Baby Steps...

Hello dearest FODs,

I got myself a typist so you may actually be able to read and understand this blog. The night I typed the last post, I was too tired to check the spelling. When I read it later I didn't even understand what I was trying to say. Jessie is here to pamper me for the last three days so she is typing in nanoseconds.

I guess things are slowly improving. As usual, we spent three days (M-W-F) down at HUP. Monday and Wednesday we got out in about five hours each, not too bad. I just needed platelets on Monday. Thank you to the rides from Ron and Mary and Kris. Friday Jessie took me and it seemed like a really long day but it was a productive day. We got lots of labs done, received some platelets, saw Dr. Porter, got a flu shot and a shot of Procrit, and most importantly, went to interventional radiology and had the tube removed from my gall bladder. Thank God it didn't hurt at all.

Dr. Porter had lots to say, still trying to get me off these narcotics. These narcotics are making me weepy I've decided. I'm on a tenth of what I was taking but I'm still very sleepy. Unfortunately, as I've been weening off the pain meds, the back agony has returned. So we have to balance the meds. I've also started something to help digestion because I'm still battling the nausea and it is difficult to eat. I'm eating better than I was even a week ago. I manage to hold down dinner and and maybe a small breakfast so that is a great improvement from nothing at all. Can you believe that Dr. Porter wants me to start in-house physical therapy because I'm so weak and deconditioned? I have an exercise program I'm supposed to do and I'm supposed to walk around the cul-de-sac twice a day. Believe me it is harder than it sounds! I need Joe or one of the kids to walk with me. I think I am getting stronger since now I am able to eat a little bit.

I feel like such a baby. It must have been those last four weeks in the hospital that did me in. I keep telling you that I have little memory of the last week in the hospital and the first two weeks at home. I'm still flaky but can manage to throw dinner together. That's about all I do.

Hoping that all is well with you, your lives sound busy as usual. I love hearing what goes on on a daily basis in your homes. Betty from the beach, congratulations on being a grandmother - isn't it the best? Donna, Chuck, and Wyatt, it is so nice to hear from you and receive your cards. I think of you guys often too and I'm still praying for your situation. I hope you got some nice weekends on the beach - we always seem to miss the Fall. Beth, hope you had a good weekend down the shore with your girlfriends - girl weekends are always the best. Eileen, glad your life is slowing down with the kids. Football season sounded like fun. Good luck with the college decisions for Mere and congratulations for being on the homecoming court! Aunt Angie, I love you, I love you! To all else who continue to write and stay so loyal to me, I want you to know that when I'm having my crazy crying moments, I keep telling myself how blessed I am to have you all as friends and I just need to pick up the phone. So now it's getting to the point that if I'm sad I think of your support and I can talk myself into feeling better most of the time.

Hoping to manage just one visit to HUP this week. The visiting nurse is coming on Monday. If my labs are OK (50/50 chance), they are going to let me wait until Friday to come down. I also see an OB/GYN at HUP on Friday so we will visit the clinic before that visit. We shall see. Hope all is well with you. Enjoy the football and windy Fall weather. I'll write again when there is news to report. I love you guys more than you know.

Debbie