mom update

i went back to the hospital yesterday afternoon and stayed until about 10:30 when becky relieved me for the overnight shift. kevin stopped by with abby around 8:30 and abby stayed with me too. grandma was very happy to see abby.

but she was very weak still late yesterday and had a bad evening and overnight. not much sleep. this morning they took her off the narcotic because they were thinking between that and her smoker's lungs she was not exhaling the carbon dioxide well enough and that's keeping her weak and sleepy. abby and i were with her from 8 this morning until 4. she had a much better day. they put her on tylenol and another pain med and she got some sleep this morning and then lunch was potroast with potatoes and gravy (which she loves!) so she ate some food for the first time since Thursday night. the occupational therapist (OT) got her to walk around the bed with a walker after lunch and she took another nap. when she is awake now she is more alert, and her/our goal is that she move and eat better today so she can get the catheter out tomorrow.

dad's staying overnight with her tonight, and i plan to visit her before work in the morning to relieve my dad so he can go home to sleep.

the hospital staff is really outstanding. there are some really compasionate and fabulous caregivers there for which i am so very thankful. (lesley, missy, becky, shala, isabell, nadiya & more!) it helps to keep finding things to praise God about! other things to praise: they got her a private room which gives us more space and no krazy kathleen roommate interruptions. (praying for kathleen) when you shut the door it's actually quiet in her room. they also brought a recliner which is good for both mom, and whoever's on overnight to rest in. and abby was a great helper and cheerer for grandma too.

lastly, a very light snow fell last night and the trees were frosted this morning. when abby and i were driving to the hospital, abby said, "it looks like the trees got old overnight. they all have gray hair."