Whee!!! What a day. We started out this morning walking to the hospital for labs. She got a call this afternoon that there was a problem with the lab and she might have to come back tomorrow to have it redrawn. About 5 they called and said they finally got it run but the level was still too high so hold the pills again tonight and come back to the 4th floor lab tomorrow at 8 for another level. Hopefully they will do as well with the port.
Becky has had a good appetite since moving to the apartment. I'm not sure what the difference is but we'll take it. She is also drinking more and that's a plus too. She's actually had about 2 liters of fluid a day the last 2 days and wasn't drinking but 1 or less in the hospital. She says things just taste better.
Ken and Phyllis Jones came by today on their way to vacation and Becky enjoyed their visit. Larania and Julie also were here and Julie went with Barb shopping and Larania stayed with Becky. Shopping took longer than expected with us finding a "Super WalMart" that wasn't too "Super". I thought we could do all the shopping at one place but the grocery selection was really poor. We ended up going to a Shop and Save for meat, fresh veggies, frozen veggies and a few other items we hadn't found at WalMart and probably should have gone there in the beginning. Now we know. I really appreciated having Julie along to help with the shopping.
The Cardinals are on but Becky has gone to bed already. She said she may not sleep long and be back up to watch the game so I have to keep it on. I really would anyway. She has to have meds at 9 so I'll have to wake her then anyway.
God continues to provide for all our needs. We can't thank you all enough for your prayers and concerns.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Friday, July 31, 2009
Day +15
Good morning! Read Psalm 150 for your Scripture this morning. We are praising the Lord this morning for a good nights rest and a wonderful new day. Becky beat me up this morning but didn't get the coffee on! Ha!! We got breakfast and then walked (I walked she rode in the wheelchair) to the hospital for her lab work this morning. We prayed before we left and while waiting that they wouldn't have any trouble getting blood and she got it on the first try. Becky told the nurse that we had prayed they would be able to draw blood without a problem and when she did Becky said "Thank you God" and the nurse said "I'm going to give you a list of things to pray for me", to which Becky responded, "I'll be happy to do it". The Lord sure keeps blessing us.
We are looking forward to some visitors today who will stay with Becky for awhile so Barb can go get some grocery shopping done. It is a more relaxed atmosphere here and will be conducive for healing. Becky is already requesting certain meals to be cooked so I can see my work is cut out for me. I'm just glad she's wanting to eat and will do whatever I can to help her heal.
More later tonight.
Becky and Barb
We are looking forward to some visitors today who will stay with Becky for awhile so Barb can go get some grocery shopping done. It is a more relaxed atmosphere here and will be conducive for healing. Becky is already requesting certain meals to be cooked so I can see my work is cut out for me. I'm just glad she's wanting to eat and will do whatever I can to help her heal.
More later tonight.
Becky and Barb
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day +14 New "Home" away from Home
It has been a long day for Becky and I trying to get moved from the hospital to the apartment. I could not have done it without the help of Norma and Dana from Glendale showing up for a visit. We're all sure that God sent them here today to visit and help with the move. We finally got out of the hospital about 2:30. The nurses were helpful in getting her meds ready at the pharmacy and setting up appointments for her. She has to go tomorrow for a blood test at 9:00 and then Monday for blood and a doctor's appt. and Thursday for blood, a possible transfusion and a antibiotic breathing treatment. At least it's close and we have a wheelchair for the trip if we want to walk.
Becky feels so much better just being out of the hospital. It was a wonderful place for her care and we had a good view but it's so much more relaxing at the apartment. We are looking forward to a good nights uninterrupted sleep.
She ate some soup for lunch and had a sandwich for supper and seems to be doing well. I was going to go grocery shopping but after the move and getting things put up, decided it could wait until tomorrow after the appointment. I think St. Louis Bread company will work for breakfast in the morning. We'll have to make sure we don't overuse it though.
Becky did get her head shaved this afternoon before we left the hospital. It was coming out really fast so it was easier to lose it all at once. She looks great anyway.
Better go and check on her. I had to come to a special room at the apartment complex that has wireless internet until I can figure out the other internet in the apartment which is through the cable company.
Have a great night and we'll blog again tomorrow.
Becky and Barb
Becky feels so much better just being out of the hospital. It was a wonderful place for her care and we had a good view but it's so much more relaxing at the apartment. We are looking forward to a good nights uninterrupted sleep.
She ate some soup for lunch and had a sandwich for supper and seems to be doing well. I was going to go grocery shopping but after the move and getting things put up, decided it could wait until tomorrow after the appointment. I think St. Louis Bread company will work for breakfast in the morning. We'll have to make sure we don't overuse it though.
Becky did get her head shaved this afternoon before we left the hospital. It was coming out really fast so it was easier to lose it all at once. She looks great anyway.
