Tonya Update #6

The doctor came in today and said since Tonya still had a low grade fever she would not be going home today. He said he wanted Tonya to be stronger before she comes home so instead if letting her come home like she is and finish getting better he said he felt it best if she stayed another day or two to try and get completely over this thing. Her temp is still around 99.9 but sometimes it is normal. We will just have to wait and see. Right now we are taking it day by day. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Until then have a great Saturday, Brian

The Wicker Basket

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book.. What good does reading the Bible do?' The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old
wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.'

Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.

Thought for Today: Gods Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings but not its end.

I really like this story because I don't retain things too well anymore....old age may have something to do with it but I just figure my brain just gets overloaded! God isn't concerned about your brain anyway, He's more concerned about your heart.

Tonya Day #5

Well, there was a small glimmer of hope yesterday that Tonya may have been coming home today. That glimmer quickly faded into darkness this morning when the doctor came in. He said Tonya's temperature was still up just a little and he would like for her to be fever free before she goes home.

There is nothing different to report today other than Tonya seems to feel better than she did at the beginning of the week. I know this because she is, you guessed it, talking more. She still has some nausea and the doctor also said he wanted to clear that up if he could before she went home.

If you have been trying to call Tonya on the hospital phone number I had given out and not getting an answer it is because the phone in her room is not ringing very loudly. She has trouble hearing it. If you would like to talk to Tonya please call her cell phone at 613-3486.

Until tomorrow, Brian

Tonya Update #4

The doc came in this morning and told Tonya if she could get rid of her nausea she could go home tomorrow. I don't see this happening without a lot of prayers. She is some better but still not well. The doctor said she is better today than she was when she came in so this is a good sign.

The infection control doc hasn't poked his head in the door yet today so, we will see what he has to say when he comes in, if he comes in.

Until tomorrow, Brian

Tonya Update #3

Tonya's medical doctor came in around 9:30. He said he wasn't sure what was wrong but he was trying to find out. Tonya told him she was very tired an run down and he said,"that's to be expected you are still very sick". Tonya's potassium is still low and the doc is concerned about that. They are trying to bring it up with some I V potassium. He said we will take it day by day and that so far her culture was growing less that 10,000 white cells. This is good and bad. More white cells = infection, less white cells not so bad.

Around 1:30 the infection control doctor came in. He said, " I have good news and bad news." I know what you're thinking, here we go again, me too. He said good news is the culture isn't growing VRE or MRSA. This is great, however, he said the culture is growing something different but it is treatable with a different antibiotic. They have now changed Tonya's antibiotic from Zyvox to Cipro. We will see how this goes on a day to day basis.

Looks like we are going to be here for the duration however long that is. If anyone knows please tell me. HE HE HE.

I have to work tonight and tomorrow night so updates may come around 5 or 6 tomorrow and Thursday.

Until tomorrow, Brian

Tonya Update #2

Tonya's medical doctor came in and said he had called an infection control doctor. That doctor came in before Tonya's medical doctor. The infection control doc said we will need to wait on a urine culture to come back to make sure the VRE that was present 2 weeks ago isn't back. This will take approx. 3 or 4 days. He feels it is back or that it was never completely gone. He also said if the VRE is present Tonya will be sent home with a very expensive antibiotic called Zyvox. He said she will have to take it up to three weeks.

Right now Tonya is hurting very badly and is very sick at her stomach. They are trying to keep her pain controlled but when she gets this sick it is hard to get any relief until the infection begins to let up. I don't expect to see any improvement for at least three days and according to the doctor she will be here at least that long. He also said he wants to make sure the VRE hasn't gotten into her bloodstream. He said if it has she will be looking at a very long hospital stay. We are shooting for the happy thought and hoping the infection hasn't infiltrated her bloodstream. That's about it for now.

Until tomorrow, Brian

Make The Good Investment

All over the country, people are suffering the consequences of desiring rewards without investment. Many bought houses and cars they couldn't afford; and because finance companies were willing to fund those bad loans, ignored good judgment and only saw the rewards they could have with little to no sacrifice. Those rewards they thought they could have so easily are in jeopardy or gone completely; and the reality that we can't have something for nothing is here to stay.

In the same way, we must invest our time, our thoughts, and our prayers into time with God if we desire the indescribable blessings He has to offer us. We so often live on the fringe of an amazing life with God, never quite reaching our full potential because we fail to invest in knowing God's will and His way.

The Bible says, "Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates" (Proverbs 8:34). Are we listening and watching daily? Are we investing now for a future of promised blessing?

To place ourselves in range of God's choicest gifts, we have to walk with God, work with God, lean on God, cling to God, come to have the sense and feel of God, refer all things to God.
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr

Tonya Returns to Stringfellow Hospital

Welcome to day one of yet another hospital stay.

Tonya has been throwing up all weekend and last night she began to run a fever. It was 101.6 all night long. This morning she called the doctor to see if he would call her in different antibiotic. He said since she had such a high fever and had been throwing up all weekend he needed to put her back into the hospital to make sure her potassium level is okay and to go ahead and get another urine culture because the VRE may be back as well. Who knows how long this one will be but I am not allowing her to go home until I know she is well. She is in Stringfellow room 317. The number is 256-235-8317.

Until tomorrow, Brian