Audio-Bibliophiles discussion

Thought I'd make a thread where we could discuss anything & everything. Nothing specific. Just how your day is going and what's up in your life!

I've been so busy lately. My mom is at the top of the list for a Liver Transplant so we are in limbo waiting for them to call. She is stable at the moment, which is good, but the having to stay local since they could call at any time is rough.

I work 5 days a week at a hospital & have a side Direct Sales business that keeps me busy. So life is hectic.

What's up with everyone else??

Nikki, How is your dad doing? My fingers are still crossed that your mom's name comes up soon for the transplant.

Dad is doing pretty good at the moment. No longstanding effects from the pneumonia. Thanks for asking.

Thats great to hear. :)

Keeping my fingers crossed Nikki that things will work out for your mom really soon. I know you guys are sitting on pins and needles with playing the waiting game.

The waiting game sucks!! I'm trying to be patient but it's rough. I'm afraid to go anywhere since I hate to be out of town when they call. I honestly thought she would have had the surgery by now.

I ordered tickets to see Wicked in Charlotte, NC back in December (before Mom got moved up on the transplant list). We paid quite a bit for the tickets and I really, really, really want to see it. I am still planning on going but I guess I'll just be ready to leave early if they call.

That stinks. I know I wouldn't be able to enjoy the show as much since I would be worrying if I could hear the phone ring, etc. Hang in there Nikki. Hopefully it will all work out sooner rather than later.

Nikki, when is the show?

It's March 24th. We plan on driving down on the 23rd & coming back on the 25th.

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "The waiting game sucks!! I'm trying to be patient but it's rough. I'm afraid to go anywhere since I hate to be out of town when they call. I honestly thought she would have had the surgery by now.
..."

I hope you both get to see it, It is AWESOME!!
I have never been to the Charlotte auditorium even though my DD is in college there.

Best Wishes to your Mom and Dad!

Thanks Christine. I hope we get to see it too.

Thank you LindaD.

Well, I'm getting ready to leave to take my mom back to Virginia for her 6 month appointment with the transplant team. Her appointment is at 8:30 in the morning so we drive down tonight & stay overnight. Hopefully all will go smooth & we can get back home tomorrow night.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend!

I'll be thinking of you Nikki . . .
Hoping for the best for your mom!
Hugsssss

Drive safe Nikki and here is to good news!!

Here's hoping for good news and safe travels. :)

I am finally home from Virginia. Mom's appointment went well...nothing new to report. Still in the waiting game for the liver transplant. As of right now there is one person on the list ahead of her (in her blood type). There were two but the first one was having their transplant at the exact time we were in the office...so now there is one. They did say that they thought that patient's Meld score would drop some by midweek so Mom may go back to the top. So, crossing fingers it is sooner rather than later.

How is everyone else's Monday?

Wow, what a horrible waiting game you guys are playing. I'm so sorry.

It was a rainy quiet Monday here for me. Nothing exciting to report.

Well, I'm leaving in the morning for Charlotte. Staying overnight then watching "Wicked" Sunday afternoon! I'm so excited!!!!

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "Well, I'm leaving in the morning for Charlotte. Staying overnight then watching "Wicked" Sunday afternoon! I'm so excited!!!!"

have a blast!

Enjoy the show Nikki!

I am home from my trip, but I am exhausted. LOL. We drove down Saturday morning & went straight to Concord Mills mall and shopped. Ate lunch/dinner, then checked in at the hotel. Slept in, left the hotel and went to the play. Once it was over, we hit the road to head home. We ran into a mess at the Virginia/West Virginia border. There was a huge rockslide that shut down the north bound lanes of I-77. We were stuck in traffic for an hour trying to get through the detour. We then stopped to eat dinner, but we probably shouldn't have, because we then ran into a snowstorm. That part of West Virginia is very high elevation. The snow was coming down so fast, I had a lot of trouble seeing the edges of the road. It was a little scary. We thought about finding a hotel for the night, but I knew the further north we went, the lower the elevation. I kept driving and I was right. Soon, the temperature went from 31 degrees to 40. Snow turned to rain only. The rest of the drive was smooth. I was exhausted though & slept in until 1:30 this afternoon!!! LOL. Haven't done much today, even though I promised myself I would try to finish up getting my tax stuff together (haven't picked up a thing yet!!)

