Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Finally back online
The plumber's sink leaks, the mechanics car runs poorly and last Friday evening the computer that I do the emails on decided it wasn't going to boot any more! It couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. Just as John was wrapping up his week with us and Anne was working hard on regaining some of her independence... Pow! right in the kisser!
Now that I have rebuilt things into a different computer I can bring you all up-to-date:
Last week John was here and Anne suffered a lot of what she calls "gas pain". As most of you know, her lower abdomen has been completely rebuilt, so it's no surprise that the whole area still hurts. After all, we just capped 8 weeks post-surgery.
While John was here Anne worked really hard with John to become independent. She'd set a lofty goal to do so before he left which she thinks pushed her too hard. She ended up sick and in pain most of the day Sunday.
Monday: Anne and John went to see the neurologist about her hands. He told her that her hands would be getting better. This is just what she needed to hear and helped offset the frustration she's been feeling about it. Also, he was kind enough to give John a work slip stating that he'd been with Anne the entire week.
I came home at noon and took John to the airport. During the ride we discussed several options to help Anne in her progress. He caught his plane out of Reno and, after come fortuitous connections, arrived home safe, sound and early!
Tuesday was Anne's first day to be truly alone. She had some initial light-headedness in the morning and I checked her BP (112/62) and put in a call to her her GP. He now has us cutting her BP medication in half as he doesn't want to take her completely off of it just yet
Wednesday Anne went to her surgeon's and then rushed home to pick me up for my appointment. My GI checks my esophagus every two years to watch my Barrett's and I'm sedated for the procedure. Anne drove us home, taking the surface streets and doing the speed limit. She was fine with that, just not sure enough of her hands to do it at highway speeds.
Today: Anne's stoma was being Dennis-The-Menace and would only give "goobers". This was, of course, frustrating for her. When I got home it took quite a bit of coaxing, but I was finally able to get "Dennis" to co-operate. Otherwise, she says, "Lady and I were just being very quiet."
Now that I have rebuilt things into a different computer I can bring you all up-to-date:
Last week John was here and Anne suffered a lot of what she calls "gas pain". As most of you know, her lower abdomen has been completely rebuilt, so it's no surprise that the whole area still hurts. After all, we just capped 8 weeks post-surgery.
While John was here Anne worked really hard with John to become independent. She'd set a lofty goal to do so before he left which she thinks pushed her too hard. She ended up sick and in pain most of the day Sunday.
Monday: Anne and John went to see the neurologist about her hands. He told her that her hands would be getting better. This is just what she needed to hear and helped offset the frustration she's been feeling about it. Also, he was kind enough to give John a work slip stating that he'd been with Anne the entire week.
I came home at noon and took John to the airport. During the ride we discussed several options to help Anne in her progress. He caught his plane out of Reno and, after come fortuitous connections, arrived home safe, sound and early!
Tuesday was Anne's first day to be truly alone. She had some initial light-headedness in the morning and I checked her BP (112/62) and put in a call to her her GP. He now has us cutting her BP medication in half as he doesn't want to take her completely off of it just yet
Wednesday Anne went to her surgeon's and then rushed home to pick me up for my appointment. My GI checks my esophagus every two years to watch my Barrett's and I'm sedated for the procedure. Anne drove us home, taking the surface streets and doing the speed limit. She was fine with that, just not sure enough of her hands to do it at highway speeds.
Today: Anne's stoma was being Dennis-The-Menace and would only give "goobers". This was, of course, frustrating for her. When I got home it took quite a bit of coaxing, but I was finally able to get "Dennis" to co-operate. Otherwise, she says, "Lady and I were just being very quiet."
Be a channel for the flow of love into your world,
Don and Anne
Don and Anne
---
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Pray for Japan!
