The kids' artwork

July 31st - Bits and Pieces

A year ago today Mom arrived in Dillon, and Angie & Joyce helped her get settled in her room at Parkview Acres.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, it seems! The adjustment to living in a nursing home has been difficult. Actually, Mom seemed to turn a corner of 'acceptance' after we began having Bible study with her. Somehow that seemed to clinch it for her that she "lives there".

Mom has much less of the terrible anxiety and depression that plagued her at the beginning. She's also quite a bit weaker physically. She spends most all her time either resting in (or on) her bed, or in her wheelchair. She doesn't bear any weight really at all when she is transferred, although she still can hold onto the bar in the bathroom.

She's much stronger in the morning! She also takes a morning nap now, as well as an afternoon nap. Anything extra--like a bath--uses up a lot of her "strength for the day".

She eats well most of the time. When she got an intestinal bug, though, and got dehydrated, she had to spend a night in the hospital. All the poking and prodding and new and different people set her back quite a bit mentally! The IV fluids and overall good care helped her get "back on her feet" (so to speak) physically, though, quite quickly.

Mama has a roommate named Carol. Carol has a sister at Parkview and spends most of her time on the other wing with her sister, so she's rarely in the room during Mama's waking hours. Her oxygen machine is always going, which is pretty much the only noticeable evidence that she lives there! It remains to be seen, I guess, if Carol's stay is indeed temporary or if it stretches out into semi-permanence.

Mom doesn't typically talk much any more. She can summon strength and rise to the occasion for short periods--like talking on the phone, for example. Once her concentration span is over, though, she's done. Sometimes she can tell us something hurts--but rarely can she communicate exactly what hurts. She is still keenly observant of and sensitive to her surroundings.

Mom is quite attached to her main caregivers, and responds fairly well to them, which is nice to see. Last evening I was telling one of them something I thought Mom might need...and Mom expressed herself very emphatically, saying "she takes very good care of me!"--like as if to say "now don't you ruin anything!" So that was really neat to see. I was amazed, really, because she said it quite clearly! ...which seemed to make it all the more significant.

In some ways, if you were to pop in for a visit, you would find Mom very much "herself". She is very aware of the fragility of life, as she always has been. I say "I'll see you tomorrow, Mama!" She almost always adds "all being well!"

Philip & Mary's Visit

Then...the next weekend was Manhattan convention, so I was away for several days. Philip and Mary came Friday evening and had a couple days with Mom during that time, which was really great.

This picture was taken Sunday evening, outside the nursing home. This was the beginning of quite warm weather--so Angie, Joyce, and Philip & Mary could all take Mama on "excursions" outside.

Mom is usually very tired at night--especially if anything 'extra' has happened, and she begins to lean over to one side--hence the purple pillow. Looks like it could've used some propping up itself!

Thanks so much for coming, Philip and Mary! It was great to have you and meant a lot to Mom (and me), too.

...and Joyce came, too!

Joyce was here for a couple days the next week on her way back from Cody, Wyoming. It was short and sweet.

A few months ago we started having our Wednesday evening Bible study with Mom at the nursing home. It has been really great to be able to include Mom. Joyce needed to leave Wednesday a.m., but Angie got to join us for Bible study the previous Wednesday. Mom often asks, if I'm there of an evening, if it's Wednesday, or when meeting starts, or if it's not time for me to put away that magazine! Any day could be Wednesday! I think it really means a lot to her to have "Wednesday night meeting at her house"...and we really appreciate it as well.

Angie's Visit

Angie got to spend a few days with Mom after Parma convention. That was a treat for Mama and me both!

Angie left a nice little 'hearty' message on Mom's whiteboard, which you can see in the background.

Visit from Gena and Rose

Gena Baker and her sister Rose came through Dillon on their way to a family reunion in Canada. Thanks so much for stopping by! They had a visit with Mom the morning of June 5th. Mom said afterwards she enjoyed their visit--so much that she "wished they didn't have to leave". Thanks for coming, Rose and Gena!

Catch-up!

Please excuse the long delay posting on the blog. I'll try to "catch up" in chronological order...if I can keep everything straight!