Better go and check on her. I had to come to a special room at the apartment complex that has wireless internet until I can figure out the other internet in the apartment which is through the cable company.
Have a great night and we'll blog again tomorrow.
Becky and Barb
Day +14 MOVING DAY
Read Psalm 95:1-7 this morning as our Scripture for the day. It's a little longer and I have a lot to do this morning to get ready to move to the apartment. I took cards down early this morning and the room really looks empty already. They sure brightened up the place and helped her feel better.
She received 2 units of blood during the night and feels a lot peppier this morning. Her color is better too. Another side effect of the chemo began during the night too....Her hair started falling out. She had been expecting it from the beginning but since it hadn't so far she thought maybe it wasn't going to come out. But VOILA!!! We have ball hats ready though. One of the other ladies said when hers started coming out she and her husband had a hair pulling party so I guess we may get to do that tonight.
The doctor was just in and said it would probably be noon or soon after before she would be discharged and she was sending the prescriptions to pharmacy now. I am suppose to meet the lady at the apartment at 10:00 so I can start getting things moved over after that. Maybe all I'll have to do is move her by the time she's ready to go.
Not much else from here. I need to pack the computer up too. We'll write again tonight.
Love,
Becky and Barb
She received 2 units of blood during the night and feels a lot peppier this morning. Her color is better too. Another side effect of the chemo began during the night too....Her hair started falling out. She had been expecting it from the beginning but since it hadn't so far she thought maybe it wasn't going to come out. But VOILA!!! We have ball hats ready though. One of the other ladies said when hers started coming out she and her husband had a hair pulling party so I guess we may get to do that tonight.
The doctor was just in and said it would probably be noon or soon after before she would be discharged and she was sending the prescriptions to pharmacy now. I am suppose to meet the lady at the apartment at 10:00 so I can start getting things moved over after that. Maybe all I'll have to do is move her by the time she's ready to go.
Not much else from here. I need to pack the computer up too. We'll write again tonight.
Love,
Becky and Barb
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day +13 Evening
I have been packing up things this evening getting ready for the big move to the apartment tomorrow. We're not sure exactly what time we'll be getting out because the discharge nurse has to come in and they want to make sure all the counts are OK. They will also have to fill the prescriptions in the pharmacy here at the hospital before we leave too. Dr. DiPersio said he would see us in Clinic the next time which according to the nurse will be Monday. They are scheduling her for another appointment and a possible blood transfusion on Thursday as well as another antibiotic breathing treatment. She will be seen in the clinic 2 times a week for a while and then once a week when things stabalize.
The nurse just came in and her WBC went up again today and it's 16.8 now which is actually high but the nurse said the Neupogen shots make the cells produce more WBC's and ANC's and that's why her counts went up. She also said that she was probably already beginning to make more cells on her own and things should stabilize in a few days. Her ANC is14300 which is good. Her Hemoglobin was 8.3 and Hematocrit 23.5 which means she's going to get a couple units of blood tonight. Her platelets increased again today to 66 which they said may go down from the 52 yesterday. They stopped her Neupogen shots today which thrilled her. They really burned and she was bruising real bad from them. All in all she's doing great. The nurse tonight said, "She's doing amazing". Becky said ,"It's not me. It's the Lord working."
We're watching the Cardinals again tonight. I think this TV is broken because that seems to be the only thing that is on in the evenings. Hopefully the one in the apartment works better but I don't see that happening! Ha! Ha! She loves her Cards!!!
Hopefully we'll send a final blog from the hospital tomorrow morning and one from the apartment tomorrow night.
Becky and Barb
The nurse just came in and her WBC went up again today and it's 16.8 now which is actually high but the nurse said the Neupogen shots make the cells produce more WBC's and ANC's and that's why her counts went up. She also said that she was probably already beginning to make more cells on her own and things should stabilize in a few days. Her ANC is14300 which is good. Her Hemoglobin was 8.3 and Hematocrit 23.5 which means she's going to get a couple units of blood tonight. Her platelets increased again today to 66 which they said may go down from the 52 yesterday. They stopped her Neupogen shots today which thrilled her. They really burned and she was bruising real bad from them. All in all she's doing great. The nurse tonight said, "She's doing amazing". Becky said ,"It's not me. It's the Lord working."
We're watching the Cardinals again tonight. I think this TV is broken because that seems to be the only thing that is on in the evenings. Hopefully the one in the apartment works better but I don't see that happening! Ha! Ha! She loves her Cards!!!
Hopefully we'll send a final blog from the hospital tomorrow morning and one from the apartment tomorrow night.
