Update from Mary Jo

Back at my spot in the library...

Sue told you all Mom was in the hospital. John and David both reported to me that by Sunday Mom was in ALOT of pain and they thought I should come. So Monday morning I got ready to go to Omaha (and a meeting at my agency on W&Th if the outcome in Omaha allowed). By the time I got there mid-afternoon Mom was resting comfortably (pain meds administered "on demand")and she looked pretty good (color was good). By the time I left on Wed morning, she had been given two CT scans (one with contrast and one without), which showed nothing conclusive; a dye test to see if her right kidney was functioning (it was); an endoscopy, and a colonoscopy (both of which showed no blockage or other serious situation). Following the colonoscopy Wed AM John and I spoke to the GI doctor, and he surmised it might just be constipation, even though she didn't think that had been a problem??? She only has a partial stomach, and is never really hungry, so I can see why she might not be eating enough "roughage", but she tries to be aware of that and make good food choices. So, the plan was to introduce foods (she hadn't eaten for nearly a week at that point)and see what happened. So, I went on to Lincoln. Called Wed night, and nothing new to report. Called before I left Lincoln and Sue told me her tummy was sore again. Called John this AM and he said she had eaten supper last night and was reading the paper, watching TV and had good color when he visited her in the evening. Reen is going in this morning to try to quiz the docs. (For instance, when John asked her last night, Mom wasn't sure about the pain med...was she getting it, was it a continuous drip or only on her request.) So, in the absence of anything conclusive showing up in her blood work or all those tests, we don't know what's next. We don't want her coming home until she is pain free w/o meds, can eat and has a normal bowel movement. Hopefully, the doctors will agree. Looking at her in the picture sue took at the picnic and posted on the blog, wouldn't you agree she looked healthy at the picnic?

I need to go to the store now and buy groceries. The other two adults living in my home didn't do so well keeping the home fires burning. Well, in fairness, Paul had a couple of appointments, including with a "certifier" for the organic transition process on our farm, and Suzanne had a busier schedule at work, taking 2 full days of training on how to handle (and/or) manhandle unruly youth in her care. She seems to like this job, and I'm glad. It certainly wouldn't be my favorite occupation. But as I discover every day, my kids are surely their own people, which is how it should be. Andrew and his most recent job have parted company,(not sure of all the details...) but he already has some contract work lined up for a builder, and is doing some car repair, too. He seemed upbeat when he called this morning to ask for our e-mail address (he calls us rather than mails) so he could send a picture of the house he had lived in(before this farmhouse) that had burned to the ground last night. One of his friends from that area (the woman we met last year when we visited him last summer) called to tell him and sent him the picture by e-mail. She said they think it's arson. It made me feel sick even though it wasn't much of a loss and he is 100 miles away. I'm so glad he doesn't live in my backyard...But I am thankful he calls and keeps us up-to-date (I'm usually thankful, that is!)