Rox said:

 

LOLOLOL Especially "Cute little boogers for about the first 3 or 4 days..." My kidlets don't live with me, but taking care of them daytime, 5 days a week and sometimes 6 can be a bit much. Your 3-year-old sounds very similar to mine. Okay, not exactly, but darned close! So glad you bonded with him!

 

Julie said:

 

Nutcracker was wonderful. Such talented dancers!
Even Boo who's 14 said "I have other things I'd rather do but it wasn't too bad".
Chick loved the first half. Too tired and squirmy the second half.

MM's room is decorated for Christmas. We'll go up and spend some time with him Christmas morning.

I didn't go up to the hospital at all this weekend. I did speak w/ MM several times though.
I didn't want to brave the idiots driving on Saturday and Sunday I was sicker than a dog all day. (feeling better today)

I'm still emotionally drained. Hearing that home by Christmas was out of the question - it really broke me. I've got a call out to our family doctor to hopefully get him to light a fire under some butts. I keep getting the run around on why MM was given food that was not allowed on the restricted diet and why PT hasn't had him sitting up since he left ICU. The nurses got him in a too short bed that transforms into a chair but MM can't use it because it kills his back.
ARGH!!!!

 

Rox said:

 

I found this on bbc.co.uk news website:

US singer Fogelberg dies aged 56

Fogelberg was performing with his first band at the age of 14
US singer Dan Fogelberg, renowned for his poignant lyrics and soaring vocals, has died at the age of 56.
Famed in the 1970s and early '80s for such hits as The Power of Gold and Same Old Lang Syne, he discovered he had advanced prostate cancer in 2004.

Fogelberg died at the weekend at his Maine home with his wife Jean at his side, a statement on his website said.

"His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration," it read.

Born in Peoria, Illinois. Fogelberg had several platinum and multiplatinum records in his heyday containing such hits as Hard to Say and Leader of the Band.

Diagnosis

The latter song was inspired by his musician father, who died a year after the track's release.

Later in his career he would write material focusing on the state of the environment.

Fogelberg's last album was 2003's Full Circle, his first album of original material in a decade.

After receiving his cancer diagnosis he urged others to get tested.

*******

I never realized he and I were the same age. He was born Aug. 13, 1951, and I was born June 14, 1951. Sad to lose such a great artist.

 

ksgrm said:

 

Such a loss. Love his music. He is right about the testing. We were at a large youth wrestling tournament in Tulsa, OK not long ago. The tournament director was only 37 and in stage 3 of prostrate cancer. He made an impassioned plea to all of the fathers there to be tested. It hit close to home for us because he had been a wrestling buddy with our oldest son. You don't think about the young getting sick.

Julie glad you enjoyed the program. Sorry MM won't be home for Christmas. Did you get the tree up?

Your family is in our prayers everyday.

 

Wendy said:

 

It is sad.

Julie, hopefully you will get some answers soon and things will get handled correctly so that he can be home sooner rather than later. At least he is still here and is improving, even if slowly.

If you need any help with Christmas, let us know. We will be all over the southern portion of the state so I am sure we can help out!

 

Julie said:

 

MM sat on the edge of the bed for 10 minutes yesterday. This is the first time since he was in ICU that he's sat up. He's still too weak to walk.
For anybody considering Specialty Select Hospital which is affiliated w/ St. Francis - I would strongly encourage you to look very very deeply into it. I accepted their word at face value and have been severely disappointed in their caregiving. I have been given the runaround regarding care and doctors orders. I still can't get straight answers out of the nurses - all I get is ask the doctor. I have left many many many messages for the doctors - either they aren't getting the messages or they are ignoring me. Considering the prompt answers I got while in St. Francis proper I have a feeling the nurses aren't forwarding my messages.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Julie, do you have a way to contact the doctors without going through the nurses? That is what I had to do once when Mrs. VT was in (the second time) to resolve an issue over her discharge.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

And the way medical care is today is something to keep? To the point of not looking at alternatives? Yeah, right! Americans have poorer care at a higher cost than most industrialized nations. We have the opportunity to look at all their plans, all the ways medical care is delivered and take the best of all those. But no! We must stick with private enterprise the exact way it is now! After all, big bucks are being made and isn't that waaaay more important than delivering health care!?? The only important people in America are the haves and the have mores.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

OK now that I've ranted... Thank you friends. Sometimes it builds up and must have an escape valve. I know for sure none of YOU are responsible for what is and would welcome improvements. So my rant wasn't personal, just a rant that does nothing but release pressure.

Julie, you are caught behind a rock and a hard spot! Insurance rules. They make the rules and change them midstream if their profits are down. I know it was a victory (?) to allow him this care (?). I'm not sure what the alternatives are and maybe this is the best of those. If caring could make improvements we'd get some changes going quickly!

I think Vaughn's suggestion of talking to the doctor directly is excellent. I'm sure there are many doctors. Is there one you could talk with?

 

ksgrm said:

 

Julie sorry to hear you are having problems connecting with docs. The last time my mom (she is 93) was in we finally just asked what time he made rounds and made it a point to be there at that time. With little ones this might not work for you.

I have had two knee replacements at the special orthopedic hospital on Webb. I couldn't have asked for better care.

Hope it improves for you and MM keeps making giant strides literally.