Today, Lar had his first 'shower' since his surgery. He felt and looked like a million bucks after! He continues to do laps around the floor and his time per lap is definitely improving. The other patients on the floor are quite jealous of his speed and agility.
All we are waiting on is a fart...once that fart comes he will be on the fast track out of his penthouse. We heard his tummy rumbling this afternoon, I am hoping that fart comes anytime now.....
Sox it to it Lar...
Sunday, December 9, 2012
One popular boy
The visitors keep comin' to room 9204 to sit and chat with Lar. In a matter of an hour, he had 10 people coming in and out of his room. His nurses didn't know what do!
Cousin Kelly and her daughter Leighanne took the train from Champaign to visit Lar for the weekend. The highlight was seeing Lar and Livia's wedding pictures for the first time.
As you can see, he is looking great. He still has the NG Tube in his nose, hopefully that will come out soon. The drain that was in his belly was taken out last night, so he will have a little bit more mobility while lying down. We're still waiting for that fart. The nurses hear rumblings in his tummy...so hopefully soon.
Lar's room keeps getting more and more festive. The Fulton girls sent cool signs -
And Aunt Gwin got the frosty flowers and Livia brought the poinsettia for a little Christmas spirit -
Larry is up and about doing many laps around the floor, trying his best to get his body moving. He is very anxious to break out of the hospital and relax at home. Hopefully....soon.
Sox it to it Lar...
Cousin Kelly and her daughter Leighanne took the train from Champaign to visit Lar for the weekend. The highlight was seeing Lar and Livia's wedding pictures for the first time.
As you can see, he is looking great. He still has the NG Tube in his nose, hopefully that will come out soon. The drain that was in his belly was taken out last night, so he will have a little bit more mobility while lying down. We're still waiting for that fart. The nurses hear rumblings in his tummy...so hopefully soon.
Lar's room keeps getting more and more festive. The Fulton girls sent cool signs -
And Aunt Gwin got the frosty flowers and Livia brought the poinsettia for a little Christmas spirit -
Larry is up and about doing many laps around the floor, trying his best to get his body moving. He is very anxious to break out of the hospital and relax at home. Hopefully....soon.
Sox it to it Lar...
Friday, December 7, 2012
Progress.
Slowly but surely Larry is making progress. He peed on his own today and got up and walked twice! Each day he gets stronger and more antsy to get out of his penthouse in the sky.
Phil and Jill came to visit today. They brought along a bunch of snowflakes that Tyler made for Larry's room. They definitely brightened up his room!
She also wore her Get your Rear in Gear t-shirt to school the day of Larry's surgery to show her support - how cute is she???!!!
Uncle Bill and Aunt Carol sent flowers with a balloon, Livia's parents brought him a Christmas cactus, Shannon brought him a funny card and Phil and Jill brought him a great framed picture of Livia and Larry at the Get your Rear in Gear 5k.
Larry is one spoiled boy - he deserves it all!!
We still do not know when he will be able to go home. The doctors are happy with his recovery so far. We are still waiting for the fart, so he can get the NG tube taken out. It's not much fun to have a tube stuck up your nose 24/7.
Sox it to it Lar...
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Movin' on up...
Movin' on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky....
Anyone remember these lyrics? It's the Jefferson's theme song. I loved that show!
Anyway, Larry was moved out of the ICU tonight and put into the BIGGEST single hospital room you will ever see on the top floor of the hospital. I swear it is almost the size of my studio!! The lady that transported him said he was going to the penthouse and she really meant it. He has a great city view, not as good as St. Joe's, but the room size makes up for it.
Larry not only sat up today but he also walked a lap. All great signs! Hopefully, the extra movement will start waking his bowels up so he can fart, drink, eat, poop and then go home. In that order!
Dr. Salti did tell us that in the next few days fatigue will set in and Larry will be very tired. We definitely saw signs of this tonight.
Many of you asked so here is his hospital address:
Illinois Masonic Hospital
836 W. Wellington Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Room: 9204
Sox it to it Lar...
Anyone remember these lyrics? It's the Jefferson's theme song. I loved that show!
Anyway, Larry was moved out of the ICU tonight and put into the BIGGEST single hospital room you will ever see on the top floor of the hospital. I swear it is almost the size of my studio!! The lady that transported him said he was going to the penthouse and she really meant it. He has a great city view, not as good as St. Joe's, but the room size makes up for it.
Larry not only sat up today but he also walked a lap. All great signs! Hopefully, the extra movement will start waking his bowels up so he can fart, drink, eat, poop and then go home. In that order!
Dr. Salti did tell us that in the next few days fatigue will set in and Larry will be very tired. We definitely saw signs of this tonight.
Many of you asked so here is his hospital address:
Illinois Masonic Hospital
836 W. Wellington Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Room: 9204
Sox it to it Lar...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
1st day after surgery
"Get a colonoscopy...." Larry's famous phrase to EVERYONE (nurses, doctors, cleaning crew, etc.) that comes in and out of his room. You gotta love Larry on morphine.
Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, he will be out of ICU.
Still waiting on a fart.... ahh...deja vu
Sox it to it Lar...
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Surgery Update
Larry is out of surgery and in sleeping soundly in ICU. The surgery went as well as to be expected. They found one lymph node that they will send away to pathology - we expected this since the cancer had spread to some of the lymph nodes that were taken out during the first surgery. They did take his gall bladder out, which we also knew was a possibility. During the extraction of the gall bladder, a little piece of the liver did come off and that will also be biopsied but Dr. Salti was not worried.
Dr. Salti also is hoping his recovery time in the hospital will be shorter since he did not have to cut any of the bowel or surrounding organs. This is fantastic news!!
