Today has been one of those types of days that with which so many of us are familiar.  Call received from Mom at 6:30 AM - she had such pain in her leg that she couldn't get out of bed.  She begged that I call Hospice to come help her get up.  I did so and then agreed to meet the nurse to let her into the house.  Bottom line, the nurse thinks Mom's arthritis is acting up.  I requested an x-ray but was told that the nurse didn't think it was necessary.  She gave Mom a couple Advil to take after I fixed her something to eat so the meds would not be on an empty stomach. Mom's knee was swollen to almost the size of a baseball.  She was able to walk, but anyone watching could see that she was putting most of her weight on the other leg.  The rest of the morning was spent arguing with one department or another trying to get thing straight again.  They just recently put my sister who is almost 900 miles away in charge of Mom's care.  Not only is she too far away, but she is so passive concerning Mom's deteriorating condition that this infuriates all the rest of us.  I live 5 miles from Mom and have been by her side for cancer surgery & therapy as well as many heart and other health problems.  My mother got angry with me 3 weeks ago and this darn agency decided that they know what's best for the entire family.