I decided yesterday morning that I wanted to go back  to see my mom.  She had called me Wed morning to tell me that she had a bad night, and I got off the phone thinking that I needed to be there for her, in case she needed me.  In case there was a mean nurse that I needed to beat up during the night.  That's what daughters do for their moms.

Today makes a week that she's been in the hospital.  She is D.O.N.E with being in the hospital.  Right now she has two blood clots in her leg that they are monitoring.  She's on blood thinners and a certain level has to be reached for her to get out of here.  This morning she was at 1.04 and we need her to get to 2.0.  I have absolutely no idea what that means, but we're reaching for 2.0

Here are a few things I've learned while visiting mom and driving back and forth from Austin to Conroe three times this week.

• They keep hospital's freezing.  Why?  Anyone know the answer to this?  It must be 54 degrees in here.  I came prepared this time.  Two sweaters.  Long Pants.  And those free hospital socks are marvelous.  I'm making my mom fake that she needs more right now so that I can get another pair.
• It is not cheap to have a loved one in the hospital.  You have to buy three meals a day.  Luckily my dad is a softy and usually buys my meals, but y'all it is not cheap.  If you know someone in the hospital, send their relatives gift cards to restaurants in the area.  They will thank you.
• Oh and speaking of restaurants.  You know what you eat when you are visiting someone in the hospital?  CRAP food.  Food that is not good for you.  Food that makes your skin gross.  After a few days of that food, you can't even poop.
• Nurses can make or break someone's stay in the hospital.  Seriously.  When you are laying in a bed, you are at their mercy.  What is a patient gonna do?  Throw their bed pan at them?  I'm so grateful for the fabulous nurses that my mom has had
• Why is it that when you sit with someone in the hospital room all day and do nothing, you are exhausted.  How am I tired from doing nothing?

Having my mom in the hospital has been such a vivid reminder that one day we will all die.  This world will move on without us, and we will enter our eternity.  The truth of the matter is that when I think about one of my parents dieing, or anyone I know for that matter, it brings much sadness to me, but also much happiness.  For someone like my mom, who is a Christian, death would bring her to Jesus.  Paul says it best in his letter to the Philippians:  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.