Yes, it's me.  Yes, I was in the hospital.  Yes, Matthew, I was posting in
the wee hours of Saturday morning (7/12) because I was so uncomfortable I
couldn't sleep.  By 11AM I was in the emergency room, having been whisked
off by ambulance.  I couldn't stand up, much less drive myself to the
hospital.  And Mom, bless her, was too freaked out to even think about
driving.  Here I'm supposed to be acting as her caregiver and I wind up in
the hospital *again*!  NOTE:  the doc says even if I'd stayed in the
hospital the first time around for a day or two it probably wouldn't have
made any difference.

Diagnosis: perforated colon.  I was on heavy duty IV antibiotics, IV fluids
and a LOT of pain medication.  Two shots of morphine in the ER didn't do it.
They had to give me something that practically knocked me out.  Gradually I
was able to eat soft foods withouth a problem and they removed the drain
(which was more uncomfortable than anything after a couple of days).  Long
story short, I'm back home now, still on heavy-duty antibiotics and a strict
diet.  Do I feel like cooking? No.  Do I have to? Yes.  Dammit!

I have to see the surgeon for more tests next week.  I'm going to be
scheduled for laproscopic surgery to remove part of my colon (oh joys!) but
hopefully we've caught it soon enough a colostomy won't be necessary.
There's still a chance of that; I was told not to be discouraged if this
comes back before we can schedule my surgery and it might lead to a
temporary colostomy.

John left on June 30th.  He was with me for the trip and also is the one who
took me to the emergency room.  But he had to get back home.  Wouldn't have
mattered; there wasn't anything he really could have done by still being
here.  And yes, I contacted the neighbor and got someone to take care of her
kitties.

I was more worried about Mom and Persia than anything else.  Mom assurred me
she was taking care of herself, eating and taking her meds (ha!).  I do know
she was feeding Persia.  I had the foresight to unplug Persia's Drinkwell
fountain; I knew Mom couldn't lift it let alone clean it out.

Mom made attempts at litterbox scooping.  I'll have to give it a good
washing today.  This is the only time in my life I've been able to walk into
a room and it screamed CAT!!!  Mom just wasn't able to scoop all the clumped
stuff way down deep.  I'll take it outside and fill it with dish soap and
give it a good squirt with the hose; it's about all I'm capable of.  I'm
very tired.

Purrs to all who need them.  A few continuing purrs for myself wouldn't hurt
;)  I'm not out of the woods yet.

Jill