My Return To Work

is coming up on Monday!  I've been out with Tyler since June 10.  Wow!  It's been a long and tough summer!  I work in a maximum security (adult male) prison.  My co-workers have blessed our family beyond belief during Ty's recent hospitalizations.  Many of the officers don't even know who I am, yet they gave from their hearts and prayed many prayers for us. I am so grateful to each and every one of my family, friends and co-workers.

Ty's cough seems to be disappearing except for an occasional bout. I have to remind him to cough to keep it loosened up.  He is still able to cough mucus up and out so I am pleased with that. We've gone from doing treatments, IVs and medications nearly 'round the clock to only three times a day. I keep thinking there is more we're supposed to do and have to remind myself that this is it!!

The Prednisone has his face puffy and he's beginning to sneeze and fill a kleenex when he blows his nose. It also has a little blood in it so I'll keep an eye on that. Bran, my non-CFer has also been sneezing so it must be something in the air or "seasonal". It usually takes a few days, but Claritin works wonders for Bran!

Well, that's about all the news that is news for now!  The heat continues this weekend so everyone keep cool!

Hospital Day 5 / Got Me Thinking

I'll start off by acknowledging that the 2nd phlebotomist to draw Tyler's blood did it in a matter of seconds with NO problems!! I graciously thanked her too!

Monday (Day 5)

Lung function (PFT) was down to 42 today. I was quite concerned about the decline but found out from my buddy Kevin that doctors have told him PFTs can actually vary by 2 to 4 percentage points. The doctors say Tyler sounds much better today, the wheezing and crackling have diminished. We're on contact precautions (MRSA and Pseudomonas) so we're confined to the room most of the day. He was, however, able to go play the Wii and play kickball with Physical Therapy upstairs. Thumbs up!!

Tomorrow we get our PICC line replaced. 

So today I'm ill and testy. It could have something to do with being a female so I'm justified!!! ☺

Things that got on my nerves today:

1. Blood draw at 5:30am. REALLY?? 5:30A.M!! Is that NECESSARY???

2. 6am Respiratory Therapist comes in our DARK room where we are SLEEPING! Tyler stirs long enough to do his albuterol and then drifts back to sleep. The guy then proceeds to wake me up to ask what time we went to bed.

           A few things to consider:

                a. I'm grown.

                b. Its none of your business.

                c. I don't answer to you.

                d. You wake me up again with a stupid question and the attitude is 
                    coming out to bite you. I'm just saying!

(By the way, I responded to him by firmly acknowledging that I put my child to bed at a proper time and that we are tired from waking up every hour by beeping IV and oxygen machines.)

Got Me Thinking.......

As Ty coughs more, I am beginning to see where it bothers other people around us. You can see the fear and concern on their faces that

1) something must be wrong with Ty since he's coughing so much

and

2) wondering if he's contagious.

We went to see Toy Story 3 and right before the movie started I began to wonder what I would do if he started coughing again. How unfair it would be to others to let him sit there and how sad it would be for him to miss the show and feel embarrassed at having to get up and leave every few minutes. I started getting anxious about Ty having a coughing fit and I had to mentally talk to myself about remaining calm and to cross that bridge as I come to it.

I also had that "Ah-Hah" moment that THIS is what all those other CF parents were talking about!!!