This was taken a little earlier, when his staph infection was getting out of hand . . . it seemed to coalesce on his head. The physicians were a bit stunned, but they managed to take care of it.

Eat up, Dwane, before I tackle that plate of delicious hospital food for you.

It was a pleasant surprise seeing Scott. It was his second visit AND he finally got to see Tom who was there visitng Dwane. Dwane looks forward to the visits. He gets extremely bored lying there on the bed. I have to say, thought, he's getting more and more feisty. The therapists are doing a bang up job getting him to walk and maneuver about. Before you know it, he may just walk out of that hospital room. There's still the question of a rehab facility, though.

Recuping

Visiting Dwane today was a long visit, but I don't mind. It was good to see him doing better than yesterday. Even his left thigh was not at inflammed as yesterday, still warm to the touch, but not burning. The anti-biotics must be doing him some good, hmmm?

He's a lot more feisty. THAT is a good sign. hahaha.

Dwane is doing better now and is looking forward to his rehabilitation . . . (not). It's not going to be easy, but he knows he needs to get this over with if he is going to enjoy the kids company this summer. Get well soon, buddy.

Keith (top left), Patrick (top right), the guys (lower left) and me and Tom. We got a little loud, but it was not enough to get the hospital staff upset. Keith, where's the booze? Dwane's thirsty!!

In Room 535

Letting down our hair in Dwane's room can get pretty raucous, so we toned it down. With Tom giving out updates on Dwane's progress, I thought to display it in light of a good time. Dwane likes to doll up when he receives company and he likes company to doll up with him.

Julie (lower left) really got into this! Okay, so did I.

Dwane is looking a lot better, and only after a few days after his surgery. Though some minor internal bleeding has occurred and maybe some infection, he's sitting up in bed and even consuming most of his meals. Good sign.

Can't remember the nurse, but she came in to check his breathing and treated him with his meds, Flovent and Comnevent (sorry about the spelling). Once that was done, his alertness improved and we could hold whole conversations without him drifting off to sleep. Amazing what a good intake of breath will do.

The doc said that he may yet go to the rehab hospital, but perhaps by Monday. The rehab hospital doesn't take in new patients on weekends. It's up in the air. I'll find out more later today.

Pacific Rehabilitation of the Pacific

Got confirmation from Dwane that he is being transferred to this facility for therapy. Sounds like a good place. Looks like it's going to be a four to six week stay for him . . . ugh.

Should get some pics from Tom soon. We took a bunch of them during visiting hours last night. Patrick, Keith and Jimmy dropped by as did Julie and Brian. Pretty packed in that walk-in closet they call a private room. Well, at least we could shut the door.

***well, what do you know . . . Dwane just called and said that he isn't moving to the rehab hospital afterall, at least not today. Perhaps tomorrow. Something about his bandage and possible infection. Hospitals can kill yuh.

Hippy Dwane

Well, Dwane is doing a lot better now, recuperating at Straub Hospital. Boy, what a horrendous couple of days.

He got the hip replaced and probably has a bunch of bolts in his leg too. When Tom and I visited him, we got him some cheery stuff. I got the roses and Tom got Dwane some plastic jewelry, a toy cell phone with a carrying case complete with plastic beads. Well, you had to be there.

Athena dropped by too, a pleasant surprise for all. She brought a picture of the Sand Bar crew, framed and with a cut-out of Keith added to the photo.

We stayed until 8pm when visiting hours officially ended. Had we stayed over, I doubt the staff would have been upset. Dwane is such a model patient.

Still tender after the operation, but he's doing great. Get well soon, buddy!

May 23rd 2005

What a day this has been. Dwane shattered his hip this morning about 12am, maybe a little later when he returned from the Sand Bar. Tom had walked him home safely, but when Dwane came to bed, he fell and injured himself. Yikes!

