Billy at Home

Hellooooooooooo! I know, I know... what a bad Blogger I have been! Shame on me! :)

Dad went to the hospital for his Cardiologist & Esophagus appointments last Friday, and everything seems... well... okay. It's just a process, ya know!! His cardiologist actually said that his heart sounds good, and made a few necessary adjustments with his blood pressure medication to hopefully work on minimizing his dizziness (he didn't change medication, just lowered dosage of one). Dad said it has gotten a little better, but there is still a ways to go. On the other hand, his esophagus doctor said that he is not improving as quickly as expected, and will need to continue to visit the hospital for esophagial dialations every 2 weeks... He is now addicted to vanilla & chocolate Ensure - The high-calorie, meal replacement sort of shakes, ha!

Other than that, he has scheduled a Neurologist appointment for next week to figure out what is going on with the lack of mobility in his arm & how we can fix it. And I think he is going to see the Pulmonologist in about 3-4 weeks (Dr. Strickland, hard to get appointments)... He will be visiting Strickland because he says he is very easily winded & short of breath... Perhaps a little bit of pneumonia left in his lungs, hhhmmmmm??

He is back in his condo in Birmingham with his dog Hattie. He seems to be doing well - In and out of good spirits! He needs to stay positive!! He has definitely had some visitors... Eddie Burg, Kate Oatman... and Nuss I'm sure... Needs to be kept in check! I believe the plan is still for him to go to The Foundry, however I do agree that he may not quite be strong enough for that yet... I have been continuing to work on my checklist to keep things organized. I joined Sam's Club for $40 because they have the cheapest Ensure around only to discover that they don't deliver, don't accept payments online or over the phone, and don't even take Visa. Some great idea that was, ha! :)

XOXO Hallie

I'M BACK!

Jesse's Parents & Wonderful Hosts for Mom's Visit - David & Carol Slade

Okay, Okay - I'm the worst Blogger EVER! I had so much fun with my Mama out here in California, and we both vowed to "take a break" from everything - When I dropped her off at the airport yesterday I realized that I hadn't updated Dad's Blog since the 18th... Ugh, sorry!! :)

So anyway... Dad is still in Decatur at Bop & Gingin's house (Mom's parents). He is still being taken great care of by Molly & Johnnie, but is having some of the same problems as last week... Dizziness (low blood pressure), trouble swallowing (skinny esophagus) & lack of mobility in his right arm. We have made doctor's appointments for him on Friday at St. Vincent's for the cardiologist - Who will hopefully adjust his blood pressure medication & perhaps even prescribe something different altogether (& less expensive) - He is also having another esophagial dialation, which is supposed to be done about every 2 weeks until he is back to normal.

Eddie Burg is having lunch & a tour of The Foundry with Hugh Thomas today - I'm looking forward to hearing about that. Mom & I did the same thing back in January, and found the facility totally comfortable. We are hoping to drop him off there on Friday after the doctor's appointments... Unfortunately, he can't stay in Decatur forever! :)

Sooooo... While Mom was out here we mostly just spent time visiting with each other & Jesse's family (Mom-Carol, Dad-David, Middle Brother-Tyler)... We enjoyed spa services one day (Mom-Massage, Hallie-Facial), mine thanks to my wonderful boyfriend as a birthday gift! I introduced mom to Pilates, we ate dinner at a super fun Mexican restaurant in LA, and threw a Princess Party at my house for the cute 5 year old that lives below me, Camille. Mom helped me work a Bridal Fair, which was not very fun, ha. On Monday we headed into LA to be "cheesy tourists" - Drove through Bel Air & Beverly Hills and saw some amazing houses, stopped for lunch (no shopping) on Rodeo Drive & then headed to the historical Beverly Hills Hotel where we enjoyed a glass of wine in the Polo Lounge spotting Patrick Dempsey, Rosanna Arquette & Sharon Stone!! This was the day after the Oscars... The bartender said we should have come the day before because "they" were all there! We also walked in front of the Chinese Theater (stars names on sidewalk) & Kodak Theater (where American Idol is being filmed right now)... And wrap it up on Tuesday, I took her to lunch at In N Out Burger... California's finest, ha.

XOXO Hallie

Hanging in There...

Kate - Hallie - Jesse

So... Mom talked to the Gastro Doctor (G.I.) yesterday afternoon, who said that Dad's esophagus still needs to be stretched 2/3 of the way open because of the small tube that was going into his stomach (must have closed around it) - Yikes! He said that it is a VERY slow process because if you stretch it too fast, you run the risk of ripping it - In which case, that is a long long long hospital recovery. The GI doc said that he was hoping to have Dad come in every 2 weeks for stretching, so we're going to have to organize those appointments soon. In the meantime, Dad said he felt good enough yesterday to power through it for the next few days - Mom is scheduled to fly out to California to visit me tomorrow morning (Yay!), and Dad felt like he was good enough to get through the weekend without her.

