Heather and the kids did not arrive this weekend, but they expect to come up the weekend after next.

Mom gets released from the hospital today.

Today is a harder day. Mom has had some serious shortness of breath and she is really retaining fluid. She is supposed to be sitting up in a chair to help take pressure off her lungs and she got a breathing treatment that helped a lot. Her blood work looks good but her potassium levels are low so she is getting that in her picc line. She also got some lasix and that has already helped her feel better.

The pulmonologist says there is nothing to be too concerned about. She has some crackles in her lungs so she is on levaquin again. But they have upgraded her to a full liquids diet, which is progress. 

Heather and the family arrive tomorrow to see her for Mother's Day.

--beth

Mom's GI system has started moving--apparently the colon decided to wake up early. So she is off the NG tube, the catheter is out, and she's on clear liquids.

She is in great spirits today. She got a shower and has been watching tv because her eyes hurt to read. She is doing the inspirometer ever half hour and just ate a popsicle. her doctors are pleased with her progress and she might not need to go to a temporary care facility when she is done here. She has gone for a couple of walks (we are getting ready for another one) and everything is going really well.

Thankfully.

--Beth

Mom came off the vent smoothly yesterday morning and when i left yesterday afternoon she was sitting up in a chair keeping the nurses hopping.

Today she was moved back up to fifth floor and is resting comfortably. She is able to have ice chips and sips of water but it usually takes five days for the colon to wake up--so nothing by mouth until then. Her breathing is good and she is using her inspirometer regularly. Her pulmonologist says she is one tough cookie. She is on fentnyl for pain and they are going to give her another unit of blood today since she is still pretty anemic. She is pretty puffy from the steroids and the iv fluids, so they are going to give her lasix and hopefully reduce some of the water retention.

She has cable, and tnt has law and order on throughout the day, so i'm not sure she is going to want to go back home where it's only on network tv . I have been reading mysteries to her and Rich comes by frequently to keep her entertained. Today is Dominic's fourth birthday, and Mom and I are going to work on a card for him a little later.

We are focusing our prayers on healing the colon and preventing any secondary infection--especially pneumonia. Mom did a visualization before the surgery of Dad in his hazmat suit helping Dr. Miller get the diverticulitis out, and the angels holding the edges of the colon together and the lungs open.

She will most likely be in here for a week to ten days, then possibly a transitional care unit for a little while--depending on how things go. She can't start chemo again until the surgeon gives her the okay.

They did send the diverticuli off to pathology, and we should hear something later today but the surgeon expected it would be a normal case of diverticulitis.

Thanks everyone. Love, Beth

Mom is out of surgery and in intensive care. Her pulmonologist and anesthesiologist have decided to leave her on the ventilator overnight. She is very heavily sedated but did open her eyes when deacon Jan came in and prayed over her.

The surgery went well--they removed the chunk of her colon with the abscess and were able to stitch it back together. She will be in the hospital for another week or so and then probably go to a transitional care unit for a few days before coming home.

thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

--beth