Grant Mitchell Geisert

Too precious.....
Feel free to send Jaima and Cam good wishes here.

Aunt X3

What wonderful news I received this morning when my sister called to tell me she had given birth to her 3rd child, a son. Grant Mitchell Geisert arrived early -just like his sister- only 37.5 weeks. But, everyone is doing well it sounds from my sister's voice.

I am of course over joyed to hear the wonderful news. But of course, am a bit sad that I can not be there to celebrate in person with her, meet my first nephew, and help out. I've booked tickets to go to Nebraska at the end of the month - I can hardly wait.

I'll post pictures soon!

Weekend Get-a-Way

This weekend took us to Colorado Springs to see some friends for a quick overnight visit. We took the kiddos to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - what an amazing place! There aren't very many animals, but the view and the landscapes for the animals were amazing! They also had play scapes throughout the zoo that the kids enjoyed.

When we returned from the zoo, the kids enjoyed some time in the sprinkler and finding acorns. This gave us an amazing amount of adult time chilling on the patio. Who knew collecting acorns could be so much fun?

We wrapped up the night with sushi prepared by our guests (yum!) and learning a new card game - "nerds". Then it was back to Denver on Sunday morning to make it back in time for Drake's golf lesson. A quick trip, but a really nice, relaxing time. Thanks Will and Sabrina!

Hakuna Matata!

Last night I was treated to a "show" by Drake at 7:00 in the basement. The feature song was "Hakuna Matata" - which of course means, "no worries". Ha! As I was watching the "show", it occurred to me that I really should take that phrase to heart a bit more. With job uncertainty, thoughts of moving and all the things in "regular life", it is sometimes hard to remember not to worry. Something to keep in mind.

I was also happy to see a bit of Drake's creative side - even if most of it included using the big screen TV as a mirror so he could watch himself dance and sing - and I use those terms loosely - more like jumping and screaming. However, he had a script and followed it and it was fun to hang in the basement and watch him (and enjoy a cocktail) - what's a concert without a beverage?

Sunshine, Water, and Family

A last minute trip was planned to Lake McConaughy to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. I had a "staycation" over Memorial Day weekend and was not going to have another over the 4th of July.

It actually worked out perfectly as the boys and I only had to drive to Ogallala from Pender (6 hours vs. 9 hours ) and Marshall was able to come join us after work on Thursday. And what a GREAT time we had. Time in the water was definitely the theme for the weekend. From the hotel pool and hot tub to the sandy beaches of Lake McConaughy. We packed sand toys, water toys, picnic lunch, and were able to hang out at the same beach spot both days.

We also got some fireworks and enjoyed a mini fireworks show of our own in the country.

What a great family vacation for us. The boys had a great time - and couldn't have loved the Best Western hotel more. When Marshall came, Drake was showing him that we had our own fridge and the shower had a cool soap dispenser. If only life could always be so simple.

Pender Alumni Weekend

Sisters!


Drake hanging out with his cousin Alyssa


Tanner and Anastin giving hugs

We were able to take some much needed time away from work. We spent some time in Pender and enjoyed the Alumni weekend - street dance, games in the park, and the parade were highlights. We also celebrated mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary. How lucky we Karlen women have been to have such wonderful and loving parents. And obviously, it was extra special this year after the way the year started out.

The boys and I enjoyed some extra time in Pender swimming, going to coffee with "Pop", Drake camping in the motor home with "Nana", and experiencing fireworks first hand. What is the 4th of July without fireworks?

Drums, Hail and Skates

This weekend was a pretty casual weekend. It started off with impromptu happy hour for with Marshall - what a nice surprise! Always a special treat when we get some adult time out and about.

Saturday morning took us to the library to kick off their summer of reading with the World Drum Celebration presentation. Unlike many of the presentations we have attended in the past, this one had hardly any attendees and we were able to actively participate - we each got our own drum during the session. Drake really enjoyed it (and was one of the few kids there that knew the continents). Tanner thought it was a bit loud and wouldn't let me play my drum. I hope that Drake and I can continue to play the fun rhythms at home as Mom was just talking last weekend about the link between rhythm and reading. Music was always such a big part of my life - I hope I can keep it in the boys' too.

Sunday brought some yard work followed by a crazy hail storm.

We moved as many plants as we could, but the hail was just too big - I had welts on my back and legs - to get them all moved under cover. Hopefully, those that had to ensure storm will be able to recover. Tanner looked out and yelled "snow". And we were finding golf ball sized hail still in the yard almost 2 hours after the storm had passed. Marshall had never seen anything like it.




Drake and I wrapped up our weekend with a trip to Skate City for a few spins around the roller rink. Drake was definitely a novice, but I was proud of his perseverance and ability to keep at it. He even skipped cake so we could get in a few more laps before the rink closed. I could tell he was improving - even in just the two short hours we were there. Of course, right before we were about to leave, I figured out that they could "lock" the back wheels and he would have been much more stable. But, I think he felt proud with his accomplishments and even wanted to head out without me towards the end (both a proud a sad moment for me).

Sweet Boy Happy Birthday

Just melted my heart all weekend.

Birthday Fun

May wrapped up with a very fun weekend for the Peavy family. We hosted mom and dad and threw a happy hour birthday party. It was a busy weekend - but tons of fun. And talk about motivation - just have a party! The backyard looks great, the porch is stained, the carpets cleaned, and new couch ordered. I took Friday off to get ready for the afternoon bash and Mom and I had a really fun time "prepping" for the party. It would have not been fun at all if Mom wasn't here. I was so thankful to just spend time with her (without the boys) and grateful for hr all her help.

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, playing outside, going to the park, and just spending time together. We were even able to go out for brunch on Sunday morning and had a really nice time. I don't think I've ever seen the boys behave so well during a meal. What a treat for all of us.

And of course, it was just special to have Dad here to celebrate my birthday with me. The improvements he has made between Easter and now are great. It was so hard to believe the doctor's when they told us to expect a full recovery those first days in the ICU - and here we are. And this month Dad will attend is 50 year high school reunion and 40 years of marriage. What a change from January.

Insights from a walk to the Post Office

I enjoyed a beautiful walk to the post office this afternoon. The sun is out and the everything is green and in bloom. And I had time to think.

• I saw 3 smaller birds harassing a big hawk in the park. Makes you realize the big guy doesn't always win and there are strength in numbers.
  
• Goats are really good at getting rid of weeds, but they stink.
  
• Old, white men stretching in the park should wear shirts.
  
• Life is good and I have much to be thankful for.
  

What is Up with Us

How did May get here so quickly? A quick recap of some things we've been up to recently - and remembering how lucky we really are.....

1. Enjoying a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Peavy
2. Drake starting to ride his bike without training wheels
3. Celebrating Grandma Peavy's birthday here in Denver
4. Sending congrats out to my sister and her husband on their graduation from the University of Michigan with their Masters
5. Happy my parents could make it to Jacki and Sean's graduation - how special for all of them.
   
6. Enjoying Tanner's budding vocabulary - such a big boy!
   
7. My trip to the Bay area to see several dear friends and co-workers
8. A weekend at home with family - watching movies, doing yard work, and being together
   

Thank you Jean

Another post from Dad.

I have been remiss in not thanking the person most responsible for me being here, and that individual is Jean. It is the "first respondent" who has the greatest say in who survives. In a seminar given to physicians, it was determined that your spouse should be the one trained in survival techniques, as he/she was the one most responsible for your survival.

Jerry

Easter in Pender

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Pender over Easter. We had a great time dying Easter eggs, going to breakfast at Popo's, Fish Fry at Schreib's, and just hanging out with family. It was great to see Dad up and round - what a difference a month makes! The boys enjoyed time with their cousins and Nana and Pop. What a special trip to make - so many things to be thankful for.

A Post from Dad

Here's a comment Dad posted to the blog and I thought I would make a post out of it. It's obviously great to have Dad "back".