We had a nice conversation yesterday, and he actually sounded like he was in a good mood for the first time! He said he "had it made" at Bop & Gingin's house - And that of course he was incredibly appreciative & is being extremely polite (said he hasn't said one cuss word, ha). Molly & Johnnie (Gingin's nurses) check on him regularly - And they cook about 3 meals a day, so he has good nutrition at his fingertips... We are going to have to somehow repay them & Bop for their generosity! He complains of having some problems swallowing here & there, but for the most part he's been able to get food & drink down. And we are still working on getting a hold of his Cardiologist to chat about his medication.

Mom will be in Cali Thurs-Tues... We are going to enjoy time at my beach house, dining with Jesse & his family, and getting massages!! :)

XOXO Hallie

Still Struggling...

Good Morning!

Quick update - Dad is still struggling with his blood pressure/stamina, right arm & throat. He called mom today to tell her that he felt like he needed to have his esophagus stretched again. We cannot get it done in Decatur, and are considering taking him back to St. Vincent's to be re-admitted (we would hope). I am VERY concerned that the hospital may have released him entirely too early without making sure that his medications were on point. The blood pressure medication that he is on doesn't seem to be working very well - Not to mention it's REALLY expensive - And after reading up on it, it seems it is a fairly new drug... Who knows. Mom & I have left messages for the Cardiologist to talk about alternative medication options & his opinion on Dad's current health...

Love, Hallie

Chillin with Gingin

Dad has made it up to Decatur safe & sound thanks to Eddie & Tina Burg (they are awesome!!). He is relaxing in Bop & Gingin's "red room" for the time being to try and regain his strength. He spent the night last night at his condo in Birmingham, and said he finally got a good night's sleep (although is still very tired)... He is thinking that his blood pressure medication is still a bit off because he gets VERY dizzy only walking a short distance. Bop & Gingin's house will be a good place for him right now because it is one level, and Gingin's nurses are there all day long... Bop is the most amazing Grandfather EVER... Boy am I super lucky to have him! Dad got to see his dog Hattie for the first time today since going into the hospital, which he was very excited about.

With regards to recovery/rehab... The Foundry is still on the top of the list. And Mom also heard about a program in Anniston called The Center of Hope - I just pulled up their website, so I'm going to look into that a bit more... Again, just for more choices for Dad.

Mom is coming out to visit me in California on Thursday - I can't wait! We are going to relax, eat good food, drink good wine & spend time by the ocean!!

XOXO Hallie

The Goose is Loose!!

Well... they finally decided to release the hound!!  I... courteously... found out by calling the nurses station to check on him & they told me that he had been discharged... Really!?  Dad called Nuss & Lynn - Who so generously came to pick him up from the hospital and took him back to his condo.  He's been relaxing and watching basketball in his chair all afternoon/evening and is happy as a clam to be out of the hospital.  Eddie Burg stopped by to check on him & said that he had his front door open to breathe in the fresh air... then kindly went and got him McDonald's (which Dad still reported tasted like cardboard - having some tastebud problems still).  Nuss & Lynn were scheduled to stop back by for dinner, etc.  Mom also went by & got his prescriptions filled for his heart medication.  Dad is planning on heading up to Decatur tomorrow to spend a few days or so at my grandparent's house (Bop & Gingin) - Gingin has nurses, Molly & Johnny, that are around to keep a watchful eye & a stomach full of food for Daddio... And then I'm assuming he'll head to The Foundry.  Jesse & I stopped by The Dream Center in LA today to take a peek, but no one was around to really give us a tour - AND Mom had a great point that if anything happens physically to him over the next year he has the support of St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham to go to complimentary... So perhaps, in all reality, he should stay "home".  :)  Only time will tell... A good attitude is my biggest concern at this point...

Love y'all oh so much!  I couldn't have done all of this without the love & support of you!

Hallie

Birmingham or LA?

Rockin out in honor of Dad!

Bobby - Ann - Nuss - Judy - Lynn

I haven't spoken to a nurse this morning... It's hard to get people on the phone over there!! I know yesterday he had another Esophagial Dialation because he was still struggling with his swallowing, and therefore the discharge that they were thinking of yesterday has been once again pushed back a little bit (okay by me!). His blood pressure was looking better yesterday as well, but that was before PT had been by, so I'm not sure what happened after he exerted some energy - Trying to find out!! :)

Jesse's amazing mom Carol helped me research treatment options in LA... She came across The Dream Center, which is similar to The Foundry, but just another option. It is located in downtown LA - It is free, faith-based and they do a LOT for the community. Selfishly, I would love for him to choose this option because I would be able to participate in the family program as well as visit him every week... However, if he chooses The Foundry then of course he has a little guardian angel in Hugh Thomas there! Hugh is visiting him this morning (not yesterday), so I am still looking forward to hearing about that conversation. And Hugh also told me that his fellow staff at The Foundry had great things to say about The Dream Center. I called Dad this morning & had a brief conversation with him just simply letting him know the option of LA treatment, but didn't get any type of answer from him. Of course, if he chooses neither then we have some problems...

A special thanks to Hugh Thomas, who has been incredibly hands on & supportive in figuring out aftercare plans!!