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
Posted via email from Don Peer
Even clouds crash
Whether it's Amazon or Microsoft, there's (still) no foolproof cloud http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/whether-its-amazon-or-microsoft-theres-still-no-foolproof-cloud/9269
Posted via email from Don Peer
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wild, wild space
http://mashable.com/2011/04/14/new-mars-rover-to-land-using-rocket-crane-video/
Posted via email from Don Peer
Monday, April 11, 2011
Beware: Social Security numbers available online via indexed tax documents
Think your personal information is safe? Think again. Tax documents are being made freely available to prying eyes -- by the documents' owners! http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/beware-social-security-numbers-available-online-via-indexed-tax-documents/2819?tag=nl.e539
Posted via email from Don Peer
Friday, April 8, 2011
Two in a row!
Thank you for just being there and just being you!
Anne had another good day with no major issues. Also, she showered herself and got dressed without help today! Independence is coming!
Jim, Anne and I were talking at breakfast this morning and concluded that if it weren't for her siblings and I she'd still be in a rehab center! NOT a scenario either of us want.
As for the nerve thing, I wasn't there to talk to the doctor and ask how bad it was. But my boss as in a horrific auto accident in December of '09 and it mangled his right arm pretty badly. It took 7 months to get movement to his hand. Now it moves pretty well. This from the the complete lack of movement he started out with!
Today he was telling me that his physical therapist (hand specialist) kept reminding him to think about moving his hand. Because, even if it seems like it's not moving, every time you think to move it your brain sends the signal down that path. And every time it hits a dead end the body adds on to the route in an effort to get the signal where it's supposed to go! Bless us all and the miracle of out human bodies.
Tomorrow Justus and Heather are bringing the boys over for dinner I promised them that we could play another "jam session" and they're really excited about that! Last time, James started off with the drum beat from Queen's "We Will Rock You". I put Logan on the Boom Whackers (tuned tubes) and I played bass. Then they switched places and we kept the beat going until it was time for them to go home.
Yes, there will be music in the house tomorrow!
Don
Anne had another good day with no major issues. Also, she showered herself and got dressed without help today! Independence is coming!
Jim, Anne and I were talking at breakfast this morning and concluded that if it weren't for her siblings and I she'd still be in a rehab center! NOT a scenario either of us want.
As for the nerve thing, I wasn't there to talk to the doctor and ask how bad it was. But my boss as in a horrific auto accident in December of '09 and it mangled his right arm pretty badly. It took 7 months to get movement to his hand. Now it moves pretty well. This from the the complete lack of movement he started out with!
Today he was telling me that his physical therapist (hand specialist) kept reminding him to think about moving his hand. Because, even if it seems like it's not moving, every time you think to move it your brain sends the signal down that path. And every time it hits a dead end the body adds on to the route in an effort to get the signal where it's supposed to go! Bless us all and the miracle of out human bodies.
Tomorrow Justus and Heather are bringing the boys over for dinner I promised them that we could play another "jam session" and they're really excited about that! Last time, James started off with the drum beat from Queen's "We Will Rock You". I put Logan on the Boom Whackers (tuned tubes) and I played bass. Then they switched places and we kept the beat going until it was time for them to go home.
Yes, there will be music in the house tomorrow!
Don
---
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Pray for Japan!
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
Posted via email from Don Peer
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Anne@Home: week 7
Sunday evening Anne struggled with her hands to get a letter and some documentation sent of to the school district regarding her physical issues. She worked on it until her hands burned and her abdomen was in pain. I had to just about drag her from the computer!
Speaking of her hands - the nerve tests found that her right hand has damage in the motor nerve and her left has damage in the radial nerve. This seemed to surprise the doctor, she told me. Apparently he thought he'd find something akin to carpel tunnel. This nerve damage, however, was probably not caused by surgery. instead, it is most likely a side effect of chemo!
Helen returned home very early Tuesday morning. She and Anne spent a long time saying their goodbyes Monday night. We were very thankful that she was able to come and help Anne.
