Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a good Halloween; I wanted to say something about it because I know that Karen loves this holiday almost as much as I do, and if she were able she would definitely have her witch's costume on!
I called her room earlier and spoke to Dad; he said she's doing about the same as yesterday but also that the nurses have noticed she perks up after about 6 pm - maybe I was right, 9 AM was just too early for her! She's always been such a night owl :)
Most encouraging was that he was able to hold the phone up for her for a few minutes, and I was able to say hello and talk to her a little bit. She mostly just said yes, no, or uh-huh, but she was engaged in the conversation enough to know what I was talking about. She sounded as if she was feeling pretty well. I told her I had talked to David, our brother in law, and that he said hello and I think she was happy to hear that.
Not much else to report, since the hospital staff is on the weekend staff so they don't do as much.
Hope everyone has a safe and fun evening, and I'm interested to hear about costumes! (I'm going as Charon the Ferryman, because I was inspired by a 60% off sale ^_~)
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Oops I almost forgot
Addendum: they removed the chest tube today which is really good progress.
Also this may be silly and something she doesn't really need, but I'm going to try and scour Halloween sales tomorrow for black cat plushies; I thought since she can't really have Morgan for a while, maybe she'd like a couple substitutes. By no means am I looking for an avalanche of plushies but I might not be able to find any... so if anyone happens across a good one let me know :)
Also this may be silly and something she doesn't really need, but I'm going to try and scour Halloween sales tomorrow for black cat plushies; I thought since she can't really have Morgan for a while, maybe she'd like a couple substitutes. By no means am I looking for an avalanche of plushies but I might not be able to find any... so if anyone happens across a good one let me know :)
Home safe
Evening Troupers,
I'm safely back in NY, despite an apparent effort by the B'ton hospital to sabotage me - I think my coffee I bought there this morning was decaf, which would explain the headache and general ICK feeling I had until I bought Starbucks in the afternoon. I was actually afraid I was getting a Migraine, and that I was going to have to stop and sleep in the car for a while but apparently the coffee was all I needed, and I got in about 10:30.
I talked to Dad and he said they probably won't move her to Indy for a couple of days, so I assume she'll stay in that same room until then. I'll update if that changes.
Unfortunately, she did not remember me waking her up briefly and saying good bye this morning, which makes me a little sad, although I know I certainly don't remember things said to me when I'm half asleep, but I had also written her a note saying good bye and Dad read it to her and she appreciated that. She was pretty zonked out all day I guess.
The speech therapist said she was 'sharper, but less responsive' today; it seemed to me that she just wanted to sleep this morning and I guess that kind of lasted all day. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be feeling a bit more alert.
Dad said he thinks getting her glasses to her might help her with her vision; we're pretty sure they're in her stuff that I passed over to him. I guess he was concerned that she had to hold the pictures close to her face, although since they are small I don't think that's really all that unusual without glasses.
Things I learned on the way back today: Do not order the actual 'food' at the Dairy Queen on 70 East, at the exit with the candle outlet. Also, if you have cruise control, people will follow you to maintain their speed, even if they're only 4 feet off your bumper!
A little background on the DQ, Karen and I have stopped there a couple of times for ice cream in the last year, so I guess it's a little tradition we started. I stopped there today and I decided to try a sandwich... it was pretty scary. Overall it was edible and it didn't make me sick or anything, but... almost $5 for a 'grill' sandwich that had rock hard toast, tons of mayo, and cheese that looked like plastic... not a good thing.
cheers,
-Ro
I'm safely back in NY, despite an apparent effort by the B'ton hospital to sabotage me - I think my coffee I bought there this morning was decaf, which would explain the headache and general ICK feeling I had until I bought Starbucks in the afternoon. I was actually afraid I was getting a Migraine, and that I was going to have to stop and sleep in the car for a while but apparently the coffee was all I needed, and I got in about 10:30.
I talked to Dad and he said they probably won't move her to Indy for a couple of days, so I assume she'll stay in that same room until then. I'll update if that changes.
Unfortunately, she did not remember me waking her up briefly and saying good bye this morning, which makes me a little sad, although I know I certainly don't remember things said to me when I'm half asleep, but I had also written her a note saying good bye and Dad read it to her and she appreciated that. She was pretty zonked out all day I guess.
The speech therapist said she was 'sharper, but less responsive' today; it seemed to me that she just wanted to sleep this morning and I guess that kind of lasted all day. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be feeling a bit more alert.
Dad said he thinks getting her glasses to her might help her with her vision; we're pretty sure they're in her stuff that I passed over to him. I guess he was concerned that she had to hold the pictures close to her face, although since they are small I don't think that's really all that unusual without glasses.
Things I learned on the way back today: Do not order the actual 'food' at the Dairy Queen on 70 East, at the exit with the candle outlet. Also, if you have cruise control, people will follow you to maintain their speed, even if they're only 4 feet off your bumper!
A little background on the DQ, Karen and I have stopped there a couple of times for ice cream in the last year, so I guess it's a little tradition we started. I stopped there today and I decided to try a sandwich... it was pretty scary. Overall it was edible and it didn't make me sick or anything, but... almost $5 for a 'grill' sandwich that had rock hard toast, tons of mayo, and cheese that looked like plastic... not a good thing.
cheers,
-Ro
"Early" morning update
Hey Troupers,
I'm sitting by Karen's bedside this morning before I leave for NY; she is kind of half awake and has already had a couple other visitors. I'm trying to stay quiet until I tell her good bye though. The nurse who came in and checked her breathing said it was a bit shallow but that it sounded good. We are hoping they will take out the chest tube today, which will facilitate the choices for the rehab facilities, since some won't take her with the extra hardware.
