Dad

Dad still seems to be doing okay. He is getting around pretty well I think. Mom gives him insulin shots 4 times a day. I was impressed when I saw her do it. She didn't even flinch nor did dad. He still doesn't have much of a appetite.

The John Deere pellet stove is up and running. Just about running mom out of the house because dad has it turned up. He is always cold. It's quite pretty too. Not John Deere green like the old one. McKay went down last night and helped them put a thermostat on it. McKay loves to do things like that. I am glad he could help.

Baxter Family

The sun is shining and it looks like it will be a nice day. I am glad the snow is melting. I am ready for spring. I think Matt is also. He lost a couple of calves due to the snow and not the calves not being able to get up. He was checking them a couple of times a night. I think we have around 40 calves now. Still a few more to go.

Bo has been sick this week. He had a fever, runny nose and a yucky cough. I think we are on the downhill side of it though. However Cheyanne and Aubrey have the sniffles. Maybe they are next. I hope not. I did have to go pick up McKay from school early on Wednesday. He said he was sick (sick of school maybe). He said his stomach and his head hurt. He hasn't said much more about it.

It's been kind of a quiet week. So not much to tell.

Dad

Dad came home today. Happy day!! Almost a month ago he started out with colon cancer surgery and who knew it would take him this long to get back home. We thought 5-7 days in the hospital.


Dad is doing good considering all that he has been through. He can walk without his walker but needs to stop and rest. His back is bothering him. Maybe a decent bed and being home will do the trick. Or maybe a ride in his GMC. A nurse from Home Health Care will come out tomorrow and teach them how to give dad his insulin. Sounds like this may be a regular thing now.

It has been a while since dad has been up to Greenline Equipment in Tremonton so before he went home he had to make a visit. Not for parts but for a new, shiny John Deere pellet stove. Their old stove was giving them problems and enough was enough. It got replaced. Hopefully nothing runs like a Deere and this will keep them warm and toasty for the rest of the season.

Sounds like all is well so far. Mom and dad had many visitors tonight. A neighbor even brought them dinner tonight. Mom will now have to start cooking again. Vacation over???

Who knew that so many people would be concerned for both mom and dad. Friends from the present and friends from the past. And not to mention the all the family support. I don't think that they would have ever believed how many people really cared.

Welcome Home Dad. Welcome Home. You have been missed!!

Dad

Dad looked really good tonight. He is up and walking great. He still uses a walker but isn't too far from getting rid of that. He was able to have the catheter removed and that made him feel better. I actually saw him smile a time or two. He looked really good. He doesn't eat much still. He has lost about 30 pounds since this whole thing began.

The Doctor came today and almost let him go home but he decided to have him stay for the weekend and work on his balance a little more. Monday is the big day. I think mom said Home Health will come in a couple of times a week. Not totally sure on that. It will sure make visiting him allot easier for me because Bo is hell on wheels when we go there. There is a cockatiel (not a very nice one) and a big dog named Molly that has lived at the nursing home since she was a puppy. Aubrey and Bo love them. Oh, there is also a fish tank. Bo found the fish food and dumped it out. I think it was a brand new bottle (a pretty good sized one at that). I had to go find the vacuum. There is even a Wii for the residents to play. I wonder if they play Guitar Hero. Wouldn't that be a sight.

Mom and Dad played Bingo today and got Bingo cash. They can spend it at the store on Monday. Ye Haw. I am glad that dad felt like playing. Things are looking up.

Dad

Dad was moved from the hospital on Tuesday. He was moved to Pioneer Nursing Home in Brigham City. He seems to be doing okay but won't eat much. I was impressed with his walking. He shares his room with 2 other men. It is divided by curtains to make three separate living quarters which include a bed, chair, closet and a TV. It seems to be clean but it is a pretty old place and things are run down. Hopefully he will only be there a short time. I think it was harder for me to see him at the nursing home than it was to see him with a ventilator and all the gadgets in him at the hospital. His bladder needs to be retaught and they will work and that then the catheter with come out. He has to have insulin shots so I guess mom will have to learn how to do that. He can go for car rides and out to eat (he is on a low sodium diet). So that might help. I wondered if we should bring him home for a visit. But then wondered if we would be able to get him back in the car to take him back. He can be a little stubborn once in a while. Ha Ha. Anyway, there is progress. Baby steps, remember baby steps.

Happy 90th Birthday Grandpa Olsen!!!!

Baxter Family

Cheyanne had a volleyball tournament in Salt Lake. We left at 7:00 a.m. and didn't get home until 7:30 p.m. The roads were a mess going down and when we came home they weren't too bad until we got to North Ogden. We counted over 13 slide offs between North Ogden and Brigham city. When we got to Corinne it was foggy. It took us 45 minutes to get home from North Ogden.

Cheyanne's team did well at the tournament. They won their pool and ended up in second place. I think there was about 8 teams. The winning team only beat them by two points. They are doing great.

Dad

It's has been a while since I have written. Sorry.

