Hello to all of our Blogging-friends, new and old!

Please forgive us for not blogging-in for the past few days; fortunately it's only because we got lazy, no other reason. Mike continues to get better slowly. He hasn't had any fevers, and they have started him on some medication to keep his blood pressure from falling too low when he stands up, so he hasn't fainted for a couple of days (thankfully, because I'm not sure my back could take catching him too many more times!) Wait a minute, now I'm wondering if Mike told you that he was fainting, so to fill you in on the short story just in case, Mike started getting dizzy -and actually fainted a few times - after standing up from a lying down position. They started testing his blood pressure when he was lying, sitting, and standing up. The differences were astounding; for those of you that understand blood pressures, his was actually high lying down, l60/95, sitting was 120/80, and standing could be as low as 90/60...and boom went Mikey! So, they're giving him a drug to keep his pressure up, but then they have to watch how high it gets because they were treating him for high blood pressure not too long ago! So far, the plan seems to be working.

Mike still isn't eating much, but he is trying to drink a couple of fortified calorie drinks made into ice cream milkshakes,and yogurt. I try to find things that might interest him and occassionally I find something that attracts him, like some chinese rice that he took a few bites of. I still believe that he would feel better quicker if he had more nourishment, but I'm tired of badgering him, so we'll see what happens. I won't let him waste away, so don't worry. And PLEASE DON'T SEND FOOD thinking that it will entice him to eat it...it will only entice ME to eat it, and as it is I need Handicapped sized doorways to get my butt through!!!

The plan is for us to check out of the hospital Monday evening, and finally move into the apartment that we rented in August! After that, Mike will return to the hospital daily (not so often as he gets stronger) for out patient I.V. fluids and/or tests. He probably will be at the hospital for 4-5 hours each day. After his appointments, we're looking forward to being able to take some walks, and drives (if we get our car, or maybe rent a car...)so we can see what Texas is all about. For the last few days the weather has been terrific, cool and breezy. Unfortunately, it probably won't stay that way long.


There's some concern about the fact that our apartment is on the second floor. Since Mike started fainting, the doctors have been pressuring us to move to a first floor unit. Unfortunately, because of all the hurricane refugees, there aren't any vacant units available. So, we're on a wait list, and until then we are practicing getting up and down stairs. And, Mike promises to go down the stairs on his tushy if need be, if he's dizzy. He and the physical therapist practiced one day when he got light headed.


We may not BLOG every day, since our life has become rather mundane. We really do enjoy your messages, though. Your trips and exploits are interesting, and often funny. Even your poetry is amusing! And, all of it reminds us that there really is a world out there, with "our place" being kept warm and ready for our return. In the meantime, we're open for visitors, so if your travel plans include Houston, just let us know what dates you have in mind. Our Doctors said that as long as Mike's immune system is reasonably strong (it is!) and our guests are healthy, it's fine to have company. And it really cheers Mike up when he hears that we might have company! So, as long as you aren't ill, and you haven't recently been around people who are ill, or who have been exposed to something that incubates, we'd love to see you! Just give us a call so we can check dates (so we don't get bunches of people at the same time. We want you individually, so we can "savor" your company!)

So, that's all for now. We miss you, and love you all. We wish you a happy, HEALTHY, prosperous, fun, and love filled new year...and we plan to be there to share it with you!!