THE meeting

Between 10:35 and 11:00 we were to have a meeting with everyone involved in Mom's case.  The meeting was only to last about 5 minutes and then we were going to know everything we needed to know about Mom.  ALL of our questions were going to be answered.   

I called Daddy (during my planning time) at 10:35.  This is the longest we have talked for awhile.  We talked on the phone and speculated about when Mom would be allowed to come home.  We talked about options - all while we waited for the meeting to happen.  You COULD say that Daddy got to the meeting early, I was on time, and all of the doctors were late.  They didn't show up until 11:10 and our window of time was closing rapidly.  (Daddy had a 12:00 appointment in Midlothian and I had to go and pick up my students at 11:20.)  

When they got there, Daddy and the doctors went to find Mom (who had gone to therapy).  This took a few minutes, but then we were all ready.  

The doctors said that Mom is working on "endurance" and "stamina."  She doesn't like to hold her head up on her own for long periods of time.  She doesn't like to turn her head either because she doesn't like the way the shunt feels in her neck. 

The doctors talked about wanting to see some of Mom's work things.  They have to decide if and when she is ready to go back to work.  Before they decide that, they have to figure out what she does.

Mom told them all she wanted to do was go home.  The doctors said that they would give her a "weekend pass."  They will allow her to visit on Saturday and then again on Sunday.  We are not sure about the details.  We don't know if Mom can go away all day or if she will only be allowed out for a few hours.  Daddy did mention church on Sunday (he misses holding her hand during service).  We will have to see how Mom feels.  She is not sure she can sit through church yet.

Ethan and I are going to help out quite a bit when Mom comes home.  We only live a few miles from them, but when we picked our house I wanted it to be as far away from Mom and Dad as possible.  Now, it seems like that is the most annoying part.  I feel like they are close, but it takes 20 minutes to cross town and get there.  We may stay there for a few nights out of the week.  Ethan works until 8 pm on those nights.  This will give me the added benefit of cleaning only one house and worrying about only one meal each night.  Also - when it is time for the kids to go to bed, I won't have to worry about rushing home to put them down.  Also - Daddy's busy season is starting.  He may be late some nights.  We may not do this long, but we might need to do it for awhile.  On the weekends when we usually spend our "family" time together - Ethan, Avery, Luke and I will be at home.  Of course we will visit Mom during the weekend, too.

Mom cannot drive for awhile.  This surprised Daddy.  Mom and Dad are most concerned about transportation when Mom goes back to work.  She teaches the blind and travels from school to school to ARDS and to see children.  They are not sure what she will do if she cannot drive.

When released Mom will do "outpatient" physical therapy.  Ethan does this type of therapy and has been requested by Mom.  I am excited - mostly because I know he will do a good job but also because I know he will work with my schedule.....

Big news - one week from this Saturday - Mom will be released!  (This is still just a guess.  Next meeting is next week.)  

Tonight, Mom, Daddy and I talked with Heidi on speaker phone.   Heidi talked and talked while she was grocery shopping in Nashville, TN.  It was very nice to have Mom, Daddy, and Heidi together.  We laughed and enjoyed each other.  

Thank you all for continuing to pray for Mom!  She is getting better each day.