More Time With Mom

    I got a few pictures of Mom last time I was there for her shower. I'm always scratching my head for ideas about what Mom could do to make her days pass more interestingly. I gave her some beads and string at Christmas time. But that day she just took a handful of beads and kept them scrunched up in her hand. So I thought that was a lost cause. She does that sometimes. She can take a candy wrapper and hold it tightly in her hand through her whole shower and when we get her back in her chair I notice she still has it.

  I gave her the beads and string again when we had her settled back in her chair last time, she strung them on nicely and seemed to enjoy it. So I guess each day is different.

   Sometimes we have surprises when we go over to my parents house. Angie and I went later then usual one evening for Mom's shower. I usually leave my children at home when I go, with the exception of Merry, because she is good therapy for Mom. But a shower is not really visiting time. But I had a few beggars on this particular evening, so I decided ok, why not? They should go visit their Grandparents. Would you believe that evening I saw something I never saw before?

  Mom was sitting in her chair with a T shirt and her depend. That's all. Dad said he was going to put her to bed soon anyway. I grabbed a throw and tossed it over her, but it presented a problem. How do you make the trek across the Living room to the bathroom with a young teenage grandson in the room. I took one look at him and saw he had a magazine in front of his face, so I told Angie, " Let's just take her, as long as he stays behind that magazine, we"ll be alright."

  As we crossed the Living room Angie tells Mom, "Run."

 Would you believe she actually did? I couldn't believe my Mom could actually run! But run she did. With an expression on her face that was priceless. 

2016

  We have a new year.......

 I can't help but wonder what this new year will bring. I can't help but think of the quote by Anne of Green Gables, "tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it." It's a favorite of mine. I suppose it could apply to a new year as well.

  It reminds me just a little bit of the promise of God that, "his mercies are new every morning"  or this one from Psalms 27:13,  I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

  Mom is much the same, Her toe has healed up nicely. I think it took about six weeks for her toenail to fall off on it's own. But it is looking great now.She usually sleeps well and stays in bed for the most part at night. She did get out and tried looking out the front door window last week, then ended up falling right there. My Dad said it was almost more like she just sat down. Darwin and some of the boys had to go down and get her back up in the early morning.

  She sleeps late. It amuses me a little when I think about all the times when I have had a sick child or maybe just an early riser and I wondered when I would ever get enough sleep again. Now here is Mom, she can sleep all she wants. Responsibility no longer rules her. Given the choice between the two, I'd rather lose my sleep and run the treadmill of life than be in Mom's situation. 

    It's winter in WI. I stepped out on the porch to get wood for the stove. If your eyes are good you can see my bare footprint in the fresh snow. It felt delicious!

  I love winter. I didn't always. I used to strongly dislike the cold and the endless wet coats, mittens and boots. But finally one day I was listening to my children complain about winter. I realized then that they were really never happy with the season. In the summer they wished to go sledding and in the winter they wished for summer. I thought this is really crazy. Why not be happy instead of always wishing for something you ain't got!

  So I made a decision right there. I was going to practice being content in whatever season I am in. So when it snowed I would always tell the kids how beautiful it was and how much I loved the whiteness covering everything out there. It really wasn't long until I really did love it. I love the snow storms. The warmth in the house and it gives me a grand excuse to bake something warm or make a pot of coffee and settle down with a book and a throw. I can hear the wind whipping around out there and sometimes if it's a little sleety, I can hear it on our tin roof or against the window. So very beautiful. I developed a sense of pride in being a Northern girl. 

 To me winter gives me time to slow down and not work so hard like in the summer especially in harvest time. I know we're still busy but it's not quite as intense. I noticed something happening at our house. As a general rule, we all like winter around here. I don't hear a lot of complaining anymore. It's amazing what counting blessings and having a positive attitude can do. Even Steve who was transplanted from the South has turned into a Northerner.

 

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

                                                              

 Christmas is over for another year. We always look forward to family time, food and fellowship. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. If you didn't then seeking out the Christ of Christmas will ease your pain, help you find peace and a joy that is beyond your understanding. I find it is way too easy to get busy with preparations of family coming and making food to the point of missing the real meaning of why we celebrate.

 My Dad and Angie and I took Mom to the school program at their church at LightHouse Chapel on the 20th We took her in a wheelchair so that if she had any "accidents" we could just wheel her out and take care of her. But she did very well. She seemed to enjoy it. I noticed that most people could walk past her without too much problem but when Galen or Donna walked by she grabbed for them and didn't want to let go.

  On Christmas Day we, along with Lucas and Anna and their two little boys took Brunch over to Dad's house so that they could have some fun and fellowship too. We made stuffed French Toast and an Egg Quiche of sorts. It is a little hard to get Mom into our house anymore with our steps. She told me years ago that we need a ramp. We used to haul Grandma in on a wheelchair. Bump, bump, bump up the stairs. But it was easier to take the food to Mom this time.

  Matt and Kaitlyn had the flu on Christmas Day so they didn't make it for our gift exchange. They came the next day then. We had planned a surprise for our kids this year and so the anticipation of that was fun. We wanted to take them on a sleigh ride but because there was no snow we went on a horse drawn wagon ride instead. It was chili but fun. The kids say they get to plan the surprise next year. So we are in a little trepidation of what they could come up with. You never know what your kids might do when you are at their mercy. Lol!

