Coffee Love
  • Coffee Love
  • My Profile
    • I Believe
    • Stories from the Mists
    • Stay the Course
    • Respect, Honor, Gratitude
    • Favorite Links
  • Scattered Feathers
    • When You Need the Music
    • Coffee Love Images
    • Take it to the Roots
    • Love Notes
  • My Recipe Book
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Casseroles
    • Crockpot Love
    • Meats
    • Veggies
    • Desserts - oh my!
  • Junk Drawer
    • Worth Sharing
    • Helpful Hints
  • Contact Me

Update on Rick ... time with the kids and grandkids ...

11/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
We went to the dialysis center and Dr. Greenwell on Wednesday, this week. Not the best report.
Dr. Greenwell said that Rick does not have any congestion in his lungs - Thank God!
There is a little fluid in the lower of one lung - but not enough to be worried about - Thank God!
He does have about 25 pounds of fluid overload though. At this time, it is seen in his legs from just above the knees down to the toes, and in that small part of your back right above your butt. He is definitely swollen in those areas.
Dr. Greenwell said it would be like carrying around 8-10 gallon milk jugs at all times! Whew!
Rick's total blood count was down to 8.1 - but we were told not to be too concerned at this time, because with that amount of salt water in him, it would dilute the blood to the degree that we couldn't get an accurate reading.

Dr. Greenwell said to give Rick 6 tablets of Lasix each day - 3 in the a.m. and 3 in the p.m.
Also, we normally use 2 bags of the 1.5 dialysis solution, or a 1.5 and a 2.5. But due to the fluid overload - we are having to use 2 of the 4.25 solution for a few nights.
Last night was the first time since Rick started on dialysis that we have used a 4.25. This morning we were thanking God for it - cause his UF number was 2703!!! (this UF number is the difference in what the cycler puts in to Rick - 6200 mL - and what it takes out.)
Yesterday at the dialysis unit, Rick weighed in at 280 lbs - this morning he was down to 275!

We were told that it should take only about a week to take this fluid off him. And that with the first 10 pounds off, we should see a major difference in the way Rick is breathing.
It might take the whole amount for him to feel a major difference.

Please help us pray for Rick during all this. It is not a pleasant experience by a long shot. He not only has more aches and pains - due to the fluid overload. But he has a host of thoughts, feelings, and such to deal with as well.

Picture
We were blessed to see Joshua, Dessie, Shell and Kyla on Tuesday night. We enjoyed supper with them. Laughter. Love. Hugs.
And then on Wednesday night, we were blessed to see Mandy, Elijah, and Brooklyn - supper with them. Laughter. Love. Hugs.

I sure do love our kids and grandkids. I miss them, too.
In a more perfect world we would be able to live close to them all - spend quality and quantity time with them.
I had it all planned out - I was going to be the "Grannee" who baked cookies with the grandkids, taught the girls all how to quilt and can and cook. We would go shopping together. I would never miss a school event. Birthday parties at Grannee's house. Going swimming. Sitting under the shade tree with a cold glass of sweet iced tea. Drinking coffee together on a cold morning. Creating crafts. Sewing clothes. Decorating for the holidays.

Life didn't happen that way. So, we make the best of what we can.
We have baked cookies together, but we have also bought cookies together.
We have learned to can and to cook over the phone and together.
We occasionally get to go shopping together.
I have missed more school events than I have been able to go to - but oh how much I enjoyed those that we did get to go to! 
I have missed birthday parties and holidays. But never missed getting and giving hugs and kisses when I get a chance. 
We have gone swimming. Had a glass of cold sweet iced tea. Drank a gallon of coffee when we can - sometimes while we talked on the phone.
Talked about and shared creating crafts, sewing some clothes, and decorating.
We have also talked and dreamed about what life could be like ... what we wished it could be like ... all the while trying to make the best of what life really is.

Thank God for the telephones ... for the Internet ... for text messaging ... for web cams ... for picture sharing ... for Facebook ...
Thank God for all the ways we can use to stay in touch across the miles.

I love you - Mandy, Joshua, Dessie, Elijah, Brooklyn, Shell and Kyla! Thank you for loving me - even when I cannot be with you! You are all my heart, my love ... the wind beneath my wings.
I love you!!!!!  
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    So why "Scattered Feathers" ? ? ? 

    You can read it here

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Past Posts

    January 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Website designed & developed by Margaret McCoy

​
God is God over the storms in my life & world -
and I am His.
Trusting in Him. Holding to His Promises as He holds me.

​
Learning to laugh, to love, & to live ... again - without Rick, but with God

Life goes on ... even when we don't want it to.

Great grief is indicative of a great Love.

Rick, my Sweetheart.
Margaret, his Beloved.
Always & Forever.
​
Picture
©Margaret McCoy, the Queen of Kamelot Coffee 
  • Coffee Love
  • My Profile
    • I Believe
    • Stories from the Mists
    • Stay the Course
    • Respect, Honor, Gratitude
    • Favorite Links
  • Scattered Feathers
    • When You Need the Music
    • Coffee Love Images
    • Take it to the Roots
    • Love Notes
  • My Recipe Book
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Casseroles
    • Crockpot Love
    • Meats
    • Veggies
    • Desserts - oh my!
  • Junk Drawer
    • Worth Sharing
    • Helpful Hints
  • Contact Me