Becky and Barb
Day +13
I woke up this morning to a Scripture in mind for today and it spoke to me and what I said in the blog last night. Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". I am no longer going to be anxious about going to the apartment but we put all our trust in the Lord to continue to do great things in Becky's life.
Becky had a good nights sleep last night. She said the nurse woke her up at 11 to give her the antibiotic and they both got a good laugh when Becky said, "Now I'll never know how I sounded on the organ!" She had been dreaming about playing the organ at a church for the first time. She said she never finished the dream but we all know she would have done a great job on the organ anyway.
They never did send up the ANC count because there was such a difference in the WBC from Monday to Tuesday that it has to be verified by another lab person. They said to ask about it later today. Becky said it's just another way that God is working things out. Actually 11.3 is a little high for a white count so we'll be interested to see how it comes out.
We are praying for another good day and will be trying to walk more and go to exercise class this morning at 11.
Here is the address at the apartment. They said we could have it early if she gets out on Thurs. or Fri.
Becky Hamm
4545 Forest Park Ave.
Apt. B 201
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone # 314-361-5790
Rejoicing in Him.
Becky and Barb
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". I am no longer going to be anxious about going to the apartment but we put all our trust in the Lord to continue to do great things in Becky's life.
Becky had a good nights sleep last night. She said the nurse woke her up at 11 to give her the antibiotic and they both got a good laugh when Becky said, "Now I'll never know how I sounded on the organ!" She had been dreaming about playing the organ at a church for the first time. She said she never finished the dream but we all know she would have done a great job on the organ anyway.
They never did send up the ANC count because there was such a difference in the WBC from Monday to Tuesday that it has to be verified by another lab person. They said to ask about it later today. Becky said it's just another way that God is working things out. Actually 11.3 is a little high for a white count so we'll be interested to see how it comes out.
We are praying for another good day and will be trying to walk more and go to exercise class this morning at 11.
Here is the address at the apartment. They said we could have it early if she gets out on Thurs. or Fri.
Becky Hamm
4545 Forest Park Ave.
Apt. B 201
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone # 314-361-5790
Rejoicing in Him.
Becky and Barb
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day +12 Evening
Becky had a fairly good day today. She still doesn't have much of an appetite or want to drink but has been forcing some down. She has to be able to drink a liter to 1 1/2 liter of fluid a day to get discharged. She did walk 4 laps today (one at a time) but they count. She also has done the exercises that Physical Therapy gave her to do. The only thing that sounded good for her tonight was an Arby's Roast Beef so I drove over on Lindell and got her a sandwich and some potato cakes and she ate most of it. Anything to get her to eat!!
Dr. DiPersio came in this afternoon and said she was doing great and he was looking to discharge her on Thursday or Friday at the latest as long as she didn't run a fever or get the diarrhea. We were both in shock because we had been told it would be day 18 -20 which wouldn't be until Monday at the earliest. We are excited but also a little anxious since it will only be day 14 if she's released on Thursday. I'm sure he knows what he's doing and we have to trust him. We haven't gotten all the lab results from today but her white count went from 2.0 to 11.3 which surprised the nurse. The platelets also went up from 27 to 53. She still is really weak but it looks like things are going in the right direction. We hope to get the rest of the counts later tonight.
Becky had some surprise visitors today from Glendale, Gary and Becky Strand, and we really enjoyed their visit. It's always good to see people from home.
Not much else from here. She is going to need some phosphorus again tonight but otherwise is unhooked from the IV's. The phosphorus is run over 6 hours so the nurse suggested that she start it in the morning about 5 and then she could sleep during the night without the machine beeping. I promised the nurse I would try not to snore as bad tonight too.
Hope everyone has a good nights rest.
Becky and Barb
Dr. DiPersio came in this afternoon and said she was doing great and he was looking to discharge her on Thursday or Friday at the latest as long as she didn't run a fever or get the diarrhea. We were both in shock because we had been told it would be day 18 -20 which wouldn't be until Monday at the earliest. We are excited but also a little anxious since it will only be day 14 if she's released on Thursday. I'm sure he knows what he's doing and we have to trust him. We haven't gotten all the lab results from today but her white count went from 2.0 to 11.3 which surprised the nurse. The platelets also went up from 27 to 53. She still is really weak but it looks like things are going in the right direction. We hope to get the rest of the counts later tonight.
Becky had some surprise visitors today from Glendale, Gary and Becky Strand, and we really enjoyed their visit. It's always good to see people from home.
Not much else from here. She is going to need some phosphorus again tonight but otherwise is unhooked from the IV's. The phosphorus is run over 6 hours so the nurse suggested that she start it in the morning about 5 and then she could sleep during the night without the machine beeping. I promised the nurse I would try not to snore as bad tonight too.
Hope everyone has a good nights rest.
Becky and Barb
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