Friday

I woke up on Friday at 7:30 AM again. Gee, I wonder if this is the real time God wants me to wake up at and, if so, would they understand at work? I skipped breakfast and went with coffee only.

I went outside to fill the bird and squirrel feeders in my tee shirt and work-out shorts. Big mistake! The rain water on the metal cover of the bird seed can was frozen solid. Checked the thermometer and its only 27 degrees F. Shivered my way through the fill-ups and got my butt back in the house A.S.A.P.

Emptied the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen. I grabbed my second cup of coffee and my book and then headed for the recliner. I quit reading at 10:30 AM so I could get ready for my trip to visit Mom in the hospital.

I left at about 11:30 AM and took my usual route to my orthopedic doctor's office (which is right next to the same hospital): Inkster to 8-Mile, 8-Mile to Groesbeck and Groesbeck to Harrington. All surface streets, but you can time the lights and move right along.

When I got there, I ran into my brother Joe, who was just driving out. He came back and we chatted in the chilly parking lot for a bit. When I got to Mom's room, a nurse's aide was feeding her lunch. They are not taking chances as she had a choking spell this morning. So, they are cutting up her food and mixing her mashed up pills with applesauce.

I learned she had had her first physical therapy session this morning and the therapist actually had her standing up by the bed, twice! It did seem to tire her out, though. So, throughout my stay (approx 12:30 PM to 5:15 PM) whenever she looked tired, I would suggest a brief nap. I assured her I wasn't leaving; I had my book and would be there when she woke up. So, she catnapped a lot.

I excused myself when they came to get her for a Doppler test on her carotid arteries and sat in the lobby, where I ran into Uncle Jim and Coletta. We visited until she was back in her room. They stayed a little while and then left.

A doctor David Bradley from the hospital's rehab unit came in to examine her and, just as he started his exam, Jake, Carla and Carla's mom, Acenter came in. We excused ourselves so he could do his exam and waited in the library.

When we checked back in she was eating her dinner (not being fed this time) and griping about the food. She's tired of having the mashed potatoes and gravy with every meal, and tired of turkey hash (they cut up the turkey to make it easier for her to eat) and most of all, she's sick of applesauce! She said when she gets out; she's not going to eat applesauce for at least five years.

Dr. Bradley came back at that point and said, based on his exam, he is recommending any facility that has intensive (3-hour a day) physical therapy. He said, "If she can make it through, I guarantee she can go home."

Mom heard the last part of that, but asked me to repeat it. I told her and it was like a weight lifted off her shoulders! "I can go home?" she asked. I said "Yes, but don't forget the first part! You gotta get through therapy and trust me it isn't easy. You got tired out this morning and that was just a few minutes. This will get a whole lot worse before it gets better." She said, "I don't care! I just want to go home!"

I noticed how dark it was, it was after 5:00 PM, so I made my apologies and left. Jake, Carla and Acenter stayed a while longer and apparently Uncle Carl and Uncle Joe came to visit later as well.

When I got home, I dug out the ironing board and iron and locked the two cats downstairs. Jake, Carla and Acenter are coming by, because Acenter wants to iron some of her clothes for her trip home (Jake and Carla are currently making do without an ironing board and iron). Oh, and, Acenter is afraid of cats (don't ask).

They stopped in and Jake, Carla and I visited while Acenter ironed. It was late, and the last thing I'd eaten was that turkey sandwich Thursday night, so I suggested pizza and they agreed. We ate, and then they left (after freeing the cats once Acenter and I were on the porch). Carla had cleaned everything up, so there was nothing left for me to do but to get a drink and my book and head for bed.