BE ON THE ALERT!!!! I am now catching up - having read julia's whole 48 page blog on my transformation from a piece of warm meat to whatever I have become today. My read on it is that I have recovered about 95% of my mental and about 75% of my physical capacities. Not that those percentages mean much (compared with what I started with) but a lot better than the chance the surgeon gave Jean after he tapped my head to release the pressure. "He told her that my chances of surviving that night were less than 5%. When I saw him last week (first time I remember meeting him) he told me that he had never had a case as bad as mine that made it as far back as I did - go figure!"

Anyway, THANKS for all the support, thoughts, and prayers. Something had to work for me to be able to still be here!!!

Jerry Karlen

Neurosurgeon Follow Up

Dad had a follow up with the neurosurgeon yesterday and everything went well. He had a cat scan and the ventricles are the right size, everything looks normal, etc. Great news!

While meeting with the Physician's Assistant, Dad asked if Dr. Durwood was available as he really wanted to meet the man that saved his life. The PA said sure and Dr. Durwood spent about 20 minutes with Mom and Dad. One question they had was around the "consistency" of Dad's blood during the surgery (basically, the heart doctors were interested to know if Dad was on the right dose of blood thinners). Apparently, normal is b/t 2 and 3 and Dad's blood was 2.5 - so he was right where he was supposed to be. Dad was able to stand up, shake hands, and thank the man that saved his life and I know this was very important to him.

During the conversation, Dad said that Dr. Durwood mentioned how in all of the procedures he has done like this, Dad is definitely the best case he has seen. Obviously, many don't make it and if they do, they have severe limitations. It truly is unbelievable.

With the Natasha Richardson tragedy, I have thought even more and more about how lucky we truly are. Although Natasha's injury was from a fall, it was nevertheless a brain bleed like Dad suffered. And she was a healthy 45 year old woman. What a testament to my Dad's inner strength.

Mom and Dad also dropped off gifts for the staff in the therapy wing and Dad said that everyone was complimenting him on how he looked, how he was walking, etc. An aide from the stroke ward came up and gave him a hug, asked how Jacki was doing, and told him how good he looked. Another testament to how well Dad has been handling all the trauma he has been through and how people remember him (and his family).

We are headed to Nebraska tomorrow and I can hardly wait for the boys to see their Nana and Pop. I don't think I have ever been so thankful to be going home with my boys - it is truly special that they will be able to see their Pop. What a blessing.

A 5 Year Old's Kindergarten School Application

Last night, I had to sit down with Drake and complete some questions for his Kindergarten school application. He had to answer the questions and I wrote them down. Here's the output.

Please list THREE reasons why you would like to attend Highline Academy Charter School.

1. I would like to go to see what all the schools are like.
   
2. because I am a smart boy and I like to go there.
   
3. I like my school the bestest, maybe another school for Kindergarten.
   

We expect our students to give 100% effort and require students to attend a lunch time or after school study hall if homework is not completed from the night before or if the quality of homework does not meet the teacher's expectations. How do you feel about that?

good because I like school.

Our school community is based on five core values REACH (responsibility, empowerment, aspiration, citizenship, and honesty). Which value do you think would be the most difficult for you to live consistently? Why? (try to explain these words to a 5 year old - definitely a test of my thesaurus skills!).

Honesty because you have to think here and there. Think everywhere. Because it is kind of hard if you didn't see and you have to tell the truth.

Our school community considers a "C" (below 80%) failing. Students who fail 2 or more classes are recommended for retention. What would you do if you were recommended for retention? What class do you think you might most struggle with academically?

Have somebody help you by telling - a child can help you. College because that is the last school.

Share a time when you violated school rules and what you did to make it right.

I was 3 years old. Someone bit me and they thought it was me. By telling when I got up, they asked what I was doing, I told them I didn't do it. Luke did it. He was 4 - he knew better.

Please list THREE things you hope to get done by the time you are 25.

1. Go to school because I like school instead of staying home with Mom because I want to get "work" done (he's referring to "Montessori" work).
   
2. Not stay home on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. I want to be good at stuff.
   

Graduation Day

This Monday, Dad officially "graduated" from both occupational and speech therapy. Way to go Dad! He's still hoping to do some more physical therapy to help with his strength and balance. He is able to walk without his walker, but not as long as he would like.

I'm very excited because I have booked tickets to bring the Peavy family home to Pender for Easter. We will be spending 4 days in Pender - enjoying time with Mom and Dad and the Geisert family. I know the boys are very excited to see their "Nana and Pop" and spend time with their cousins. I think Marshall is also excited to be off and work and take in some of the Master's on TV. We'll be on our way a week from today - woohoo!

Dad has his follow up cat scan with the neurosurgeon next week. We're looking forward to more good news!

A Big Thank You from Jerry and Jean

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our “family” and friends for all the visits, cards, email greetings, flowers, plants, gifts of food, best wishes, etc. Your thoughtful acts during Jerry’s recent hospitalization and rehabilitation (in Sioux City and Pender) have been wonderful and most appreciated. What an amazing group of individuals to have “in our family’s corner” throughout this ordeal! Thanks again for your support and assistance. We will never forget it!

It’s been two months since Jerry’s “incident.” It has been quite a journey and it is so good to be home. Things are going very well and Jerry continues to improve.

A special thank you to our wonderful daughters and sons-in-law for everything they have done these past two months. We are certainly blessed and truly could not survive without them.

Jerry and Jean

You're Getting Better So Fast

On Friday, it was a beautiful day. Mom and Dad took the dogs out, hosted friends for drinks, and went up to Welsh's for the Fish Fry. Dad was even able to walk without his walker from the car to the bar. Such huge steps in such short periods of time.

On Friday, Dad had physical therapy. His therapist told Dad that she really enjoyed working with Dad. He asked her, "why?", and she replied, "because you are getting better so fast." Dad told her that he was crushed because he thought it was because of his great personality. Very cute.

March Madness

For the past several years, my husband has hosted a family and friends March Madness pool - and this year is no different. Of course, the biggest challenge is technology related - can our parents actually figure out how to enter their picks in the computer. Fortunately, we have siblings close by this year that can help!

After day one of picks, Dad is leading the pool - with 15 of 16 picks correct! We'll see if that can continue the rest of the weekend. I was surprised that Dad did not pick Kansas to win - he always seems to favor the Big 12 teams, but not this year.

Dad is improving every day. He is getting around the house without a walker and Denny has been picking him up this week for coffee. He's been able to check his email and has chatted with friends not in the Pender area on the phone.

The goal for the end of April is to make a trip to Ann Arbor for Jacki and Sean's graduation from the University of Michigan. At this rate or recovery, that is a very attainable goal. How special that would be for Mom, Dad, and Jacki.

Less is More

Well, my posts have obviously been less and less the last couple of weeks. This really is good news as Dad is progressing well at home. So, in this case, less is definitely more.

Dad started therapy in Wayne last week and Mom said that he and his OT really hit it off. Jaima stayed home with Dad last Tuesday night so Mom could watch her full moon with friends. Like me, Jaima commented how nice it was to be at home with Dad - just the two of them.

Mom is back to school this week and Dad's sister Nydra is up in Pender helping out. Dad was actually even able to go down to Popo's for coffee today - thanks to a ride from Denny. They were so happy to see him there for coffee - he was definitely missed and got a big hug from the owner when he arrived. We are all so thankful for all the help we have received.

I talked to Dad a couple of times on the phone last week and he sounded really great. He had his appointment with his primary physician in Pender last week and they were able to discuss all the medicine he is on, what to watch for, etc. Fortunately, he is no longer on the insulin and is just monitoring his blood sugar every day. Very good news!

We are thankful for every piece of good news we get every day.

Aren't you glad I got my mind back?

