Day 50 - A Change of Plans for the Next 3 Days

Ken and I woke to the 5:30 alarm and at the same time Cindy was leaving me a text message.  Dad's nurse in ICU said he was between Critical and Guarded Condition, very serious.  He had a blood infection that was throughout his body. He was on large doses of IV antibiotics and as much oxygen as they could give him through a mask.  But, the antibiotics seemed to be helping as his numbers were improving.  

We left the CG at 7 and were on our way to Pahrump, NV about 1 1/4 hours from Death Valley.  Saw lots of interesting things on the way.  We drove 376 miles today going up and down some rather long grades.  At one point the thermometer in Waldo read 106 degrees.  We did stop for gas and then another time just to let the engines have a break and to go through the gears in our CRV's.  At the last stop there happened to be a Dairy Queen, so we decided to take a break and have some ice cream.  We talked while there and decided to change our plans and the CG we would go to for the next 3 nights. 

Soon after leaving our CG.  So much
produce and vineyards in the area!

More produce!

Love those flowering bushes along the highways and the
bonus - palm trees!

Oil drilling equipment in the middle of the vineyards!

The famous Joshua trees!  Not too attractive!

This is a borax factory.

The road before this was 20 Mule Team Borax!
Are you old enough to remember those ads on TV!

Lots of onions!

Going through the Mojave Desert!

Instead of heading to Pahrump, we went southeast of Las Vegas and are staying in a Passport America CG.  It was 100 degrees when we arrived at 4 PM.   Death Valley, at 110 degrees today, is about 2 1/4 hours from here, so we will leave early tomorrow morning to "check it out".  Probably no long hikes will be involved!  This will make our drive to Zion on Tuesday shorter and if for some reason I would need to go home to be with my family, I could fly out of Las Vegas.

Amazing how the scene changes when you cross the line into
Nevada.  Instead of all desert, you now have lots of
casinos!

We are now crossing the state line!

That is Las Vegas off in the distance!

Beautiful bridges and wall barriers along the highways!

Throughout the drive, Lanie, who had picked up my mother and took her to the hospital this morning, texted all of us (Cindy, Jamie and me) with updates on Dad.  Fortunately, when Lanie and Mom arrived at the hospital dad was looking great, for his color had returned, his blood pressure was good, and he was coherent and talkative.  Jamie would have come to the hospital too, but her family had gone to the Poconos last night for Dane's triathlon on Sunday and we encouraged her to stay there and we would keep her posted on his condition.  Long story short, they took him to the OR to do a procedure around 3 where they put a tube in his back to allow the urine to flow out directly from his kidney.  All of this problem started with a kidney infection.  He is doing well since the surgery needing less oxygen and his vitals and lab work are getting back to normal.  This guy really is a miracle man.  The nurse said if all continues he should be out of ICU tomorrow or Monday.  

So, I am feeling very thankful and after talking to my mother and my sister this evening, it appears that everything is on the right track for my dad.  After dinner, we relaxed watching some TV and doing computer things.  Chuck and Melissa went to Wal-Mart and we will probably not get together to play games this evening.  How sad!  It's a nightly ritual!