CSU Day 3 - 10:50 PM

Terrie is making steady improvement! She made 3 walks down the hallway today and 2 of them were all the way to the other end! Her room is at one end of the same hallway. She is eating more at each meal and is doing breathing exercises throughout the day. She is really sore where all her stitches are, mostly when she moves, but is basically getting along with no pain meds. Lord willing, we are past the vulnerable times for nausea. Everyone tells her that she is really doing well. It's looking more certain that we will take her home on Monday. The day nurse told me today that she will begin processing her dismissal paperwork tomorrow so that Monday will go more smoothly. Terrie's hemoglobin count was down this morning, so she received a unit of blood. I had not realized that the color had somewhat drained out of her face. When I got back from a few hours at home and running errands, she looked rosy-cheeked and very healthy! I even asked her if she had put on makeup! The nurse says that this unit of blood will stimulate Terrie's body to make more hemoglobin of its own. I have a work commitment at RHCC tomorrow that will take me away for several hours, but Terrie's sister, Deborah, will be here with her. She has really been a blessing to both of us the last 3 days. For all of you who have not been here in person, but have appeared before the Father in prayer for us, we cannot adequately express our thanks for your involvement! You are the greatest!

CSU Day 2 - 4 PM

Today is going very well! All of Terrie's drain tubes were removed this morning and she has spent a couple of hours sitting up in a chair. About an hour ago, she took her first walk down the hallway. She went for a good distance her first time out and should go walking again later this evening. Right now she is resting in bed and visiting with her sister, Deborah. Each time she gets a meal, she manages another bite or two. It's gonna take a few days to get her system accustomed to regular eating again. She ain't settin' no eatin' records right now! I slept here in her room last night on the chair-that-makes-into-a-bed thingie. Seemed kinda narrow, but worked out okay & I slept well. So, we are making great progress toward getting her home in a few days. In fact, Monday has been mentioned as a likely go-home day. All of this and STILL no nausea! We are thanking the Lord every day that she has been spared that agony! He has totally answered a multitude of prayers to that effect. Thank you, thank you, thank you! More tomorrow!

CSU Day 1 - 12:30 PM

About 11:30 this morning, Terrie was moved to the CSU (Cardiac Step-down Unit), Room 274. This is a great sign of progress! Her new nurse told her that she was doing quite well, that few of her patients were doing so well this soon after heart surgery. Terrie retorted that she was probably younger than most of her other patients, to which the nurse said yes, but that she has had some in their 40's as well. The bottom line is that Terrie is doing as well as can be expected. She is battling a little bit of a queasy stomach right now, but has just had some anti-nausea medication, so hopefully any upchucking can be avoided. Her liquid lunch should arrive anytime now and if that goes down well and stays down, she will attempt a more substantial supper later today. She came to this unit in a wheelchair and has been sitting up since and will be until she finishes her lunch. She is still quite groggy from meds and says she is tired of feeling that way. However, I think it's related to what she is taking to avoid the nausea, so actually, it's the better of the two ways to feel! Right now her sister, Deborah, is here with us. Our kids plan to come up later. Since children are allowed to visit in this unit, we will allow the grandkids to come up one or two at a time for brief visits. They are very curious about what's going on with Mama Terrie!