Just a quick update about the weekend at the Karlen household. It was a pretty lazy weekend for everyone - except Mom. She was very busy sorting and organizing. Hopefully, Jaima and I were able to help enough with the laundry, cooking, dishes, etc. Mom and Dad took the dogs out again on Saturday so there was a bit of an outing - which helped to break up the day a bit.

We watched some basketball - a couple college games and the finals of the Nebraska Girl's State Tournament. TV is a bit much for Dad right now, but we were able to keep him involved with score and time updates. Jaima and I were even able to watch two movies on Saturday - I can't even remember the last time I watched one movie. Oh, the luxuries of having no kids around (Jaima's kids were with her husband visiting his parents in Grant, Nebraska for a few days).

What a great time Jaima and I had hanging out with each other and Mom and Dad. Dad was making us laugh with his commentary during the basketball winner interviews. His spirits have been great since returning home - just as they were in the hospital.

We did some physical therapy exercises over the weekend and Dad also read all of the cards and letters he received since his stroke (some occupational therapy for the weekend). He was surprised by all the outpouring of thoughts, prayers, and good wishes. Thanks to all for helping to keep his spirits up.

Dad started therapy in Wayne on Monday and has an appointment with his family physician tomorrow to track his progress, meds, etc. It is amazing how much work goes into making sure one stays well - thankfully the Karlen women have it under control!

And to wrap up with some Dad humor...We were trying to figure out the correct eye drops to be giving Dad. We have yellow caps, blue caps, orange caps, and generic versions. Apparently, his drops were switched in the hospital and we were going to give those drops to him. He proceeded to tell us what happened with his last visit to the opthamologist and then commented, "Aren't you glad I got my mind back?" Yes, Dad - we are very, very glad.

Home Sweet Home

Dad arrived home on Thursday afternoon. We were discharged in the early afternoon and then we saw a cardiac specialist before we left for Pender. A couple visitors stopped by to welcome Dad home, and Dad enjoyed some non-hospital food - guess Mom and I can at least cook better than the hospital!

I'm glad to be here to help Mom get the house ready to have Dad home - everything from moving furniture, figuring out his meds, what food to make, etc. Being home is a whole new level of care and it is a lot of work for Mom. It is nice that she is home next week so she can figure out coverage going forward. We've also got his therapy scheduled in Wayne starting on Monday. He'll be attending physical, speech, and occupational therapy.

Dad is doing really well with the stairs in the house. They are a lot of work for him, but because he is able to do them, he is able to get into his favorite chair in the family room.

We had another cardiac appointment this morning up at the hospital. It was nice to get a couple different opinions as the best way to treat dad's atrial fibulation. Both doctors do not recommend going back on the blood thinners so we are trying to figure out what we can do to best manage his condition.

Today, Mom and Dad took the dogs out to the airport and I think Dad really liked getting out of the house again. It is a good thing they took the dogs out as Pepper was coughing after her run. They took her down to the vet and she was diagnosed with pnemonia and got some antibiotics.

We all enjoyed an afternoon nap and then some dinner. Jaima came over after work and it was nice to just be "home" with Mom and Dad. We're looking forward to the healing process getting even better now that Dad is home.

My Day with Dad

I was getting ready for bed and had time to think about the day I just spent with Dad. Although one never wants to be in these situations, it really was a nice day today with Dad. When will I ever have Dad to myself again? No children to deal with, no siblings or others to drive the conversation one way or the other, no place to be. Just time with my Dad.

Of course, Dad attended several therapies and did very well at all of them today. He was walking without the walker several times during physical therapy, balancing with ease for extended periods of time, coming up with answers in speech therapy that were almost always correct - even if it wasn't the answer in the therapist's "book". When having to name another word for "disaster", Dad and I both came up with the word "calamity" - not the standard answer of "catastrophe". There were other examples like this and Dad and I joked that we must be blood relatives to come up with the "wrong, right answer." When we went back to the room, Dad was joking that he wasn't so sure that he was already sharper than his therapist.

He was also able to read and comprehend the checklist given to him by the speech therapist. And although a difficult task, he did complete a lego type structure in occupational therapy (looking at a 2D picture and making it a 3D object) as well as some peg work and geometric shape exercises (where they had to move on to more difficult ones because he completed the easy ones). He's still dealing with double vision and that is one of the main reasons these tasks are difficult.

We enjoyed a pizza party over lunch with some other rehabilitation patients and Dad chatted at ease with the others. Later, Dad commented what a long road many of those in the room had - all but one younger than Dad. It makes you keep things in perspective and be so thankful for how hard Dad is working and how far he has come.

We had his assessment with the staff this morning and all the therapists and nurses commented on Dad's progress. It is truly amazing the strides he is making. I know Dad is a very proud man and many of the tasks he is completely are humbling to him, but he also knows that he is getting better every day -- and these are the things that will help him recover.

I definitely inherited my competitive spirit from my Dad and you can see Dad's competitive spirit come out in his therapies. And through it all, Dad has had a wonderful disposition - joking with the staff, making people smile, and still taking his recovery seriously. This truly is a testament to who my Dad is as a person and I am so thankful for him. And right now, I am especially proud to be his daughter happy about the day we had together. Just the two of us.

Coming Home!

Just a very quick post to let everyone know that Dad is going to be coming home on Thursday. We will be discharged on Thursday afternoon and then see a cardiologist before we head home. Dad had his assessment today and all the therapists continued to talk about the great progress he is making.

We will be setting up his on-going therapy so he can continue his progress once we get home. I'll be here until Sunday to help Mom with the transition back to home. Fortunately, Mom has spring break next week so will also be able to manage the transition home a bit more easily.

Sorry for the lack of updates - having all of us home, the time here with Dad, and trying to get some work unfortunately cuts into the blog time. But, this is great news and we are excited about this giant step forward!

Yes, It is Good to See You Dad

Yesterday, I arrived in Omaha around 1:00 and Jacki picked me up and we went right to Sioux City. Dad was finishing up PT and it was so wonderful to see him. I gave him a hug and he asked me, "Do you feel better now that you have seen me?" And the answer of course, was "Yes I do Dad". He quickly introduced me to his therapist and then we walked part way back to his room.

Just as Jacki was amazed after 11 days, I was obviously even more amazed at his progress having been away for 25 days. He is making tremendous progress and we could not be more proud of all his hard work. From many of the comments yesterday, it is obvious that he is much more aware of what is going on, where he is, etc.

Dad chatted about how many of the questions they ask him in therapy are very difficult and many people would not know them. Dad asked the therapists about this fact and they told him that he was right - many people would not know these facts. However, they know his "level" and these are things that he should know. For example, they listed "dollar, peso, lira" and Dad had trouble with this one - he started listing Australian dollar, Canadian dollar. When the therapist started to give clues - i.e., Japanese - Dad was able to come up with Yen. The key is to get him to recall these facts in his head. And he was later able to tell the story to us and remember Japanese Yen which is exactly what we want.

Dad also made a comment to me about how is getting better, but isn't all better yet. Another indication of his awareness. And of course, Dad is still joking around which is great to see as well, I told him I got Tanner's (my 2 year old) hair cut, he quickly commented "it's about time!" He was more than aware that Tanner was in need of a haircut (which he had told me in January when he visited).

Jaima came over after work and the 4 Karlen women hung out with Dad for a few hours. The Munderloh's and Maul's stopped by for a bit and then Dad was ready for bed after a very busy day. We enjoyed a very nice dinner at Raspberry's (and ran into the Munderloh's and Maul's there :) . Definitely a lot to celebrate.

A Hand to Hold

I actually chatted with Mom, Jaima, Jacki, and Dad today. What a treat! Talking with Dad - even if only for a couple minutes - was the highlight (no offense to my sisters or my Mom of course!). I was driving the boys home from school and Dad heard them screaming in the background when he got on the phone and said it sounded like things were pretty normal for me. It was nice to chat with him on my way home -- just like we use to.

