Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Fluid in the lung

Today Rob had another surgery to look at his legs. Well, I got a call early this morning from one of the general doctors. They said that they did a CT scan on Rob's lungs and legs yesterday. They called and told me they found fluid on his left lung and a small amount on his right leg. They were going to put a chest tube in during the surgery. Yesterday Rob's ventilator setting was set to supportive which means Rob was breathing on his own and the ventilator was set up just to support him if needed. By late that night, he was having difficulty breathing. His temp, respirations, and heartrate was up. After the surgery they called me. They said they were really happy with how his legs looked. They said they were healing really well and there was only a small amount of fluid in the right leg that they took out. There was a small spot on the left leg they had to open and left open until his next surgery on Friday. However they feel that didn't set them back any with his progress on the legs. They told me that they got out almost 1 liter of fluid from his left lung. They still have him on the chest tube and will see how much they get out of it in the next couple of days before they decide to pull it. Today when I saw him he was still running a fever and his respirations and heartrate was still increased. Hopefully these will go down soon. He did seem to be breathing easier. I didn't have Julia see Rob today because I knew he didn't feel good. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day for him and she can see him then. Thanksgiving definetly brings on a new meaning for me this year. I'm so thankful that Rob is here with us. I'm thankful that I get to spend Thanksgiving with our girls. Thanksgiving is one of Rob's favorite holidays (July 4th is the other). I feel so bad that he is laying in a hospital bed not able to enjoy it. However, I told him tonight that last year Thanksgiving was not good for me because a few weeks before I had just gotten diagnosed with gestational diabetes and couldn't eat anything and this year he can't eat anything but next year we will have the BEST thanksgiving together with our girls PIGGING OUT!!! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Please keep the prayers coming because he really needs them. We also need to keep praying for all the men and women out there fighting the fight. May God bring them home safely.

45 comments:

Long-time RN said...

Dena, you can count on those prayers.

Next Thanksgiving will be better. One day at a time for now.
Stay strong and have a wonderful time with your family. Again, our family extends our thanks to Rob for his service, and to you for all you do.

Anonymous said...

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving out there. There are many things to be thankful for. We will be thinking of you all a lot tomorrow. Send my best to everyone out there.
Love,
Nate

1776 said...

Dena,

Wishing you all a good day tomorrow.
Thanksgiving and 4th of July are the best holidays.

I am so grateful your girls can be there w/you.

Please tell Rob he has lots of people in Virginia keeping him in our prayers.

Mew

Anonymous said...

Dena & Rob--another small setback, but we know God is guiding the doctors in their treatments and catching all these things early so they can be treated and overcome! We'll continue to pray for no fever, no more fluid so the chest tube can come out soon, and especially for you both and your girls to spend a memorable Thanksgiving together! We thank you, Rob, for your service and sacrifice for all of us so that we might enjoy the freedoms this great country offers. Words can't express our gratitude...THANKS BE TO GOD! God bless...Love and prayers......Jackie & Joe

Liz said...

Hoping tomorrow is a better dya, although sounds like his legs are doing well. Definately so many things to be thankful for. Joe sends his love and strength. Maybe next year you can post pics of the pig out :) Lots of hugs and prayers.

Myrna and Missy said...

Our prayer are with you. God never gives us more than we can handle. Remember you are never alone. Stay strong a keep the faith.Have a Happy Thanksgiviing.

Anonymous said...

Dena you are amazing....Thank you so much for the updates...Rob is in amazing hands yours and Gods...you guys will win this fight...I send Brian off to be in Afghan with Robs guys on Friday and my heart hurts that my husb is leaving....I thank God for Soldiers like my husband and yours and for wives like us....The fight they and we fight everyday is undescribable.....The McGroartys

Maggie Goff said...

Dena, I'm praying tonight again. I asked my priest tonight to pray for Rob. I'm going to hit all the monasteries that have online prayer request pages and put Rob's name there also. Spiritual Warfare. I'm glad you can see your girls.

Maggie Goff
Bisbee, Az

Jason said...

Dena
Just wanted to let you know my family is thinking about yours this Thanksgiving. My wife and I are both Critical Care RN's so it certainly is different to see things through your eyes. Remember smalls steps back will come but slow steady progress to recover is where you are headed.

Thank your husband for his service for me.

Jason

Anonymous said...