Dad has made progress over the last couple of days. He will no longer have to have kidney dialysis. That is great news to us. He seems to be getting a little stronger. And more stubborn. He has been moved to another room in front of the nurses station so that they can keep a closer eye on him. He tries to get up by himself and they are afraid he may get hurt. His catheter was plugged again. He isn't eating real well and doesn't enjoy the hospital food. He is on a special diet for his blood sugar. His lungs sound and little crackly still. He's not hooked up to the IV all the time now. Just when he needs his antibiotics. He is walking more and has started to go to therapy. He is really restless though. He will go from his bed, to the chair and then to the bathroom and starts over again.

Friday a student nurse and her instructor were giving his an assessment. They where asking him questions about family and what he does for a living, etc. He told them that he was a farmer and there was 2 things he had on his farm. John Deere tractors and GMC. They also asked him what religion was he and he answered "that funny one". Not quite sure what he meant by that. He knew he had 4 children and 14 grandchildren. Sometimes he seems a little confused and other times not.

The time is near that some decisions need to be made. When he gets out of the hospital where will he go. Do we move him to a nursing home or to a rehab? He is not well enough to go home. Mom is checking on rehabs. So maybe in the next day or two he will be moved from the hospital.

Baxter Family

We didn't get any new calves today. Of course because it's not snowing and blowing. We did get a couple yesterday. I am losing count of how many. Matt didn't get much sleep. He was babysitting or should I say calf sitting. When we got up at 6:00 a.m. there was one in the garage. Aubrey was really excited that she got to pet it. It's mother was really mean to it and when Matt checked it during the night and it was almost dead. But it survived. Black Jack (our 15 year old Border Collie) had to share the garage and his pillow and blanket. We keep saying we don't know how much longer he is going to be around. He has been a good dog.

Matt came home from work early yesterday so that I could go spend time with my dad. He took Aubrey to dance and gymnastics. He even had Cheyanne cook dinner so I didn't have to when I got home. She is a great help. Sometimes I think she is my left hand and sometimes my right one too.

Dad

Dad was very tired yesterday. I guess because he has had a rough couple of nights. He slept most of the day. When mom says that dad snores I believe her. He seemed quite comfortable.
It was hard for him to wake up and go for a walk. His walking has improved he is walking a little farther.

The doctors say that his lungs are sounding good and his heart is sounding good too. His blood sugar spiked up to 500??. It's the highest it has ever been. The nurse gave him insulin and a pill to see if it would come down. He did eat a little bit also. He needs to get his strength back so he can come home. He is still having breathing treatments every four hours.

I just talked to mom and she said that dad is going to have a blood transfusion today. His blood is a little low. He doesn't have to have dialysis today so that's good. He is awake and sounds like he had a good breakfast. His blood sugar has came back down. He is getting tired of sitting in the chair and hasn't gone for a walk yet. He isn't confused either today. Maybe another step forward. We will take all we can get.

Dad

Talk about 1 step forward and 2 steps back. He had to have dialysis again. They had to sedate him and tie his hands down because he wouldn't hold still during dialysis. I guess he has to lay still for 3 1/2 hours. His catheter was plugged up and it was causing him allot of pain. The nurses drained it and got 32 oz. of fluid. He tried to get out of bed and escape Monday night and fell (he was going home) . He didn't get hurt though. A nurse stayed right in his room last night to keep an eye on him. He is confused again. One doctor told me that it was because of the medicine that they were giving him. I think he's stir crazy and not used to being down like this. The doctor said that when Dad started acting better we could take him for rides in the wheel chair and get him out of that room. It would probably do him good.

Dad didn't sleep much and was very agitated. The doctor gave him something to make him sleep. He said if it didn't work in 15 minutes to give him another dose. That was at 7:00 p.m. It didn't have much of an affect so the nurse gave him another dose. Matt and I left at 9:00 p.m. and he was just starting to doze off. He kept saying "Lets go".

Mom is doing okay. Yesterday was pretty hard on her. Dad kept asking her to help him go home and she told him that she couldn't take him home yet. He would reach for her with his hand or foot and motion for her to help him. He just wants to be home. He got kind of ornery with her. Darryl got her a new phone. Her old one was giving her problems and wouldn't call out or in. We should be able to get hold of her easier now. Thanks Darryl. Someone gave mom a heart attack on her front door. Whoever did that "Thanks". It meant alot.

Hopefully today will be a better day. Our prayers are with him and my mom.

America's Funniest Home Video???

What do you think? Could we be the $100,000 winner?

Aubrey and Bo was eating lunch when Aubrey told me to look at Bo. He was dozing while eating his Mac & Cheese. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I really thought he would face plant it in his bowl but he never did. He actually finished his bowl and then watched Sesame Street for about a half our before he fell asleep.

We have started the calving season. We have 9 babies so far and just 90 more to go. We have lost 1 calf but Matt thinks it was a twin. Every year we have a bald eagle that comes around and he is back. He cleans up the carcasses of the ones that don't make it. It is my job to check on the heifers every day. Except when the boys are home they get to go.

