ANOTHER ER VISIT..

Came home today at 5:05 p.m. from staying with Mother to find hubby sitting in his recliner clutching the arm rests. He looked awful and I felt his forehead. Temp was 100.7! I tried calling both the doctor he saw yesterday and our family physician he saw today, but, of course, both offices were closed for the day.

I pulled him out of his chair and pointed him in the direction of the car and took him to the ER. He had an infection and is totally miserable! We got antibiotics and will revisit doctors tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mother continues about the same. No real improvements at this point although the doctor did call in a specialist who came by this afternoon.

MY NPR BROADCAST

My debut on NPR is now available at http://www.hppr.org/hpw.html. Just scroll down to the picture of my book and click on the green title. You can listen to my response to the interviewer's questions and also hear my granddaughter, Em, respond to the interviewer's question about growing up in Pampa, TX.

That was an exciting discovery today! I am so pleased with the way it turned out.

MORE UPDATING...

Met with the doctor this a.m. and he is not too worried about the racing heartbeat episode, but the big concern this a.m. is that Mother's lungs have filled with fluid again. He said that Mother evidently likes him too much and wants to stick around the hospital a few more days. That's all we need--a comedian for a doctor. Actually, he did get me to laugh, so I guess he is pretty good to have around now and then.

ANOTHER SETBACK

Just got a call from the hospital that Mother had a dangerously high heart-racing episode so she will NOT go home tomorrow. Ah well! I feel like I am on a roller coaster!

"DODGED ANOTHER BULLET"

Whew! Well, I guess we dodged another bullet on this one. Friday the doctor and I both thought things looked really dismal and they were even worse on Saturday, but today the doctor and I scratched our heads in amazement because all of Mother's problems seem to have reversed themselves (power of prayer??) and he is sending her back to the Summit tomorrow. She will be on the skilled nursing floor for a time and she has a lot of strength to regain, but the doctor says she has nothing terminal at this point.

Meanwhile, back at home hubby is very irritable and "irritated" (in more ways than one) because of his recent urinary tract blockage. We see the urologist tomorrow, so maybe things will improve for him. The only glitch is that Mother will probably be released from the hospital about the same time hubby is due at the doctor's office. And I have not yet learned the art of bi-location--ding it!

My sister came in last night and we spent quite a bit of time with Mother. It was good to have another person to consult with and help me with decisions. However, she had to return to work tomorrow, so I put her on the plane this afternoon.

And, my sister-in-law in NM continues to have serious health problems that are keeping her in the hospital, in serious pain, and stumping all the medical professionals. My brother is wearing down after two weeks of this. Fortunately, he is getting good news from our neck of the woods and one of his sons has flown in to be with them this week.

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful prayers and support.

FRUGAL FRIDAY

My Frugal Friday post went by the wayside as I spent my time at the hospital. We were supposed to take Mother back to her residence at the Summit in the morning, but when I arrived at the hospital it was evident that Mother was not going anywhere. Her lungs had filled with fluid overnight and the doctor just shook his head. He said we were walking a tightrope at this point and things could go either way at any time.

During the day Mother had terrible periods of pain, coughing and congested breathing interspersed with periods of wakefulness where she was congenial and talkative. She woke up before lunch and dinner and looked forward to eating although she picked through her food, tasting things that looked good and rejecting other things, leaving them untouched.

Although the day at the hospital was difficult, the people caring for Mother were wonderful. The doctor said he was off over the weekend but would probably come in to take care of Mother. The two nurses assigned to Mother were sweet, attentive and caring--both with Mother and with me. Our priest came by to give Mother a blessing and gave me a boost along with a chuckle or two. My poor, ailing husband came to let me cry on his shoulder. My nephew came to lend his support although he is also concerned about his mother who is very ill in the hospital in New Mexico.

We could use your prayers at this point because--bottom line--the outcome is really in God's hands.

E.R. FRIENDS

Another visit to the ER in the early hours of this morning and I am beginning to recognize some of those faces from my visit with Mother day before last. This time it was my husband with a severe urinary tract problem. Five hours later he was released to come home and we have moved through the afternoon like zombies because we were up most of last night.

I finally got upstairs to visit Mother in the same hospital this morning and found that the doctor had already seen her. She will be released tomorrow to return to the Summit, but this time to the skilled nursing floor for a couple of weeks. She needs the close attention that they will give her until she gets her strength back again.

And so, I am going to fall into bed now and say a few prayers for all who are sick--including my sister-in-law in Albuquerque who was admitted to the hospital with a severe stomach problem. Enough already!