Dena ...we will just KEEP ON PRAYING that Robs body fights the infections and that this is just a very temporary setback..and, that tomorrow he has a better day! And, I want you to know I am here in Thought & prayer right along with you on this marathon.
With it being Thanksgiving do have a great day yourself with the girls and your folks. What a precious weekend it will be!
This is truly a Thanksgiving that many of us will put in perspective of WHAT NOT to take for granted and to always give thanks for the wonderful gifts of life and health & to reflect on the many miracles and Blessings that we each have in our lives.
When you think about it, it really is a wonderful thing that there is a holiday, that we FOCUS our attention on all the things we are richly blessed with!
And, ROB when I count my blessings I count YOU... along with every one that is military (and this includes your spouses) again THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE and YOUR SACRIFICES...because of you, we live in the greatest country on earth! And, along with prayers for Robs health...I will continue to pray for all of our soldiers!
I will be thinking of you all tomorrow!
xoxoxoAunt Nancy

Anonymous said...

I hope you enjoy your visit with your girls. Like you said, this thanksgiving brings a new meaning to thanks. Thank God you all get to be together. God bless you and your family.
lacey c

Ashley In Oregon said...

I stumbled across your blog and just wanted to tell you guys to hang in there! Each day that Rob continues to fight is a big step forward!
My husband's battle buddy was severly wounded in a rollover accident and is continuing to heal everyday! It's been three years since his accident and we are so thankful that we all have had those extra three years with Jon!
Hopefully in three years you guys will be able to look back and rejoice at how far Rob has come!
God Bless you guys! And keep the faith!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another year grows calmly old
As I wake to frost on the morning grass;
The quaking tree's have shed their gold
The mountain lakes lie still as glass.
The fields, their summer labor done,
Sleeping now in the cool autumn sun
Our Nations hills in grave accord
Lift up their heads, for all this I thank the Lord.

But nature's great calmness seems to mock -
That our worlds at war and our boys are gone
In far off lands where our armies shock
In many a battle they wage at dawn.
Yet though our nation grimly fights,
This year, to save her ancient rights
At least she wields a mighty sword
Thanks to our soldiers, and thank you Lord.

Safety is ours with some peace lost...
And our cities know no thundering raid;
Our fields can flourish - but at what cost?
Do my children play, still unafraid.
The planes that drone across our sky
Are friendly sentries standing by...
That no invading enemy horde
Or waste our land, so I thank the Lord.

For harvest from the fields we've sown,
For freedom and for righteous laws,
For fighting power to guard our own
And help our weakest neighbor's cause.
For Victory's slowly dawning light-
And dawn it must if right is right.
I kneel in prayer for the freedoms I afford Because of our soldiers - "Oh thank you Lord!"

My Thanksgiving wish I ask for this year...
Is simple in it's truest form. Protect the men we hold so dear....
The ones that are injured or those far from home.

For each of us that has a military link -
where life and health always teeter on the brink...
Grant me this one wish - one that I stored -
Keep our boys safe and heal the wounded -

Oh please grant this wish - I thank you Lord.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FELLOW MILITARY FAMILIES!

May this Thanksgiving give you Peace and happiness in sharing it with the people that you love!

Unknown said...

Dena, Rob, Julia and Eva,

Happy Thanksgiving! We're thankful to have such wonderful people as our friends. Sending you lots of love today and always. Enjoy the holiday with the girls and I can't wait to see pics and hear stories of next year's Yllescas Thanksgiving Celebration. It's going to be a diddy.

We love you.

Big Big Hugs,
Mariani's

Anonymous said...

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Dena and Rob))))))))))))

Prayers - with absolute faith, ongoing.

kkazor said...

Thinking of you today Dena and Rob!
Hope you have a wonderful day with Julia and Eva and that Rob has a great day too. We'll pray for no more fluid in the lungs and temp decreases. There will be bumps in the road along the way, but you both will gome through this and next Thanksgiving will truly be magical!!!
Love and prayers,
Katie

Threehourtour said...

Rob... you are in such skilled and loving hands. I continue to pray for your healing and strong recovery. I have faith that next thanksgiving you will be enjoying the day with your family...free of the struggles you are dealing with now. Strong and thankful for your blessings. Keep the faith and keep fighting..everyone is praying for you as you kick the butt of these infections in true warrior fashion!

Dena..I'm so glad the Doctors and nurses are catching these things immediately and getting right on the treatment of them. I will continue to pray for them as they care for Rob, and of course I will continue to pray for Rob, You and your family. I do have faith there are better days ahead! Enjoy your day with your family...gather strength from them being with you..next year WILL be better! God Bless you all and continued prayers for you, Rob, all those who continue to serve and sacrifice for a better world and their families. We are Forever Grateful!

Anonymous said...

Hi Dena!
Thanksgiving Greetings From Baghdad! Hope you enjoy your day with your girls and family! Know that Rob is fighting hard and that there will be good days and bad. Have faith that his medical staff is on top of it and that he will pull through. He's got literally thousands pulling for him!!! Just think how far he has come...Hang in there and thanks for the daily blogs! Know that you and your family have tons of prayers coming from Iraq! MAJ P

Anonymous said...

