Mom's Back Online

Mom's back on the computer, so you know she's feeling better.

All week she didn't feel like getting online, and then today I walked
in and she was chatting with her AOL buddies. So I'm not telling any
of you anything you didn't already know.

Today, she had a hankering for Domino's pizza, so we went and got her
one, although I'm sure that's not on her diet. After low-salt and low-
cholesterol all week, though, and after making such progress, she
definitely earned it.

I'll likely be heading back to Austin tomorrow. She's in good hands
with my sister and dad, and though I worked a full week here this week
from their homestead, it'll be good to be back in the home office.

Thanks again for all the well wishes and for the feedback on the
blog. Glad folks found it useful and that they could keep up with
what was going on during mom's recovery.

I'll try and post some dispatches now and again once I'm back to
Austin, but I have a feeling she'll be keeping most all of you
informed directly herself via AOL.

And thanks again for letting her know you were out there and thinking
about her. It meant a lot to all of us.

Week One -- Whew

Mom just passed her week one milestone yesterday after the double bypass surgery.  

This morning, when I checked in on her she was talking on the phone, and a little while later when I checked back in, she was sitting up in bed. 

That's a new one, because until just I guess a day or so ago, she couldn't sit up in bed without one of us pulling her up, so the pain from the breastbone incision must be getting at least a little better.

She's also eating very well -- last night, she had some chocolate ice cream to top it all off!

My sister Khristol has been helping out during the days while I work remotely for IBM in the motor home, and especially covering while Dad runs into town for errands, groceries, etc.

Very busy at work, so will make this dispatch short.  But suffice it to say Mom's doing very well, and she very much appreciates hearing from all her high school buddies, chat friends, and others who send along their well wishes.

Finally, her good friend Linda will be in our prayers today as she undergoes her own surgery.  We will have our fingers crossed and you in our thoughts today!

Not Quite A Week

Well, it's been not quite a week since Mom's surgery and she's making
great progress.

She's been home since Sunday, and though she's mostly been in bed,
she's been able to move around a bit. Yesterday, she was even walking
around the backyard with my dad and sister keeping her aloft and
making sure she had her oxygen as she did so!

She's also finally regained her appetite, which is great, as she
didn't eat much of anything the first 2-3 days after the surgery.
Must be the difference between dad's and the hospital's cooking.

She did have a little trouble with her sinuses and the oxygen nose
gear, so the respiratory therapist brought her a facemask to use as
well. I think she's already decided she prefers the nose gear.

In short, Mom keeps on keepin' on, and each day brings improvement.
To all her chat friends, she once again thanks you for prayers and
well wishes, and misses you all.

She also apologizes for her son's falling down on his communications
job the last 48 hours. However, he should be forgiven if only because
he has returned full time to work (remotely from the Watson ranch) and
has not had as much time to write these dispatches!

Mom is Home

Well, great news. Mom was able to come home around 2:30 PM CST this
afternoon (Sunday).

She made a lot of progress overnight -- and, also, I guess the
insurance company didn't want to pay for another day (I would have
preferred she stay one more night).

Although, as anyone will tell you, it's very difficult to get any rest
in a hospital!

So, the hospital had some oxygen machines delivered -- one sedentary,
one portable -- so that mom could still take in some additional oxygen
while she was home.

Dad cooked her some potato soup and half a turkey sandwich, which she
chowed down late this afternoon. We were getting concerned, as she
hadn't been eating much.

She's resting comfortably in her bed, and my dad, sister and I will
all be here throughout the week making sure she has what she needs and
taking good care of her.

Thanks again for all the prayers and well wishes. They continue to
help and are of great comfort to mom.