Mom said that Dad had a good day of therapy. After they finished having lunch, Dad got into bed for a nap because they are better able to elevate his feet in bed. There is still quite a bit of swelling in his legs so they try to keep them elevated as much as possible. Mom took a nap in the recliner and they feel asleep holding hands. Very sweet.

Mom also mentioned that Dr. Bacon stopped by to see how Dad was doing (Dr. Bacon is the ICU doctor and was seeing another patient, but just stopped to see Dad). Dr. Bacon asked how Dad was doing and if he knew where he was - to which Dad replied, "Oh, sh*t". It seems Dad grew used to Dr. Bacon and his questions. :) Apparently, Dad's ornery side was also coming out today when the "interns" were visiting today. Mom said he was showing off. Good ol' Dad - putting on a show. Makes me smile.

Jacki and Sean are staying in Sioux City tonight and going out to dinner - guess they are trying to make the best of their spring break! Mom was at home tonight and enjoyed a walk on the beautiful day and a drink with Steve Munderloh. And then a night of grading papers - fun stuff.

What a week!

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. It has been a crazy week here, but the good news is that Dad is having a great week! Yesterday, he was able to walk WITHOUT the walker 3 times. In addition, he was able to get out of his chair by himself. Just last week, it took two people just to get him to stand up. So, he is making amazing progress!

His hardest questions to answer are what day it is and where he is - he actually told a visitor these were his hardest questions. But, with the "harder" cognitive questions he is just flying which is wonderful.

Jacki and Sean are there all week and have been helping with the dogs, running errands for Mom, getting the medical paperwork in order, etc. I know Mom is very thankful to have them there to help out. I can't wait to be home and Friday and see the progress for myself.

GREAT Day!

What a great post for today! Both Jaima and Jacki called to tell me what a great day Dad was having. Jacki was completely amazed by the progress he has made in the 11 days since she left. He is up and about walking with his walker as he pleases. His speech therapy went REALLY well today. One of the speech therapist told Dad that she had seen him on Wednesday and could not believe the change between today and then.

Jacki was with Dad all day and said he was lucid and "the old Dad" all day. What wonderful news! He was even able to remember the visitors he had the day before - this is a first. All of these signs are wonderful news. We are of course, still worried about other health issues -the swelling in his legs, the blood clot, etc., but all the progress is in the right direction. I am very excited to continue receiving great news.

Mom also checked out of the hotel on Friday and will be staying at home now. Jacki and Sean will be there through March 2nd, and I will arrive on Feb 27th and stay through March 8th. Mom did enjoy a bit of time away today and attended Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Jaima and her girls. I'm sure this time away was a great break and a special time with her grand-daughters.

And on a lighter note, Jacki's husband Sean is going to be working with Barney to make him a house dog. What a way to spend spring break, heh? Of course, Dad thought this topic was quite amusing - I would expect no less. Dogs in Pender don't live in the house now, do they?

Nydra was right

What a difference 11 days can make. wow. Nydra was right - I am more than impressed.

Dad is making amazing progress. He had a great Saturday of rehab. Mom said he had his best day of speech therapy yet. He was asked to give synonyms to many words and got almost all of them correct. He also was able to give explanations for descriptions of certain situations (some when mom and I didn't even know the answer). In OT, he put together a difficult puzzle that the therapist said five days ago could not have been completed. And, as his granddaughter Alyssa said while watching him do his PT, "he is walking perfectly." She was right. If he keeps this up, the walker will no longer be needed! More importantly, he is understanding everything!! Where he is, why he is here, and details about all the staff he meets even hours after meeting them.

It will all continue to improve with more time. I can't wait for Julia to see his progress. We are all so proud.

Keep up the good work dad! We LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Oh, to be home

It's a pretty quiet night here at the Peavy household. The boys are in bed and the hubby is off playing poker. Jacki and Sean flew to Omaha today and a family friend picked them up and took them straight to Sioux City to see Dad. I know Jacki was so excited to see Dad and all the progress he has made.

Jaima stopped in to see Dad during her lunch hour again (like she has been doing most days) and said that Dad was having a great day. It is so nice to hear the little stories about what he is doing (playing the card game "war" with Mom yesterday) and the progress he is making.

It would be great to be home with everyone now. It's hard to be needed in two places. I'm just thankful for all the support that Dad and Mom are getting and I'll be home soon enough - and yet, not soon enough.

A Sister's Point of View

An email we 3 girls received from our Aunt - Dad's sister, Nydra. I think it is a great summary of today and I know it touched all of us. Thank you Nydra for your positive words.

I was with Jerry most of the day and he really impressed me. I’m sure it's hard for your Mom to see the progress but between my last two visits, he had totally lost the hallucinations, crawly things or the reaching out into the air like Alex did at the 3-D IMAX movie. That was all gone.

He walked 5-6 tines in two different sessions from the back of the exercise area to the middle of the hallway. And the staff required that he find his chair, etc. And he did. He was nodding off in the first speech therapy session, so when the occupational therapist came to dress him, we put him to bed. I lifted his legs, put pillows under them and spent a major portion of the day making sure his legs wouldn’t be swelling. He slept for over an hour and the next sessions of therapy he seemed much more awake.

His wheel chair legs were too short for elevating his legs. Since he asked to have breakfast in the lounge area, he was in his chair. I thought that was a great sign and he chatted with two men at the table. Everything was very cordial. I hope he keeps asking to eat outside of his room. Anyway, the PT man, Dennis, put a block of wood under his air cushion seat. So it raised the seat about ¾ of an inch but also removed the sag so his legs could more comfortably be elevated.

When your mom got back from school, she saw him and was all smiles. He is really making great strides. I think Jacki will be very surprised at the advancements. He still has vision problems but there has been so much progress over the last week.

Jerry always used to say a person who gets mean when they are drunk, is really mean underneath—that they is just mask it when sober, and I can see that in Jerry with his predicament he finds himself in. He is still the same sweet amiable guy as always. He is frustrated with his recovery so if possible, tell him how far he has come. That really seemed to give him the energy to keep going. He worked really hard in his therapy.

Again, the dignity of Jerry seems to shine through and all the staff treat him accordingly.

I love you girls. Jerry and I may be old, but he is still my big brother and I feel about you as you must feel about your sisters’ kids.

Love, Nydra

Hump Day

Well, I have to say that this week seems to be an exhausting one for all of the Karlen family - at least we are getting over the hump this week. Dad is working very hard in rehab and has been exhausted from all the therapy. They have him up and at 'em very early. On Tuesday, he was showered, shaved, and dressed by 7:30. He has been doing very well with his physical therapy and all the walking he is doing. He is now using a regular walker and is able to support his entire body weight on his own. Denny and Georgia visited on Tuesday afternoon and had a nice chat with Dad and then went out to dinner with Mom and Marian. Today Mom and Dad were able to work on a crossword puzzle together, but it made Dad very tired.

The rehab is going well. At times, Dad seems a bit bored with the activities and they must get him to focus and tell him why it is important he do these things (you've had an injury and these activities will help you heal). Definitely more hard work in store for Dad, but we know he can handle it.

Movin' on Up (to Rehab)

Ok - technically, I think he is moving down floors, but I couldn't help but have the song from the Jefferson's in my head (which is better than the Amy Winehouse song about rehab I have been singing all day). So, he is still in Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, but is now in the Rehab Center where there is a much more intense focus on his therapy.

He had his cat scan this morning, but the results are not known (we're going with the "no news is good news" theory). He finally got to eat solid foods - a chicken salad sandwich and was saying "mmm" as he ate it. The processed food must be pretty gross if a chicken salad sandwich from a hospital tastes good.

And it is good to hear that his sense of humor is still there - he was introducing Mom as his "current wife" to the rehab staff. The move does seem to have confused him today, but hopefully with some consistency and focus on rehabilitation in his new environment, we'll see improvements again.

