Day 38 - Saturday January 21, 2012

First I wanted to say that Bridgett has been so sweet and loving all the time. The nurses and CNA's always comment on it.  She is so appreciative and always says thank you.  Also, it is cute, every time she eats she says this is SO good.  Or she will say you are SO nice to the CNA's and nurses and therapists.  Or when asked how she is doing she will say SO good.  She emphasizes the so.  Hopefully this is a trend that will continue.  Apparently at this level of Rancho its common to be angry, abusive, curse, etc.  But, so far none of these problems.  Oh, one of the CNA's told me yesterday that it is so good that Bridgett is not having problems since they removed the catheter.  She said that two other people had theirs removed the same afternoon and they are not doing well at all. Bridgett did well at physical therapy and occupational therapy today.  Also, she did well at speech therapy and spoke more words.  During the day if I asked her to hum and then speak, so she did a little bit.  Sometimes she said she was trying to hum, but no sound came out.  For recreational therapy, the therapist, Bridgett and I played Uno.  It went pretty good actually.  We had to remind her about some of the cards not matching that she tried to play, but all in all she did pretty well.  When the doctors came by I talked to them about her peg tube.  She's only had it for 2-1/2 weeks, and it needs to be in for six weeks.  They are not feeding her anymore using the peg (hopefully I posted about that--it was about three night ago they stopped) and they stopped giving her medication through the peg yesterday, so it's purpose is done.  Since they can't remove it for 3-1/2 more weeks, I asked if they can cap it off, more or less, and remove some of the tubing.  There is about a foot of tubing attached to it.  She has actually been telling us that it hurts for several days.  Tonight they put lidocaine on it.  We keep an ab binder around her, to cover the peg so that she doesn't pull on it. Once they shorten it, it will be much more comfortable under the ab binder.  They said they will do this on Monday.  We still have not been able to get the dental clinic (right there at the hospital) to come and reseal some of Bridgett's teeth.  There is one that looks like it needs help and she can't tolerate eating anything cold.  The doctors have been trying to get someone to come up and seal it.  I don't even dare ask Dr. Peacock to come up from Orem, but I think I will call and see if he knows in the Salt Lake area that might come to the hospital and help out.  Oh, Bridgett got to talk to Scott today on the phone.  It was cute!