November eighth, 2010.

Abbagale Winslow here.  I'm afraid I'm not at my best: am in the hospital as I write this.  A raging case of double pneumonia: both lungs.

Got sick on Monday; on Tuesday, my cough got decidedly worse, and I even coughed up a small bit of blood; mum got concerned, so she took me to see Dr. Pratt.  Dr. Pratt popped me right into hospital, as I was, by this time, having a great deal of difficulty with my breathing.  I was so sick, I ended up in Intensive Care until yesterday morning.

Mum told me all this; I didn't really know anything until Saturday.  I'm just writing down what she told me.

I am feeling a little better.  Still have the oxygen mask on me face; breathing still a bit of an issue, plus I'm out of breath from all the excess coughing I've done.  I am starting to eat a little, but nothing really tastes good.  I hate hospital food!  What I wouldn't give for a nice, fat, juicy Whopper or Wendy's hamburger ... (Drooling)

The only thing I really remember from my time in ICU is when the doctor would stab me in the wrists to get blood.  Painful wasn't the word!!  I would have screamed, but I couldn't.  Had a breathing tube in me throat. It was horrible!!  The doctor told me better in the wrists than in the neck or groin.  I looked at him, as if to say: "Hell, no!!"

Pop and mum have been by to see me, but I scared poor Charlie yesterday.  When they went to see me in the ICU, they found my bed made.  Poor Charlie was beside herself: she thought I'd bought the farm.  Poor mum was trying to calm her down.  When Charlie saw me in my new room, she clung to me and cried like a little girl.  I felt so bad for her.

Me room is nice.  Big and roomy.  A nice view of the building outside, along with the cars on the road, moving like the world's biggest colony of ants.  The weather outside is sunny; makes me wish that I was home.  Maybe by Wednesday I will finally be released.  I sure hope so; on Thursday several local eating establishments are feeding Veterans, in honour of Veteran's Day, and I'd like to have a free meal, y'know??

I just hope I can have a regular breakfast today.  Yesterday I had weak ice tea, grape juice, and lime jello: three things I absolutely hate!!  YUCK!  I didn't eat much; I just picked at the jello and drank the beef bouillion.  That was good; I left the other stuff alone.  Nursie wasn't happy with me eating habits.  Well, I told her, I hate lime jello, tea, and grape juice; they could have brought me something more edible or drinkable, right??

Well, the meds are kickin' me in the tail, so I guess I'll get some rest until nursie decides to take me vital signs.  Grr! Whoever said you get rest in hospital has obviously never been a patient!!  I will write in here again soon; hopefully the next time you hear from me, I'll be home again!  Just keep me in mind, say a quick prayer I get out by Wednesday, so I can have me free meal! LOL

~Love, your friend, Abbagale.  :)