Mom is headed back to the classroom tomorrow and our family friend Marian Andersen is there to help out this week. We are so thankful for all the family and friends that have helped us during this difficult time.

"Pop" Quiz Results

And here are the long awaited answers to the "Pop" quiz. Thanks to all that participated - we enjoyed reading your stories - definitely brought smiles to our faces.

1. Where was Jerry born? Dad was born in 1941 in Beemer, Nebraska (50% answered this one correctly). 40.5% answered Omaha.
   
2. From which high school did Jerry graduate? Dad was an Omaha Benson Bunny - yes, the Bunnies. (61% of you answered correctly).
   
3. Which high school reunion year will Jerry celebrate this year? Dad graduated from high school in 1959 and will be celebrating his 50th reunion. (51.2% of you got this one right).
   
4. Where do Jerry's children live? Julia lives in Denver (95% correct). Jaima lives in Pender (100% correct). Jacki currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but will be moving back to Minneapolis after she and her husband receive their graduate degrees this spring. (76% correct).
   
5. What year did Jean and Jerry get married? Mom and Dad were married in Dodge, Nebraska in 1969 and will celebrate 40 years together in June. (38% answered correctly).
   
6. How many years did Jerry work at Automatic Equipment/Blue Ox? 41 years! Wow - quite an accomplishment. Dad retired in March of last year. (40.5% got this one right).
   
7. What subject does Jerry's wife Jean teach? Sociology. Jean is currently in "phased retirement" and teaching 2 classes this semester. Thankfully, her colleagues at Wayne State have help cover for her during this time. (92.9% of you answered this one correctly).
   
8. Which of the following activities does Jerry enjoy? Dad enjoys pheasant hunting, fishing, coffee at Popo's, playing cards, and time with his daughters and their families. Surprisingly, Dad doesn't like deer hunting (always talked about his inability to kill Bambi) and Mom is the one that loves moon risings.
   
9. How many grandchildren does Jerry have? Dad has almost 5 grand kids. Jaima is due with her 3rd at the beginning of August. She and her husband Cam have two daughters - Alyssa (4) and Anastin (2). Julia and her husband Marshall have 2 boys - Drake (5) and Tanner (2). Jacki and Sean have a dog named Maj0r. He is also part of the family - his mother is Pepper and his brother is Barney (both of those are Dad's dogs). (95% of you answered this one correctly.)
   

Lazy Sunday

The Geiserts delivered the flowers and card from Julia, Jaima, and Jacki today. Dad enjoyed them. He walked farther than he has in any previous days during physical therapy today. Tomorrow morning, they will do a cat scan to check on the bleeding. They think everything is draining on its own, but they want to check. In addition, the cat scan will serve as a baseline for rehab.

Dan and Tammy Bodlak and Bill and Maureen Wenke stopped for visits yesterday. Dad also talked to each of us on the phone and wished up Happy Valentine's Day. Very special. Hearing "I love you sweetheart" like he has said so many times before is just that much more special these days.

A Poem and Flowers for Dad

Valentine's Day definitely reminds me of Dad. Since I was about 7, Dad always gave each of his daughters flowers on Valentine's Day. We would come home from school and there would be a white vase with a single rose sitting on the table by our bedsides. I always looked forward to coming home and seeing the flower there for many years to come. However, the tradition did not end there. As we went away to college, left the state, and got married, he continued to send us flowers. You can imagine how special it was to get flowers in the college dorm - what a surprise and of course, everyone wanted to know who the flowers were from! We'll be continuing the tradition this year - 3 roses for Dad - one from each of his daughters. A Day to celebrate love indeed.

Jacki found this poem and I thought it was the perfect post for today.

Delightful and loving,
Loved and admired,
Dad, you're my hero,
My life you've inspired. And when all my blessings
Are counted each day,
I thank God in heaven
For Dad when I pray. Dad thanks for your presence
Throughout thick and thin;
You're more than a parent,
You're my wonderful friend.

Sealed with a Kiss

Just in time for Valentine's Day....... Dad was able to walk to the door and then to mom and then to the wall and was able to give Mom a really loving kiss. He walked more asking for another kiss and Mom said it was like a moment in a movie – people were looking and smiling. What a wonderful day for Mom as well.


He had 2 assessments today and passed both of them. Dr. Durward was pleased with his neurology test and that indicates things are going well with the drain being gone. He also had his catheter removed today. So no drain, no catheter - no tubes! This also means he is no longer restrained. More good news.

Denny and Steve Munderloh stopped by and they had a nice chat with Dad. Dad also fed himself today for the first time which is a great thing. By next week, Dad will be out of the "hospital" and he has qualified for rehab (still located at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City).

Dad is making amazing progress every day - especially for the type of injury he sustained. Although he is able to take directions, carry on conversations, etc., he is still having trouble with his orientation and can be easily confused or distracted. The short term memory, the ability to remember where he is, etc. will be back eventually with rehab and continual work. We're looking forward to those days. In the meantime, we will continue to celebrate how far he has come in a such a short time.

As I was saying to my husband last night, I have always thought of my Dad as a sturdy and hardy individual........he is certainly proving that to us all now. We love you Dad, keep up the great work.

"Shuntless"

Yesterday's cat scan came back looking very good so Dad will have his temporary shunt removed today. They will then monitor him to see how he is doing - is he sleepier? less lucid? etc. Depending on his response, the next cat scan could be as late as Monday to check again for the swelling, drainage, etc.

If he is doing well, he will not need a permanent shunt. However, it is at this point that they make the decision for a permanent shunt or no shunt at all. There will be no temporary shunt as of this afternoon. woohoo! Getting rid of the temporary shunt also gets him one step closer to a rehab center as you can't leave the hospital if you have a temporary shunt.

Dad is enjoying his private room and got a good night's sleep last night. Dad's sister Nydra came up to be with Mom and help out. She was planning to stay the night, but with 5 inches of snow predicted, Mom is trying to get her on the road so she is not stuck in Sioux City!

I Like to Move it, Move it!

The procedure to address the deep vein thrombosis was done this morning and went well. They inserted a filter in his abdomen so the blood clot does not go to his lungs. In many cases, they treat the DVT with anti-coagulants. However, that is not an option for Dad as he will never be able to take these types of drugs again (the inability of his blood to clot was the reason for his stroke).

Unfortunately, there will be pain and swelling in the legs for weeks. And the key to getting the blood clot dissolved is to get him and up and moving around. So, Dad better be singing (as they do in Madagascar), "I like to move it, move it". Maybe we need to get the grand kids up there singing along!

Dad will also have another cat scan today. Yesterday, they raised the bag that is currently connected to his shunt (and collecting spinal fluid). This process helps them see if the spinal fluid is draining on its own or if there is pressure on the brain caused by the bag being raised. The cat scan today will be able to tell them if the brain is swelling due to this process. The good news is that the spinal fluid that is draining through the shunt is much less red which means the blood around the brain is also dissipating.

Dad is also being moved to a private room today which I sure he will be happy about. In addition, he has been more lucid for longer periods of time the last couple of days. yeah! Little victories every day.

DVT

Otherwise known as Deep Vein Thrombosis. Unfortunately, Dad has one in his leg and they will be doing a procedure tomorrow morning to address this blood clot in his leg. The good news is that Dad was able to tell the physical therapist that his leg hurt and they were able to do some tests and discover this clot.

Dad had a great day with speech therapy. He did very well with the cognitive tests that were done. Mom and Dad's friend Georgia Munderloh was coming to go to dinner tonight with Mom and Marian. They were going to try and catch tonight's moon rising, but being in San Francisco tonight, I'm not sure on the cloud cover in Sioux City, Iowa. I hope they were able to catch a glimpse of it.