Almighty God please keep and bless this one who served our nation. Heal and strengthen him from this day forth.

Happy Thanksgiving Rob and Dena and family.

XOXOXOX

Anonymous said...

Dena, Rob, and Family,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We will be thinking of you guys even more than usual today. Lots of prayers for Rob as well as the other men fighting for our freedom.

I know it feels like one step forward two steps back right now. I'll pray that soon it will be just steady steps forward.

Colleen

Anonymous said...

Dear Lord,
Today we thank our friend Rob,
and worthy men and women
who gave their best
when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country.
We pray that you will bless them, Lord,
for their unselfish service
in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety,
and our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly
for the hardships they faced,
for the sacrifices they made
for their many different contributions
to America’s victories
over tyranny and oppression.
We respect them, we thank them,
we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over
these special people
and bless them with peace and happiness.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

cary said...

Prayers going forth!

Have a happy Thanksgiving, Dena, Rob, and family - and thank you for your service to this country!

Anonymous said...

Thinking of your and your family this Thanksgiving day. Prayers going up - Lord, I know you know how much Rob and Dena can handle. Please Please let Rob get past the medical difficulties. His family needs him so much.

Dena - please let the doctors and nurses know how much they are appreciated by us out here, and that they are prayed for, too.

I am thankful for all of our military men and women and their families for the sacrifices they make everyday for our freedom. God bless them all.

Carol Dzurenko

Anonymous said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ROB, DENA, JULIA, EVA, AND ALL THE FAMILY THERE WITH YOU! Lots to be thankful for this year. We continue to pray for Rob today and everyone serving our great country. Love you, Alayna, Ryan, and Gavin

Chaotic Mom said...

We're thinking about you guys this Thanksgiving. I'm glad you all are together. I hope you have a good visit with the girls, too.

I'm especially thankful that you guys are with such good medical staff, too.

We're always sending prayers your way, as well. God be with you all! ;)

Anonymous said...

Dena: We pray that you can all have a blessed Thanksgiving Day today. I know you are thrilled to have the girls there and Alan was so looking forward to being reunited with Bev and you and Rob. On this day of thanksgiving we are so thankful for the service Rob gave to our country. We pray that today can be a positive day for Rob.

Love,
Aunt Jo, Uncle Steve, Brooke & Ashley

JihadGene said...

Rob and Dena-

I'm thankful for strong and loving couples like you in our world and the men and women serving our great country. Our prayers for and to, you all.

Anonymous said...

Dena and Rob,
There are so many things to be thankful for today, the main one is the fact that you are all together and you have so much to look forward to.
I hope Rob continues to get better, and these setbacks shall only serve to make him stronger in his recovery. We continue to pray for you all.
Ewald

Nancy said...

I'm thankful for you Dena, and all of the other strong military wives that stand by their husbands during the most difficult times... It's a tough job, but you are doing a wonderful job.

I'm thankful for Rob's parents who have both shown their dedication and love for their son.

I'm thankful for your parents who have stepped in to support you in whatever way possible.

I'm thankful for your family who has so lovingly opened their arms to help with your beautiful girls.

I'm thankful for all of the organizations and individuals who are working so hard to make this time just a little easier for you guys...

I'm thankful for doctors, nurses, and physical therapists...

I'm thankful for Rob.

I wonder what the max length is on a comment... haha! I could go on and on.

Today and always, I'm thankful for each day that I have to spend with the people that I love and admire.

Enjoy your day, and count your blessings!

xox

Janice and David Legaard said...

It was so nice of your Dad, Alan, to bring the girls to see you and Rob.

Good job, Alan!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving! We continue to keep Rob and you in our thoughts and prayers. Glad your family could be together again.
Love,
Toby, Jeanne, and Ethan

Anonymous said...

Rob,
Thanks for Giving so much to your country. This year the holiday has new meaning to all who care for you and follow the updates on your journey. We will pray and hope for your continued progress. Thanks to all veterans who serve and the families waiting for their safe return. God Bless

Anonymous said...

Many thanks to Warren for helping Alan get the girls safely to Washington to be reunited with their parents. What a Happy Thanksgiving for Dena and Rob to see their beautiful girls!!! God's Blessings on this holiday.

Anonymous said...

Dena,
You and Rob are in my prayers. I am thankful for you and Rob and the unbelievable strength you both have shown. I am thankful for all our troops where ever they are serving. I am thankful for hearing from my soldier yesterday.

May God's peace surround your family and provide his healing upon Rob. My legions of his angels protect you.
Carol, a 6-4 parent

Anonymous said...

