This is Mom, with the nice bright daylight shining in her window. I was using a long lens, so was several feet away, and I couldn't coax a smile out of her!
She is holding her Little Brown Puppy Dog that Anna gave her for her birthday. (Kiah the boxer-dog used to curl up by Mom's chair!) This puppy dog is delightfully soft and loves to be held!
I don't have any updated pictures to post yet, although there may be an occasion soon to take some pictures.
Mom's memory has failed quite a bit; sometimes she feels upset and/or discouraged because she can't remember things, is confused, or nothing seems to make sense. She does remember people she has known for a long time, though. When I talk about someone, I usually ask her if she remembers who that person is, and she almost always has a ready nod of the head (as if to say "yes, of course!").
Mom is quite a bit weaker than a few months ago, and does not talk very much...especially in the evening when she's tired. She bears almost no weight, or none at all, when she is being transferred to and from her wheelchair. However, sometimes I get reports from the day shift that she's "quite perky" or "did exercises" or something like that! The staff at Parkview continues to be quite caring with Mom and the other residents on her wing, which I appreciate immensely.
She has a little birthday book with pictures, and every once in awhile we go back over it with her. I'm not sure if she would actually remember it, otherwise! We also still have a lot of her cards around, and sometimes I re-read them to her!
So please accept greetings from Mom, and come again in the (e-) mailbox when you have opportunity!