A good beginning to a new week

Dad had a really great Monday. First, it seems the new antibiotics may have done the trick with the fevers. He had no fevers last night or today. yeah! Dad also was more aware of his surroundings than he has been - improvements each day. He sat in his chair today for four hours and then was able to take a long, needed rest this afternoon. Getting that smart brain back to 100% is hard work!

Our very close family friend, Marian, came up from Omaha today to stay with mom through Wednesday. The two of them were going out for 1/2 price burgers at Minerva's tonight. Unfortunately for mom, it is a cloudy sky in Sioux City tonight so the moon rising will not be visible. Maybe next month.

Special Visitors

Dad had some special visitors today - his two granddaughters Alyssa and Anastin. Apparently, Alyssa was quite the chatterbox and talked Dad's ear off. He was very happy to see him.

They removed the "regular" IV today has they have had to replace it 3 times this week. It is very hard to find Dad's veins so the nurses are unable to put in the IV. Since anesthesiology must come down to do the IV line, they have decided to put in a more permanent line into his chest so they don't have to keep replacing the IV. They also switched to some new antibiotics today as Dad is still running a fever. Hopefully, these new ones do the trick.

Jacki left for Michigan today and Mom's friend Marian will be coming tomorrow to help out for a couple of days. We are very thankful that Jacki was able to stay so long and also thankful she had a ride home - thank you Ann! After Wednesday Mom will be holding down the fort alone for awhile, so I'm sure she would welcome any dinner dates. Thanks again to everyone for all your help and support.

Walkin' Away

Dad was up and at 'em with Physical Therapy 2 times again today. He walked out to the nurses' station and back to his bed. And Jacki said, if you knew how far that was in comparison to what he has been doing, you would be impressed. Great stuff. He also fed himself breakfast today and was drinking out of a cup by himself as well.

Dad's sister Nydra and her daughter Ann came up today. Jacki will be riding back to Michigan with Ann on Sunday and then returning on February 20th with her husband, Sean for their spring break. Jaima, Cam and the girls came up today to stay in Sioux City and are having a "staycation" tonight in the hotel - nothing like a hotel pool and the $3 movies to keep kids entertained.

Thanks to all for your continued support. Look for the answers to the "Pop" quiz early next week!

Successful Surgery

Dad's surgery went well and he got back to his room around 10:00. Now we will be waiting for the anesthesia to wear off and probably a lot of sleeping today. And maybe that darn fever won't come back tonight.

How Much Do You Know About Jerry?

We designed a quick little survey to see how much you really know about Jerry. We would love to have you participate and we will post the right answers in a couple days. Have fun!

Click here to take survey

Surgery Scheduled Today

Dad is scheduled for surgery today at 9:30 to remove the current shunt and put in a new shunt. It is standard procedure and he should be back in his room by noon today. Hopefully, this will help with the fevers he has been getting in the afternoons.

We're anticipating a lot of sleep this afternoon after the surgery. Here's hoping to another successful step in the recovery process.

A Sleepy Day

Dad has been sleeping all day. One must be pretty tired to do that in a noisy hospital. We've had a couple of questions about the cheer cards you can send through the hospital so I've posted the link again here today. We so enjoyed reading all the cards we have already received.

Mom saw Dr. Durward this afternoon and he plans to replace the current shunt with a new temporary shunt. They believe the current shunt may be causing the fevers that Dad is having in the afternoon/evenings. The new shunt will be in for at least a week and it looks like he'll be in this room for another week.

A couple of fun updates from last night.

• Mom and Jacki enjoyed dinner with Bev Novak last night
  
• Mom and Jacki checked on Dad last night and Dad knew how long he and Mom had been married and told Mom that she is "the most wonderful woman in the world".
  
• Dad remember that his first car was a 1949 English Ford
  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Or - how about several pictures worth several thousand words? We put together a few pictures of Jerry and family just for fun. We can't wait until he enjoying all these activities in full force again.

Cat Scan Results

The results from Dad's cat scan came back with good news. One ventricle is free of blood and the other is continuing to drain appropriately. yeah!

Dad is very tired after a long day of therapy. There is a noisy guest next to him which is distracting him from sleeping soundly this afternoon. He tends to get interested in their conversations and has a hard time falling asleep. Surely he would love a private room, but right now, he needs to be in this room with more monitoring for his condition, etc. Hopefully, the chatty guest will be tired soon!

Hump Day

Mom was up early this morning to be sure she caught Dr. Durward on his rounds this morning. She is feeling better that she was able to chat with him about some of her concerns. She found out that Dad will be staying in the Stroke Ward until he is ready to move to Rehab.

Dad is making daily improvements, but we are still asking for no visitors as this tends to confuse him at this time. This morning Dad had almost an hour of Physical Therapy. He was able to sit up on the bed, stand up and then take 4 or 5 steps. Way to go Dad! He was then able to move over to the chair and was all settled in for a nap, when they came to get him for another cat scan. They want to make sure the fluid is still draining correctly and check the position of the shunt. Potentially, he could have another temporary shunt put in at the end of this week.

And as we continue to celebrate small victories, Dad was able to drink two glasses of orange juice today by himself. Yesterday, he couldn't even get the glass to his mouth. We're looking forward to many more victories in the days ahead.

Tuesday Afternoon Update

Dad had Physical Therapy this morning and they said he was making great strides compared to yesterday. He was able to sit up straight and pull himself up to stand. Obviously, this made him very tired. When the physical therapist said she would be back for more in the afternoon, Dad said no she wouldn't. When she came back in the afternoon, Dad was so tired she could not even wake him and she was only able to do some stretches with him. Guess Dad was right - no more PT today. We expect he'll be sleeping quite well tonight.

Who is better looking? Jean or Jerry

Yesterday was Dad's first full day out of the ICU. Julia left to go back to Denver, but hopes to be back soon. Jacki, Mom, and Jaima will be holding down the fort for now. Yesterday was a big day - the move, eating, PT and OT and Dad was very tired and slept most of the day. Mom and Jacki were a bit worried as he wasn't responding to standard questions as well has he had been in the past (and also worried because we have a new room, new nurses, less monitoring, etc) so we are figuring out how to work the system in the stroke ward.

Fortunately, Mom is pretty persistent (and resourceful) and the ICU doctor did come up to check on Dad this morning after Mom and Jacki voiced some concerns. Dr. Bacon was able to wake Dad up and once they got him up, he was much more alert and responded correctly to the questions being asked -

• who is your wife? (Jean)
  
• how long have you been married (39 years)
  
• who is better looking? (there is no competition there - I am)
  
• who is this? (Jaclyn - she is my daughter)
• where does Jaclyn live? (Michigan)
  

So, this definitely made us all feel better after we were a bit worried with his confusion over the last 12 hours. We are still getting used to all that is happening with Dad and learning when to be worried, when he is sleepy, etc. And learning what a long road we have ahead, but there is a road to take and we are very thankful for that.

Food, but not food

Dad had his first "dinner" tonight. It included a spread of pureed foods - roast beef, corn, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and jello. He told the nurse the beef was "bland" but seemed to enjoy the jello. He ate a good amount, despite how awful it looked.

Mom and Jacki grabbed dinner and created a list of an additional nine questions for the nurses in the stroke ward. Don't worry - we are following mom's "p's" - personable, polite, persistent, and patient. They love us!

Dad was pretty tired tonight after a long day of occupational therapy, physical therapy, being moved to the stroke ward, and two meals. Although he is confused from time to time, he is getting stronger every day. We are hopeful for another good morning tomorrow.

Good night from Sioux City. As always, thank you for your continued prayers, positive energy, and supportive thoughts.

Our new "address"

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update. For those of you who want to see all the beautiful Karlen women, you can find us in the 8th floor Visitor's lounge. However, dad is not ready for visitors. We will keep you updated on his progress.

