Wednesday, Sept 27

IT is late.  I am waiting for the food enzymes to dissolve which takes about 30 minutes.  Then the enzymes with 25 cc water are mixed with the peptide that has been sustaining Joe for almost 2 months now.  At midnight I do a double bag so we don't need to fill the bag at 4am which makes that "event" a little faster and less stressful.  Saw Dr Dunn yesterday.  She applied silver nitrate to Joe's infection site to stave off more complications.  Aside from that, Joe is progressing well.  Dick and Judy brought us an organic watermelon sunday and we are all enjoying it.  It was grown on a farm near alexandria minnesota. 

Infection

Joe has developed an infection in the tube site of his abdomen.  He has had some trouble getting an antibiotic to work for him because of his allergy to penicillin.  We are hoping the site looks better today.  Made a short visit to Joes Ski Sale last night.  Sking Helps Joe and Jim think about the future and sking. Whistler Mountain with Mike?  Sweitzer Mountain in Idaho. Maybe February?  Cross our fingers.

Sept 10, Monday

After 10 years, a DQ Blizzard, mini size.

Sept 8, Saturday

Joe is making jello.  Slowly slowly a few soft foods in very small quantities are being consumed. It is going OK, no nausea or vomiting which are pretty typical post surgery problems.  Joe had a feeding tube event last night at 2am.  lots of yellow stuff on the rug, floor and clothes. That has been the worst that has happened since he started on the new machine when he got out of the hospital.  He is very busy every 4 hours with medications, wound changes, food bag fills and blood glucose checks.  He has to keep glucose levels in the happy range so make the islets, or what he has of islets, happy in their new home, Joe's liver.  Thanks for al the wonderful cards and well wishes.  I know Joe really appreciates the support he has felt from special friends and family.  and.....here is Joe's home nurse, Monica.  Another advantage of post surgery.

Sept 5, wednesday

a picture is worth a thousand words....
Joe had another tube removed, this one went directly into his stomach.  It was pretty
painful, but now it is gone!!  Dr. Dunn talked about slowly starting to eat soft foods.
Jim asked if a dairy queen would be soft.  oh yes with the fact that joe will be checking
food for carbo counts to determine insulin requirements.  Before, there was not
a possibility.  Now, he is slowly working toward being able to eat.  You can see
him feeding bag back on the lap.   Still doing getting up every 3-4 hours to do meds,
change feed bags, check blood levels but seems to be falling into a routine.

Sept 2, Sunday

Joe has advanced to a few liquids by mouth including now diet 7up, ice tea, ice water, and today broth.  Liquids still exiting through the gastric tube but now a much as last week.  He hopes this one might come out tuesday.  Maybe...  Joe is still on the feeding tube 24 hours a day.  Kangaroo Joey as it is named follows joe where ever he goes.  It pulled out of his stomach last night during bandage change which caused great concern for all of us.  We called urgent care transplant saturday night at 9pm and heard it is ok until it is painful and food/meds are not flowing into small intestine.  so far so good.  Here is Joe putting on the "feed bag".