Hi,  This is Mary from Houston giving you the update today.  We are having trouble with Mom's computer so Tom asked that I send this out today.

The big news is that Mom is currently at the  hospital.  This time there wasn't an event so to  speak, in fact we kinda pushed her to be admitted.   Mom is constipated and has been for about two weeks. Actually two weeks ago, when I was there, she had a stomach thing going with vomitting and dirreha.  That was the last time she had any real good bowel  movements.  DM has been treating her, but not  much action.  We are planning on moving them this  week and need to get this sorted out before we make the big move, so we pushed DM into action.   The MD at DM is going to have a cat scan of  her belly and a colonoscopy there at the hospital.  

 They had to admit her through the Emergency Room and she was transported there about 5 pm last night.  She finally got admitted to a room at 1am.   According to Tom, the ER did not do a cat scan last night, but did a x-ray.  They are "working her up" today.  I will know more later in the day, I hope.  But for now Mom is in room 387 bed 1 or A at the hospital the one on the Lake.

We are still going to try to move her this week/weekend and are renting a RV.   So we planned to leave today after work and get on the road, but will see what happens and maybe just punt back a day and do the big move on Sat instead of Fri. 

Mom was in great spirits last night.  In fact Tom said that last night was the best he had ever seen Mom since the stroke.  She was smiling, happy, and even laughing (with out the sounds).  The ER MD was Polish and spoke to her in Polish.  Mom understood him, from what Tom and the MD said.  Tom made a few jokes about her having a Polish dr.  Tom thinks that maybe Mom's sleep/day cycle is a bit screwed up and is much better at night.  The ER did some blood work and found out that mom was/is low on potassium and they gave her about 8oz of some potassium supplement through her feeding tube.  The ER doc said the lack of potassium could cause some constipation.  

 Another interesting thing is that mom was not dehydrated and they did not have to start an IV.  I thought for sure she was dehydrated.  They did however put her on a urinary catheter. 

 I will keep you updated on her condition and the move.

 Love and hugs to all,

Mary