After a minimal of convincing, I managed to get a couple of paramedics to come by and haul him to the ER at Straub Hospital. The staff were super! It took six hours, however, to get him a room, but during the waiting time, they made him as comfortable as possible until he got a private room. All rooms at Straub are private.

It's been hours and hours staying up and attentive with him before they took him to the OR for a hip replacement (just the left part). He looked a bit anxious about going to the OR, but I have complete faith in Straub. Dwane's a tough cookie. He'll fly through this.

June 23rd!

Looking forward to that date!

Anticipation

Getting news about Valerie and Brennen coming to live in Hawaii is about the best news we could possibly receive. Dwane and I are truly excited.

I don't know how things will work out when they get here, what with the schools we need to consider and where they will live, a job for Valerie, but all in all, I think it will work out. It will certainly be the best thing for Brennen. I can see us all being at the beach every day. B loves the water. I love sun screen.

Kona Coast Dreamin'

We had a great time on this trip, thanks to Paul and April. Their house is beautiful and right on the beach where you can feel the spray of the ocean on your face. It's almost like a religious experience, actually. Most of our time there was just relaxing on the lanai, drinking and chatting, watching sea turtles mosey on by and watching the occassional porpoise. Thanks, Paul and April. This was truly a magical trip for us. Tom sends his regards and thanks and so does Patrick, our bartender buddy and very good friend.

Bubba Gump's was fun. Patrick knew the manager of the restaurant, Chris, and we had a fantastic time. Mind you, Tom didn't appreciate his beer being spilled on him, but all in all, through the cold mashed potatoes and lack of soup . . . it was good. Chris (not pictured) bent over backwards to make things right.
Patrick felt bad that the evening didn't turn out as well as he'd hoped for, but you can't expect everything to be picture perfect each time you go out somewhere.
Dwane enjoyed the gigantic shoes.

At Bubba Gump's Kona

At Bubba Gump's, you have to appreciate their unusual humor, especially in Kona where the people tend to be a little punchy. Our buddy Grundy would appreciate this sign we just had to take a picture of.

Big Island Cruising

Sunday, we took a drive around the Big Island and ended up in Kamuela in the Parker Ranch area. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this stop sign. The vog wasn't so bad up there like it was down in Kona and it was nice and cool. As you can see, I've gained a lot of weight on this trip. Ugh.

You gotta love this pose, huh Jennifer?

We stayed up all night last night and I think I drank too much. Very embarrassing. We ate at Pancho and Lefty's where Tom and I had the Carnitas platter. Dwane had . . . what did he have? Oh yeah, shrimp! Always shrimp! It swam in a Bloody Mary marinade and though it didn't appeal to me, Dwane liked it. So did Tom.

We finally made it to April and Paul's condo safe and sound. Patrick came along with us to make it a foursome. The setting was perfect. The sunset that night was awesome.

Today is the day . . .

Quiet before the storm, of traveling, that is. Got up early this morning, took my walk then scrounged for a cup of caffeine. Settled for a cup of diet coke. hmmmmm.

Dwane's still asleep and I'm wondering if it really will take three hours to pack. I'm just taking a backpack. Hate suitcases. We're leaving at 3pm today, a late flight. By the time we get to Kona, I'll be famished and ready for Pancho and Lefty's for some great Mexican Food, probably the best on Hawaii island, as far as I'm concerned. We ate there back in 1999, May 5th and enjoyed the best crowd of people, not to mention the fantastic food!

I can't wait!

Kona Beckons

Getting close to our Kona trip.  Mahalo, April and Paul!  We really need this trip!

 

 

May Day In Hawai`i

It's smarmy, but I learned this song waaaay back when I was just a little keiki in Pearl Harbor Elementary School.

"...May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i

Garlands of flowers ev'rywhere,

All of the colors in the rainbow

Maidens with blossoms in their hair

Flowers that mean we should be happy,

Throwing aside a load of care,

Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i

Lei Day is happy day out there."

~ Red Hawke, 1928

I just never realized it was such an old song!