Yesterday Matt had me take Aubrey down to the bus in the old, grey Ford. She got in and said "Mom Look!" There was a newborn calf on the floor of the truck. She was so excited. She couldn't wait to tell the bus driver. She named him Forest. Now how many kids can say that they got a ride to the bus with a baby calf? It made her day.

Chance and McKay feed every night for Matt. They are a great help and Chance will be greatly missed when he leaves. Cheyanne and Aubrey get to go help Matt feed on Sundays. It is their special quality time with their dad. They grumble about it but once they go I think they have fun. Especially now that there are the little calves to see. It's always fun to see the new ones (Even for me).

I just got back from the hospital. Dad looks a lot better today. He has been moved from Critcial Care Unit to the Intermediate Care Unit room #219. He had his last kidney dialysis today. At least they think this will be his last. He is still having breathing treatments but he sounds much better. Today he had a swallowing test and passed it. He can now eat pretty much whatever he wants. His blood sugar was high and they are still working on that. He had physical therapy and was walking a little bit. He sure has some super good nurses. His spirits seem to be brighter today also. Maybe he will be coming home soon???? Hopefully.

Today has been a better day. They had dad sitting in a chair. He can now have a little bit of water and ice. Yippee!! He wanted a Diet Dr. Pepper. It was a no go. It has been 12 days since he has been able to eat or drink. Mom said he was really tired today. The nurse told her that they are waiting for a room to become available and he would be moved out of critical care. He did not have a kidney dialysis today. The nurse said that his blood would be checked tomorrow morning and then they would see what needed to be done then. It looks like maybe he is on the improve. That's great.

On Wednesday, January 28 my dad went in for surgery for colon cancer in the Brigham City Hospital. Surgery went well. It took about 5 1/2 hours. The doctors felt that they got all the cancer and the tumor was smaller than they expected. That was great news to our family. The day after the surgery all seemed well and we thought he was on his way to recovery. What little did we know. On Friday, he didn't seem just right. He was a little delusional and he sounded like he was getting sick. I went to see him that night and he knew who I was but really couldn't hold much of a conversation. I thought that it must be the pain medicine that they were giving him that was making him loopy. On Saturday, January 31 my mom received a phone call from the doctor at 4:00 a.m. He told her that they were going to transport him to Ogden Regional.

My mom and I arrived at the hospital and the doctor told us all that was going on with him. He was admitted in the critical care unit. He had suffered a slight heart attack, he had double pneumonia, his kidneys were failing and he was septic. The news really took us for a loop. That day was a long one for all of us. Dad still was not in his right mind and wouldn't relax and rest. Mom and I went home for the night.

Sunday February 1 mom and I arrived at the hospital to find that dad had been sedated and put on a ventilator. That was hard for me to see him like that but knew it was what he needed to he could rest and heal. The nurse told us about the eventful morning that they had had with dad. His hands were tied to the bed to keep him from pulling things out so he would wrap his feet around cords, wires and anything he could get and pull them to his hands. He was bound and determined that he was going to breakfast. The nurses found his sitting us in the bed (hands still tied) with both legs off the bed on one side. He wanted breakfast and was very agitated. That's when they decided to sedate him and put him on a ventilator.

Monday, February 2 was pretty calm. Mom and Uncle Reese was able to watch the doctors put a camera down his throat and into his lungs. They were checking to make sure it was pneumonia, which it was. His kidneys weren't working like they were supposed to so they decided to do a kidney dialysis.

Tuesday, February 3 was very quiet. Dad had many visitors of family and friends who were concerned about him. They phone calls were many also.

Wednesday, February 4 was much of the same. I did not go to the hospital that day. My brother Darrin was with my mom. The doctors said he seemed to be doing a little better.

Thursday, February 5 was also much of the same. However they said that they would probably take him off the ventilator in the next day or so.

Friday, February 6 was a good day. His ventilator came out and they woke him up. He thought he was in Brigham City still. He did recognize us and we thought he looked good. They did a kidney dialysis. I think this was his third. His kidneys are still not working correctly. He had progressed but we have been told that he has a long road ahead of him. Tiny baby steps is what the doctors and nurses say.

Saturday, February 7. Dad seemed very tired today. The nurses said that they woke him up about every hour or so during the night to do who knows what. The physical therapist came in and worked with him and he didn't even wake up. Cheyanne, Aubrey and I went to see him today. Of course Aubrey couldn't go back to his room but she was happy to see grandma and climb on her. I think she has missed her. Dad knew who we were and he asked Cheyanne if she had volleyball today and asked how many calves we had. We have started calving and we are up to four. He kept dozing in and out. He asked me "Who is that character over there?" I couldn't see anyone. He seemed a little out of it. Baby steps we have to remember baby steps. I hope he doesn't get discouraged. Oh, the results from the colon cancer came back and all is well there. It has not spread. Great news!!!

Saturday, February 7. Dad seemed really tired today. His breathing is good and he is doing well with his breathing treatments. He recognized Cheyanne and I and he asked Cheyanne if she had volleyball today. Aubrey came to the hospital too. But she couldn't see him. I think she was glad to see grandma though. Reese, Boyd & Ranea, Marla, and John Noyes came to see him while I was there. He has had many visitors over the last week.