Category: The DayBook

On my walk home for the volunteer job this afternoon, I was not pleased to spy an iris. I have never taken a picture of an iris that I like. This one is no exception. If truth be known – I am none to fond of iris period.

Lunch: Big strawberries, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar salad, a croissant, some broiled fish. Dinner will be chicken sandwiches.

Well, boys and girls… this is my last daily Carlton Report: The infectious disease doctor says “the blood is going in the right direction”. Now, remember, he might be a vampire – but he is happy. He says Mr C is to remain on daily IV antibiotics for another 4 weeks. He also told him to cancel the skin cancer surgery he has scheduled for his head in two week. And to not even think about getting his hernia repaired until he is completely totally 100% healed, sealed and disinfected from his recent surgical adventures.

Remember when I introduced the vampire infectious disease doctor? I mentioned that he used duct tape on his office rug. Well, I was wrong, he uses some sort of transparent adhesive tape.  But, he’s your go to guy if some nasty cooties are killing your sorry ass. Decor don’t matter much then.

Thanks for all your concern about Carlton. He is out of danger. Doing as well as can be expected. Etc. Etc. Current job is to get him a little exercise everyday. We walked 1.5 miles today. And to get him off oxycodone. Even without The Daily Carlton Report – the blog abides.

When you live in a high-rise, a dandelion is just a pretty yellow flower. Everything is relative.

Carlton Report: The status is quo. Visiting infectious disease doctor tomorrow.

Thinking about a new cell phone. An iPhone – it would work with everything I already have – except for the new connector. A Samsung – bigger not necessary better – most likely more “advanced”. Best thing about Samsung, on my carrier, phones calls switch to wifi if no cell signal. Sort of a built in Skype. Maybe if I wait a while, the iPhone will get that feature. Since the Smithsonian wants my current phone, I guess I can wait a while longer and continue using my iPod as my “smart phone”.

This morning, Carlton’s plastic surgeon revealed her work and removed the JP drains. That was her post processing. The above image was my post processing.

Remember, Paul Simon said “… everything looks worse in black and white…”

The Carlton Report: For the first time in over 3 weeks, Mr C had a shower. He still has the PICC line. And a tiny little dressing where the JP drains came out. But, he is almost returned to “normal”. Next, he needs to check in with the vampire infectious disease doctor.

Carlton Report: Good day today. Nothing bad happened. And, he got his catheter taken out. One pipe down. Three to go. Once again looking towards the end of the tunnel… Tomorrow we go have the surgeon look at things.

Photo – Panasonic L1 and cheap Oly lens.

Starting to think about an improved cell phone solution. Mr C has being complaining about my phone. Any excuse to “up grade”. iPhone or Samsung?

Carlton Report:
So far, so good – but the day isn’t over yet. We got his chest drains working again. The rest of the piping appears to be operational. He has been eating. And watching TV, reading, napping etc. He walked back from hospital this morning. He made it to AA across the street last night and at hospital after his infusion session this morning.

And, it has been 8 days since I had a caregiver melt down resulting in the caregiver yelling at the patient. Most unprofessional.

Carlton update: Until about an hour ago everything was going along. Painfully. But, along. I was having a little nap. Carlton opens up the door and shows me blood all over his tummy. Nobody told me that JP drains had to be “stripped” or “milked”. Live and learn.

Apparently this is not an emergency. Just a little “issue”. OOPS. He is leaking again. Back into frantic mode.

The surgeon – who answers her cell – said if I can not get it working again to just bandage him up.

Not dealing too well.

 

The Carlton Report: He is doing very well, thank you. We went to hospital this afternoon by bus. I went with him, to be sure he would be OK. He did so well – that I left him off at Outpatient Infusion and walked back home. He took the bus back home after his treatment. And, stopped off to supervise the construction site in the next block.

He still has 3 tubes coming out and one tube going in. If anything goes wrong – I guess I’ll call a plumber.

 

Carlton’s surgery started noonish. A little after 1PM the surgeon called me and said he was all sewed up. We left hospital at about 6PM. It took him a long time to recover enough to make it home and he is seriously not able to do anything. He doesn’t seem to be able to get himself in and out of bed. My only “medical” care-taking task is to attend to his JP drains. (2 of them)

He had to allow me to drive his car home. But, instead of me getting mad and him getting frustrated – we made a game out of it. I told him that it was a voice operated car. And, all he had to do was give directions. Lights On. Drive around that pothole. Shift into 3rd NOW. Speedup. Shift into 4th NOW. Slow down. Park here. It was game. But, not one that I want to play too often.

In the spirit of fairness – I have been showing these iPod pictures of Mr. C in hospital. Here is one of me – taken just after I took the above photo.

Carlton Status Report: Waiting… waiting for the big surgery tomorrow to close up the huge hole in his chest. He is definitely feeling better – too bad he has to start feeling a lot worse tomorrow. But, maybe he’ll be started on the right path.

Surgery is at noon. I don’t see us getting home until late afternoon. If at all. They might keep him – since they had so much trouble with him last time. But, I’ll try to put up a report for all of his friends.

Have I mentioned lately that I hate my ISP. Well, I do.

Daily Carlton Report: Went off to Wound Care this morning. Also saw “The Closer”. She wants to close on Thursday. She is going to “lift” the pecs from the chest wall. And use pec muscles to cover the sternum. Then I suppose she will graft skin from his none to meaty thighs to help close the hole. His tits will be relocated in the process. That will end his career as a swim suit model for AARP magazine. Doctor has admitted that Carlton will be one hurting puppy for a while after this is over. I just hope we can avoid any trips to the ER. Big challenge will be getting him to Out Patient Infusion.

I passed the test as a WWI combat medic. The doc changed the dressing solution from diluted Clorox to full strength salt. Mr C says the salt treatment hurts.

And now for a little something nicer – saw these blown tulips on my walk home today.

 

 

Another picture that Carlton’s California Dreamin girl friend sent. I am playing with the color a little. This raincoat looked purple in her version. I think I remember that raincoat. Heck – it might still be in his closet. It was black. Color film wasn’t very stable back in the day. But, neither was Carlton.

The patient had an uneventful day. Tomorrow we see “the closer”. I’d like to get him sewed up. A stitch in time saves nine.