And now for the surprise

After two nights with Doris, I moved in with one of my babysitting familes. Dad was traveling with work and mom needed help while rocovering from outpatient surgery. They provided a home away from home while the floors were getting done but more importantly, it ended up being a real time of bonding for the three of us. After work that day, I picked up 4-year-old "Ben" at school and he asked me if I was gong on vacation (because my suitcase was in the back seat.) He was actually very excited that I was spending the night. That night he moved to his top bunk so I could sleep in the bottom bunk. And, as he drifted off to sleep, he said "Goodnight, Gwen" (Ben Ten Alien Force part alien cousin). Getting us both to school and work on time was not easy but was accomplished with only one wardrobe meltdown. (I'll leave you wondering which one of us did the melting.)






I made arrangements to leave work early on Friday to get my hair done and I was sitting in the chair, all dyed up - even my eyebrows - and my phone rang. It was Carol, my sister. It's never good news when the conversation starts out, "Mom's ok, but ... " She had fallen at home, broken her wrist and split her lip to the tune of ten stitches. She was in the emergency room. As the Lord would have it, my brother David and his family were visiting from Lawton, OK, so, when Mom fell, she was not alone. They had a flight out of Orlando the next morning so when I got "Ben" settled at home that night, I drove down to Vero Beach. I spent the next five days in Vero taking care of Mom. We called the orthopedic doctor first thing Monday morning and after initially telling us they had no openings, they asked us to come in as soon as we could. The physician's assistant (Doogie Houser) settled mom in the room and then we met the othopedic doctor (Doogie Houser's YOUNGER brother) Doogie, Jr. was a sports injury specialist so he referred us to his collegue, Dr. Cohern. Sugery was scheduled for the next morning and we spent the rest of the day doing bloodwork and paperwork.

We reported to the hospital the next morning. I can't remember the last time, if ever, I sat in a surgical waiting room. (That's how blessed I am!) It made me think about how it felt to be waiting on me. After a while I thought every patient should be mom. They kept mom overnight.

We went straight to the therapist from the hospital and they made a lighter plastic cast for mom's wrist. Mom was a good patient and a pleasure to be around through the whole ordeal.

I had to come home on Wednesday night and go back to work on Thursday morning. (Carol came stayed with mom through the weekend.)