I know that bad stuff happens to everyone at times …. but usually, bad times are followed by better times in order to give us a breather …. time to regroup …. but my Mom never seems to get those better times. It’s one bad thing after another, after another. In all honesty, I don’t know how much one person is supposed to endure. It just …. isn’t right.

The news from the doctor wasn’t good. I won’t bore you all with the details — besides, they’re not fun to talk about or listen to, anyway. I’m just …. at a loss. I don’t know what to do to help her. I don’t know if there is anything I can do to help her. Why is it that a person as wonderful as she must go through such hell? I know there is no answer to that. Not here, anyway. But damn … I can’t bear to just sit by and watch this!

Well …. anyway …. that’s the news.

School started today. I miss my little girl. You see, this summer was the first in five that I haven’t been working and was able to spend the entire summer with her. We had such a good time together! It went by so darned fast! Seems like it just started! Oh my, the house is soooo quiet. Now it’s just me and Mr. Riley.

My Mom sees the new doctor this morning. My sister Kelly is taking her. He’s another surgeon, specializing in vascular surgery, so maybe he will actually be able to help her. Keep your fingers crossed!! I’m sure my sister will call me when she is home again and tell me what he said/did. I’ll update here when I know something. I will be doing the evening “shift” at Mom’s this evening, so I will be able to see her and talk to her myself, too.

It’s all cloudy and gray out this morning. We had some great rain last night (sorry I didn’t call amit - I didn’t know it was coming! *wink*). I saw on the weather report this morning that by Saturday night the low is supposed to be 49 degrees! I suppose it will be snowing in a couple of weeks. *smirk* That’s how it is here anymore ….. barely any Spring or Fall ….. it just goes from stifling hot to brrrr cold and back again. Looks like I better dig out my sweatshirts! ;)

I hope it is beautiful where you live today. Have a wonderful day!

I can’t even begin to tell you how much all of your sweet, sincere expressions of caring and friendship mean to me! You’re all just so incredible! You people possess some of the most loving hearts and gentle spirits it has ever been my good fortune to meet, witness and share in. You truly bless my life on a daily basis! THANK YOU!!

My doctor’s appt. was moved to Friday afternoon. *sigh* So I have to wait just a little longer, but I have a good feeling about everything. I think I’ll check out okay.

My Mom is not doing well, though. It is much too complicated to go into right now, but suffice it to say that it has been a vicious cycle of poor health that no doctor seems to be able to fix. And it’s only getting worse. It scares me a lot. I may not be around much toward the end of the week because of it. I will be doing my part in taking care of her on Thursday as that is her caretaker’s day off, and one of her doctors wants her to see yet another doctor, so we’ll have to get that set up. Anyway, I just wanted to let ya’ll know what was going on in case I “disappear” for a bit.

Thanks, you guys, for everything!! Your friendship means the world to me! Take good care and have a GREAT week!

*mmmwah*

Keep your fingers crossed for me, k? Tomorrow is my blood pressure checkup at the doctor’s. It’s been 3 months on my new meds, and I’m really hoping that this time we got it right. I’m kind of nervous because I’m also going to have her look at a mole that’s begun looking a little funky. It’s just kind of ….. unsettling …. ya’ know? So I’d appreciate just a little more positive energy if you have any left to spare.

Also, please join me in welcoming a new reader here at Thoughtprints. Now, this reader is very special! ;) She happens to be my sister! She is my father’s daughter from his second marriage, and due to circumstances beyond our control we were never able to really get to know each other very well. I’m hoping that this is about to change. She and her husband currently live in Korea where they are both school teachers, and they have an adorable 5 year old daughter. Because of the distance, I don’t think we will be seeing each other anytime soon, but thanks to computers and this thing called the internet, we can at least be in touch with each other. ;) So, Robyn, WELCOME!!

I am very happy to report that he is feeling MUCH better today!

Last Friday he tried to go to work again, but by noon was so sick he couldn’t make it through. He came over here and said his wife wanted him to see a doctor here in town instead of continuing with the doctor in the tiny town where they live. (Of course I had been telling him that for a week!) So he asked if I would call the place where I doctor, and I did. Since I had taken him there as a child, they still had him on their computer, making him an established patient, so there was no problem there. Luckily (or maybe more than luck? *wink*) someone had called and cancelled their appt. with one of the doctors right before I called, so they were able to get him in within an hour of my call. He saw Dr. Bacon (what a name, huh? *grin*), whom he liked very much! He told Ryan that he has what is called The Shadow Virus …. it shadows West Nile, but is not West Nile. Weird, huh? He was much more thorough than the doctor he’d seen where he lives, and prescribed an additional med (a steroid) for his symptoms, and told him that he would bet by today he’d be feeling much better — and he does! Hooray for Dr. Bacon!!! And thank you to whomever cancelled their appt. that day! He’s still waiting on one test result which will be in sometime today, telling them whether or not he has some meningitis going on. If so, the Doc called Bacon has already given him a prescription for an antibiotic which he can have filled. ANYway, you guys, he is SO much better! What a relief!!

THANK YOU, again, from the bottom of my heart, for all the prayers offered on his behalf, and all the healing energy sent his way!! I am convinced that you people are the best on the entire planet!! C’mere, let’s have a

all!!