Ok - whew! Here are some updates from the past week...
Mama's A1C is 6.6 (diabetic scale, this test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months ) which is slightly elevated for her but still within normal range considering she is on Prednisone(which spikes blood sugar) and Metformin (diabetic "pre-insulin" measures). I was very glad to hear this because I have been working hard to offer healthy snacks, meals and treats so she doesn't have a higher blood sugar reading than normal. Her blood sugar spikes normally come between 5pm and 6:30pm - her highest reading thus far has been 266 (again from the Prednisone), so I quarter the Metformin tablet and that normally bring it down to normal range within 2 hours.
When Mama came home from the hospital I drove to the pharmacy to have her prescriptions filled...while waiting for the prescriptions to be filled, of course, I shopped. I found the most helpful and wonderful tools, that at the time...did not know were going to help us as much as they have. My first purchase was a "ReliOn Blood Pressure Monitor Designed for Women" and each time we check her blood pressure (especially before we go to the doctors office) we are within 1 point of the doctors reading - not too shabby. It also has been showing about every other reading an abnormal heartbeat so I pointed this out to the doctor and he decided to administer a EKG. It did indeed show she had an irregularity and so Dr. Murphy had her to wear a Holter heart monitor for 24 hours. They took the heart monitor off this morning, printed and read the results and it showed that she is having a skipped heart beat every couple of beats - - just like the blood pressure monitor was showing - - worth its weight in gold.
My second purchase was an "Apex: With Four Alarm Settings Alarm Clock Pill Organizer". We have set the alarm to let us know when she is due for her breathing treatments and it has worked like a charm.
Oh yea, the doctor did decrease her dosage of Prednisone *CLAPS & WHISTLES*.
Next week she goes to have another Spirometry (measuring the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs), DLCO (Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide) and Lung Volume test performed at the hospital. Her scheduled appointment for starting the tests is 8am and no inhalers can be taken 4 hours prior to appointment so she will be without her 6am breathing treatment - please say a prayer for her...specifically that her chest does not tighten up.
Overall, she is doing better. Today after going to the doctor we went to Target to get in a little walking therapy *teeheehee* and she did wonderful. She enjoyed the trip and I was happy that she was able to get in such a great amount of walking therapy.
Don't forget to say a prayer for Dory.Blessings, Tammy
Last week Mama and I were coming home from the Library or one of the many doctors office visits she had and we were discussing the upcoming Presidential election when Mama looks at me, very seriously I might add and says, "Do you believe that Obama (pronounced like Alabama) is a MUSLIN?". I thought I would wreck the Buick. I said, "I'm not sure - - maybe cotton instead of silk", "I was laughing while I said this and then I said, "Mama, it's Muslim not Muslin - Muslin is a specific type of fabric". Then she mouths the word Muslim and said, "is that right".?. I said, "yes, that's right". I had forgotten about this until I saw Saturday Night Live this weekend where they had a skit on the Crazy McCain campaign lady (that weirdly enough acts and somewhat looks like my Aunt Frances LOL). It was like the SNL writers had been in the car with us and had borrowed the material from our hysterical conversation {between Dory and Me}. I laughed till I cried, then I called Mama into the room and had her to watch the skit online, she laughed right along with me - - of course, I'm rolling with laughter and can't get my breath...I kept on replaying the same frame where crazy lady poses the same question as Dory - priceless. 
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