Kevin's Blog

Life is getting back to normal so I have not had much to write about lately. How nice. Wonderful to see Kevin onstage during worship at church last night and hard to believe it has only been six weeks since surgery. We are looking forward to a good report at clinic tomorrow. Carrie and I went to a friend’s birthday party last night and had a good time highlighted by a “talent show.” Well, a show anyway. I will not mention any names to avoid embarrassment to the performers, but I haven’t seen this quality of entertainment since “The Gong Show” went off the air. Many laughs later I was able to drag Carrie away but not before she said goodbyes and gave hugs to all her friends, strangers, neighbors, etc. As a friend commented, guys just leave and no one’s feelings are ever hurt. Thanks for checking back to Kevin’s blog and I will try to get an update out tomorrow.

Yesterday was another good day for the whole family. Carrie got a good report on her ultrasound and lab work. Kevin’s feeling well and his blood pressure is actually low for a change. I played a few hours of tennis and won the last set. Would have played longer but the guys had to get back to the nursing home for lunch. I spent the afternoon icing my back and knees and sitting in the spa. Today I will be ordering a fascinating device called the ShoeDini that I saw advertised on TV. It allows you to “Take shoes off, put shoes on, without bending”. I’ll let you know how it works.

OK, now I feel bad for teasing Carrie a little in my last post. She is still having an issue with her stomach and our local doctor just sent her for another ultrasound. We still appreciate your prayers that they are able to determine the cause of this problem and get her back to normal. Will let you know.

Another good day for the family. Kevin is doing well and Carrie is showing signs of improvement too. We are expecting a guest for dinner tonight. Well, not really a guest, just Uncle Ray looking for a free meal. I have been to one grocery store and will be brief, as I still need to make another trip. Carrie said that if I get all the food, grill some chicken, make a salad and vegetable, she feels strong enough to “cook some rice”. That entails placing a bag of Trader Joe’s Jasmine rice in the microwave and waiting three minutes. I feel such relief knowing that I am not doing this all alone. I’ll try to write again when I’m done with the dishes, I know you are anxious to hear about our evening.

We had another clinic visit yesterday and Kevin is stable enough that he has graduated to once a week visits. We spent more time discussing his ingrown toenail than his kidney. The doctor adjusted some of his medications and he doesn’t return until next Monday. Carrie continues to improve and should be able to help me around the house in a few months. Right now she seems limited to shopping and going to lunch. How am I doing you ask? I try not to focus on myself and just take it one day at a time, caring for my family and not dwelling on what I have given up these past five weeks. I’ll be OK, please don’t worry.

Thanks for returning. Carrie and I just returned from La Quinta after a few days of relaxation with friends. We wanted to take Kevin but he respectfully declined, citing a full schedule of obligations and social commitments, most of which I think were made up on the spur of the moment. I don’t understand today’s youth. It seems like when I was 24 years old, I wanted to spend all my time with my parents. Amazing to me that we found him in good health even without my pampering. We will return to UCLA on Monday for his checkup but all is going well at home. I had a good time playing tennis but was outvoted on three consecutive nights on TV selection. At least I am caught up on American Idol. Love to you all.

If you bothered to read Carrie’s post, you sort of know how the day went yesterday. Instead of being in La Quinta for some tennis and fun, I was at the hospital from 5:40am to 6:30pm. I did get outside for about 30 seconds to make a patient exchange with my neighbor in the hospital parking lot. I have logged more hours in the hospital this past month than House. I will be briefer than Carrie. As each doctor asked her what brings her to the ER today, she would carefully explain that the post operative fluid between her epithelial layer and stomach muscles has seemed to move higher, pushing on her diaphragm and also causing pressure on the nerve endings which are already sensitive due to the healing process taking place in her abdomen. After reviewing the tests and consultation with 6 highly educated physicians over the course of 7 hours, the urologist came in and informed Carrie that “You need to poop.” You can imagine the relief and joy I felt at that moment. I have alerted the Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs that we will be in the area so they can have a full medical team standing by should this condition arise during our trip. Thanks for your prayers.

