I Want Your Blood

Doctor's Update:
Mom weighs 170 lbs. The last weight they have for her is 172 and this is in early March. I was so disappointed at the number, but maybe it is okay. Mom was pretty much in the hospital until she came home with me so maybe we just made up whatever she lost there. If you saw her, she wasn't eating consistently during her stay. She feels heavier to me when I move her around since she has come to stay, so I am still going to call this a good thing.

We are waiting on some blood work to make some treatment decisions. I got a call late Monday that they needed more blood work. We had originally planned to do it in Cary, but moving Mom around today is very hard. I called Mom's nurse here, she said they could to it Wednesday (and come and see Mom) , if I had George write the order. I called back to George and explained the situation, and they were perfectly fine. I just didn't feel like I could move Mom safely from the car to the lab and back. Mom had a little PT today, but because of her energy level, we didn't push it.

Part of this is coming from Monday. Mom walked more Monday that she has in several days. Mom's core is weak, so sitting up requires some effort that we normally don't notice. Between the drive and the walking, Mom was pretty well spent yesterday afternoon and today. Mom had 3 liters of fluid in High Point before we left and that helped.

The blood work will drive if we are back in Greensboro on Monday. When Wendy and I have an update, we will let you know.

We had several things on our list for George.

1. Prescription for Ethyl Chloride Spray - Done
2. Change Mom's fluids to Daily (These are here. We actually had the additional supplies on our doorstep w/n a couple of hours of making it back to Fuquay. When Mom started this, I was trained on how to do this. We have a nurse come weekly and change Mom's access. This makes a major difference on how Mom feels. Plus I have enough if she needs more. I can call the Dr and have them write an order specifically for X amount of additional fluids for a particular day. If Mom is not drinking, I can check a couple of things (Blood Pressure and how she physically looks), call the Dr and have this approved pretty quickly.
3. Continue PT - Done
4. Handicap Placard - George filled out the paperwork. One of my friends Mom's works at the DMV in Lillington. He is going to pass this to her to do and bring back my way. Thanks David and David's Mom.
5. Resource for Mom - This is the one I am struggling on. I am looking for a social worker type person to talk w/Mom. As close as we are, there are some things she needs to be able to say to someone else. If you have any resources or contacts in this area, please drop me an email.

When we got home Monday, there was more food from Bonnie. [She dropped it off at my mother in law's place - Again, I am so grateful I live in a small town.] The first couple of days of the month are crazy at work. This was a big relief not having to worry about Mom having something wonderful to eat.

Thanks to Ron and Joni for the cards. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sending them to Mom. I worry that she is away from everyone here in Fuquay, but I just don't know a good solution. My door is always open to everyone and please feel free to call. If you get the urge to come this way, just give us a warning so we can better plan our day. [As wonderful Richard, the PT guy will say: "You only have so much energy across the day. You need to plan how you will use it."]