Respite--or--did someone say zombies?

(Thanks for the distraction, TG.)

The zombies have finally made it past the security gate (ah, yes ... California tract house living). I figure it will be another couple hours before they actually make their way down the street to my parents' house (slow, zombies are SLLOOOWW). By then, National Zombie Awareness Day (I got that wrong, didn't I ...) will be over and I think the zombies will all just *poof* go away. And that's good--because apparently this house has no intention of facing death just yet. Not even the metaphorical kind. But, to play along, if the zombies do make it here in time to eat me, or they don't *poof* go away come midnight, I have my trusty bedspread here to hide under.

Believe it or not (well, no, I can't say I'm "walking on air" exactly--whatever happened to William Katt anyway?), my mom came home from the hospital today. Both her pulmonologist and her oncologist signed her release papers and she arrived this morning at about 11:00. My nani (mom's mom) and I changed the sheets on her bed ... and then we went out back where she prepared lunch and I pruned my mom's rose garden (I can't grow a garden very well, but I'm an expert pruner/hedger/cutter-upper). *insert Alison's comment about my office plants*

And all day, she's been relatively good. She's been eating well. She's had minimal pain. No sign of the panic attacks she's been having (my aunt seems somewhat understandably traumatized by the two nights she spent in the hospital comforting my mom). Looks like the doctors were finally able to achieve some kind of balance in her body. Either that, or the Lexapro they prescibed for her is making her feel so optimistic that she doesn't register any of the crap. Probably a little bit of both? Plus the blood pressure medication. Plus the lasix finally started working. Whatever the case, we're all very glad she's home, resting in her own bed. Even if this is just a short respite of ups before another round of downs (we know too much about what's happening to her body, now, to be too optimistic), we'll take it. And enjoy it.

And life besides is still moving forward in its own sad, unfair, and heartbroken way ...