Mom is still in the hospital. Early Monday morning her temperature rose to 101 degrees. By late afternoon her fever broke. She was tired and still a little disoriented, but much better. Her urine output decreased significantly. Her heart is okay, so they pushed fluids to get her hydrated. Suzy said yesterday Mom got up to use the bathroom 13 times in two hours. Mom's white cell count was up a little and she had a slight fever. She will be switching to IV antibiotics again. Suzy tried to contact Dr. Galloway yesterday but was unable to reach her. Hopefully sometime today they will connect and discuss these changes.

These days in the hospital have been challenging. Each new person caring for Mom - tech, nurse, doctor - needs to be brought up to speed on Mom's needs that are not written in the chart. She has a hard time finishing sentences, so she needs time to talk. She has a quirky sense of humor, so she shouldn't be taken seriously when she implies Suzy (and even me) is mean to her. She tries to get out of getting up and walking when she's able by turning on her big blue eyes and dramatically moaning how tired she is, but she can walk and needs to walk to maintain her mobility. Some of the health care workers get it, others not so much. It makes it difficult to leave her behind at the hospital, not because she won't be cared for, but because of the way she'll be cared for. Suzy has been at the hospital every day for hours to make sure she's there to talk to the doctors and nurses about Mom's care.

Mom helped us do a crossword puzzle on Monday when she felt better. Mom is great at crosswords. I can tell she knows a word, it's right there, but she can't get it out. It stops right at that place between her brain and her tongue. It happens to all of us, but it happens a lot to Mom these days. She gets frustrated, but she is able to laugh. She is well liked by the hospital staff. She's still sweet and funny.

I made a mistake a couple posts ago about the new crocheted cap Mom wore to church. Roleen's daughter Connie made it. Thanks Connie!

The pictures below were taken at the hospital Saturday when Jaime and Jodi were there.