Response to Loud's comment

I'm sorry you didn't know, it wasn't a secret, I guess it never came up in conversation and the wedding took front and center for quite a while.
Last year the sisters decided they wanted to go on a cruise and be able to do this without children and grandchildren-- so that they could enjoy visiting with one another; also that it would be good for Mama. I've never been interested in a cruise --I'm too clostrophic; and Dad was never interested. After much debate, we decided to go and so we paid 1/2 on deposit. When Mama had to go in the nursing home, I guess I mentally put it on the back burner. When it came time to pay the final bill, I talked with her Dr and she saw no reason for her not to go.
Toni and Cecil aren't going, their Dr doesn't think it would be good for Cecil. Bobbi and Gordon aren't going. Gordon thinks Bobbi can't handle it. So its Joyce and Charlie, Maxine and Elias, Dad and I: Mama and Candy are rooming together.
It's a 10 day cruise with the Holland America line. We leave from Ft Lauderdale,>Bahamas>Curacao>Aruba>Costa Rica> and Panama Canal. I have mixed feelings, I'm finally getting excited about the trip (so is Dad); of course, the down turn in economy doesn't help matters.
We leave here on Nov 6 and leave Ft Lauderdale on Nov 9; return on Nov 19, we should be home on the 2oth.

Follow up Mama

The Dr saw Mama Monday and didn't find anything unusual and didn't change any of her meds. She looks better and Sunday when I brought her to the house for a while, she seemed to feel better. She spent some time going thru her closet and trying on clothes for the cruise and at 3 o'clock she said she was ready to go back that she needed to rest. Yesterday she was doing well.

I feel better than I've felt in a long time. My BP is staying in range of 110 to 126. When it drops below that, I'm worthless. The diet of course is a bummer. However, we are slowly geting used to the low salt. Our fat as a daily rule isn't that high, just need to keep and eye on the saturated stuff.

Follow up Dr visit

Got good news from kidney specialist. My lab test show that the creatinine level is decreasing but the formula for the stages still shows Stage 3. He still heard the abnormal sounds in my abdominal vessels. He will decide at next visit if I need tests on abdominal blood vessels. I'm totally off fluid and potassium pills. He has me on a low salt and low fat diet.

Mama has had a couple of rough days. Yesterday, she had a headach and was dizzy. I had the nurse check her pressure and it was 210/90. They gave her some extra bp medicine and it came down. She didn't feel like going to church today. I brought her to the house today and she went thru the clothes I'd washed for the cruise. Her pressure was good today. Will try to get her to see Dr tomorrow.