Dangerous and Exciting

It's been two weeks today that Steve was transported by ambulance from Tulane Medical Hospital in New Orleans to our home, under the direction of Odyssey Hospice.

I would have blogged sooner, but my computer was down and taking care of Steve round-the-clock has been more than I expected. Although, I don't know what I expected, but it has seemed like a sink-hole treasure hunt at times...quick sand, in fact.

Coached by the Odyssey nurse, my daily routine roughly consists of taking blood pressure, checking blood sugar, giving medicines, administering liquid diet through feeding tube in intestines (his stomach was removed), and somehow getting him showered, diapered, and dressed for the day.

Because doctors removed Steve's pancreas, he is diabetic, so I'm sticking Steve's finger three times a day to check blood sugar

• giving insulin injection if blood sugar too high
• injecting routine insulin twice a day
• crushing up to five different pills twice a day
• numerous liquid meds

Oh! Did I mention I'm a high school English teacher, NOT a nurse? What we do for love....anything.

Now the fun part:

Steve has moments of delirium where he doesn't know where he is, which way is to the bathroom, what year it is, or why I'm not at school teaching. A side effect of a long history of drinking alcohol, Steve behaves at times like a "dry drunk," even though he hasn't drank since November 1st, when this all started.

The angry, hostile, paranoid, verbally abusive, violent, non-compliant alcoholic I've lived with for over 30 years, reappears...in the middle of the night, during the day, early in the morning...never quite know when to expect "him."

At other times, Steve is the man I married: sweet, kind, thoughtful, considerate, hospitable, caring, loving, the God-fearing man of integrity and faithfulness that warms the cockles of my heart and is the reason why I do what I do.

Suffice to say, this treasure hunt has been adventurous...dangerous and exciting.