After the move from ICU, dad was seen by the physician therapist. It was a good first step, but he wasn't ready to sit up. As my dear friend said, "Therapies will be his best friend. They are hard work, but well worth it." He will definitely know soon enough how true that is.

The Karlen Women Thank You!

There are of course too many people to thank for everything at this point. We received the Cheer Cards this morning and were overwhelmed by all the support that we are getting from all of you. Dad will certainly enjoy reading these cards when he is able.

We are thankful for:

• All the help with kids (both in Denver and Pender)
• The food, flowers and care packages
• Doing our laundry, bringing things up from Pender, etc.
  
• Dr. Matt Felber for educating a very curious group of women and providing us with the information we are craving
  
• Rides to and from the airport
  
• Amazing husbands and all their support
  
• The wonderful words of encouragement and support via the Web, email, and phone
  
• Wayne State friends for helping cover Mom's classes and all her "extra duties"
  

I'm sure there are several things that we are missing, but we just want to let you know all know that the support that has been shown for all of us and Dad is greatly appreciated.

Humor for the Day

Here's a bit of Jerry humor for the day. The occupational therapist said she was going to give him an assessment in bed and Dad joked, "I've never had one of those before. You better set high standards.".

Jacki and Julia thought it was pretty funny.

Stroke Ward - Here we come!

This morning we got the news that they will be moving Dad up to the stroke ward on the 6th floor. What great news! He had already had visits from the speech pathologist and occupational therapist this morning. He is a bit weak on this right side (especially his shoulder). Of course, after telling Mom this, she informed us that he hurt his shoulder shoveling ice out of the dog kennels. Probably hasn't helped to have it inactive all week.

The physical therapist will be by today and they will get him out of bed today. So, a big day today with lots of activities which I'm sure will make Dad very tired. He is now taking many of his meds orally and they did hook him up to an IV again to give him more fluids (as he ripped out his feeding tube two times already and isn't quite eating enough yet).

We'll work to keep you updated on the transfer. Happy Monday!

Pittsburgh Wins!

Jacki, Mom, Julia, and Nydra (Dad's sister) watched the Super Bowl tonight and ordered pizza. The pizza was late (to which Julia's husband commented "are you surprised?") but we really enjoyed the 4th quarter and exciting end. Julia, Mom, and Nydra then went over to see Dad when the ICU opened again at 9:00. Julia told him that we watched the Super Bowl and asked if he knew he won - and he said that he assumed that Pittsburgh did.

Dad definitely had a great day, but gets tired as the day goes on with all the chatting, the eating, etc.

H2O Please

Steve Munderloh and his son stopped by today. Steve and Julia went in to chat with Dad, and Julia told Dad that Steve's Grandma was upstairs and Dad asked what happened to her. Steve told her that she broke her pelvis and Dad then proceeded to tell Steve to tell his Gramma that he knows what she is going through. He then preceded to talk about his hips and the recovery he had when he had those replaced. Every time we go in there, he is impressing us. Right as Julia left, he called her name and asked for a glass of water. Julia gave him a swab with water and after he had it, he said "I know about the swabs, I want a glass of water." Ha!

Jacki then went to get some ice chips for him and he told her to express his disappointment quote, "with a kick in the groin" (yes, we have a male nurse). Oh, Jerry is back.

Good news! Mom just came back from Dad's time with the speech therapist and he passed his swallow test. So, he will get some broth tonight. He was very happy about the applesauce. He won't be eating much because it is a LOT of work for him and he hasn't had any food in his stomach for several days. (to which Dad responded "at least I should be losing weight").

Immediately after we sat down, Dr. Reeder came in and gave us an update. He said that Dad is looking great. He still has a bit of a fever, so they will run the brain fluid bag to check for infection. And then he said over the next week, they will start raising the bag to see if the brain fluid is able to drain on its own. Before he left, Dr. Reeder said that Dad is "remarkable." And of course, we think so too.

He's got the TV on and watching the pre-game activities for the Super Bowl. What a day.

Sky Walk

Jaima and Cam went to see Dad and Julia took the girls to see the cars go underneath us. It definitely is the little things that entertain - they squealed with glee whenever a car went under the sky walk.

Good, Good Morning

We came back to the ICU when it opened at 9:00. The nurse told us that Dad had a good night and was much more lucid. Jacki walked in the room and Dad had his eyes open and said "hi Jacki". She was in the room with the nurse and the nurse told him what happened. Dad asked quote, "what's the prognosis?" and Jacki told him the doctors are hopeful for a full recovery to which Dad replied, "better than a not full recovery".

Jaima and Mom then went in to chat with him and were giving him some ice chips. Jaima asked if they tasted good, and he said, "yeah, but not as good as a good glass of gin." For those of you that know Jerry well, this is a good sign :)

Cam and Anastin arrived this morning, and then Cam and Jaima spent some time with Dad. Cam was telling him that he went to Popo's last night and Jaima said "they miss ya down there Dad" (for those of you that don't know, Dad goes down to Popo's for coffee every week day and for breakfast on Saturdays) Dad then said "I bet so. I am at 30% of their revenue. Certainly, 50% of their tips." It is GREAT to see Dad's personality coming out.

The nurse even said that he thinks that might be moving out of the ICU and have Dad up and about soon. Wow!

GO DAD! GO POP! GO JERRY!

Good Night, Good Friends

After running errands this afternoon, Julia, Jacki, and Mom went back to the waiting room when the ICU opened at 5:00 while Jaima and Alyssa swam at the hotel pool. Dad had a really good day. Julia gave dad a swab with water on it to wet his mouth after the nurse did not come back. Jacki told Dad that Julia did the swab because the nurse never came back and Dad commented "we got stiffed on that request" which amused Julia and Jacki. He was much less sleepy and was able to carry on some short conversations.

The Munderlohs and Mauls came to visit and everyone commented how much better Dad was doing today. Dad and Denny chatted about pheasant hunting and Dad remembered Al and Sharry's daughter Alisha. Right before the ICU closed again at 7:00, the nurse told us that Dad is doing wonderfully. woohoo!

We ate dinner down on 4th Street - within walking distance of the hotel - and enjoyed some time away from the hospital. Mom especially enjoyed herself and the good day that we had. A wonderful time with family and good friends celebrating Dad's successes for the day - it will be so much sweeter when he will be abe to join us in these celebrations.

We returned to the ICU at 9:00 to check on Dad before bed. The nurse told us that earlier he had been able to identify both the year and month. These little successes are so nice to hear! We spent some time with him and he was able to identify Julia from her voice and called Jacki "Julia" accidentily and immediately corrected himself. Although disoriented at times, these steps make us smile and thankful for another day of recovery.

Dad is getting some insulin which is due to the current food (aka sugar type brownish liquid) he is receiving. So many things to monitor and watch.

We are thankful for this wonderful day. Of course, every day has its dark spot. Jacki just spotted kids going into the room next to us with beer and you can hear them partying away. Lovely. Nighty night.

Waiting, Waiting

Jaima and Alyssa are here today to hang out in the waiting room. We're pretty sure the waiting room was a pretty boring place before cell phones, computers, portable DVD players, and wifi. We're planning to take mom out to dinner tonight - she is requesting a salad. I'm pretty sure none of us have seen a vegetable since we got here. Lots of fruits, but no veggies - will be good to know they still exist. :)

Anatomically Correct

This morning, Dad had another cat scan. Jacki spent some time with him and the speech therapist came in - she had him practicing some words, sticking out his tongue, etc. He also had a couple ice chips with the speech therapist and she said he did very well. Jacki also got him to giggle a couple of times.

Mom then spent some time with the ICU doc - Dr. Bacon - and he said that things are looking good. He also talked about how the sleeping is part of the healing process and it is a good thing for him to be getting some rest (which we of course know, but we just want to make sure everything is ok).

