Finally out of the hospital

as of today (Saturday, April 25). She was released back to Vista Ridge about 2:30 today. She's feeling a little better, but still in some pain and discomfort, but the doctor seems satisfied the bowel issue is past (no pun intended-- I could have said behind her now, but that would have been worse... sorry!). This trip to the hospital didn't seem so frantically invasive (with nose tubes, etc. from the get-go), but more of a methodical way of trying to handle the bowel problem.

She DEFINITELY needs some anxiety medicine. Last Sunday, we found her very upset in the hospital room and had to wait for some medicine to finally quiet her down; the Xanac (sp?) made a big difference, calmed her down, and relaxed her enough to get some sleep. Tonight (and, actually, all day today) was almost the same, although she wasn't as upset as last week.

She is discouraged that she has lost a week of therapy and seems to be very anxious about moving forward. She's already missed one "deadline"-- she'll miss Michael's graduation in 2 weeks at Tech (unless a miracle occurs), so the next big hurdle is to be out and better in time for granddaughter's wedding in Fredericksburg in July. The clock is ticking, but at least she's back at Vista Ridge for more therapy.

Back to the hospital... rats!

I've been busy every evening this week, so tonight was the first night I got to go see her. Pam told me that she had stomach problems on Tuesday and, sure enough, it's another bowel/intestine blockage. She went back to Lewisville Hospital on Wednesday and is still there. She was a little down tonight and taking LOTS of pain medication, but they have not put the tube in her nose yet, so they (the doctors) must think they can attack this a different way. This is the first time she has been back in the hospital for this since early January, so progress still continues to be made, but it's another frustrating setback, just as things were really taking off...

Dad decided to wait until Monday to go home, hoping she might get to go home this weekend, but they seem to be moving slowly on her treatment (trying different medicines instead of going straight to the tubes and pumps...) Let's hope it works... and soon!

Bladder infection & pneumonia...

were the reasons she was feeling bad Tuesday. They discovered everything on Wednesday (while I was in Austin for a conference until Friday) and used some pretty powerful antibiotics to knock it down. When we got in Friday night (after our church's Tenebrae service), she was feeling better and had been through a full day of therapy. She continues to make progress!

Check out the picture

of her walking! This was made on April 3rd. Leading Mom around is her therapist on the contraption she walks with. You can see she still sometimes uses the brace (on her right leg) and that her left leg still won't quite straighten all the way. But she's still making great progress!!

Meanwhile, youngest grandson (Michael) has returned home from Tech until graduation (May 9th!). He's still hoping for a grad school appointment in California in debate. Michael came in on Saturday, so it's been nice having him home.

Mom wasn't feeling too well tonight when Michael and I got there. Headache and generally achy all over, with 100.5 fever. She had taken some Tylenol and it had already come down 1/2 degree in about 30 minutes, so they kept pumping her with Tylenol and a nasal spray. When Dad came in at 9:30, he said she was feeling much better and no longer had a fever.

Stitches- or staples- are out

and the walking continues. The doctor was pleased with the progress except for the fact that she is doing most of her walking with the "wedge" shoes (because of the drop foot problems). He wants her off the wedges and walking either in regular shoes or barefoot. She has been doing a little of both. She is walking almost every day!

She continues to gain strength and they are working on the drop foot issue. So far, she is on track with therapy (as far as we can tell). She has another appointment with the knee doctor at the end of April to determine what happens next.