                                                                        Kaiden

                                                                          Blake

                                                                          Our Ride

                                                             Blake and his Mama  (Anna)

                                                     Hannah ( Marc's new Bride )

                                         

                                                   Kaiden

Today is Mom's Birthday!

 Mom turned 84 years old today. She is 30 years and 3 days older than Steve. That's how I remember how old they are. I can usually pinpoint one or the other. Whenever I want to know how old Mom is I think of Steve and figure it out, or the other way around.

  We had a good day. It was my turn to stay with Mom. Angie had called me weeks ago and we made plans to have lunch with Mom. Angie said she would buy chicken from KFC. Because Mom always loved their chicken. She asked me to do the Potato Salad. I think I got the best end of the deal. Because she had to spend a fortune. I invited the rest of the family to come at 2:00 for ice cream and cake because even though Angie would have bought Chicken for everyone. I didn't have the heart to let her.

  We did Mom's shower today and I cleaned the mess between Mom and Pop's chairs. It looks much better now. Mom got a lot of cards for her birthday. I put some on the wall beside her chair at eye level where she can see them. I found that she had chucked a few in the trash can when I emptied it. Don't worry, she would never do that if her mind was working right. But that is just how she does now.

  She got a cute little scrapbook in the mail from her nieces, Linda and Cheryl, don't ask me what their last names are. It's been too long. I know their maiden names though. Linda Hostetler and Cheryl Garretson. After inspecting the little book we discovered it was made from those little white lunch bags folded in half with a spiral binding added. They did an excellent job. I didn't think to take pictures today. But I am going back tomorrow and again on Tues. well actually everyday next week because Kristin will be on vacation and Phebe will be doing her job over there. So I will take the camera and get some pictures to post so you can see this cute little book.

  It was fun to be at the folks again with other ones from the family. It's been a long time since we were all there like that. Reminded me of the days when we used to do that more. Darwin's were there. Our two married sons were there. Luc and Anna and their two sons, Kaiden & Blake, also Marc and Hannah. Actually we have three married sons but Matt lives too far away and is planning to be here for Christmas. So he couldn't make it for today. OK lets be honest. I didn't even invite him cause I knew he wouldn't come two weekends in a row.

 

                                                                Singing Happy Birthday

                                                                     Pop and Mom

                                             Darwin and Mom with Merry and Dawson

                                          Birthday cake and Mom's favorite food.....ice cream!

Comments

  I recently got a Christmas card from Uncle Les & Aunt Sue. They put a note in there saying they can't comment on my blog posts because they were being required to have a Google account. I think I fixed that now. So if you want to leave a comment it should work now :)
  Have a great weekend!

Brain Food

  Mom has been doing some better this past week. She seems to comprehend better, She appears to recognize us better, and I notice she's more concerned about modesty when she gets her shower. My Dad says he is giving her Brain Food and Zeolite. I usually am the worst skeptic you can find when it comes to taking a lot of Health Products. Probably because I have seen too many come and go. But I have to admit that I did see a change in her before I knew he was giving her anything.

  This morning when Angie and I got to the house to shower Mom she was drinking her morning shake, loaded with her Brain improvement products. She was overjoyed to see that I had Merry with me. It didn't take her long to start blowing into her straw and making a whistling noise. My Dad said that was one of her most recent activities. I stood there watching her when I got the inspiration to give her a Harmonica.

  We gave her the shower first but then after she was all dressed and combed I gave her a Harmonica to blow on. She loved it. I don't think she played any particular tune but she was making merry melodies when I left. I'm thinking my Dad will probably put it out of reach soon.

It Doesn't All End Here

 Sometimes perspective is all we need. Our care for Mom continues week after week. She stays pretty much the same. Her worsening progression is so minute it can hardly be noticed. Like the hour hand of the clock, it moves slowly and unheeded by us all until the end of the day we realize, it really has moved on and the day is gone.

  Today Mom had a window of clarity where I think she really remembered me. How precious to feel the pressure as she squeezed my hand hard and smiled. It felt so good to be acknowledged again. I had become so resigned to her not knowing who I am that I think I have been pretty downhearted about it without really admitting it to myself.

   It didn't last long. By the time she walked to the bathroom for her shower the moment had passed. She frowned and shook her head "no" very vigorously when we started her bath. Then she violently kicked the water again.

  I thought about it regretfully as we got her dressed then. The sadness and sorrow of Mom no longer being herself. As I pondered the thing I had a light bulb moment... IT DOESN"T END HERE! There's no reason to get too down about this. This is only a moment compared to all of eternity when Mom and I will know each other like we always did. IT ISN"T OVER! I will have a mother/daughter relationship again with her soon....

  Some day soon, she will be her neat self again. She won't have an unheeded drippy nose, she won't get food everywhere all over herself and not care that she has crumbs sticking to her chin. Her bathroom inabilities will no longer exist.

 It doesn't end here. It's all a matter of perspective!

   Just for fun today I asked her where her cookbooks are. She pointed out the general direction but I insisted she get up and show me. She did. Not very eagerly, but she marched right over and showed me where they are kept. Wow! She remembers.