Dear Betsy,
I got your letter two days ago and was so glad and happy to hear from you. Earl has been really sick and his color was terrible and he got so weak. I took him to the doctor on Monday and the doctore drew blood thinking it was virus. Well, Tuesday AM the nurse called to say to take Earl to the hospital. He is bleeding somewhere and his hmg. was 8.6 on Monday and yesterday it was 7.2. Then he got chest pain and had to take 2 nitro's and was put on oxygen. He is a very sick man. He has a good doctor. Dr. Harris saw me first and he said, "Judy, you have been here all day, now go home." Then he went to see Earl and told Earl that he was sending me home. I just called the hospital and they said he felt stronger and didn't as hard pain as he did yesterday. Thank the dear Lord.
I went to see Earl today. They gave him 2 pints of blood and he looks better and feels much better. He can only have clear liquids and therefore has liquid stools. He has to have a special test done tomorrow where they put a big garden hose down your throat to see the lining of the stomach and duodeum. I was there 4 hours and came home. I fixed his bed up special for him. Someone from church gave me 3 large print Reader's Digests to read. Earl finished sewing my dress for me. It is purple/black print. I have a black purse and belt. Now I need black shoes. I plan to wear it this Sunday. Last Sunday Earl was too sick to go anywhere. I had to drive him to the doctor on Monday and the hospital on Tuesday. I rarely ever drive so it takes some remembering especially on these winding roads. I get sleepy. You know I don't get more than 4 hours of sleep a night. I come up in the loft and read or watch a video. I went to the library and check out two books today. I watched Cora earlier and it was a cop story and very good.
We are hurting moneywise. I haven't paid on medical bills for 2 months. Now, our car insurance is due. We haven't even enough cash for groceries. I am praying for help. I think this is really bothering Earl. Probably why he has the ulcer if that is what it is. I pray it is not a tumor. Can you put his name on the Prayer list at the Temple?
My dog is sleeping. She is so big and Earl say she will be huge. She is loveable and her name is Blackie. We walk her all the time and she loves it. I can only make it to the mail boxes down the way and walk back. She sniffs everything. We have deer here and she much smell them. I hope I can train her so I can trust her when I go away. She is almost house broken. She told me this morning but I didn't realize it and she wet and pooped. I am used to Earl being here because he walks her the most. Sometimes I think we should put her outside and build a dog house for her. She is big for a house dog. She loves it in here though and good hearted Judy doesn't want to upset the dog. She just came up from behind and put her head on my headed. I am sitting on the floor. What a surprise.
Earl's oldest daughter called tonight to see how her dad is doing. She is very nice. She and her husband stayed with us the weekend of the wedding. Did I tell you that I got my long hair cut very short. I look better with long hair but all I can do now is to let it grow. We had to buy a new microwave on time because ours stopped working. It is a Sears and does really well. It is the top model for the low price. The one we ordered never came in so the manager said to come and get a better one. It does everything. It is much nicer than Earl's oldest one. It worked by a dial - no selections. It just had a timer and it was an old Litton. I am about to sew for the girls. I have two patterns cut out and all they need is sewing. Sandy is anxious to get them. Maybe I can sew tomorrow with Earl in the hospital. I have to drive to Circleville for the hospital. The sun is supposed to shine tomorrow after days of rain. It has been cool though.
I now wear support hose with toes open and they are below the knee. They have 30-40 compression of Mercury in them. That cost us $54 this month for one small pair. We owe so many medical bills and they get worse. Now we have this hospital stay. It is 2 AM and my other tape is going. It is really good - war story. I am drinking a caffeine free diet coke.
I have done something to my right upper arm. It is painful and I can only life it so far. It is weak to use so I am using my left side only. I don't want to spend the money to go to the doctor. They bill Medicare so I don't pay anything until they pay anything until they pay. I have to have my Scleroderma checked also by a specialist. My teeth are going to pot so I have to get them worked on but Earl has insurance for most of that which will help.
Well, I am out of news. Thank you for writing. Take care of yourself. Remember that I love you dearly. Write when you can. Give me your address so I don't have to send your mail to Kirstie. I love you.
All my love,
Mom and Earl
