Kate Warren

It's your friendly Mayo Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital food critic coming to you live from the second floor atrium of, well I'm not quite sure which building I'm in.  Today's topic is food.  Why?  Partly because my son has started eating.  It's primarily Goldfish crackers, but it's a start.  If only we could get him to drink...  That's one of the hang-ups on getting him back home.  They can't determine his insulin dosage until he's eating at least semi-normally.

One other tiny thing is the 4 mm adenoma they found in his brain.  I've noticed that some of the doctors don't like to use the word tumor.  Probably because it scares people.  And it scares people even more when combined with the word brain.  The good news is, besides being in the tumor pee-wee league, this type of tumor is almost always harmless--heck, sometimes they even go away on their own.  The not so good news is that because of its location it could be causing or poised to cause a boatload of trouble.

The overall mood of the day has been a positive one.  And I'm pleased to report that Ben is happily watching SpongeBob DVDs from the Patient and Visitor Library, and even singing along with thte theme song.  I also found a fantastic children's book called Taming the Diabetes Dragon by Anne Dennis.  Her son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age two, and the book does a wonderful job of explaining the necessary care measures in a way children can understand.  Whether Ben will let me read it to him or not, I'm getting a copy.  It could help his siblings understand, and maybe his classmates.

On to the cafeteria food.  Pretty satisfied.  The pizza varies, depending on when you get there.  The pumpkin pie was a disappointment, but I do admit to being spoiled in that regard by a very old family recipe that leaves all challengers writhing in agony on buffet tables of despair.  The donuts are amazing.  Here at Mayo they apparently know that the secret to the world's best donut is to take your average, ordinary yeast donut, cover it with a thin film of standard glaze, and then add chocolate frosting. 

Concious of my decreased activity and my wish to be able to continue fitting into my clothes, I'm trying to make healthy choices (except for the occasional heavenly donut).  The produce here is great.  I ate broccoli the other day.  That's a big deal for me.  I have fruit every day, and I've been eating salad without being forced.  The nice ladies who work during the week have been rather unhelpful about the calories by heaping my plate and asking me if I'm sure I don't want something more.  I don't know where they got the idea that I need to gain weight, but their concern is touching.  Actually I think it might be the same lady each time, and it might be more of a "you're paying full price, you might as well get a full plate" mentality.  But I like to think she cares.

I'm getting tired and I've forgotten whether I actually had a point other than that the cafeteria food is pretty good, and things are probably looking up.  Still no word on discharge.  That all depends on Ben's stomach, and his head.  I'll keep the updates coming as I can.

From the second floor atrium, I'm Kate Warren with half-rambling news.

It's a beautiful day in Rochester, MN.  I got out of the hospital complex for a while when some friends took me shopping.  Spent most of the time worrying about my son, but I don't enjoy shopping on good days so it wasn't a let down in that respect.  Wouldn't you know I grabbed the one item in the store that didn't have a tag on it?  Had to go back and get another one.

We've had one thing after another going on.  Ben had to be sedated yesterday to enable a few things to be done including a new IV because the site of the original one (one of two original IVs actually) was getting too irritated.  Well since then he's been throwing up.  Also this boy who loves food and spent a whole 24 hours asking for a peanut butter sandwich won't eat or drink.  He's had a few bites of cereal.  His blood sugar has finally gotten down to normal but he's been throwing ketones. 

The IV they put in yesterday decided that developing a block was a good idea.  They tried flushing it three times.  Didn't work.  Had to sedate him again to put in a PICC which stands from periperhal (something with an I) central catheter.  If you look it up it sounds bad, but it will make things a lot simpler.  They last longer than IVs and they can do blood draws through them which is a huge plus.

I'm in the waiting room.  He's in recovery so I'm just waiting to be called to go in with him.  Very tired.  He'll likely be sleepy all evening so I may get a shower (yay!) and get to bed early.

Still worried like crazy but glad to be out of the PICU.  If we can get him eating, I'll be happy.

Kate

This will be a brief post in part because my internet time is limited and in part because I'm exhausted.  The danger is past.  Ben is more himself which is great, except for the not being able to understand why we can't go home.  If you've ever tried to explain to a hungry boy with autism that he can't eat until after a scan in the morning, you know how my last hour has gone. 

Looks like we'll be in Rochester for several more days.  We're still in PICU but may move to the general ward tomorrow.  The catheter came out this afternoon.  After asking to use the potty for so long it was surprising that Ben wouldn't go when we finally got him there.  He wouldn't use the bottle they had for the purpose.  Finally I put extra disposable pants on him and told him he could just go in them, hoping he would.  I'm happy to report that he had an accident.  Never thought I'd say or type those words.  We were starting to worry, but we know he'll be ok as far as that goes.

