Author: Rolf

Easter 2012

Hello dear friends! I’m sorry you haven’t heard much from us this week. Rudy is doing great and will get back to his regular schedule this week. I have a more detailed post in the works but am having trouble posting it…Internet connection problems AGAIN!!! Argh!!! In the meantime, we all wish you a very Happy Easter and we thank you for your many prayers for Rudy these past couple of weeks. Blessings to you…

Rudy’s Sixth Toe

Rudy’s been taking it easy at home since getting back from UCLA late Thursday. He’s a little achy from time to time, but a little Tylenol seems to take care of that. We’ve been very touched by Docs Dan and Nina calling personally to follow up the cath report and check on him–so assuring to have such gifted doctors who care deeply for Rudy and our family.

The most interesting development since yesterday has been the massive blister that seems to be taking over Rudy’s foot. We texted a picture of it to some nurses and one of the docs who sent back “Wow! Never seen anything like that before.”. This has given us room to create our own theories: infection (not likely as the foot isn’t painful, warm or red), allergic reaction to tape (but there was tape all over him so why only there?), or a burn from something to do with the IV (my best guess as the port was right there and something could have leaked under the dressing).

More rampant and creative theories from his siblings include: an alien nesting under his skin that’s going to emerge? A collateral sixth toe (since the veins were coiled up something had to grow somewhere)? An inchworm that’s spun a cocoon on the side of his foot?

In any case, Rudy is not noticeably disturbed by it, so we’re watching it and taking pics so we can track its progress. The big kids haven’t named it yet, but it’s big enough that they do address it as a separate entity from Rudy (as in, “Good night, Rudy! Good night, Rudy’s blister!” or “Is Rudy coming? Is the blister coming too?”)

We’re not really into putting gross-out pictures on our blog, but in the name of science, here is the wondrous blister (just in case you can’t see it from your house). Feel free to submit your own theories or potential names.

Morning….

Got to a room fairly quickly (only 2 hrs in PACU). Slept so-so. Rudy’s not in huge pain, but uncomfortable and woke up often. Different tactics distract him for varies lengths of time. iPad is worth every penny…

Having an echo right now. After that we’re likely clear for discharge, but probably still a couple docs to round on him.

Sent from my iPad

In Recovery

Got back with Rudy after 7 hours here in PACU. Heard from two tired but excited docs about all they did (43 angiograms for you heart nerds) More detail later but two stents to open the Sano shunt (which had narrowed to 1mm) to 4-5mm. Then a huge collateral coiling fest. Lungs look strong both in terms of oxygenation and pressures. Not a Glenn candidate yet but good progress.

The warrior is slowly waking up. Not smiling yet, but not super-cranky. Due to all the work they did, they want him supine until 9pm.

Thanks for the prayers and messages.

Beeper watch…

When this thing beeps, there’s either an update from the cath lab or our table at Chili’s is ready. Been watching it in the dining room for 3 1/2 hrs. Decided to come outside and watch it on the patio for awhile.

It’s buzzed twice. First at 11:30 to tell us things were underway a bit late and just now at 1:30 to tell us they’ve got another hour to go. Rudy’s beat his personal best for cath lab endurance. They placed two stents and are now coiling collaterals. Rudy is stable.

That’s all for now. Back to watching the buzzer….

In Pre-OP

The trip from SB to UCLA went smoothly. Rudy still has celebrity VIP status–didn’t make it 20ft from the car before the first of several adoring nurse fan spotted us. Good to be in skilled and caring hands.

Mr. Fearless is ready for battle.

Staged and Ready

Got the call from UCLA late this afternoon that we’re the first case in the lab tomorrow morning. Procedure time 8:30; admit time 6:30 means we leave home at 4:30. Rudy seems like he knows something’s up as he was really cranky this evening and has just finally just starting to doze off here at 10 pm. About the only thing that settled him down was demonstrating the iPad to Opa.

Fun during Quarantine

With the days counting down to the cath, Rudy’s been spending most of his time at home.  We’re probably not as obsessive about it as we could be, but with all that goes into getting a cath date (lab and doc schedules) we’d hate to see any delays caused due to Rudy catching a bug.  As it was perhaps the only weekend this year where we’ve had to endure a dose of that brutal Santa Barbara winter (read 55F with intermittent showers), he hasn’t been lonely indoors.  So, I just thought we’d give a few glimpses of our regular weekend at home.

Rudy’s last day out was Thursday for school.  His class, the “Bear Club”, went on a walk to the neighborhood market and the teachers spotted a little good luck gift to send him off with:

Thank you, Bear Club buddies!

Being home bound isn’t all that bad.  Especially when you’re as easy to please as Rudy.  Most days, he’ll go into the kitchen and find himself a cup to stick over his hand and carry around most of the day.  Some days a cup is hard to find, but this time of year it’s pretty easy to find a box of Girl Scout Cookies in the cupboard.  Rudy found one yesterday and, after  quickly tossing aside the cookies, he held on to the box for several hours–even through his nap.

Nothin like a teddy box! So much for all the developmentally appropriate toys we were seduced into buying.

Housebound or not, we still expect the kids to help out with chores.  It’s amazing how even Rudy can pitch in and be surprisingly helpful.  Check out this video of him helping us polishing the kitchen floor.

Max was scarce this weekend as he wowed audiences in the GVJH production of 42nd Street.  In between playing to three packed houses, he found time to entertain and educate his little brother in fine art of zerberts.  Take it away, Max!

Thanks so much for checking in and for all the kind notes and comments.  It was a full and fun weekend–stay tuned for the eventful week ahead.