Sunday at the hospital

Pseudo gout? What will they think of next. Started mother on steroids. Now she is concerned about "the dope" (her pain medication) and steroids. She said both are not good from what she reads in the news - we told her to let go of her fear of "getting strung out" and/or "too aggressive". We lucked out yesterday with the nurse we had - 20 year veteran nurse - but the downside was a cutback by UCONN = no nurses' aides on Sunday. We all pitched in. I did not get "yellow or red card" yesterday. I have gotten three during mother's stay in the hospital. When a staff member hands me a business card for "the Patient Relations Office", I visualize the referee handing a soccer or field hockey player a yellow or red card. Because it is certainly about my behavior not that they think the Patient Relations office will do anything to address the "inconsistency of care" my mother has gotten. We can add one more "team" that we have involved - rheumatology (sp). I was with my dad yesterday a.m. without sister #3 so I had to get her on my cellphone while the Geriatric doctor came in. He was a bit put off having to wait until I was "dictated to" as to questions that needed to be answered. I am glad that I only spent an hour at the office in the a.m. and went on to the hospital. I think they want the doctors to go in when no one is there to take notes or ask questions.

I am going to try to take today off from hospital run, but that did not work too well last week. Sister #1 and 3 say they will cover. Sister #1 has been enlisted on Tuesday to take Dad to the VA so he can get the bus to New Haven for tests for his memory issues. This could be opening a whole new door of "issues". Tomorrow could possibly be moving day back to "the home", so I will have to be on call for that while #1 is doing transport. NOW I know why people had so many kids in the past...lots of coverage needed for this phase of life. Does not bode well for me - 1 kid and a lot longer enemy list than buddy list...we will see.

Other than that, response from my co-worker to my email was not too encouraging. Our office dysfunction is not lost on the organization. Oh well. Maybe her suggestion of "old people Peace Corps" application is a good suggestion. Maybe work thinks they should give me "the red card".

As to news of the day, I saw a bit from SNL with Palin & Powell on Meet the Press - good week for NBC. Bad local news re Red Sox. Sad personal news - Jets overtime loss to Raiders. Fashion "bad dresser list" Blackwell died.

Better get going.