I'm hoping to go back to Charlotte in August. They will be showing Broadway's "The Lion King". I've heard it's Amazing too so fingers crossed that I can see it as well.

Wow, what a trip Nikki, was it worth it?

Im glad you made it home safely.

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "I am home from my trip, but I am exhausted. LOL. We drove down Saturday morning & went straight to Concord Mills mall and shopped. Ate lunch/dinner, then checked in at the hotel. Slept in, left the..."

Sooo.. what did you think????

Welcome back Nikki it sounds like you had a great time! Coming back home sounds a little scary.

I saw The Lion King a couple of years ago when it came to Atlanta, you are in for a treat, it is beautiful!! The animals just come to life.

LOL...I didn't realize I didn't say what I thought of the play. It was AWESOME!! I was so engrossed in the story. The cast was superb and the costumes & special effects were outstanding as well. I was literally crying at the end. Definitely best show I've ever seen. I definitely hope to go see The Lion King this summer. One of my friends that went with me saw The Lion King a few years ago & said she liked it better than Wicked! If it is better then it must be Amazing cause I thought Wicked was Beautifully done!!

I am so glad that you enjoyed it!!
I thought it was the best thing EVER EVER!

Not sure I ll read the books, I own them but I wouldn't want anything to take away from that experience. :)

I may get tickets to Lion King, have to check out the prices etc.

Book of Mormon is here in Chicago now. I would like to go see it. My mom and my sister-in-law and my brother are going. lol, I am babysitting the kids.

Christine wrote: "I am so glad that you enjoyed it!!
I thought it was the best thing EVER EVER!

Not sure I ll read the books, I own them but I wouldn't want anything to take away from that experience. :)

I may g..."

Don't bother with the Wicked Years series. I just finished the last one and I had to force myself to finish. THey are BORING! And LONGGGGG.

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "I am home from my trip, but I am exhausted. LOL. We drove down Saturday morning & went straight to Concord Mills mall and shopped. Ate lunch/dinner, then checked in at the hotel. Slept in, left the..."

THe Lion King is AWESOME! I saw it first in Vegas and then just had to go back when it showed in Durham, NC. How far are you from Durham, NC? If you are willing to make the drive, the DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, is a much better venue than in Charlotte. I'm a season ticket holder to the Broadway Series and they always have a great lineup. This current season I saw War Horse, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins, just to name a few. The Book of Mormon and The Wizard of Oz are a few that are showing next season. I think I may be renewing my season tickets once again. Check out the DPAC at www.dpacnc.com.

WOW Thanks Denise. I will def check them both out. I am in Wilmington.. so maybe 4 hour drive to either place :)
Season tix would be Awesome!!

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "I am home from my trip, but I am exhausted. LOL. We drove down Saturday morning & went straight to Concord Mills mall and shopped. Ate lunch/dinner, then checked in at the hotel. Slept in, left the..."


So glad you had a wonderful time! I have to get my taxes done as well . . . now that I'm retired . . . it takes a LOT less time to fill out the paperwork than it used to . . . . ;-)

Mom just got the call for a liver. I am on my way to her house now. We are driving. Please pray!!!

☻Nikki☻ wrote: "Mom just got the call for a liver. I am on my way to her house now. We are driving. Please pray!!!"

omg how wonderful!! Praying everything works out well!!

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts, my friend . . . hope everything goes well!

Nikki that is WONDERFUL news. I am so happy for you guys. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how you both are doing.

Jennifer wrote: "Nikki that is WONDERFUL news. I am so happy for you guys. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how you both are doing."

Hi, I'm supposing that this refers to Nikki's mom's surgery . . . the message showed briefly and then disappeared . . so I guess it was good news . . :-)

My apologies - it was referring to her being called for the liver. They have been waiting for awhile for one. I don't know how things turned out. Fingers crossed that all is well.

