A month later

Well, here it is a month after my last post.  I can't seem to keep caught up these days, with anything!

After I returned home from LA Al wasn't feeling well so into the doctor we go.  While in the doctor's office Al took a turn for the worse and the EMT's were called and carted him off to the ER (next door to the doc's office.)  After a LONG time in ER, Al was admitted for observation.  He did have a minor stroke while in the doctors office.  However, the neurologist that saw him in the hospital discovered that he also had Parkinson's disease!  That's a new medical problem to add to the rest of his problems.  However, it is being controlled by yet another pill (he only takes 28 pills a day!)  After a few days in the hospital the doc's let him come home. 

We had a peaceful, albeit, hot couple of weeks at home.  Had some good monsoon storms to keep us occupied. 

On Aug. 23 Al had a doctor appointment for his regular follow up.  The doc ran some routine blood tests while we were there.  That evening the doc called me and told me to take AL back to the hospital, that he was in kidney failure.  His kidneys were basically shutting down!  So back to the ER we went for admission back into the hospital.  The Nephrologist on call just happened to be the one we see, so we felt fortunate we didn't have to see another new doctor.  He felt that Al was dehydrated...I was amazed.  Al drinks tons of water a day; however, he is also on a pill for water retention and it was working overtime and dehydrated him.  So for 3 days he was in the hospital with and IV drip to hydrate him.  Kidneys finally kicked back in to 20%, which for Al is normal.  We still arent' sure if he will have to go on dialysis yet, but at least he didn't have to have emergency dialysis.  What a fun month this has been!  I DON'T NEED ANOTHER ONE LIKE THIS!   Al is home and feeling pretty good now, but I am watching him like a hawk, of course, sometimes that doesn't do any good either.  :-)

In other news, ummm,  life is pretty quiet here.  The weather is beginning to cool off to the low 90's and it isn't so darn humid.  We are still suppose to get a couple more monsoon rains, which are very welcoming.  The desert is a beautiful green right now...so pretty to see.  Of course, with the heat we have it won't take it long to turn back to brown.  We even have some cactus in bloom right now; pretty orange blooms on some of the barrel cactus. 

I am deep into my genealogy research again.  It is something I can do from home and I really enjoy it.  Of course at times I get so confused I don't know who I am!  As Jennifer says, we don't have a family tree, it's more like a hedge!  So true.

Until next time.......hope everyone is happy and healthy.  Live each day like it is your last!