Johnny continues to improve, much to Bill's delight; however, Ronee' is now in the hospital; she will be in for a few days until they get her arthritis flare under control. (Ronee' has severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; she's has had it for ten years now.)
Friday, September 28, 2007, 11:30 p.m., D.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~
Nashville Memorial Hospital, Pediatric Wing~
Dear Journal~
Bill here. Just got through talking with Dr. Hansen, Ronee' 's joint doctor. Looks like Ronee' is most definitely flaring; she has been admitted to the (regular) pediatrics floor, across the way from the Progressive Care Unit; she will be in for a few days at the most, but she is going to be okay.
Great. Just ducky. Just what I did not want to hear. Now I have two children in the hospital, not just one.
Johnny is steadily improving; today he asked for a soda to soothe his raw, parched throat. He's still on liquids, so he got cranberry juice instead. Oh, what a face he just made; looks worse than a wrinkled prune! LOL He will probably be on liquids for another day before they switch him over to soft foods. Then he can have all the sodas he can drink.
Ronee' is getting settled in her room; she is across the way from Johnny. She is still in a great amount of pain; and they have her on oxygen, to ease her breathing difficulty. It's not severe, but it is uncomfortable for her, so they have her on the oxygen as a precaution. They also have her on a heart monitor, just to keep an eye on her. So far, everything seems to be in order. I will see her once she is ready to have visitors.
In the meantime, I'm with Johnny, her brother. Johnny must really be bored; he is trying (in his clumsy way) to make paper airplanes out of his straw wrappers. He is more than ready to go home, but of course, that's not possible; doctors want him to be able to eat solids without him getting sick, and they want to make sure that his new seizure medication is working.
(It is so far. Hope it continues.)
I will have to get some car magazines or some books from home for Johnny, that way he can have soemthing to do while he is in the hospital recovering.
I just called Louie to tell her; she was upset to hear about Ronee', but she laughed when I told her about Johnny's "art project" and his "prune face". She is trying to continue getting her e-mails answered and paying the bills online.
I told her I'd bring her some Burger King while I was out; she said that was fine, but she told me to bring her a small Whopper and a salad, plus a glass of iced-tea.
My wife: ever the health conscious nurse. Something I should be: no, not a nurse (can't even stand the sight of blood, especially if it's my own!), but more conscientious about my physical health. No wonder I have so much in the way of problems! (Tsk, tsk, tsk, Bill, you're a bad boy!)
Okay. The nurse just alerted me, told me that Ronee' is safely in her room. I will have to visit her. Be back in a few~
Just saw Ronee', but not for long: she wanted to be left alone. She is too miserable; all she wants to do is have something to ease the pain in her joints, the chest pain, and the migraine headache. All she wants to do is lie there and sleep. I don't blame her. When I'm sick, I'm worse than a baby: I am in constant want of atttention, just so someone can feel sorry for me. (It works, too. *grins*) Guess I will go back to Johnny's room...
Johnny is looking at me, wondering why I didn't see Ronee'. "But I did see Ronee'", I told him, "She is a grouch; she wants to be left alone". At that, Johnny laughed. He is--oh, yuck! He just spilled cranberry juice all over the white bedspread; it now looks like there's been a mass murder in Johnny's hospital bed! The nurses are going to freak when they see the mess my son has made! LOL
Well, I will go now; am getting hungry, so I will write another day. I also have that Junior Whopper and salad to pick up at Burger King for my wife. Take care and God bless; hopefully it will continue to be good news for Johnny!
We shall see.
~Bill. :)
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Reviewed by chris stienstra
10/1/2007
We continue to pray for you and all in your family. Thank you for keeping us posted.
My very best
Chris
Enjoyed the good news, glad that Johnny is improving. Sorry to hear about Ronee, arthritis is a terrible disease. I have a good friend whom I taught with that has had to retire early due to the pain, swelling, and near unbearable flare ups...a compelling journal entry my friend! Enjoyed as always!
Blessings,
Joyce B.
Well, I was hoping Johnny would go home from the hospital like me, feeling well and happy. Instead his sister, Ronee, is joining him. I have a friend with crippling arthritis and she never complains. She says humorous things like, "Arthur visited me yesterday and just wasn't happy until he made me miserable." She is a sweetheart but is nearly unable to do much of anything. Your stories always remind me of someone I know. (I'm home with a good report on all tests.) Cheers!
Two children now in the hospital?! God Speed on both their recoveries, and God's Blessings on both you and your wife. And LOL at Johnny's Cranberry Juice Escapade!
Never a dull moment in Bill's world: what a trouper he is, with two sickies in hospital! :) Better take care of HIMself, or he'll wind up in the loonie bin! LOL Well done, Karen, a lot of humor amid the pain. :)
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