Quick Update.....

Just a quick update on my mother-in-law's condition. Thank you for the kind, supportive comments.

***Some of this may be too much for sensitive stomachs, so feel free to stop reading. I'll try not to be too gross, since I'm a bit of a weenie myself when it comes to yucky stuff. And I thought I was going to be a doctor. Pfffttt.***

MIL was scheduled to have a preliminary treatment at the radiology clinic (called a "block" treatment??) today AND a follow-up appointment with her surgeon, but we took her to the emergency room last night and she is still in the hospital.

When Hubby and I returned from our short day trip to the casino, my sister-in-law reported that her mother was vomiting blood. I had my doubts, but she DID appear weak and had been vomiting pretty steadily all day and all night. She was naturally weak and in a good deal of pain.

You know how trips to the emergency room go. Mostly you sit around and wait. The nurses and other staff members were VERY nice (which has not always been my experience) and accommodating. The ER doctor said the substance MIL was vomiting was probably NOT blood, but cola-colored stuff that often comes up when the stomach has been empty for a while. BUT she was concerned about the fact that MIL hadn't had anything substantial to eat or drink for the last couple of days, so the first thing they wanted to do was start an I.V.

The first thing took about three hours to get done. And I'm not faulting the ER personnel; I realize there is a protocol for how things get done and when. Especially since MIL's primary physician just happened to be on a returning flight from India and couldn't be reached until this morning. (Every time he goes to India, MIL gets sick. He's not allowed to go there anymore, I don't care if it WAS to fetch his 91-year-old father.)

The bottom line is that they still don't know a heck of a lot. MIL's primary doctor came in this morning, and he seems to think it COULD be blood that she was vomiting, so he has ordered a scope of her G.I. system. Only they couldn't schedule it for today, so it's on tap for tomorrow. The doctor thinks she may have a bleeding ulcer, but I don't know if he's just ruling things out or if he has reason to believe that for sure. He's been treating MIL for 30 years or more, so they know each other pretty well.

Hubby and I sat at the hospital with her for most of the day today, and SIL was on her way when we left. MIL also has a TERRIBLE bed sore (right in her crack - ouch) that I thought we had managed to clear up, but SIL says it returned after this latest surgery. Surely they won't send her home until it's healed ... will they?

And I wanted to write tonight about men (at least Hubby) and their responses to crises/pain/illness when it concerns people they love, but I am just too bone tired. Don't worry, I'm not going to bash them.

Thank you for your continued friendship and support. I love you all.

Update on Baby Luke.....

I haven't updated my readers (all four of you - thank you for your loyalty!) lately about Baby Luke, mainly out of respect for his parents and not wanting to violate their privacy.

As many of you know, Luke is the son of one of my co-workers, born prematurely on October 23rd. His due date wasn't until January 4th. He weighed 1 pound 15 ounces and was able to breathe on his own from the very beginning.

Luke progressed very well and went home almost two weeks ago, much earlier than anticipated. His dad came back to work and reported on Luke's status every day. Luke gained weight steadily and was weighing in at almost five pounds when school dismissed for Christmas Break.

We got word on Monday of this week that Luke was back in the hospital and had been transferred to Scottish Rite in Atlanta. He has an infection of some sort and while he is responding well to antibiotics, doctors are having trouble finding the source of the infection. Cancer has been ruled out, much to everyone's relief, but in the meantime Luke has developed an upper respiratory infection on top of what he was already battling. In addition, doctors have known for about a week that he has a hernia that will require surgery in the next few months.

Luke was moved out of ICU this afternoon and into a regular room, but he will remain hospitalized at least through the weekend. Fortunately he won't remember that he spent his very first Christmas in such a sucky place. I mean being in the hospital in general, not the specific one where he is being treated. If I had a sick baby I could wish for no better place for him or her to be than Scottish Rite.

Please keep Luke and his mama and daddy in your thoughts. I'm sure the parents and grandparents are exhausted and frustrated with the uncertainty. This is probably not how they envisioned spending Christmas this year, or any year.

Suddenly my problems aren't so bad.