This is Carrie, I’m posting for Jeff today as he’s a little weary from the extra long day he had yesterday.   First, the good news:   Kevin’s creatinine level is down again to 1.4 as a result of adjusting one of his medications.  Kevin went to the movies yesterday afternoon with my close friend of 30 years and her daughter.   Jeff and I were supposed to be on our way to La Quinta, but instead…..spent another eight hours in the E.R.    I woke up yesterday in even greater discomfort and increased swelling, which was now pushing up on my diaphragm making it harder to breathe.   My doctor told me to go to the ER at UCLA to be evaluated.  Thankfully my neighbor offered to drive me all that way and he was able to bring Kevin home when we arrived.  Jeff was so happy about spending yet another day at the ER.   All smiles.   NOT!    Two ultra sounds, another CT Scan (had one last week), six vials of blood and a few other goodies all provided the great diagnosis that I am in good shape.   I’m too embarrassed to tell you what the underlying cause was.   And I’m horrified that Jeff will blog about it.   He may  however, end up telling you about a conversation I THOUGHT I had with my nurse after she hooked me up to the I.V., (thanks to my  not so great hearing.)  (Yes, I was even wearing my aids).   Those of you who have spent time with me, know that I am guilty of responding to what I think I hear, and not what was actually said.   Being the kind, sensitive man that Jeff is, he immediately corrected my error and restated what the nurse said.   My face was now beet red and the nurse tried not to show her amusement and politely left the room.     However, when she returned a few minutes later to find me doubled over on my bed still laughing, Jeff helped her ease into the fun with one of his dry comments.   I must admit, it was the highlight of the day, seeing her laugh like that.   The way God uses Jeff in my life is unending.   And, the material I provide him on a daily basis to write about has me awake at night.   I’ve already threatened him that he is NOT allowed to go into details here as to what my final diagnosis was.  Oh the Lord has a sense of humor!!   I’m convinced of this.   Why else would He create someone like Jeff?

Sorry that I have not posted for awhile, it has been a very busy weekend. I spent Saturday watching West Virginia basketball and making my Netflix selections for the coming week.  Today I tried to call a few friends but apparently they all have caller ID. Kevin and I will be back at UCLA early tomorrow and hope to have better results on his lab work. It is such a pleasure to see him free from dialysis and on a mostly normal diet. We appreciate your continued prayers for his stamina and weight and look forward to good news tomorrow. It is difficult to express my appreciation for all this support.

I wanted to get a post out today but having a difficulty coming up with something interesting. I know what you are thinking, it has never stopped me before. Well, there is a little news. Kevin and I set a clinic record by making it door to door in only 5 hours. His lab numbers were a little off yesterday but the doctors think it is likely due to one of his medications being too high. Many adjustments during this period, so we’ll check again on Monday. Carrie has asked me to update you on her stomach. How can I update you on a subject I have carefully avoided for weeks, this must be some kind of test. Apparently she has shared with many of you that she is dealing with a little swelling in her stomach that she finds both uncomfortable and unattractive. For the record, I will not confirm nor deny her assessment. Each morning she looks in the mirror with such hope and I know what question is coming next. “Does it look smaller to you?” I have always prided myself in honesty, and knowing this is a sensitive issue, I respond by something like “What would you like for dinner tonight?” If this doesn’t work and I am pressed further, I try “Smaller than what?”  or “I’m pretty sure it’s not bigger.” This week, not satisfied by my encouragement, she returned to UCLA and her surgeon ordered a scan to determine the cause. Last night he called with good news, no hernia, just fluid which should go away in 6 to 8 weeks. He said if she did not want to wait, she could come in and he would aspirate the fluid. I offered to drive her in this morning but she is going to decide later.