Update

My mom is off the respirator and is able to speak. She will have a swallowing test tomorrow. Then she will probably be taken out of ICU into a regular room. My aunt and uncle went to see her tonight and said they were even all joking around about Monty Python! Two days ago she was in full respiratory failure. Now- Python. I love her and her tough little body!!!!

Thanks be to God.

My mom is in the hospital. She was rushed there on Saturday night by ambulance after apparently aspirating something, maybe her dinner.

It's been a hard couple of days for her. She's on a ventilator right now in the intensive care. In a couple of days she may be weaned off the ventilator if she continues to improve. She is on antibiotics for pneumonia, too.

She was more alert today. I saw her and she recognized me. I am grateful for that. They don't let you stay long in the intensive care. They are pretty strict about everything in there. I hope she gets out of there fast! But I'm happy that she seems to be improving and her fever is down. She wanted something but couldn't communicate it to me. That made me so sad.

But I tried to tell her a funny story while I was in there for the ten or so minutes. When she was brought in to the ER on Saturday night, I met my dad there minutes later and while we were sitting in triage, a patient came in from a wedding. She was apparently a bridesmaid. She broke her foot or something. But everyone who came in after her was in their fancy wedding clothes. I told my mom that I felt underdressed sitting in the ER! She seemed to like the story, even though she was having an echocardiogram and such while I was in there. The nurses laughed. It was a tiny bit of levity in an awful few days.

Saturday

Tara and I are listening to music and she is dancing. We are waiting for Jay to get home from work so we can go to church.
Em is memorizing the books of the Bible for a contest at church. She's nearly learned all of the Old and New Testaments. That's better than I can do!
Homework? Nah. I'll think about that tomorrow. :)

Done with the presentation dance

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'd rather do about anything than public speak. Working as a college instructor has cured me a bit of the terror of it. But for some reason, I was feeling so scared to give a 20 minute presentation for my assessment class tonight. Maybe it's because it's a hard subject and I felt I didn't adequately know what I'd be talking about. :)

It's done!!!!!! People told me I did a good job, which was very sweet. Most of those in my class were/are extremely reticent to give their own presentations. About five very kind people agreed to wait to go until Tuesday, allowing me and six other people to go tonight. As I walked up to the computer to begin my presentation, I did all kinds of mental tricks to get through it.

This class is the hardest I've ever taken. It's not over; there are still tests and a big paper but for tonight I'm not concentrating on that.
Relief is a very good feeling.

Doing better. Ten on Tuesday

More minutia, but positive ones this time.

1. I got my grade for three of my classes. Two A- 's and one A. I'll take it. Two more classes to go this summer.
2. I got together with two women from my hard class and we all commiserated and are going to work together to understand what is going on for the final three weeks of class. THIS IS HUGE FOR ME!
3. Those same women happen to be in my next class that started today. We are all going to tentatively work on a case project together in that class.
4. I was feeling very isolated at school and now I'm not. See #2 and #3.
5. Jay is healing up from his sunburn and poison ivy of the century.
6. I have a break between classes today and was able to come home to study here.
7. Jay has been an incredible help with PowerPoint.
8. Jay bought me a new watch with alternating bands. I really like it.
9. My aunt sent me three beautiful dresses and they all fit.
10. The girls are healthy.

It's nice to have a positive outlook for a change. I am savoring this moment.

Laundry Laundry Everywhere

The laundry has gotten-well- a bit backed up. It's clean but not folded or put away. So I thought I'd bite the bullet and put it away. I got the clothes upstairs from the basement to the living room, where Millie took a look at the big pile of clothes and plopped her furry self right down in it. Then Em joined. Millie was shooting me dirty looks as I pulled the clothes out from beneath her. You just have to laugh. :)

Playing Guess Who

I got this game for 1$ at the flea market. Good times.

Millie looks on. :)