MARCH 27 UPDATE

Well, Mom has been in the hospital a week now, but we hope she comes home Sunday or Monday. Her infections are under control. The staff is keeping an eye on a pulmonary embolism. She has developed two large masses in her abdomen; results show more multiple myeloma. She will now begin oral chemo - getting that prescription from Florida is a story unto itself. The side effects are multiple and serious. Most important for visitors is that you not have any inkling of an illness. When you visit, use the sanitizer in the hospital or near the front door of their house. Three of us local kids are out of town this week, so extra visitors/caretakers in the afternoon and/or early evening are welcomed! Dad likes company, too! My sibs and I can't say enough about how good it was to have Uncle Phil here for two weeks. He really helped dad. But now, Sammie keeps going to the guest bedroom looking for Phil! We're planning a yardwork party soon. Any takers?

MARCH 22 UPDATE

As many of you know, Mom went back into the hospital on Friday with 3 infections: left lung, sinuses, and bladder. She's pretty wiped out, but does perk up for periods of time when visitors come. I'm guessing she'll come home Tuesday at the earliest. Mom didn't recognize any of us on Friday night and didn't speak at all. Then Sat. a.m. she sat up and chatted. Her life is a yo-yo right now. Dad hopes she comes home soon, not just because he wants her home, but because Sammie is naughty again when mom is gone. Maybe we'll take Sammie in to the hospital tomorrow for a short visit. The oncology nurses encourage that. As always, we thank you for your tremendous support. We know that we can pick up the phone and call on many different folks to help up out; that is a comfort for us.

ST PATRICK'S DAY

At this very moment, I'm sure Mom is sitting in a chair at Rose and Jim's inn, gazing at the beautiful Gray's Harbor beach. She was discharged from the hospital yesterday, feeling pretty good and building up leg strength again. Rose and Jim drove up and whisked away Mom, Dad, and Uncle Phil, and will return them Wed. evening. The chemo-pill will begin the end of this week; I think the doctor said 20 some days on, and 10 days off. Poor Uncle Phil. He hates cold, snow, and rain. Guess what we've had LOTS of? And to make it, actually, funnier, we grandkids and great grandkids filtered in and out of Mom and Dad's house, visiting with Uncle Phil IN THE DARK!!! A tree hit a local power line, leaving us without lights and heat from 2:00 Sunday until 9 in the evening. Do you know what the kitchen, living, and dining room looked like after we all clanked around in the dark, eating, snacking, drinking, grandkids playing hide and seek? HORRIFYING! The greatgrandkids chalked a welcome home sign on the side walk, now long gone. [fyi: check out CollinsInn.com]

March 12, 2009

Mom is back in the hospital Room 406. She has been extremely lethargic and sleepy since the blood infusion. She is on antibiotics for another infection. Next week she will begin a chemo in pill form; she'll take 5 days, then off for a week. Also, her tailbone is cracked, so she's in quite a bit of pain with that unless taking pain pills. Uncle Phil has arrived, so we are enjoying his presence.

MARCH 5, 2009 UPDATE

Mom is working on strengthening her legs so she can hoist herself up better, and walk for longer periods of time. She has had a physical therapist working with her. We found out why Mom is so tired: she's quite anemic, so will have a blood transfusion next Monday. Mom's eyes are actually improving. Her doctor said the cataracts have decreased, or whatever it is they do, so she doesn't need surgery. He is fitting her right glasses lens with a silicon prism overlay to clear up the double vision. She's already talking about quilting. We're all looking forward to Uncle Phil (Dad's brother) coming here from Sacramento. I might be telling secrets if I say that his one request is to uphold family tradition: the men go to Hooter's for a "meal."