A quick update from Lake Woe Be Gone: Some of you may know Sue has been under the weather for the past couple of weeks, mainly diahrrea that has left her pretty weak. She has been to see her primary care physcian who has had her run through various (and variously unpleasant) tests and has had her try four different medications. She has consulted with her favorite neurologist, Dr. Hogan, about side effects of the medication he has her on. And she has tried various home remedies. Nothing has helped.

The next step is tomorrow morning when she is cheduled for a colonoscopy--also a most unpleasant affair. To top off this tale of woe, this morning around 1:40 am Sue fell and hurt her nose and wrist badly--not broken we think but swollen and painful. However, by this time the prep for the colonoscopy was well underway, and, as those of you know who have had one, the prep is the problem. Rather than go to the Emergency Room in the middle of the night (which would have been a disaster on top of a catastrophe), she toughed it out til this morning. After more consultations with various physicians' assistants and the anestheologist for the colonoscopy, the word is to go-ahead. So, tomorrow morning Sue will have her second colonoscopy in about two years.

Candace, Sue's former daughter-in-law and a perfectly wonderful human being, is coming from Columbia tomorrow to help us out. She will stay overnight. Chris will be checking in after work to provide some help. And Mark Goldman (whom Scott has dubbed "GoToMan," has phoned and e-mailed to tell us he is on call and five minutes away for anything we might need.

NO ONE PERSON SHOULD HAVE AS MUCH MISFORTUNE AS SUE HAS HAD!! Sue and I both hate to post bad news, but sometimes that's all we have. Leslie, Sue's friend from Springfield, called several times today. When we didn't answer, she knew something was up. This evening we called her to fill her in, and she said PUT SOMETHING ON THE BLOG. So, this post, Dear Readers.

In spite of the complications we've encountered, life goes on. Shirley was in Milwaukee and Chicago over the weekend. I (Rose) go to Chicago tomorrow for a teaching gig that has been set up for some time. I return on Wednesday. We were scheduled to go to Lawrence, KS, for Katie and Austin's wedding next Saturday. [Katie is Sue's granddaughter.] That trip is probably off. We were so looking forward to having Scott and Sons come here Friday evening, then all of journeying together Saturday morning for the wedding and reception. Alas, the plans of mice and women . . .

Shelly and Chris traveled to Nashville this past weekend to run in a half marathon. Makes me tired just thinking of it.

Shelly had a wedding shower for Katie a week ago last Saturday. Katie has grown into a beautiful, mature young woman. The shower was a lovely event. Shelly does know how to entertain royally.

Some good news: Sue and I went to see Margaret in her rehab quarters in O'Fallon on Friday. Margaret is doing well. Norman was there, as he is most of the time. A few days into Margaret's rehab, Norman knows everyone in the facility. While we were there, the duty nurse made her rounds. She checked HIS blood pressure. Margaret's family is having a wheelchair ramp built so she can get in and out of the house easily. She is thinking she will go home next Monday. Sue and I were relieved to see her doing so well. The plan Friday eveing was for various Abbott generations to gather for dinner with her in the rehab center.

Margaret and Norman's granddaughter, Erica (Randy and Lynn's daughter) is graduating from high school this spring. She has a great scholarship for Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where she will start in the Fall. We are very proud of her! Brains and beauty and personality--nice combination.

The Felin Brothers, Joe, Pete, and Donald, are on their annual fishing outing in Florida. Have a great time, Brothers. Don't forget--set those hooks!