Valley Medical Center Construction

These are views of the construction on the new wing of Valley Medical Center.  It seems it should be done shortly, but there are still piles of dirt all over the place.

Wendy's At Work Receiving an Overhaul

Went by the Wendy's one day, and it was all tore up.  It was hard to tell what was going on; whether there hard been a fire or not.  However a couple days later a banner was up saying they were remodeling.

This is across from Valley Medical Center on Bascom Avenue in San Jose.

Progression of My Burn: From Africa to Australia

Shortly after I burned my back, Miranda and Tony said it looked like Africa.  Now it is looking like Australia.  I went to the wound clinic at Valley Medical Center and they removed skin which wasn't healthy, and left the healthy stuff.  Now my back is a nice pinkish red color which is suppose to be healthy.  There are some lighter spots where the bad skin was too stubborn to pull off.  The process was not too painful, however it did leave my back very tender and more sensitive to itches and pain.  Here are some pictures over time.  It is getting better, and the pain is tolerable, and the itching so far hasn't driven me crazy.

After first burned, at Doctor's Hospital

At Doctor's Hospital

at Doctors Hospital

Wednesday

Tuesday

Friday

Saturday before treatment

Saturday after treatment

Sunday (today) after Sheri washed it.

Doesn't it look like Australia now.  I think so.  There is some good healthy healing going on, and most importantly; no infection.  We have gone from silvadene to neosporin as an antibiotic but now also have a special yellow bandage we put on too encourage good skin growth.

I Am Doing Amazingly Well for Having Caught Myself on Fire

Sunday, as we were preparing for dinner, and Sheri had the potatoes on the stove.  I leaned in to catch the warmth off the burner.  I then turned around to warm my back side.  It quickly got too hot, so I moved away from the stove.  The heat didn't dissipate.  I realized I had caught myself on fire.  I did go down and try to roll; but that wasn't putting out the flame.  Sheri was hitting them with her hands.  I jumped up and ran to the entry to the living room, about 15 feet, and in doing so I fanned the flames so I dropped again.  By that time Sheri had a towel to hit them with and put the flames out.  She probably saved my life; but both of us were sort of stupid.  I could have jumped in the shower sooner, or Sheri could have sprayed with with the kitchen sink hose.  Neither occurred to us. She told me to get in the shower with my clothes on to make sure everything was out.  I obeyed, and stayed in the cool shower as long as I could stand it.  I was shivering when I got out.  I then kept a wet towel on my back, because it was the back of my shirt that had burned.  It also singed my hair pretty good, and I pulled ashes out of it.

My under wear (garments) had not burned through, but more melted.  However there must have been plenty of heat as I did a number on myself.  Caleb gave me a blessing that I would be able to withstand the pain.  And I have been able to do so.  It was only bad at first, but I was able to breath through it and it calmed down.  Later I was thinking maybe he should have blessed me that the pain go away.  However after getting home from the hospital I slept well and have not had a great deal of pain.  They gave me a shot of morphine at the hospital.  They also put some cream on it that really calmed it down.  The cream has an antibiotic and a pain reliever.  They also prescribed a couple pain medications.
It have blistered more as some of the heat has settled in.  However it is now healing.  Sheri has been redoing the dressing for me, and we have gotten some of the cream which helps.  I have also taken a few pain pills, but for the most part, it is pain free.  Sometimes if I forget and lean against my back it irritates.  And some of the blisters have popped on their own.  The oozing stuff going down my back feels weird, and itches sometimes.  The worry is the chance of infection.  Especially with the open sores that replace the popped blisters.  However Sheri is keeping the dressings on me.  I am going to try to go to work tomorrow.  I hope it is a good decision and that I won't get bumped on the train.  I keep thinking of how stupid I was to get so close to the burner.

at the hospital

next morning 

today

Valley MediCal Center TB Scare in the Maternity Ward When Hayley Dawn Was Born.

Valley MediCal Center was in the news this past week.  Not for a positive reason, but because of a possible tuberculosis outbreak.   A nurse at the hospital, in the maternity ward discovered she had tuberculosis as part of treatment for an unrelated condition.  She had passed the regular tb screen just a few months before.  Dr. Harris, our children's pediatrician, was interviewed for a news section and told about the recommended course of antibiotics that they are recommending for over 300 infants who may have been exposed.
Dr. Harris indicates if there is potential for exposure that she will be contacted.  This is important as my granddaughter Hayley, was born at the hospital during the time indicated.   However they have not contacted my daughter about any potential exposure, so we are assuming she did not have contact with the nurse.
   

Work Lock-down Over Two Hours Thursday

At work this last Thursday (a day after the San Bernadino Murders) we were asked to stay indoors, lock the doors and stay away from all the windows.  This was at about 1:15 when we were asked.  We got messages on our computer telling us what was happening.  Someone had seen someone with a gun in building K (I don't know where that is) so the Sheriffs put the campus on lockdown and searched for this individual.  The individual did not make any threatening gestures or statements, he was just observed with a gun.  It wasn't until 3:30 when the lockdown was lifted.  They never did find the individual, but they did watch security tape enough to know that he had left the campus.
I had noted on Facebook that a friend was on lockdown in San Bernadino.  My experience was much different.  There was no real shooting.
During this incident our boss had been away, and they would not let him back into our work place.  He was across the street.  However after the lock down was lifted we were visited by all our big bosses from Mental Health Administration.