Tuesday 9:30 am Update

Sorry there was no blog yesterday. I left for the hospital at 9:00 am yesterday morning and just now returned home. I was mistaken - there is not internet access on the floor so I have to wait until I get home to give you an update. Yesterday Steve received a CT scan which gave us good and bad news. The good news is that there is no infection and as far as we can tell no blockage. The bad news is that Steve's stomach is still not well enough to empty properly. At the time of the scan his stomach was so distended it would not drain at all. Unfortunately his stomach tube chose not to work either so they had to put a tube (NG tube), into his nose and down into his stomach to pump the fluids out. They did this at about 6:00. Because Steve was so uncomfortable I decided to spend the night. At about 10:30 I looked up to see Steve sitting on the side of the bed minus his NG tube....HE HAD PULLED IT OUT. The only reason they didn't have to re-insert it was because his stomach tube had started to work. Now the new game plan is to insert a PIC line. This line goes into a large vein and for at least the next two weeks Steve will receive all his nourishment through this line. He will probably be in the hospital for another 3 days or so and then he will come home and home health care people will come over daily and take care of his PIC line and watch his sugar while he is on it. This whole process should only last a couple of weeks but the doctor said if it takes longer not to worry, that his stomach will eventually start to work properly. I am sure this is God's way of teaching us patience! Kay, Norma - put those deserts on hold but don't forget them. Steve will be good and ready for them at the end of this ordeal.