The plan is to move him out of ICU within the next 24 hours.
So, that is all for now. We are just sitting in the room letting him sleep. I will update you more once we get settled and he starts to wake up.
Thank you to everyone for your support today, last week, last month....
it means so much!
Sox it to it Lar...
Dr. Salti also is hoping his recovery time in the hospital will be shorter since he did not have to cut any of the bowel or surrounding organs. This is fantastic news!!
The plan is to move him out of ICU within the next 24 hours.
So, that is all for now. We are just sitting in the room letting him sleep. I will update you more once we get settled and he starts to wake up.
Thank you to everyone for your support today, last week, last month....
it means so much!
Sox it to it Lar...
Dear Brother,
Dear Brother,
I rode the elevator with an old man today. After work last night, I just wanted to get home, eat, put my pjs on and watch mindless TV. Anything to distract my mind from your surgery. I waited for the service elevator in the garage, but of course it was on the 29th floor. So, I trekked up the stairs to the lobby elevators and there was a nice old man that held it open while I ran to catch it. Before the elevator door closed, the man was taking off his top coat and hat and commenting on the unseasonably warm weather that Chicago is having. (for those that live out of state it was 72 degrees yesterday). I replied with something like "I feel like I can't enjoy it because it's not right, it feels weird". I regretted saying it because I thought I was going to get a lecture about how global warming doesn't exist, yada yada... As the elevator climbed, he looked at me and chuckled, "just enjoy it today, girl" I looked up and smiled at him (little did he know), he replied to my smile with, "it's days like this that remind you any doggone thing can happen". The elevator door opened and I told him to have a great night and he said the same.
I didn't think too much about the old man in the elevator until the mindless TV was not working. I couldn't get my mind off your surgery, your awful recovery, your everything-I HATE to see you go through this! As I opened my window to get some fresh air in my place, I noticed the warmth outside. Gosh, how can I have my Christmas candles lit, and my windows open?! I stared outside and people were running in shorts and t-shirts - it's Dec. 3rd!
"it's days like this that remind you any doggone thing can happen" rang in my ear....
Brother, I am so sorry for what you are going through right now. I wish I could take it all away. But tonight I was placed in the elevator with the old man to make me realize how grateful I am that, although it's tough, the HIPAC surgery exists. I know the surgery is long, I know it will be painful, I know recovery will suck....but it exists. Knowing this surgery existed and you were a candidate for it, got us through the diagnosis, through your chemo and the days leading up to surgery. I still wish you wouldn't have to go through this, but it's days like today that remind me that any doggone thing can happen - even a surgery that can stay ahead of your aggressive cancer!
So....
My head is lifted a little higher today,
My attitude is a little bit more spunky,
All because I rode in an elevator with an old man.
I love you big brother! Your strength and positive attitude continually amaze me. You have always been the calm to my spunk, the reason to my craziness, the weight that keeps my feet on the ground when my ideas get too grande, the person I can count on to put me in my place because it's your opinion that matters to me.
Kick some butt today, brother! I know you don't like to rely on anyone for strength (or worry anyone), but I'm okay with that - I know there are two people who are giving you the strength without you knowing it - thank you dad and Aunt Sharry!
Love,
Sister
Sox it to it Lar...
I rode the elevator with an old man today. After work last night, I just wanted to get home, eat, put my pjs on and watch mindless TV. Anything to distract my mind from your surgery. I waited for the service elevator in the garage, but of course it was on the 29th floor. So, I trekked up the stairs to the lobby elevators and there was a nice old man that held it open while I ran to catch it. Before the elevator door closed, the man was taking off his top coat and hat and commenting on the unseasonably warm weather that Chicago is having. (for those that live out of state it was 72 degrees yesterday). I replied with something like "I feel like I can't enjoy it because it's not right, it feels weird". I regretted saying it because I thought I was going to get a lecture about how global warming doesn't exist, yada yada... As the elevator climbed, he looked at me and chuckled, "just enjoy it today, girl" I looked up and smiled at him (little did he know), he replied to my smile with, "it's days like this that remind you any doggone thing can happen". The elevator door opened and I told him to have a great night and he said the same.
I didn't think too much about the old man in the elevator until the mindless TV was not working. I couldn't get my mind off your surgery, your awful recovery, your everything-I HATE to see you go through this! As I opened my window to get some fresh air in my place, I noticed the warmth outside. Gosh, how can I have my Christmas candles lit, and my windows open?! I stared outside and people were running in shorts and t-shirts - it's Dec. 3rd!
"it's days like this that remind you any doggone thing can happen" rang in my ear....
Brother, I am so sorry for what you are going through right now. I wish I could take it all away. But tonight I was placed in the elevator with the old man to make me realize how grateful I am that, although it's tough, the HIPAC surgery exists. I know the surgery is long, I know it will be painful, I know recovery will suck....but it exists. Knowing this surgery existed and you were a candidate for it, got us through the diagnosis, through your chemo and the days leading up to surgery. I still wish you wouldn't have to go through this, but it's days like today that remind me that any doggone thing can happen - even a surgery that can stay ahead of your aggressive cancer!
So....
My head is lifted a little higher today,
My attitude is a little bit more spunky,
All because I rode in an elevator with an old man.
I love you big brother! Your strength and positive attitude continually amaze me. You have always been the calm to my spunk, the reason to my craziness, the weight that keeps my feet on the ground when my ideas get too grande, the person I can count on to put me in my place because it's your opinion that matters to me.
Kick some butt today, brother! I know you don't like to rely on anyone for strength (or worry anyone), but I'm okay with that - I know there are two people who are giving you the strength without you knowing it - thank you dad and Aunt Sharry!
Love,
Sister
Sox it to it Lar...
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