Sorry I haven't been on here to update. It's been a bit crazy as you can imagine. Mom came through the surgery without a hitch. She hasn't really had much pain & they removed at least one line or tube a day. She only has a central line in her neck now. Everything else is gone. The only problem she has had is her oxygen level. It stays in the high 80's or low 90's but that is what she was at before surgery too. That is what moved her up on the transplant list so fast.

I knew she was doing well but My Dad & I came home Wednesday evening and planned on going back down on Monday. I honestly thought she would be in the hospital until at least then.

Well, I worked Thursday & the hospital called late that afternoon. They said Mom was doing so well that they didn't think she would still be in the hospital by Monday. They had a lot of discharge information that had to be gone over with a family member and asked if we could come back down the next day (Friday) for that. I had to call my boss & pretty much left him in a mess since I was supposed to work this weekend.

We get down here and they go over all the info we need. Everything is going well, but Mom's oxygen levels are still running really low. She is on 6 liters of oxygen (which is a lot) and they inform us today that her portable oxygenator won't provide enough oxygen for her to get home on. She would have to have regular oxygen tanks and using 6 liters it would take 8 tanks to get her home. Needless to say you can't have that many oxygen tanks in a private vehicle...they are flammable. Plus she has to be back for her first follow-up appointment this Friday. We would have to figure out the oxygen issues coming back as well. They are now talking of transferring her to a transitional hospital where they can work on getting her oxygen needs at a lower amount so she can get home.

We will see what they say tomorrow but looks like Dad & I may be heading back home until Friday. ::sigh:: I'm just thankful she is doing so well otherwise. I just know she is starting to get a little stir crazy being stuck in the hospital.

Nikki that is great news!!!! If there is an oxygen concern, why is the hospital ready to release ur mom?? Shouldn't she stay a bit longer to get it under control???

Nikki that is wonderful that she is pulling through so well. Hopefully they will get the oxygen levels regulated quickly so she can go home without all the fuss.

I'm so happy for you guys.

Hi Nikki,
Glad to hear your mom is doing well. Have they done any testing to figure out why her O2 level remains low? Usually it's preferable to have it above 90% in room air.
Thinking of you my friend . . .

It has been crazy for me the last few weeks. I've had to work the evening shift at work (I work at a hospital) and it has been crazy. I've left work every day exhausted. I'm actually at work right now. I have 2 hours to go & thankfully tonight hasn't been too bad.

My mom is still in the transitional hospital in Virginia. Her oxygen levels have improved slightly but the doctors, I think, are coming to the conclusion that it will take months for her lungs to regain their function. The liver disease caused the lung problems. Now that she has a new liver, her lungs will start to repair themselves but it will take several months. In the mean time, I think, ::fingers crossed:: they may finally send her home this week. The pulmonologist indicated that he felt she could go home. He needed to speak with the transplant team to see for certain. So, hopefully we will know on Monday what they decide. I'm going to go back down there either Monday evening or Tuesday morning...no matter what they say. She's been by herself for too long. I know she has to be getting depressed. I can see some signs of it when I talk to her on the phone.

Nikki, hang in there. It sounds like you ave a lot of stress but you are strong and everything will work out. :)

How's everyone's weekend going? Mine has been really good. I feel like I have accomplished a lot.

Too close to being over :(

My Mom is Home!!!! I couldn't get off work but Dad went & got her. They didn't make it home until 9:30 this evening & they were exhausted! She is so glad to be home though. Now I pray things can start getting back to normal. I'm tired from running everywhere. I'd love to have a week off to do nothing but read :)

Congrats Nikki!!!! That is great news :)

Delighted to hear this!!!

Good news Nikki . . . glad your mom is home. Hospitals are okay only for the time you need them . . . being home and sleeping in your own bed is the BEST!
The longest time I was a patient and not just working in one . . . was 10 days and I couldn't wait to escape!!