Crazy Days & Belated Birthdays

Tuesday was an early morning.  Tom's PICC line evaluation appointment at OSU Medical Center was at 9:00 a.m.  When we left the house a torrential downpour of rain kept us from arriving until 9:10, but I'm realizing more and more that an appointment time is just "when you should arrive" and the actual "procedure" time is much later!  While pulling into the valet parking my phone rang and it was Dr. Cavaliere's nurse, Julie, informing me that we needed to cancel Tom's Thursday (1/19) appointment...okay, they would call me to reschedule.  We were greeted at OSU by Carrie Houts, an OSU Medical Center patient advocate who is married to WCHS alumni, Brian Houts.  We first met Carrie at a WCHS graduation party and then reconnected with her at the benefit dinner!  What a sweetheart she is and made us feel very welcomed, cared for and accommodated our valet and coffee needs!  Thanks, Carrie!

While we were being registered I noticed on the gentleman's desk a magnet that I immediately asked if I could take a picture of so I could "document" the "God moment"!  I read the verse to Tom and we were both strengthened for the day ahead before we even knew the twists and turns it would have for us. 

We were then escorted to the pre-op waiting area and we had time to visit with Carrie.  Tom's "procedure" wasn't considered an "operation" but they have no where to put patients who are not being admitted and need simple procedures done, so this is where you go.  After getting Tom settled into his room they came and did a chest x-ray, in the room, to make sure his PICC line was still placed correctly.  Then the waiting began.  At 11:52 the PICC team nurse finally came in!  When I told her that Tom had a 2:00 MRI at the OSU East Medical Center and I asked if he would be finished in time for that, her eyes got wide and she said, "this takes a minimum of 2 hours and he will not make his appointment".  She quickly got on the phone and made arrangements for Tom to have his MRI done there at the main hospital which then delayed the PICC line procedure.  I had to accompany Tom to the MRI because the PICC line nurse did not know how to operate the portable pump!  While I was unhooking Tom from his pump the young man who was the MRI technician asked me if I was a nurse!  I laughed and said, "why yes, I'm a nurse, speech, occupational, & physical therapists with honorary degrees in each"!!!  He said "wow"; I then proceeded to tell him I'm Tom's wife, was a stay-at-home mom and I dropped out of college to tell the truth!  I never officially wanted to learn any of this.

After Tom's MRI we headed back to his room for the clot busting medication (pictured above) to be injected.  Once injected they wait two hours to then flush the "pig tails" and see if they are working correctly.  The nurses were so accommodating and bent over backwards to make up for our wait time.  They not only provided lunch for Tom, but me as well.  We enjoyed a quiet lunch for two in the room.  While Tom was able to sleep off and on while comfortably lying in bed, I took over the recliner and became rather sleepy too.  The goal was for us to make the 3:15 doctor's appointment at a different location and receive the MRI results from the neuro-surgeon, Dr. Elder.  Around 2:00 I received a call from Dr. Elder's assistant who informed me that Dr. Elder had been called in for an emergency surgery and would not be there for Tom's 3:15 appointment!!  So our three appointments turned into one long appointment at the hospital!  At 2:30 the PICC line nurse returned to flush Tom's "pig tails" and see if the clot buster worked...well, one did and the other did not.  Since our 3:15 appointment had been cancelled, she highly recommended staying and having another injection of the clot buster...so we did.  At 4:30 they retested the pig tail and it still didn't work...she told us to pray that the one that did work would get us through the next 4 weeks.  So now you know what to pray for...4 more weeks for the PICC line to cooperate and no infection would enter through either tail.

Tom's "Pig-Tails"

During all that we were so thankful that Sarah was available to get Tom's parents to the airport for their flight back to Orlando.  Before we left for the hospital it was our goal to get back in time for Tom and I to take them...hindsight is 20/20!  They left Columbus at 1:30 and arrived back in Orlando at 3:30...they beat us home!  We too are thankful for the wonderful visit we had with Tom's parents.  I can't tell you how much Tom seemed to improve while they were here.  They were able to see him at therapy, go to Matt's basketball game, go out to dinner, worship with us and of course, get a few rounds of Skipbo in too!  It was a great visit.  I only had to cook one meal while they were here! 

Beef Stew, Homemade Soft Pretzels & Blueberry Cobbler

Thanks, Ulrike!

Due to a food scheduling blooper we were delivered TWO amazing meals on Tuesday!  Ulrike Brennan blessed us with another incredible meal...awesome job Abby on the pretzels...we loved them.  Melissa Shawver teamed up with her mother-in-love, Pam Rice, to bless us with Chicken Pot Pie, Fresh Fruit (enough for a small army) and muffins...yummy.

Chicken Pot Pie, Fresh Fruit & Muffins

Thanks, Melissa & Pam!

new nieces-in-love celebrated birthdays.  They are both so new to our family that I still am not sure exactly of their birthdays...but I do believe the "newest" Mrs. Anglea's birthday was January 17th...

Happy Birthday, Britney Anglea!

Britney became an "official" Anglea on December 31, 2011 and we are so proud to have her in our family.  From what we hear she is an amazing cook and a very talented violinist.  We look forward to how the Lord will bless her as she comes alongside of Timothy as his helpmate.

Britney's Violin Talent Displayed in Winter Garden, FL

Happy Birthday, Jessica Anglea!

On July 30th, 2011 we "officially" welcomed Jessica into our Anglea family.  What a blessing to be able to attend she and Luke's wedding.  Jessica is finishing up her senior year at Providence Bible College in Elgin, IL along with her husband, Luke.  We think she celebrates her birthday today...isn't that awful that I don't know...I need to get my family updated on my calendar!  So many weddings and additions to our beautiful family.  We continue to pray for Jessica as she studies, works and is also a new bride.

We trust each of these godly young ladies celebrated and enjoyed their special days.
Zac and Sarah will travel out to Grace College for the weekend and get to watch Matt play basketball when the Lancers take on the Cougars Saturday at 3:00...go MVNU!  Not sure who Zac and Sarah are cheering for???  Anyway, Tom and I are looking forward to a quiet weekend alone.