CCU Day 2 - 10:30 AM

Terrie had been sitting up in a chair for about 2 hours when I arrived at 8:40 this morning. Shortly thereafter, she was put back in the bed. She was pretty tired from sitting up and slept through most of the morning visitation time. The surgeon came by during that time and talked with us more about the surgery and how she is doing. He is very happy with her progress and talked to the nurse about removing more tubes & monitors. They believe that, if a room becomes available today, she will be moved to the Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU). Praise God that she still has not had to deal with nausea! I'm not putting all my weight down just yet because she will be needing pain medication for all the things they plan for her today and I just pray that she continues without an upset stomach. Charlton & Mary Beth have stayed over an extra day and plan to head back to Midland today after the mid-day visitation. It has been so great to have them here, as well as our two precious daughters who both live here. All 3 of our kids have worked hard to keep the grandkids happy & busy while allowing each other some visitation time with their mom. Papa Charley hasn't been much help with the kids these last few days. BTW, in case anyone's asking, my head is finally better. Poor baby! And while I'm at it, a huge shout out to the RHCC church staff & family! You guys are totally amazing with all your prayer support, calls, visits, cards & even food! We are totally humbled by your generous attention to us! Your faith and that of all our more distant blog readers is quite evident in how smoothly things have gone for us. Thanks to all of you!

CCU Day 1 - 11:30 PM

By the final visitation of the day, Terrie was doing well for her first day after surgery. In the afternoon, the nurses got her up and had her sitting in a chair for about an hour and a half. She had a very small dosage of morphine and another non-narcotic pain med - and she did just fine. So far no nausea! Praise God! Let's keep asking Him for that blessing during her recovery period. Tomorrow will be a difficult day because they plan to get her up 3 times. Not only will she be doing the chair thing, but they would like to get her to walk a little as well. Possibly, by Friday, she will be moved to the Cardiac Step-Down Unit. All that moving around will require her to have pain medication, so we need the Lord to bless her with an absence of nausea. Also, they plan to serve her some kind of breakfast tomorrow morning. It may be merely jello, but still it will be something new in her stomach. We just don't want it coming back up after it's down there. I'm heading for some shut-eye right now. More tomorrow.

CCU Day 1 - 3:30 PM

Terrie had again been sedated when we returned for the Noon visitation time. The nurse had given her some pain medication and subsequently some anti-nausea medication. Terrie had experienced some nausea, but I don't think had thrown up. She was just afraid she was going to and wanted a container nearby. So, I don't know if the pain med was what sedated her or if they gave her something else to put her out to avoid the nausea. She would sorta wake up and respond if anyone said anything to her, but mostly she was out. Once the charge nurse came in and asked her how she felt and she whispered, "Sleepy." He said, "Well, take a nap, then!" She complied. The big plan for this afternoon is to get her to sit up either on the side of the bed or in a chair or both. I pray that this goes well because it will be a crucial step in her improvement. Our kids rotated through the Noon visiting time while the grandkids were enjoying a local McDonalds (is that redundant - local McDonald's?) I went over and had lunch with them later and put in a little Papa Charley time with the grandkids.

CCU Day 1 - 10:30 AM

When I arrived for the 8:30 AM visiting hours this morning, Terrie had already begun to awaken. She is still pretty drugged up, which is good, but the nurse began to awaken her so they could start the process of weaning her off the ventilator. She had to prove that she could breathe on her own before they could remove it entirely. She looked very glad to see me and put out her (restrained) hand to grab me when I entered the room. Her hands had been restrained because the first thing people do when they wake up is try to pull those nasty tubes out of their noses & mouths. Just before I left her room at 10 AM, they succeeded in getting the vent tube pulled out. She had a bit of a struggle for a minute or so after they pulled it past her gag reflex spot. However, she soon settled down and was resting well when I left. She is now able to whisper and that is helping our communication - although it's a bit hard to understand. Also, the hand restraints have been removed now. As the day progresses, they will begin to remove many of the myriad of things attached to her body - tubes, monitors, etc. One of the major struggles ahead will be the use of pain medication. She will need some in order to help her feel like moving around, which is crucial to help her avoid pneumonia. Yet, strong pain medication usually makes her nauseated. Please continue to pray that God provides something that works and doesn't make her sick. Our kids are all at the house and are working out their rotation to come see Terrie through the day and still have someone to watch those 9 precious grandkids. It sounds like good ole Chucky Cheese might help babysit today! With adult supervision, of course! Stay tuned for more and especially keep a line open to heaven to ask blessings on Terrie. Thanks!