Tomorrow will be eventful.  Hoping his esophogram is early in the morning so that he can eat.  The chest tube will come out tomorrow unless the xrays show something they haven't been showing.

That's all I can think of other than to mention that hospital gift shop and cafeteria prices are unreal (not in a good way), and that if I had it to do over again, I would have asked my husband to send pajamas.

Kate

P.S.  I'm remembering to eat and brush my teeth and all of those things.  Thanks so much for your concern and comments.  I appreciate it, as does my family.

Hello friends and readers.  I write to you from the waiting room of a pediatric ICU at Mayo Clinic.  My youngest son has been developing diabetes without permission (bad joke, but my husband is diabetic so if he doesn't mind, you can't either) and went into ketoacidosis.  Very serious stuff.  We got to ride in a helicopter to get here, but sadly Ben missed it due to being asleep.  That's ok.  He needs rest.

He's resting comfortably and I'm holding up ok.  Had a scare when his lung collapsed but it's back to where it should be.  We'll be in the PICU for a day or two more.  I'll update occasionally and I'm taking notes with which to bore everyone when we get home.

We appreciate any support, prayers, happy thoughts, etc you can spare.

Kate

  Here it is being Sunday again, and I remembered to sign up for Six Sentence Sunday so I am posting six sentences.  Thank you so much to those who read and comment.

Using my random scrolling method I have come to the part where Ellen finally asks Henry to stay the night.  However, before he accepts the invitation, he wants to know what made her offer it; to know that it's what she really wants and not just an impulse brought on by a tragic event earlier in the day.  Ellen speaks first.



          "...You’re important to me and I want to be with you.  I don’t want to spend another night wondering if you’re missing me the way I’m missing you.  It’s not about sympathy or comfort.  It’s about you and me.  I want us to be an “us” and I want to make love to you…tonight.”  She stared at him expectantly.
          “Well you don’t have to ask me twice.”


That's my six for the week.  I look forward to reading yours. :)

Kate

Hello all.  I completely forgot about Six Sentence Sunday  this week.  But that's no reason why you should!  Head on over there and do some reading.

Well the first week of school was long and grueling, but we got through it.  Hopefully things will smooth out soon, though I must say it actually went rather well.  Getting back into the schedule is challenging though.

Anyway...I thought I'd post an excerpt and I'm going to use my random scrolling method because I have trouble choosing.  Here we are in Chapter 6, Ellen has learned that Doug is engaged to his girlfriend.   Ellen, Stephanie and Jessie are in the master bedroom as Matt arrives home from his best friend's house.



