Sunday August 30, 2009 (Day 32)

Daddy was very agitated today. He was even arguing with Dr. Chen & Dr. Keeley about taking him off the breathing machine. For some reason Daddy doesn't want to be off the machine and we can't make him understand that he can't come home until he is off the machine. He insists he's going home next week. I guess he thinks he's taking the machine with him. Dr. Chen said that we needed to try and get his mind on normal things such as masons or the horses etc.

Daddy's still having the headaches so they ordered a scan of his head to see if it will show why he's having the headaches.

Dr. Mathews (kidney) is putting Daddy back on the albumin and the bumex to try and get Daddy's swelling back down again. His kidneys had been doing pretty good on their own getting the fluid off, but for some reason they are just not getting enough off. They had to start another IV for this so he once again has an IV in each hand.

As for the incisions from the surgery, they are looking very good. He no longer needs the wound vacs and seems to be healing well the rest of the way on his own.

Really at this point the only thing keeping Daddy in PCU is the breathing machine. He's got to get off of it if he wants to come home. Now if we can just make him understand that!

Soooo... I have an idea of how to get his mind thinking and maybe working in a more positive direction and I will need everyones help. I would like to make Daddy a video of all his family, friends, brothers (masons) etc. letting him know how much we all need him to get better so he can come home. If you would record a short video and send it to me I will put all the videos together into a DVD and take it for Daddy to watch in the hospital. All you masons' out there if you have a question or something that will get Daddy's mind thinking of something else, ask it on the video. Same goes for all the guys from the gun club. You can also just tell him you're thinking of him and get well soon. Anything you would like. You may email the video's to me at halouf@cox.net or if you don't know how to download and email the video you may mail the video to me. My address is as follows:

Hollie Alouf
5160 Singing Hills Road
Roanoke, VA 24014

Now I do have to put a deadline on these video's so that I can get them organized into my computer, put together and create the DVD video for Daddy. Please have all video's to me by Friday September 4th. I'm sorry for the short notice, I just thought of the idea when Dr. Chen said to get Daddy's mind thinking of other things. Let me know if you have any questions and thanks for your help.