Janna's View: February 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

From ICU To The Front Pew - In 3 Days

From ICU

to the front pew...

...in 3 days!

He's On The Way Home (Saturday 2/20/16)

So I thought this posted Saturday but when looking at my blog today, I realized that Saturday's post did not publish for some reason!

Sorry about that to those who were wanting to know when my dad came home!

This is what was supposed to post on Saturday.

Daddy is released from the hospital and on the way home!!!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Daddy/Daughter Retreat

Dear Daddy,

Even though the accommodations have been exactly what was needed and the staff has been kind, let’s try and make our next Daddy/Daughter retreat happen in a more fun place!

Love you so much,
Janna

Feb. 18, 2016 Daddy Update: Daddy is still in ICU but the great news is that, since he did not have any more issues with his heart rate spiking (atrial tachycardia), he will probably be moving to a step down unit sometime today!

He celebrated that news with reading – his favorite activity!

Next great news is that his upper bowel sounds are much better today. (The lower bowel sounds have been great since Wednesday morning). The doctor said the upper quadrants are not quite out of hypo mode (not very active) yet but they almost are. So that means they’re FINALLY starting to “wake up!” Now we just need them to FINISH waking up and to START working!

More great news for him is that he has remained nausea free and he tolerated the liquid diet well yesterday so they advanced his diet today to solid food. So I just ordered his first “real food” – as he called it. He is looking forward to his roasted turkey and mashed potatoes but mostly looking forward to one of his favorite foods ever – a piece of cornbread!

I thank you so very much for your prayers! And since I’ve read him all of your comments, he said to tell you thank you for your prayers and he said he can sure feel them working! And they are.

His sugars have leveled out completely and he had a good night last night. He didn’t have any heart issues overnight. His upper bowels are finally waking up. And, even though he is still hiccupping, he has gotten a break from them for 1 or 2 hours at a time.

He is on his 7^th straight day of hiccupping.

So please keep praying for his bowels to completely wake up and start working

and please pray for the hiccups to stop for good.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and your support!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Feb. 17th Daddy Update

Feb. 17, 2016 Update on my dad: He is still in ICU. THE GOOD NEWS... At this moment, all is well with my dad. He has been himself today; conversing with visitors and asking them questions like he always does; and telling every person who comes in here to work with him, “Thank you for your help.” He (and I) enjoyed visits from our preacher (who was also here yesterday as was another preacher friend of ours), another preacher and his wife who also happen to be my cousin and his wife, 1 friend/church member (thank you for your help!), and then we both enjoyed a visit from my children!!!! It was good to see my babies and his grandbabies!!!!

Daddy has not been nauseous today; although he is still hiccupping (we are now on the 6^th day of the hiccups). He has started eating a liquid diet (jello, broth, tea, etc.) and seems to be tolerating it well. In fact, today he said to me, “I’m hungry. Are you going to the cafeteria to get me some lunch?” It has been wonderful to see my daddy be somewhat back to his normal! And the doctors think he might not need the NG tube after all. However, even after much progress yesterday, his bowels are still not emptied. We were all hoping this would happen on its own today but it has not so it’s looking like more medical intervention will be needed. Going home is not even an option without his bowels being emptied from this impaction and then moving completely on their own.

THE BAD NEWS THAT TURNED OUT OKAY…Overnight, around 1 a.m., Daddy’s heart rate spiked with an Atrial Tachycardia episode. This has happened to him 3 times before starting back in 2010 with the last time being in December 2012. When it happened at home and by the time the ambulance would get there and get him to the hospital, they would basically have to chemically stop and restart his heart to get it under control. This time, however, he was sleeping in an ICU ward when, out of nowhere, his heart rate spiked to 167 and they could take immediate action. The only immediate action I could do was to pray and boy, did I ever. It was a very surreal moment as I watched and heard everything going on as they worked to get Daddy’s heart rate down…being so concerned about my daddy and also remembering watching and hearing the same actions being taken the day Rob was dying. THANK GOD Daddy’s outcome was different! But it was a very LONG 45 minutes nonetheless! And I’m very thankful that his heart rate has been normal ever since!

So please keep praying!

Pray for empty bowels; for his hiccups to stop; and for his heart rate to stay normal!!!!

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Update On My Daddy

I've been posting regular updates on my Facebook page

but for some reason could not get the blog to load until now.

Great news is that my dad has

NEITHER

a bowel obstruction

a stomach bleed!!

Thank God!!

Bad news is that he is still hiccuping non-stop;

nauseous when the nausea medicine wears off;

and is severely backed up bowel wise.

since Daddy has made a little bit of progress in cleaning himself out,

the doctor wants to try and avoid the NG tube (pumping out his stomach).

please pray for nature

(alongside the medical interventions Daddy is getting)

to take its course!

He will be in the hospital for a few days.

Thank you for your prayers!

Monday, February 15, 2016

My Daddy

Please say a prayer for my dad, Rev. James Caviness. We are in the emergency room. Daddy has a possible bowel obstruction or a possible stomach bleed. We are waiting on him getting a CAT scan to know how to proceed. Thank you in advance for your many prayers for this man who has prayed for so many over his 50 years of ministry!