Back to square one...almost

Plans change day to day. One day you're up and the next day you're down. We are witnessing the battle between the cardiologists and the nephrologists in full action. Why does it have to be so?
Sunday was an up day. Mom, who had become SO SICK of the hospital, of the food, of the bed and of the catheter and cords and bumps and bruises, was given her new lease on life. She could go home. I'm not sure if the physicians did it with reservations or what, but nonetheless, it was done. Mom was SO THRILLED!! We took all our paraphernalia out of our luxury suite at St. Marks, looking forward to that luxury suite in South Jordan.
Sunday night, however was a down night. Because the lasix had been cut back, her oxygen needs became greater. We got her home and spent a long Sunday night trying to keep her oxygen as high as it could be...which was mostly in the mid-80's instead of the desired 90's. We didn't have an oxygen mask and so the cannula was ripping her nose apart with the high oxygen levels. We spent at least a couple of hours Sun. night and a couple of hours Monday morning cheering Mom on so that she would take deep enough breaths to get her oxygen levels higher. Then I spent a long night sleeping by her side and helping her get up, change sides, etc. We didn't need to have nurses around to not get the sleep. Aside from a few times, she couldn't keep her oxygen saturation higher than 86. Finally we decided that Mom needed to be back in the hospital, except she WOULDN'T go back to St. Marks, after almost a month there. She couldn't face the nurses and the floor again. So we are now at IMC (Intermountain Medical Center) on 53rd & State. She is in the coronary intensive care (can you believe IMC has 5 or 6 ICU's?) Hopefully she will be out of ICU today. From Saturday to Monday, her lungs and heart cavity had quickly filled up with fluids when the lasix slacked off, and so the cardiologists are now in charge. They are going to sock the lasix to her to clear out all the fluids. Hopefully her kidneys won't shut down. She should feel better after that.
It has been hard but very rewarding being here with Mom. I didn't realize how much time I really would spend with her this past month. It has also been so happy spending time with my brothers and sisters here in Utah who could be here to help us. I see the sacrifices they make every day to come spend time with Mom, amidst heavy work, church and family schedules. We feel the daily support from our other siblings who cannot be here because they are so far away. What a wonderful family we have!!
Kyle was supposed to go home yesterday, but it was right in the middle of getting Mom into emergency and everything. So he was able to change his flight to today free of charge on a one-time deal because of the weather around the country. He sat with me most of the day yesterday while our Utah family took care of their other needs. What a guy! He'll go home this afternoon. I have been SO grateful he has been there to support me. I'll miss him terribly.
I had hoped this would be Mom's weaning week at home so I could go home next week...but it may not be so. SAD!! This month in Utah has been nothing but hospitals and no sleep! I'm missing having a normal life back home. I'm missing sleeping in my bed at home and walking in my neighborhood and talking to my friends and being with my Lorie, Manny and Emmy. I hope we learn the lessons we need to learn so that life can move on. Maybe the lessons we need to learn are long suffering and patience.........trying to do so.......and appreciating the blessings, the love and support along the way.......
Jill