Jim arrived Tuesday afternoon and Emily, gratefully, picked him up at the airport after taking Anne to her doctor's appointment. We tried to take it easy on him that evening with leftovers for dinner, but then came time to drain and flush Anne. So, because he was going to be alone the next day, the first lesson was given. Then we all hit the sack exhausted.
Wednesday was a busy day as there were some "challenges" at getting Anne drained. The home health nurse couldn't get it done. Jim couldn't get it done. Anne couldn't get it done. So, they called the ostomy nurse and she instructed Anne to get to the emergency!
It was about 4pm when my phone rang, "Don't come running down here, Boyfriend, but I wanted you to know that I'm in emergency." "WHAT? What's wrong?", said I. "I can't get drained. They're calling me. I gotta go!"
This neo-bladder not draining is getting to be a real pain! It seems every other day there's some problem with getting the catheter into it. So I wrapped things up at work and headed down to the hospital. (My boss just about ran me out of the building when I told him.)
When I arrived, the doctor was struggling to catch all the "liquid" that was coming out. It seems like her neo-bladder had let go like the pressure relief on an old car's radiator! He called a nurse in and had her try a couple of different catheters, both of them too soft I could tell, without success.
Then he brought in an ultrasound machine and tried to find the bladder, which he couldn't. So he asked the nurse to feed the catheter in the few inches that it would go she so that he could see if he could find that and I spotted it before he did!
Then he tried again to find the bladder and was searching way over by her navel. So I told him it was closer to the stoma and about three inches down. THEN he finally was able to find it and see that there was still some fluid in it. Not 650+ cc's like it can hold, because it had obviously popped it's cork. But, still it was obviously there and not empty.
But, since Anne was still in pain from having had it stretched so much he gave her a pain pill and told us to go the her doctor's office. Which we did. Pronto!
Today, however, she had a good day. She and Jim were both relieved to report that there had been no challenges with her routine and that, bonus, the plumber had come to look at the hot water heater. He assessed the situation and took a couple of pictures, then waited patiently for the down payment so he could get stuff ordered.
Dinner tonight was black bean soup followed by rice noodles and curried vegetables. We celebrated the smooth day with a little drink and chatted later about John coming. We're hoping that he can arrive Monday evening as Jim leaves Tuesday morning and this will give him time for an "introduction" to Anne's friend, Dennis The Menace (as she likes to call her neo-bladder!
Also, she has asked me to thank you for everything you've done for her. The cards and letters; the visits in the hospital; the dinners provided; the friendly voice on the phone. She was in tears tonight wanting to write thank-you notes to everyone, but can't manage it because of her hands.
I assured her that we all understand the barriers she has in front of her and told her that I'd make mention of her heart-felt thanks to you in the email tonight. Rest assured that she is so happy to have your support in these dark days that it brings tears to her eyes just thinking of you.
God bless you and grant you your heart's desire,
Don and Anne
Speaking of her hands - the nerve tests found that her right hand has damage in the motor nerve and her left has damage in the radial nerve. This seemed to surprise the doctor, she told me. Apparently he thought he'd find something akin to carpel tunnel. This nerve damage, however, was probably not caused by surgery. instead, it is most likely a side effect of chemo!
Helen returned home very early Tuesday morning. She and Anne spent a long time saying their goodbyes Monday night. We were very thankful that she was able to come and help Anne.
Jim arrived Tuesday afternoon and Emily, gratefully, picked him up at the airport after taking Anne to her doctor's appointment. We tried to take it easy on him that evening with leftovers for dinner, but then came time to drain and flush Anne. So, because he was going to be alone the next day, the first lesson was given. Then we all hit the sack exhausted.
Wednesday was a busy day as there were some "challenges" at getting Anne drained. The home health nurse couldn't get it done. Jim couldn't get it done. Anne couldn't get it done. So, they called the ostomy nurse and she instructed Anne to get to the emergency!
It was about 4pm when my phone rang, "Don't come running down here, Boyfriend, but I wanted you to know that I'm in emergency." "WHAT? What's wrong?", said I. "I can't get drained. They're calling me. I gotta go!"