Dena and Family,

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL of you. As the holiday season comes upon on us, with the "hustle and bustle", we all need to remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season", and he will continue to do amazing things for you and Rob in the the days ahead. God WILL continue to use his healing touch on Rob. Your faith is AWESOME, Dena. I am so proud of you and thankful that you continue to keep all of us in Osceola up to date on Rob's progress with your "blog." My prayers and thoughts are with you, Rob, and your families. God bless you and keep you strong.
Love, Mrs. Anderson

Anonymous said...

Dena and Rob:
Big step forward (the legs healing and keeping the knee) and small step back (fluid on the lungs).
Thank the Lord for good Drs. that can treat that so effectively.
There was a reminder on our church (Topeka Bible Church) prayer list about Rob and a link to the blog.
The father of one of Rob's men goes to our church.
You can be sure there will be a lot of prayers for you and Rob from our church.
I'm glad the girls are there and hopefully will get to spend some time with Rob. I know they are a comfort to you.
My continued prayers for you, Rob and the girls and all of your family that is supporting you so well.
Also, my prayers and heartfelt thanks for all the men and women who are serving right now.
All of you military folks who read this: "I salute you and support you. Thanks for your service."
God's love to you
Mike from Topeka, KS

Unknown said...

Dena, we are thinking about you and your family this Thanksgiving. God Bless!

-Mike and Kara Gensert

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving! I know that its soooo hard with all that's going on...but oh my...we need to be thankful for our freedom that people like Rob fight for everyday. Also, our medical teams and how far they have come...they are going to combat this infection and have Rob on the wakeboard before we know it! Dena, hang in there...enjoy your time with the girls and remember to take care of yourself too. We miss you guys and will be praying for all of you!!! Love you guys sooooooo much!!!! Annaka, Aaron, Aizlynn and Amarae

Anonymous said...

Dena
Enjoy your family while they are there, and we will say an extra prayer for all of you while we are "PIGGING OUT". We also want to say thank you to Rob and all of the service men for doing what they have done, so that we can enjoy our families safely here in the USA.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Dena - we are ALL out here for you - praying and knowing that God is taking care of you all!! With love and prayers, Trish Benefield
Rome, GA
TrishBene@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

Dena~ Not sure if you will remember me, but we were all in the same little coffee group at Benning! My name is Mandy Winkelman! Melinda VanTassle sent me the link to your blog and I check it daily! With Brian in Iraq and 2 small kids at home...your story breaks my heart! But, it sounds like things are improving! Hang in There and Happy Thanksgiving!
Brian, Mandy, Hayden and Hannah Winkelman

1776 said...

The prayers and poems on here today are just beautiful!

Hoping the Yllescas family is having a good day today. You are LOVED!

The Morrow Family said...

The Great I Am


Dena, my prayer for your family is:

So tell me Lord
Will you always be near?
If I say a prayer
Will you hear?
Precious one, I am the wind in the trees
The music in your ears
I sent the soft breeze
To dry your tears.
I am the sun so bright
I warm the cold earth
I walk among the flowers
I am there for each birth.
I have always been there
To hear a baby’s first cry
I am there when a loved one
Breathes their last sigh.
I am the gentle rain
Drenching a parched land
Reach out and touch
You can hold me in your hand.
I am the gentle smile
That lights up your eyes
I am with you in your lows
And rejoice with you in your highs.
I am the moon at night
I am the brightest star
I will be with you
Where ever you are.
I am the brilliant light
In your darkest night
I am the calming force
That eases your worst fright.
I am the sweetest love
That you will ever know
I am the endless ocean
With its neverending ebb and flow.
When you have sinned
And you call out my name
I will be the one
Who will take away your shame.
I am the voice in the wilderness
When you call out in fear
I will reassure you
That I am always here.
I am the good shepherd
Who will rescue his lamb
I will be your shepherd
For I am the great I am.

He will be there for you!

karen said...

hi dena , my whole family is thinking of you and rob and your family on this thanksgiving day my son andrew called at 5:30am this morning from afghanistan it was good to hear his voice, it has been 3 weeks since i have heard from him, he ask if i knew how rob was doing and i gave him a brief update,he is in cpt. tylers unit take care and keep your chinupand know that you all are in our prayers karen, ohio.

Anonymous said...

DENA ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING... GOD BLESS YOU.. AND ALL THE FAMILY TOO.. NATALIE I´LL TRY TO CALL YOU BUT IF NO, BY THIS WAY I SEND YOU MUCH LOVE FROM ME AND ISA.

GOD BLESS ALL THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY!! PREYERS FOR ALL OF YOU STILL DAILY!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. We love you very much and included you in our prayers, as always. This Thanksgiving we are extra thankful for the miracles Rob has made and for your strength, Dena. And for the loving support networks of Moms, Dads, family, friends, and medical staff. And are praying that you are 'pigging out' and playing all together at home with family this time next year.

God Bless You All,
Craig, Karen, Logan, and Zachary