          Matt walked in to the sounds of a boom box blaring angry rocker chick music and what sounded like the total destruction of something, coming from his parents’ bedroom.  Putting his helmet back on, he went to investigate.  Shock was the only way to describe his reaction to the scene.  From what he could tell his mother and older sister had finally lost it, at least he hoped they had; this certainly didn’t look like sane behavior to him.  They were covered in dust and singing along with the music, making up their own words.  Huge holes punctuated the walls like some giant abstract dot-to-dot. 
          Ellen was hitting the wall with a sledgehammer while Stephanie took a swig from a bottle of something that had to be alcoholic. Ellen reached her “hammer arm” out to Stephanie.  “Your turn.” Stephanie took the instrument of destruction and attacked the remaining plaster with so much enthusiasm that Matt was afraid she wouldn’t stop there, but would smash all the walls in the house. He was definitely locking his bedroom door tonight.
          In the midst of the mayhem Jessie sat calmly in a chair reading a cooking magazine, mouth and nose covered with a mask like they wear at hospitals.  
          Crossing to her, Matt shouted.  “What’s going on?”
          She pulled her mask down long enough to shout back “What’s it look
like?”
          Unsatisfied, he grasped the cord on the boom box and pulled.
          All three women stared at him.  Ellen spoke.  “Sorry about the noise sweetheart, are we disturbing you?”
          Matt looked at all three of them in turn and back again, then gestured at the wall.  “What—?”
          “I’m doing some redecorating.”  The elastic band on the goggles smooshed her hair down, making her look reminiscent of an ’80s rocker.  
           Matt stared for another full minute, not saying anything.
           Jessie turned another page and addressed him without looking up. 
“Well young man?  Are you going to stand there all night?”  
           He turned and left the room, shaking his head. The sound of laughter followed him all the way up the stairs and to his room.
           Ellen took another swallow from the bottle.  “This is good wine.”
          “And this,” Stephanie declared, “is for making me take tap dancing.”  A
terrific spray of plaster and dust demonstrated the frustration she’d buried for thirteen years.  She handed the sledgehammer back to her mother.
          “And this,” Ellen swung the hammer back, “is for all those times he forgot my birthday.”  More plaster, more dust—their hair was so covered that they could have gone to a party in seventeenth century France.  “You sure you don’t want to join us, Jess?”
          “No thanks.  I still have to drive home.”
          Stephanie put the bottle down.  “But don’t you want to take a swing?  Don’t you ever just want to hit something?”
          “Oh, Lord yes!  But then I remember that I’ll just have to clean it up later.”
          Ellen blew out an exasperated breath.  “For crying out loud, Jessie, we won’t make you clean it up.”
          She turned another page.  “Nope.  If I help make the mess, I’m going to help clean it up.  Go on back to your fun, girls.  Don’t mind me.”
          Not too much later Ellen and Stephanie collapsed, laughing on the floor.  “We should do this more often.”
          “What, get drunk or destroy the house?” Stephanie giggled.
          “I don’t know.”  Ellen closed her eyes.  “How about both?”
          “Okay.”  Stephanie started giggling again. 
          Jessie got up.  “I take it you’re done playing demolition now.  Are you
two going to be all right if I go home now?”
          “We’ll be good, Jessie.”  Ellen assured her.
          “Promise.”  Stephanie managed to gasp between fits of laughter. 
          Jessie put her coat on and slung her purse over her shoulder.  She smiled as she said “Thank you both for a lovely evening.”
          They were dimly aware of hearing the front door close and Jessie’s car pulling out of the drive.  The mirth slowly gave way to pensiveness.
          “Dad is despicable.”
         “I know.  He even cleaned out the safe.  Left two hundred measly dollars.”
          “No, that was me.”
          “What did you need all of that for?”
         “I didn’t.  I just didn’t want him to have it—or great-grandma’s ring.”
         Ellen wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder and pressed a kiss to her forehead.  “I’m so proud of you, Stephanie Victoria.”
          “Mom?”
          “Yes?”
          “You look like the ghost of Christmas past.”
          Ellen laughed.  “That must make you the ghost of Christmas yet to come.”
          “Maybe I should go pay a visit to Ebenezer Pritchard.”
          They both started laughing again.  
 
                      
                                               ♦          ♦          ♦

 
           Matt was sitting at the table eating his second bowl of cereal when two moaning figures entered the room shielding their eyes from the morning light. “Good morning.” He said louder than necessary.  The two figures both groaned and mumbled responses.  Moving sluggishly, Ellen started the coffee while Stephanie sat down, laying her head down on the smooth cool surface of the kitchen table.
          “And you guys are supposed to be role models.” 
          Stephanie rolled her head sideways long enough to mutter “Matt?  Shut up.”
          He waited a few more minutes, until they both had steaming mugs of coffee in their hands before trying again.  “So, who wants to go to church?”
          Identical groans made him smile.  This was
too much fun.  For once he had the upper hand.  A moment or two was spent planning amusing schemes to increase his mother and sister’s discomfort but in the end he decided against them. Matt was creative, but he’d never been cruel.  He grabbed his helmet and pads and said “I’ll be at Steve’s.”
          Ellen waved him off and sniffed the steam rising from her mug. 
          The back door banged shut behind him making both women hold their
heads.
          “I feel like that wall.” Stephanie moaned.
          “I feel like the sledgehammer.”  Ellen countered.
          Their eyes met and they smiled, and then started chuckling, but that caused more pain.  So they settled for sitting in silence, drinking their coffee, each vowing never to do something like that again—at least not with the wine.   

How did it get to be September already?  Time flies so fast and soon the kids will be in school again.  My experiment worked so well last week that I thought I'd give it a shot this week too.  So, here goes and we land in...

Chapter 24, page 148.  It's Thanksgiving at Rita's house, which is quite an event.  Stephanie has been chatting with Rita's son Eric, when DJ comes up and asks what they're discussing.  Stephanie and DJ speak, with Steph going first.



          "We were just talking about girlfriends, which reminds me: I've finally figured out what I don't like about yours."
          "And what would that be?"
          "You."
           "Amber's fine.  You're the problem.  After you left my apartment I spent all evening trying to figure out what bugged me about you two."

    

    Stephanie is so observant.  I sometimes think she deserves to star in her own novel.  Well that's my six for the week.  See you all on your sites, as I'll be reading your entries for Six Sentence Sunday.

Kate