Dr. Reeder then stopped by and told us that the cat scan looked really good and that the left ventricle is back to ordinary size. He said, anatomically the brain is moving in the right direction. Mom then said "we just want to hug you" and Dr. Reeder said he would take a hug. It is great to get good news and I'm guessing it is nice for Dr. Reeder to be able to give it as well.

Of course, we also have to worry about other things now - bed sores, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, etc. so hopefully, we can avoid these things, but they are a concern.

We're enjoying the sunny day here in Sioux City - almost 50 degrees today. We're feeling the sunshine is a good sign for the way we are feeling today.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY DRAKE!

Ok - I'm hijacking my blog back today for a personal post. My son turns 5 years old today and I will be missing his birthday party. It was very difficult to leave under such a stressful situation - telling my 5 year old that I had to leave because Pop was sick and that I would be missing his party (actually, I told him I was leaving and he immediately mentioned that I would be missing his party and started to cry).

In any case, I wake up this morning with 4 men in my thoughts:
1) My Dad - and being thankful we have another day to help him get better.
2) My husband - and being thankful for all he has done this week and knowing what a hard week it has been for him with me gone.
3) My big boy Drake - and being so proud of the wonderful boy he has become.
4) My little guy Tanner - and missing the joy in his face.

Happy Birthday Drake Karlen Peavy - I love you very much.



Drake and Pop - May 2008

Cheer Cards

If you feel like sending Dad (or Mom) a little support and good cheer, you can send a cheer card via the hospital Web site. They will then deliver them to Dad's room.

Thanks to all the cheer you have already sent our way.

Hanging Out Pays Off

Jacki and Julia were hanging out by the elevator waiting to go out to dinner. Dr. Reeder actually was coming out of a surgery consultation right by the elevator and stopped to chat. He then he said he would go check on Dad - right place - right time! He gave us an update and said that Dad was doing everything that he asked him to do. He also told us that he would order a CT Scan tomorrow morning to make sure the sleepiness was not caused by pressure on the left ventricle (and then asked if that would make Mom feel better). They are monitoring the pressure every hour and everything has been fine with that.

Also, you can keep up-to-date on the health care policy discussion now. Enjoy!

We're headed back to the hotel to check on Dad and then get some ice cream. Of course, ice cream will NOT help Julia's New Year's resolution. Ugh!

Julia's 35 (even though she looks 25)

At 2:00, Julia went in with the nurse when they woke Dad up. He's very tired today after what the nurse technically termed "a ton of Avitan" he was given last night. He's getting Avitan to keep him calm and help him sleep.

When the nurse woke him up, Julia told Dad she was there. The nurse asked how Julia was related to him and Dad said "my daughter". He also knew Julia was 35 (although the nurse thought much younger - hehe) and he also knew he had 4 grand kids (and named Drake and Alyssa).

We've had a steady stream of visitors which is always nice. Keep the good thoughts comin'.

TGIF!

Julia has returned to Sioux City after taking care of the house - watering plants, running the dishes, packing a bag for Mom - and taking care of the dogs.

The nurses said that Dad had a really great night and got some good sleep. Jacki and Mom saw Dad this morning and everything seems to be going well today. He is complaining of eye pain so the nurses were going to contact an Opthamologist. Mom mentioned that Dad has an Opthamologist and the nurse said we should get that information. Mom got to work and got the information very quickly and took it to the nurse who proceeded to tell Mom that "she rocked". Good to keep Mom busy with some tasks here. ha!

And a correction from yesterday - apparently, Julia doesn't know who the county attorney is. Al is not - Al's daughter Tammy is. However, Dad has always called Al the county attorney. :)

I've also had a couple requests about Jacki's health care policy position (for those of you that don't know, Jacki will get her Master's Degree in Health Services Research from the Michigan School of Public Health in April). I will try to find a link to the article - stay tuned.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of Jacki and Julia (and a random lady) in the waiting room. Jaima is at work today (she works in Sioux City) and will be coming up after work with her husband and girls.

Night (re)cap

Jaima and Julia returned to Pender tonight so Julia can drive Mom's car to Sioux City tomorrow morning and pack some things for Mom. Julia and Jaima attended the spaghetti feed benefit for the band (Jaima did not want to cook) and watched the Pender's girl's basketball game. So many people were asking about Dad and Mom and sending good thoughts our way. It is wonderful to know that so many people are thinking and praying for all of us.

Jacki stayed in Sioux City with Mom (we have moved to a hotel room with a fridge now). Some dear friends of Dad's made the visit to Sioux City again today and did take time to pop into Dad's room. The nurse stopped them and asked who they were. Denny (Munderloh) said who he was and the nurse asked Dad if he knew Denny and Dad said "get him in here". Al (Maul) also was there and when the nurse asked if Dad knew Al he said, "he is the county attorney and also my attorney" (and for those of you that don't know Al - Dad's answer is correct!). He also told Al and Denny to take care of Jean. What a wonderful way to wrap up the tonight's blog. Thinking of dear friends that Dad is actually able to recall. One can only imagine that knowing so many friends and family are pulling so hard for him can only make him stronger.

Good night from Pender, Nebraska.

Thursday Afternoon Update

Just a quick update for all of you. We met with Dr. Reeder this afternoon. Dad had another cat scan this morning and there has been no change - a good thing. They will continue to drain the spinal fluid and monitor the pressure on the brain. We are waiting for the clot to liquify and this process will take up to two weeks. So, during this time, the key is to keep him calm and his blood pressure down so this process can happen as quickly as possible. A feeding tube has also been inserted into this stomach which I'm guessing dad thinks is a good thing - gotta have some food!

Although an extremely difficult time for all of us, we are optimistic about the direction we are headed and happy to have all of us here together. And an update on the health care policy discussion, we found it quite amusing that today's USA Today had an article to support Jacki's position - we're contemplating giving it to Dr. Reeder :)

Many thanks going out to all of you from the Karlen family.

Thursday Morning Update

Good morning everyone! It is a hazy day here in Sioux City, Iowa. Mom, Jaima, Jacki, and I all stayed in the hotel room connected to the hospital last night. Last night they put an oxygen mask on Dad to help regulate his breathing - which is better for him than the ventilator.

Jaima stopped in to see Dad before she went to work, and he was asking for Jean. His blood pressure is much lower this morning which is obviously a good thing and key to his recovery. However, Dad is still a bit agitated and his visits will be limited again today.

I'll do my best to keep you updated throughout the day. We are so thankful for all the support we have received during this difficult time.

He's a "miracle"!!

We spent 35 minutes with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Reeder (Dr. Durward's "back-up") tonight...it was wonderful! He was able to answer all of mom's questions (she had a "list"...does that surprise you?) :)

He started by stating that the CT scan showed that it was NOT an aneurysm (very good thing) but a brain stem hemorrhage. Right now, the main thing we need to focus on is making sure dad is calm and that the bleed can clot. In order for that to happen, he needs lots of rest and quiet time (so basically, we need to stay away for now!). After 7-10 days, they will see if the clot has dissolved on its own and continually check the pressure on his brain. Based on the results, we will determine if he would need a permanent shunt. We are obviously optimistic and so thankful for this wonderful news.

And it was quite amusing that we all had questions and the doctor was more than patient with us. And we even started to engage in a health care policy discussion (and Jacki even asked who makes the shunt product) - oh fun times at the Karlen household.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. We don't know how long we will all be here, but we have margaritas and cosmos (thanks to Steve Munderloh) and each other. Mom of course, was trying to figure out the plan for all 3 of us (daughters) and how long we should stay up in Sioux City, but as the doctor stated, we might be here for both dad AND mom. So, for now, we are very optimistic and thankful for our miracle.

No News is Good News

Hi everyone. We are still waiting on the results of the cat scan. According to the nurse, no news is good news in their world. So, Jaima and Jacki are resting at the hotel and mom has taken a little nap.  Currently, dad is resting and we are checking on him periodically.