Howdy y'all...Tis I, the blogette The "blogger" is snoring his keppe off in my right ear. I keep reminding myself that he is the pathretic little patient, to try to keep myself from putting a pillow over his face to mute the horrific noice eminating from it! How in the world can someone supposedly in a weakened condition sound like a convoy of armored vehicles all by his little old self??

Anyway, first to respond to your blogs, thanks for writing! We really do enjoy your messages. And, thanks for the info; Neil, your article was particularly interesting and we'll check on it (even tho it's a little late for us, it sounds like info it would be good to have). Re; Ruth and Ray, YES. it's our very own Ruth Cooper Manus. And all of you can certainly contact each other, either on the blog or your e-mail addresses, I'm sure you can figure it out. For Pete's sake, if I could learn to use the computer to blog, you guys can find each other's email addresses and follow up. I think we need to have a big reunion party to celebrate Mr. Rudman's recovery when this is finished!! How about it? Our place at 8, B.Y.O.B. Rene, thanks for the info on the fires, I was just trying to find out where they were; I hope they're gaining control of them!

And now, news from Houston...Unfortunately, Mike is having slight fevers again. He still has pneumonia in both lungs, it hasn't gotten any better or worse. The docs aren't sure why...The doctors also aren't sure what is causing the fevers, although they don't seem to think it's from the pneumonia. We've seen all kinds of specialists, pulmonary (lung), infectious diseases, kidney, etc., and they all just scratch their heads. They don't appear particularly worried, just baffled. Every time Mike gets a "new" fever (with some fever-free time in between), they draw blood for cultures, none of which ever have turned up positive for anything (he must have his own little wing in the lab with all of his cultures!!) It's frustrating, because it almost seems like we might be able to check out and then we start the process all over again. But, we certainly aren't the only ones with this problem; there are lot's of patients with pneumonia (which makes me wonder if there's some reason the patients are catching it here, or is it just a common occurance for transplant patients), and most patients do not seem to leave the hospital after only a few weeks, most end up staying for last minute complications like we did.

Mike also has a problem with severe dry mouth. This makes it difficult to eat; things either don't taste, they taste bad, or the consistancy is like "sawdust" quoteth Michael, so he won't eat. Well, he's already weak from fevers, and he's lost a lot of weight (we've been here FIVE WEEKS already...), and a lack of calories and nutrition isn't helping. This is definitely the issue that frustrates me the most!

Probably the biggest problem, however, if that Mike's blood pressure is tanking everytime he stands up. This causes him to get dizzy, and if he can't sit down quickly enough, he'll faint. This is another of those mystifying issues. The doctors are trying to come up with a remedy, but part of the solution is for him to be more active, and eat and drink more, which takes us back to the beginning of the circle...See?

Believe me, spend a few hours around this place and you realize just how bad things can get, and how " lucky" we are. We'll deal, and we'll win, it's just frustrating and icky going through some of it. Over all, Mike continues to be as agreeable and easy to deal with as he can (except about food!!), and I see how awful other patients can be to their wives/husbands/caregivers. I think I'll keep him!

Oh yeah, we'll keep you, too!!