Spaw is not doing well. It seems as though they really cannot find the bleeding. I talked with Karen this morning and Pat was done having another blood scan and was on unit #10 of blood. There are no lower bowel sounds, I am not sure exactly what that means but I know that it is not good. The Dr. pretty much told Karen that it (the bleeding) has to either stop on its own or we are going to lose our beloved one. I just called Lancaster and talked to one of the ICU nurses and Karen was down in the imaging waiting room as Pat is going thru yet another test. Maybe we could give him some cheat sheets and he would pass one of these pesky tests. The nurse told me that he had had no additional units of blood since #10 but that he is a very sick man and the prognosis is not good.

I am very worried about Pat and also about Karen. I know that she is very tired and so heartsick. She loves Pat so dearly and this is such a rough time. Just to make a little comic relief, the mortgage co. sold their mortgage and of course neglected to inform them so the last three payments have not been cashed and Karen got a threat just to brighten her day. We were actually able to laugh about that. She will call the co. and get it straightened out but for Heavens sakes did she really need this right now? I know that when it rains it pours but we seem to be deep into the monsoon season here. Oh yeah, the principal of Mike's school gave him detention for being late. Connie liked to turned his head right about for that one.

Keep the beautiful thoughts, prayers, and love heading their way. Even if Pat cannot respond right now, we know that on some level it is a great comfort. It has certainly given my darling daughter comfort, strength and an occasional smile.

Why am I Clarence? Well I guess Spaw is not going on line today so I will tell you. Being MudCATTers, you will understand. I get so very annoyed by calls from people selling everything from hair restorer to cemetery plots that I decided I would like an unlisted number, you know, to keep rabid ex lovers(wishful thinking) and such from bothering me. Not to mention the occasional times that I don't pay for the cat food and run afoul of the bill collector person. I digress. So, the phone co. charges some exorbitant fee for an unlisted #. I am listed in the Atlanta phone book as Clarence O'Doyle. Clarence was my cat who is now scratching that great litter box in the sky. So when someone calls and asks for Mr. O'Doyle, I simply say that he is dead, accept their words of sympathy and get on with my life. I automatically deep six all mail that comes for him also. I have been doing this for years. Enter that pesky invention, caller ID. Pat and Karen have that annoying little feature on their phone. When I call, I come up as Clarence O'Doyle and Pat has adopted that as my name.

Karen just called. They have found the pain reliever of choice for Pat, a new drug called NUbain and his humor has improved and he is feeling much cheerier. They had him swallow barium and are going to go back down to imaging to see how far it gets. Man that sounds like loads of fun. Been there, done that one. Yummmmm. Karen sounded better tonight. She will be staying at the hospital with Pat and Wayne is there with her so I feel better that she is not alone.

Will send more news as I get it. Thanks again you can never know what a comfort it is to log on and know that we are not alone in this mess. If Pat has no lower bowel sounds, does that mean he will not have to scratch the litter box and can eat broccoli and not offend? Guess I need to read up on that. Keep the faith, whatever faith that is. Love........Clarence