Finally Home

Bob is finally home! After speaking to a nutritionist, a social worker, and a nurse who explained his kidney aftercare, we finally were dispatched from the Ronald Reagan Medical Center @ 4pm. We didn't home until 5pm. Traffic, isn't it wonderful? (one hour for 30 miles)

Anyway we are not clear out of the woods yet. There is much more work to do, besides taking new medications. For the next four (4) weeks, we will have to weigh him, log his blood pressure (4x a day), his tempurature (2x a day), go to check-up clinics twice a week (all the way to UCLA @ 5am), and take all kinds of precautions.

These precautions include having to wash our hands constantly. Not sharing any eating utensils, cups, or drinks, or food. He can only eat fully cooked meals; sorry Bob, no more eggs over easy or medium-rare steaks... =(

Also, we will have to avoid big crowds, especially indoors. That might mean missing church, or just wearing a face mask and keeping away from people who are sick or getting potentially sick, that is. Lots of washing of hands. Can we say "mommy dearest?"
p.s., sorry you big huggers out there, we'll either put those hugs on hold or just air hug from a distance! Ü

For those keeping tabs on his creatinine level, on Monday it was 3.6! It is going down slowly but surely.

We have another clinic follow-up (one of many to come) tomorrow. They will take his blood at 6am, they meet with the doctor right after (hopefully no later than 8am) to read the results, check his creatinine, check his long scar, and also check the log readings on of different required criteria that I will have filled out. This will be for the next 4 weeks.

Please pray that I get a hang of this. Of course taking data is nothing new to me, just another task that needs to get done. It can be overwhelming, especially for the person (Bob) who's sick and his personality changes. Is it just me, or are men just whiny cry babies when they get sick? I'm not complaining, just making a statement, wink, wink... I love him to death but sometimes I just want to... Ü

On another note, I want to thank some special people who have been there to support us with meals. Thanks Brian & Helen Walker for the yummy lasagna, salad, garlic bread and cookies. My whole family LOVED it, especially the garlic bread.

Thank you to Alex, KJ, and Olivia Jauregui for the homemade enchilada casserole, the Mexican rice, and delicious ice cream. My nephew Nathan had to big plates of the enchiladas.... yum, yum!

Luz Reyes: Amiga, mi amiga. You know I love you so much. Thanks for writing to me, your words are always so encouraging. You are beautiful in every sense of the the word.

Loida: mi hermana, te amo mucho. Gracias por tu ayada y tu apollo! Gracias por quedarte y cuidar de Bobby cuando era mas necesario! Gracias por todo!

Lili is still here until the 22nd, she cannot leave until she has her follow-up on the 21st of next week. No driving or traveling.

I will keep you posted on the creatinine levels as soon as possible; like I said, tomorrow is another follow-up.

Thank you to everyone that has been praying! Don't stop. I would request that you pray for the following:

Bob:
For patience in his recovery. It is hard for him to rest and recover. He wants to do a lot, but his body says "NO, rest!" For being consistent with his medications... That the creatinine would consistently keep coming down. That the swelling come down on his ankles (water retention)...

Mireya:
For guidance in juggling work, finances, clinics for Bob, sorting medications, and being patient with mood swings when Bob is not feeling well. That I would give my children the attention they need when I'm feeling overloaded and overwhelmed.

This list can go on, but these are the most important that I can think of....

Thank you dear friends and family! We love you all... If you decide to come for a visit, please come only if you are not ailing from something. This request is imparative and not meant to doubt your hygiene or health, it's just that Bob's immune system is very low, and the smallest common cold could send him to the hospital very quickly.

Thanks for your understanding.... Mireya