As it turns out....

Tucson
April 15, 3:30 p.m.

Al is home. Boy what a day this has been! I got to the hospital in time to see the first doctor of the day, he was the "hospitalist" and he said that it didn't look like the picc line was infected, however, the skin and area around the picc line was really inflamed (duh!!) and that Al had an allergic reaction to the plastic bandages and tape that was used (really??? That I could have told him!!) He said the plan was to pull the picc line from the right arm and insert it into the left arm. For this Al would have to be hospitalized for a couple of days. He had written orders to have him moved to a room (we were still in the ER at this time)and he would see us later.

Next, in comes Dr. Rumans, who is our Infectious Disease doctor. He looks at the area and the picc line and says, "Nope, picc line comes out and I am going to put him on oral antibiotics and let him go home!" Now we are talkin'! He said he would call lthe hospitalist and let him know. The Picc line team would be in about 1:00 to pull the line. Once that was done, we could go home. Whoppee.

Around noon I decided to go to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. They usually have such good food there...but not today unless you like Cheese filled manicotti and the manicotti so al dente it crunched! I get back to the room and the picc line has been pulled and after a bit of confusion with the nurses, one thinking he was to be admitted, the other thinking we were going to be discharged..she won....we are outta' there! Of course we have a fist full of prescriptions, but that's okay! The knee looks good, a bit red and warm to the touch, and of course we have an appointment to see the doc next week, but we escaped the hospital in good shape this time. Al feels good and is very glad to have escaped with less than a 24 hour stay...all in the ER!

The wind is really blowing...it has been for the past 2-3 weeks, but today seems to be the worst. Gusts up to 60 mph and we are hanging on to the top of this hill for dear life! Of course it is trash day today and our neighbor was so kind to rescue our trash can as it was blowing down the road!!! We were gone last April, but our neighbors said it was just as windy. This time last year we were sailing the Panama Canal. And Al was sick. Maybe we just skip the first 4 months of the year!!!

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy.....