East Side for Far Side

Thursday night when I spoke to my parents about their garage sale and their ills, a little voice said, "you should go and help your parents." I shrugged it off... I had essays to grade, it was my wedding anniversary, and Andrew had just gotten home from a trip. I resigned that it just wasn't going to work out this time. Sigh.

My morning routine is to read the newspaper and check my mother's blog. Many bloggers comment daily at Far Side of Fifty. Wasn't it suspicious when she didn't post? I've asked her about this before, and found that many times she blogs ahead of time and has it set up to post automatically. So in reality she could be dead and still blogging. I probably checked ten times yesterday to see if she had posted anything yet.

Friday morning the phone rang at 7:30am. The phone never rings that early...

A sick sounding mom said, "Jen can you come? I spiked a fever overnight, and your father is swamped with the garage sale."
I didn't hesitate and answered, "Yes, I'll come." I packed a few things in an overnight bag just in case. Turning the corner eh? Wrong turn...

I guess I didn't know what to expect when I got there... I thought I would help Dad with the garage sale I guess... but I got, "Do you want to take her to the hospital or should I?" Oh... I guess I will.

Acute bronchitis with respitory distress.

I spend the day getting her settled, water and ice chips, pants and underwear, unplugging her IV and following her to the bathroom, moving her pillows, getting her blankets and covering her up.

In the ER they x-rayed, drew blood, and set up and IV. Mom started itching at the IV about ten minutes into the Leviquin, so they switch her to an oral antibotic and got her a room. Respitory Therapy is giving her a nebulizer treatment four times a day.

After the sale was over, Dad came to the hopital and we talked about  the situation a little. I would go back home to Fisher and come the next day if I was needed.

I am disappointed that she is not going home today. In fact, she is worse today with some type of inflammation of the muscles and tendons between the ribs, so they are giving her an anti-infamatory. I suggested they give try and find another IV antibotic that she isn't allergic to... it is hard help over the phone...

She is in okay spirits; she is tired since a hospital is no place to rest. She appreciates your well wishes for her recovery. She would blog herself but the hopital's wireless has a spotty signal. Thanks for visting. I'll keep you posted!

East Side