This neo-bladder not draining is getting to be a real pain! It seems every other day there's some problem with getting the catheter into it. So I wrapped things up at work and headed down to the hospital. (My boss just about ran me out of the building when I told him.)
When I arrived, the doctor was struggling to catch all the "liquid" that was coming out. It seems like her neo-bladder had let go like the pressure relief on an old car's radiator! He called a nurse in and had her try a couple of different catheters, both of them too soft I could tell, without success.
Then he brought in an ultrasound machine and tried to find the bladder, which he couldn't. So he asked the nurse to feed the catheter in the few inches that it would go she so that he could see if he could find that and I spotted it before he did!
Then he tried again to find the bladder and was searching way over by her navel. So I told him it was closer to the stoma and about three inches down. THEN he finally was able to find it and see that there was still some fluid in it. Not 650+ cc's like it can hold, because it had obviously popped it's cork. But, still it was obviously there and not empty.
But, since Anne was still in pain from having had it stretched so much he gave her a pain pill and told us to go the her doctor's office. Which we did. Pronto!
Today, however, she had a good day. She and Jim were both relieved to report that there had been no challenges with her routine and that, bonus, the plumber had come to look at the hot water heater. He assessed the situation and took a couple of pictures, then waited patiently for the down payment so he could get stuff ordered.
Dinner tonight was black bean soup followed by rice noodles and curried vegetables. We celebrated the smooth day with a little drink and chatted later about John coming. We're hoping that he can arrive Monday evening as Jim leaves Tuesday morning and this will give him time for an "introduction" to Anne's friend, Dennis The Menace (as she likes to call her neo-bladder!
Also, she has asked me to thank you for everything you've done for her. The cards and letters; the visits in the hospital; the dinners provided; the friendly voice on the phone. She was in tears tonight wanting to write thank-you notes to everyone, but can't manage it because of her hands.
I assured her that we all understand the barriers she has in front of her and told her that I'd make mention of her heart-felt thanks to you in the email tonight. Rest assured that she is so happy to have your support in these dark days that it brings tears to her eyes just thinking of you.
God bless you and grant you your heart's desire,
Don and Anne
---
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Pray for Japan!
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
Posted via email from Don Peer
You are what you see
The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly to you.
~ Thomas Dreier
Posted via email from Don Peer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Facebook-Infused Job Search Site Finds Listings From Your Social Graph
http://mashable.com/2011/04/05/in-the-door/
Posted via email from Don Peer
Monday, April 4, 2011
Walk and talk warning
http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/android-walk-and-text-trojan-outs-you-as-a-cheap-pirate-to-your-entire-contact-list-2011044/
Posted via email from Don Peer
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Anne@home
It has been a good week for Anne with no major problems. Friday night she surprised me with a stay at the Grand Sierra Resort for the night. Even though I woke several times worried about her, I realized where I was and just rolled over and went back to sleep. It was great to get a fairly good night's sleep! Saturday we rigged up an overnight bag and although I still awoke at various intervals, it was a much quieter night. One time I checked her and thought I felt dampness, but after I got the lights on I found there was nothing to worry about and went back to bed. Tonight, we're going for two in a row and I don't plan to even worry about things. I hope that we won't have any problems, but I figure we can deal with any issues in the morning. Enter Sandman. Helen goes home Tuesday morning and Jim arrives that afternoon. Helen has been a god-send with cooking lots of vegetable dishes and adding meat for she and Anne. Her skill with the catheter is as good as mine or Cheez's and a welcome respite. Bless you all and dream peacefully, Don and Anne
---
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Love is the music of life;
Compassion is its melody.
- Don Peer ( o)==#
Pray for Japan!
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
_________________________
http://www.Facebook.com/DonPeer
http://www.MySpace.com/530803720
http://DPeer2000.BlogSpot.com
Twitter: @DPeer2000
http://www.ThePeers.com
Posted via email from Don Peer
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