My cousin Anna Mae drove down from Baltimore to stay with me last night and we are here Mom's room writing this update. She had a small episode a little bit ago, but is stable now. She was fighting the ventilator so it wasn't able to push air in to help her breathe. The nurse was quick to respond and was able to stabilize her, but it was a little scary. Anna and I went into the waiting room while they worked on her and I can't describe how helpful she was. Amazing. Anyways, we talked to Uncle John on the phone who explained what happened and then after about 15 minutes we were able to come back in the room. She was back sleeping again.

Anna and I went to pick up my friend Katie from Ohio who flew in to stay with me for the weekend. Aunt Debbie and Shira stayed with her while we were gone and the doc gave her a breathing treatment to help with her asthma. They believe that her asthma may be one of the reasons she is coughing so much and the reason for her episode earlier.

Katie and I are here in the room now. We got to talk with her day nurse for awhile who was very helpful. Mom was again trying to get out of bed, but finally we thought to just ask if she was in pain (since she is no longer on the IV drip, but rather is getting pain medicine as needed) and she nodded yes. This was encouraging to me because she has not been very responsive today or yesterday evening. Her nurse gave her meds and she is now much much calmer. I asked her to close her eyes if she wanted her rag over her eyes and she did. Just to be sure, we asked her to open them and she did that too. So she is now resting in classic Momma Shal form -- out cold with a wet rag over her eyes :-)