Speaking of those facilities, we haven't made a choice just yet - I know we said they might move her today but I'm kind of thinking that won't happen, since Dad has to get some more info on the centers. He said he would ask his sister to go research them a bit today. I will hopefully find out more tonight or in the morning, after I get home.
I got this this morning from her friend Mike G: "I had a great conversation with Karen tonight about Smallville, all her great cycling friends, Morgan etc. She even looked at some pictures that a friend had brought in of her trip to see Melinda. It was absolutely great! She smiled a lot and even chuckled a bit. "
Our family is so appreciative of everyone's efforts to pray for her and show their support - I especially want to thank Todd for letting Dad stay with him, Colin and Lynn and their family for gathering Karen's stuff and also letting me stay there a few nights; Duane and Jennifer for offering up the house with a bed for me to move to, Kevin and all her other rider friends for telling us the details of what happened and for taking such great care of her till we got here. Thank you Mike for coming by the hospital and engaging her in the Smallville conversation! Also Vince and Sherry for taking care of her work concerns and ESPECIALLY for taking care of Morgan - we all know how much that cat means to her! Lastly, I'd like to thank the unknown Green County EMTs and the Doctor who were riding in the Hilly - it sounds like she might have been in a really bad spot if they hadn't been right on scene out there. If anyone knows who they are, please pass it on!
I'm sure there's more people I'm forgetting and I apologize for that, but I've had so much to keep track of that I know I'm losing a few things.
I'm heading off to NY in a few minutes but Dad will be out here for pretty much as long as she needs him, and I may come back in a week or so depending on his needs and her progress. I'll keep the updates coming as I am able.
Cheers, and keep up the good work :)
-Ro
I'm sitting by Karen's bedside this morning before I leave for NY; she is kind of half awake and has already had a couple other visitors. I'm trying to stay quiet until I tell her good bye though. The nurse who came in and checked her breathing said it was a bit shallow but that it sounded good. We are hoping they will take out the chest tube today, which will facilitate the choices for the rehab facilities, since some won't take her with the extra hardware.
Speaking of those facilities, we haven't made a choice just yet - I know we said they might move her today but I'm kind of thinking that won't happen, since Dad has to get some more info on the centers. He said he would ask his sister to go research them a bit today. I will hopefully find out more tonight or in the morning, after I get home.
I got this this morning from her friend Mike G: "I had a great conversation with Karen tonight about Smallville, all her great cycling friends, Morgan etc. She even looked at some pictures that a friend had brought in of her trip to see Melinda. It was absolutely great! She smiled a lot and even chuckled a bit. "
Our family is so appreciative of everyone's efforts to pray for her and show their support - I especially want to thank Todd for letting Dad stay with him, Colin and Lynn and their family for gathering Karen's stuff and also letting me stay there a few nights; Duane and Jennifer for offering up the house with a bed for me to move to, Kevin and all her other rider friends for telling us the details of what happened and for taking such great care of her till we got here. Thank you Mike for coming by the hospital and engaging her in the Smallville conversation! Also Vince and Sherry for taking care of her work concerns and ESPECIALLY for taking care of Morgan - we all know how much that cat means to her! Lastly, I'd like to thank the unknown Green County EMTs and the Doctor who were riding in the Hilly - it sounds like she might have been in a really bad spot if they hadn't been right on scene out there. If anyone knows who they are, please pass it on!
I'm sure there's more people I'm forgetting and I apologize for that, but I've had so much to keep track of that I know I'm losing a few things.
I'm heading off to NY in a few minutes but Dad will be out here for pretty much as long as she needs him, and I may come back in a week or so depending on his needs and her progress. I'll keep the updates coming as I am able.
Cheers, and keep up the good work :)
-Ro
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Moving rooms tonight
A little news, the ward decided to give Karen a private room, partly because we had them bring up a recliner for Dad, and partly I think because she's been getting a ton of visitors. The new room number is 4110.
Cards and flowers can be delivered here, although since she's hopefully moving to Indianapolis soon flowers should maybe wait until she's in the rehab center.
Please feel free to pass this blog on to anyone you know that might want to track her progress. Also, thanks again to everyone here in Bloomington (and beyond!) who have offered up help to Dad and I.
Cards and flowers can be delivered here, although since she's hopefully moving to Indianapolis soon flowers should maybe wait until she's in the rehab center.
Please feel free to pass this blog on to anyone you know that might want to track her progress. Also, thanks again to everyone here in Bloomington (and beyond!) who have offered up help to Dad and I.
Introduction
Welcome to Karen's Troupe, a blog intended for use by all my sister Karen's friends and family. My hope is that this site will the main artery for updates on her progress.
As most people now know, Karen was riding her bicycle with the Hilly Hundred in Bloomington, IN on October 24, 2009, when she was involved in an accident where she collided with an SUV.
As of this writing she has been at the Bloomington Hospital since the accident; first in the ICU and then on the fourth floor in the orthopedic/neurology ward. She is making excellent progress and hopefully will be moved to a rehabilitation center in the next couple of days, most likely in Indianapolis although that is not concrete yet.
I am driving back to New York on Friday Oct 30 but will try to keep this updated as much as possible.
As most people now know, Karen was riding her bicycle with the Hilly Hundred in Bloomington, IN on October 24, 2009, when she was involved in an accident where she collided with an SUV.
As of this writing she has been at the Bloomington Hospital since the accident; first in the ICU and then on the fourth floor in the orthopedic/neurology ward. She is making excellent progress and hopefully will be moved to a rehabilitation center in the next couple of days, most likely in Indianapolis although that is not concrete yet.
I am driving back to New York on Friday Oct 30 but will try to keep this updated as much as possible.
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