October 28, 2014

Great News!  Mom is 

Getting Better Every Day!

October 28, 2014

Mom and my two sisters, Debbie on the left 

and Janet on the right

Mom has had some real challenges the last six weeks or so, but is now on the fast track toward dismissal from the rehab/skilled nursing facility!  She had a fractured vertebrae, a fractured rib, pneumonia, and two procedures on the vertebrae while spending 10 days in the hospital in Grapevine.  Then once she was at the rehab facility, learning how to do things without stressing her back, she developed an intestinal infection that was probably brought on by all the antibiotics she took in the hospital.

Now, she is getting ready to be released probably the middle of next week to go to my sister's house and stay for a little while.  She will be there at least until after our son's wedding about 10 days from now.  Many friends have been praying for her and we all thank you for those prayers.  Her get up and go, got up and went for a few days during that time, but it is back and she is working hard to regain the strength that was zapped the last couple of weeks being on a liquid diet.  She is 91 years old - make that 91 years young!  

Each person is different.   So many of my friends have lost their moms to various illnesses.  Some are still living, but their minds are not what they used to be.  Our mom has been so blessed to be active in mind and body all these years.  She doesn't really know how to deal with the "take time to get well" episodes.  I wish we could all be that way.  Her dad was that way and lived to be 96.  I think Mom may surpass her dad.

We each need to make each day count for the Lord and for our families, since none of us know how long we have.  I have friends who have died way too young but have put lots of time into their children and grandchildren, telling them about God and His love for them.  My mom was a great mom when we were growing up and when I went to my 50th high school reunion this summer, many classmates asked about my mom.  For some, our house was a happier place than their home, or they just felt accepted at our place.  Mom continued that with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and now a great-grandchild.  Her grandchildren think she is the best!  They are right.

Now for my day.  It was another of those that didn't go as planned.  I seem to have too many of those.  When we were at Stephen's apartment, one of the first things he did was point out a piece to his exercise equipment that was beside his bed, on the floor.  He said, "Don't stub your toe on that."  During the night when I got up, I remembered his warning.  When I was getting dressed for church Sunday morning, I didn't.  I just barely hit the side of my little toe on the piece.  It hurt, but not too much.  It turned all shades of blue and purple over the next few days, but was not too bad.

Each day this week (now 10 days since I stubbed it) it has gotten worse.  The side of the foot is sore and swollen, so I broke down and went to the doctor.  (I think I should not use the word broke in this story.)  They took 4 x-rays.  When the radiologist says she will take 2 and then decides to do another, and then another, all from different angles, I am not encouraged.  The one who reads the x-rays was not in so I will wait for word from them about it.

Pray I am not in a cast for the wedding!!!!!  Ron was on crutches and in a cast for the wedding of our oldest son.  Not fun.  Normally they don't do much for broken toes, but this pain and swelling is a little further back in the foot than just the toe.  The bruising is gone but the swelling and tenderness are increasing.  At this point I can't go try on shoes for the wedding.  I don't want to wear my tennis shoes with the lovely dress I bought for the wedding.  Maybe jeweled or decorated flip flops will do.

I had gone to our office late in the morning and Ron suggested I go on to the doctor's office.  I got there and they asked me to come back in the afternoon at 1:00.  In the meantime I went to the post office to mail a package and then to the office to eat my lunch.  I returned to the doctor's office  just before 1:00 and was seen at 3:30.  Then by the time x-rays were done, it was 4:30 when I returned to the office.  So much for my plans of accomplishing a lot at the office!

Our doctor (the GP) is relocating to Houston!  We will miss him very much.  He is the first doctor I saw when I went deaf.  It was the first time I had been to him and naturally, we formed a bond.  He immediately knew what was wrong.  The local specialist he sent me to, did not.  So, we are really sorry to see him go, but hope that he does well in his new location.

The doctor filling in for him - not the new replacement, but just temporary, was very hard to understand.  He had a very strong accent and talked very rapidly.  Often, I had to ask him to repeat things and played "fill in the blank" a lot.  I am glad he won't be the replacement, but we just have to see who the new one is and if it is someone we can work with.  Dr. Bhondi, the one moving away, was easy to work with.

After work I went to the mall, the office supply store, and then looked for shoes a couple of places, but didn't try any on.  It was 7:00 before I got home to fix my supper.  Ron had eaten with his mom as he usually does on Tuesday evenings.  I find I am needing more sleep these days, although I don't sleep well.  (A friend on Facebook today made a comment about tossing and turning at night should count as exercise.  That would work for me!)  I am dreading the time change this weekend.