is in afibrillation (sp?). They are admitting him (Further testing? Observation? Perhaps a CT?). I'll post more when I know it.

Mom is on her way to Corpus to be with him (and take care of Lobo).

New Year's Eve - Liam and Lobo

Last evening, Chris and Ruth reverted and joined a re-Prom party, re-creation of high school prom, but done as wise and experienced twenty-somethings instead of immature teens. Victoria and I (mostly Victoria) kept Liam. Liam slept peacefully until nearly 11:00, then awoke crying probably that no one was there in bed with him. Victoria, working on her computer in his room, immediately picked him up and started comforting. But he wanted Momma! So he cried. And cried. And cried. He accepted comfort from Victoria, almost falling back to sleep, but his insistence that he had a right to his Momma and anger that he wasn't getting what he wanted, won out. He cried off and on until Ruth and Chris, notified of Liam's stubborn state, could come and rescue him. When they arrived, immediately, he stopped crying.

The most fascinating thing, however, was how Lobo reacted. Liam has cried before, so Lobo is used to it. But when it didn't stop, Lobo decided something was wrong. He became agitated, running around, barking, jumping up close to Liam to sniff, then back on the prowl to find the bear or cat or other evil animal that was hurting Liam. He couldn't find it, and would come to me, confused, and then go back to hunting, growling, and barking. Several times, Liam would stop crying and watch Lobo for several minutes until he remembered his need to assert his displeasure. I calmed Lobo some, but he didn't seem really OK until Liam stopped crying.

Lobo, chronically afraid of all small humans (who he fears will pull his hair or poke him in the eye) has clearly fully accepted Liam as a member of our community pack!