GREAT NEWS!

Mom will be released from Pacific Specialties in three weeks or so!

The plan is to have her and Dad move back to their house in Bend for a few months, then they will probably move to an assisted living facility close to us here in Portland.

There is a little work to be done to get their house ready, but we are all very excited. We are looking into getting some additional nursing or home care - at least someone stopping by daily to check in.

The staff is pushing her to spend the next few weeks living there as if she's at home: bed flat all the time, can't use the bars to help her get up from bed, resist using the nurse call button, administer her own meds as necessary, etc.

Mom is barely using her g-tube and eating all her meals normally. They have only been using the g-tube to give her some formula after meals to help stretch her stomach. She will probably have it removed completely after she gets to Bend.

Her physical therapy will continue after Pac Spec. We anticipate her strength and endurance will continue to grow and her fatigue to lessen.

More great news: Mom will be coming over to my house to spend Christmas morning with us. She'll stay as long as she feels up to it, although I'm sure the kids will wear her out quickly. We are excited to have her out on this fun 'field trip.'