Hello Cord's Friends and Family,
We want you to know we read every note, every email, we hear every message and I read them all for Cord. Thank you - it helps so much!
We have been moving along, with meds, with symptoms, with a big fat COLD, with calls to the doc, with that ever-loving' cough and with finishing our bedroom. Our friends and boys have been incredible - working their butts off to get it done. While the guys were putting in the ceiling, our friend Shelbel was prepping the drywall. "Tape and float, sand and mud. Etc. She is amazing and works so fast. Meanwhile - thank goodness for the guest room at our dear neighbors!
Cord struggles with sleep. He thrashes around coughing for the first 3-4 hours and then finally falls asleep and then sleeps late and feels groggy and out of sync. We both felt like we got a cold the day we left the hospital - and it was true. It has complicated matters for Cord of course, because when one of the meds causes a cough, it's hard to tell if its a side effect or if its the cold. No matter what - it keeps him awake for a long time. He's hoping the cough will finally subside with the change of meds. Sleep is the thing. Some other things that were bothering him are getting better - symptoms that came from the edema and were messing with his life.
He needs to weigh himself everyday so he can monitor the Lasix - the diuretic. This is one way we make the call on when it is time to back off of it - he keeps losing weight and we want the fluid off of him - but not go overboard. That has to be managed.
The home health nurse came again yesterday and is watching Cord closely about his cold. He needs to not get pneumonia. Right? He may go on an antibiotic to address it.
We see the cardiologist a month from when we left the hospital so somewhere around two weeks. That will be a good day - to make it a month on the meds and to be able to ask another million questions. Also to adjust the medicines if need be. I made it clear we wanted to see the same cardiologist - not the partner or the nurse or the on-call doc and he said he would make it so. I'm glad I asked.
Cord's color is good - and he is 'walking and talking'. On Sunday - when our friend's came over and built like crazy on our bedroom, Cord was out there measuring and cutting. Beau was carrying and helping Cord and Lex and Rob were installing the beetle kill on the ceiling. Shelbel was taping the drywall and Wulfgar was assisting her. I was non-stop cooking. Everyone was in high spirits and laughed and talked while they worked. Cord loved it. He wanted to keep going but he ended up driving to town and getting his new meds - he needed to go himself, (or I would have), and when he came back, he was pretty tired. Of course by then the meds had set in so he rested some. The boys and our friends just kept on going, and they finished it right about dark. I cooked all day and we all shared a feast afterwards.
I'm trying to bring in the seed - I have a long way to go and will need to leave him to collect it. I'm trying to talk him into coming with me, but he seems to be happiest working in the yard and the shop, and planning his next move. Wulfgar is a great helper and the weather continues to hold.
I don't even want to tell you this, but the last two days, Cord has been on the roof. I know - it is horrifying to me. He insisted on installing the ridge cap before the rain and snow come. I said, "Are you seriously going on the roof?!!!" I truly thought he was joking. At least today he waited for me to return from the Farmer's Market.
He does not listen to me. They say, "Activity as tolerated." Except chainsaws and jackhammers. That will set off the Life Vest so thankfully, we won't be doing any of that. I checked on him constantly. As soon as Wulfgar got home I sent him up there and he assisted until it was done. As if. AS IF!!!!
When Cord sleeps - there will be a celebration. I will post it immediately. Here are some pics of the progress. Can't believe how helpful our friends and family are - we are so humbled and so grateful. Thanks to all for making this possible!
Penn
We want you to know we read every note, every email, we hear every message and I read them all for Cord. Thank you - it helps so much!
We have been moving along, with meds, with symptoms, with a big fat COLD, with calls to the doc, with that ever-loving' cough and with finishing our bedroom. Our friends and boys have been incredible - working their butts off to get it done. While the guys were putting in the ceiling, our friend Shelbel was prepping the drywall. "Tape and float, sand and mud. Etc. She is amazing and works so fast. Meanwhile - thank goodness for the guest room at our dear neighbors!
Cord struggles with sleep. He thrashes around coughing for the first 3-4 hours and then finally falls asleep and then sleeps late and feels groggy and out of sync. We both felt like we got a cold the day we left the hospital - and it was true. It has complicated matters for Cord of course, because when one of the meds causes a cough, it's hard to tell if its a side effect or if its the cold. No matter what - it keeps him awake for a long time. He's hoping the cough will finally subside with the change of meds. Sleep is the thing. Some other things that were bothering him are getting better - symptoms that came from the edema and were messing with his life.
He needs to weigh himself everyday so he can monitor the Lasix - the diuretic. This is one way we make the call on when it is time to back off of it - he keeps losing weight and we want the fluid off of him - but not go overboard. That has to be managed.
The home health nurse came again yesterday and is watching Cord closely about his cold. He needs to not get pneumonia. Right? He may go on an antibiotic to address it.
We see the cardiologist a month from when we left the hospital so somewhere around two weeks. That will be a good day - to make it a month on the meds and to be able to ask another million questions. Also to adjust the medicines if need be. I made it clear we wanted to see the same cardiologist - not the partner or the nurse or the on-call doc and he said he would make it so. I'm glad I asked.
Cord's color is good - and he is 'walking and talking'. On Sunday - when our friend's came over and built like crazy on our bedroom, Cord was out there measuring and cutting. Beau was carrying and helping Cord and Lex and Rob were installing the beetle kill on the ceiling. Shelbel was taping the drywall and Wulfgar was assisting her. I was non-stop cooking. Everyone was in high spirits and laughed and talked while they worked. Cord loved it. He wanted to keep going but he ended up driving to town and getting his new meds - he needed to go himself, (or I would have), and when he came back, he was pretty tired. Of course by then the meds had set in so he rested some. The boys and our friends just kept on going, and they finished it right about dark. I cooked all day and we all shared a feast afterwards.
I'm trying to bring in the seed - I have a long way to go and will need to leave him to collect it. I'm trying to talk him into coming with me, but he seems to be happiest working in the yard and the shop, and planning his next move. Wulfgar is a great helper and the weather continues to hold.
I don't even want to tell you this, but the last two days, Cord has been on the roof. I know - it is horrifying to me. He insisted on installing the ridge cap before the rain and snow come. I said, "Are you seriously going on the roof?!!!" I truly thought he was joking. At least today he waited for me to return from the Farmer's Market.
He does not listen to me. They say, "Activity as tolerated." Except chainsaws and jackhammers. That will set off the Life Vest so thankfully, we won't be doing any of that. I checked on him constantly. As soon as Wulfgar got home I sent him up there and he assisted until it was done. As if. AS IF!!!!
When Cord sleeps - there will be a celebration. I will post it immediately. Here are some pics of the progress. Can't believe how helpful our friends and family are - we are so humbled and so grateful. Thanks to all for making this possible!
Penn
Shelbel working on the drywall.
Cord and Beau measuring and cutting.
Lex and Rob installing the last boards!!
Ceiling done and walls getting textured.
Cord in clothes that no longer fit him and Wulfgar is, of course - King of the World!
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