Update as of 8/17/08

Mom has had a pretty good week. She has been eating more (they have her on an appetite stimulant and nausea relief) and is in better spirits (the Prozac must be kicking in...). Our youngest son came in last week (passing through to Oregon to visit our oldest son) and she enjoyed the visit. My cousin and his wife came in Thursday for a nice visit; our niece came in this weekend and she enjoyed that visit as well; everyone commented about how much talking she is doing.

That's been one of the biggest changes in the past week or so-- Mom is much more conversant than in the past. Previously, she didn't seem to care to engage in conversation, so visits with her were very much "one-way." Now, she engages you in conversation, listens and responds to what you are saying, and gives much more detail in her stories than she did even before the hip surgery. It's making visits much more pleasant for everyone involved!

We were told earlier (and all of us who have seen her previously have agreed) that she has lost some cognitive abilities and some decision-making and problem-solving skills. I'm beginning to think that is not true. She seems very lucid, very focused, and very able to remember and make decisions and realize the results of those decisions. She's watching more TV and able to stay interested in different shows now (she likes the Ranger games and the Olympics).

She is eating better; she's still not a big fan of the pureed food and thickened water, but is eating more and willing to try to eat more. She's still very opinionated about the food-- after all, it is hospital food-- but she IS eating it!

Progress is very slow, but there is progress. She is being dressed every day in regular clothes. Physical therapists are very concerned about her feet, and don't seem very optimistic that the "drop-foot" problems she has on both feet will be corrected anytime soon (which will prevent any therapy to try to get her walking again). The speech therapy is going slow; she still speaks somewhat "thickly" and, until she gets that tongue working more (she still can't stick her tongue out very far), she won't be able to eat real food or drink non-thickened fluids.

The worst problem now is the recently-discovered bladder infection; she is now in isolation and can't leave the room, which means she didn't have therapy on Friday and no therapy this weekend (I'm not sure they even do therapy on weekends, though...). Hopefully, things will be better on Monday.

Otherwise, we all just keep plugging along. This is a busy time for both my wife and I as we prepare for the start of school. Dad took an extra long trip back this weekend (left a few hours early Friday) to work on a leak in the house at Big Spring and mow the lawn (recent rains have rescued the previously sunburned lawn!). He was still back about mid-afternoon Saturday. He still has his reading materials, snacks, and general stuff that he takes to the nursing home each day to spend with Mom.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support!