Pumping Concrete

Today we have a huge pumper truck in our front yard, filling in the forms for the foundation of our new bathroom addition. I took several shots of the "arm" so you can see how high in the air it goes. It is very impressive.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

The Revlon dolls from letsplaydolls.blogspot.com decided to make a brief appearance here in their red and white dresses to wish you a wonderful Valentine's day filled with all the chocolate your heart desires or whatever.

Latest plan for Nathan

On Tuesday, at exactly the same time Dad was having his operation, Nathan was in Tacoma visiting his surgeon, Dr. J. Nathan will be having a CT scan with contrast on Feb. 19. Then he may have further surgery, this time with an incision. Dr. J is still thinking it may be messenteric panniculitis and is researching that.

Forms and concrete

Today the guys are coming to build the forms and pour the concrete in the hole left by the big dig last week. I think this will be a good day for it...no rain. I'll try to get some pics today and post them to the blog.

Update on dad

Dad is still in the hospital recovering from a bladder re-section. We have no biopsy results yet on the tumor that was removed from the bladder. He is very anemic and has had two blood transfusions so far, he will probably need at least one more unit today, and perhaps another tomorrow. He is doing as well as can be expected for someone his age and his medical history. He slept most of yesterday. The house has been very quiet.

An ER visit for dad

It all started late Sunday evening when my father told me he wasn't feeling well. He didn't want to go to the ER, so we waited until Monday morning for a previously scheduled appointment with his nephrologist (kidney specialist). Dad was in a lot of discomfort and pain. The doc suggested we go to the ER. BIG MISTAKE! After spending 3 hours in the waiting room in extreme pain, we finally got in to see the doctor. The doctor came in, took one look at dad and said they would admit him. It was then after 1 in the afternoon, we had been there since 10 a.m. I won't go into all the gorey details of what procedures they did, but they finally gave him some pain medication and he slept peacefully for awhile. They put off doing a CT scan until 6 p.m., by that time I had gone home. Dad was very hungry, not having eaten since 7 a.m. that morning and he is a diabetic, so they fed him dinner after the scan. The results of the scan showed a blockage (possible tumor) in his bladder so the ER doc (yes, dad was still there at 7 p.m., waiting for a bed) called to get permission for surgery and the surgeon called to get permission to rescind the DNR order that the ER doc wanted put in place. The surgeon was ready to operate last night, when he discovered that dad had been fed dinner. So, surgery will be sometime today. I have located my DPA (power of attorney) papers and am getting prepared (praying) that I will be able to make some tough decisions in the next few hours/days. At age 88, I know that dad has limited time here on earth, I know that God knows what is best for him and He will give us strength and comfort during this time.

The Big Dig

The remodeling has begun with a gigantic hole being dug for the foundation. A huge dump truck hauled away 50 tons of dirt. The back hoe hit hard pan a few feet down and for awhile it looked like we might have to use jack hammers to get to the required depth. Persistance paid off and no jack hammers were needed. At least now we know why that side of the house tended to collect water. It couldn't go down, so it came back up, despite the French drain system we had.

In true construction tradition, the guys have now taken off to work on a job in Westport. The back hoe and dump truck are sitting in our front yard waiting for the rental company to pick them up. Forms and concrete are the next step, plus an inspection, don't know when that will happen.

I did find a handicapped accessible motel nearby where we can stay when we have to leave the house for a few days. I'm looking forward to the continental breakfast and the hot tub.

Let the remodel begin...

Tomorrow is the big day, we start the bedroom/bathroom remodel. We're going to add 200 square feet to the right end of the house (if you were facing it). The master bath will be remodeled to add a new walk-in shower, double sinks, heated tile floors, a new tub and toilet, and a new closet. Nathan's bedroom will be expanded, his bathroom will be re-done and he will also get a new closet. I am so excited. We have been planning this for a very long time, almost since the last remodel 12 years ago. I think this is our 4th remodel of this house and Larry's 5th. I should be packing up things, but I'm still a little over-whelmed and I am not sure where to put things. I've been making some room in my storage area. I think I need the Relief Society to come over and help me pack....

A set-back for Nathan...

Unfortunately for Nathan, the abdominal pain has returned. We are only 2 1/2 months post-op from the adhesion surgery and now the pain is back. It runs across his lower abdomen and up his sternum almost to his collar bone. He says it's the same pain he had before the operation. Can adhesions grow that quickly? It hurts when he takes a deep breath and when we try to move him when we are getting him dressed. We are so disappointed and feel so badly that he is once again in constant pain. I am calling the surgeon today to see if he has any other ideas.