May 17, 2009

As most who have followed this blog will know, our mother passed away on May 17th.

As I work on photos & memories, I may continue to post here for whoever may be interested. Feel free to leave a comment if this would be of particular interest to you.

Thanks for all your care of Mom.
Linnet

Mom's 92nd Birthday

Somehow, in the "Flashback Flurry", I entirely skipped over the event of Mom's birthday. Angie was able to come, which was really great.

The bad part was, Mom had to make a trip to the dentist right on her birthday! She still has her own teeth, and two root prongs of a back molar had come out along with the tooth in question, and another root prong broke off and stayed in :-(((. Anyway, she seemed to be in quite a bit of pain as time wore on after that. Suppose it was very sensitive...and she couldn't really tell us anything much about what hurt or how badly it hurt, or where exactly it hurt! Finally decided she'd have to go to the dentist, and it turned out to be good she went. The root came out easily and the tooth right in front of it was ready to come out, too. Yikes...poor little Mama! She came through it better than expected, although of course was totally worn out. The dentist was real nice to her, and came by the nursing home after his workday was done to check on her.

These pictures were taken a few days after her birthday. The flowers (plant, actually) was from her kids. Amazingly enough, it is still blooming. You can see some of her cards. Don't think anything of it if you sent one and it is not visible--they were on a "rotation"!!

Then, a couple weeks ago, Mom's wing filled up again and she got a new roommate...so the card displays had to be condensed :-).

Gordon & Ivona ++++

At the end of February, we had the pleasure of Gordon, Ivona, Emily, Jonathan, and Ivona’s parents Sandu & Rodica coming!

The occasion was dampened just a bit when Emily & Jonathan got sick Sunday afternoon and Monday…

…although, we celebrated Gordon’s birthday on Tuesday in fine fettle…

…all had Bible study in Mom’s room on Wednesday, complete with two-way translation…

…then in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning, Gordon and I were sick, too. Sigh!

We had good care from the household of people, though :-)…and by Friday Gordon was recovered enough to drive them all home.

It was so nice to see Sandu & Rodica again, (and indeed to have them here!) who I have known since going to Romania in 1990. Mother was also in their home in Romania, and I believe she recognized them, and was quite impressed and pleased to see them again!

I’ll leave pictures until the next post…

Another Flashback or Two!

I’m not sure that I mentioned in my earlier flashbacks that Philip and Mary were here for a long weekend just before Thanksgiving.

Then, Angie was here during the week of Thanksgiving! Was really nice that they could have that time with Mom.

Joyce was here at the beginning of 2009…and I believe I have a picture or two that she took then:

Recent Photos

Mom's glasses turned up missing one days many weeks ago...finally we had a new pair made. I notice that she "looks around" a lot more now, observing things...so I know she must have missed them.

These photos aren't maybe the most complimentary of either Mom or me...but they're hot off the press!

Uncle Lael's Visit

Uncle Lael came to see Mom for a couple days, which meant a lot to both of them. I didn't get any pictures.

Mom typically doesn't communicate a lot...but during one visit she told Uncle Lael, "It sure means a lot to me to have you here!"

I think that "made the trip" for him!


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Gordon & Ivona's Visit

Next was Gordon & Ivona's visit, at the end of September. A few pictures will tell the tale:








A good time was definitely had by all!






As is evident, these pictures were taken by Ivona!

Joyce & Mary's visit

Mary brought Joyce over for a few days around the 1st of September...Labor Day weekend. I took the opportunity for an overnight camping trip (camera in hand) to the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near the Idaho Border.

One of the first days of their visit, Jennie Dissmore came through on her way east, and had a short-but-meaningful visit with Mom.





















Here are some other pictures from Joyce:







This picture with Anita Trevithick was taken after one of our Wednesday Bible studies with Mom in her room:

More Catch-up!

Here we go again...it's been a Very "Long" Time since I updated this blog. Not for lack of wanting to!

I'll start with Brian & Paula's visit in August. Although just "passing through", Brian had some pretty good conversations with Mom (if often one-sided!). Mom knew who he was and enjoyed seeing him again.



I'm sorry I didn't end up with a good picture of Brian's girlfriend, Paula. She was a great sport, too. Here's one more with me in it:



Thank you so much, Brian & Paula, for stopping by to see "Grandma"!

Next after Brian and Paula were Joyce and Mary...stay tuned.

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!

Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th

The residents on Mother's wing at Parkview Acres each got a silk flower corsage today--well, the ladies, anyway. Some of them also had cake and ice cream, but I think Mama was napping. They also got yellow "Happy Mother's Day" posters from a little girl named Jayden.

Mama got a dozen yellow-orange roses from her children. The short little vase seemed to "fit", somehow.

She got a few cards...and got to talk to Angie, Philip, and Gordon. She might have talked to Joyce, too--but she was too tired by the time Joyce's turn came around! We'll call Joyce another day!

Uncle Lael's Visit

At the beginning of May, Mom enjoyed a visit from her little brother!

Here's a picture of them together:

Thank you, Uncle Lael, for driving over to see your sis!

Joyce's Visit

Both Mom and Joyce were quite pleased to see each other! Joyce helped Mom get caught up answering mail, looked after her 'diet', and had some nice times with Mom...sometimes visiting a little, sometimes not. Little Brown Puppy-Dog also got to be in this picture!

Joyce also took Mom for walks in the halls. Sometimes Margie went with them. Mom and Margie are good friends. Here's Margie on one of their walks (this is Mom's hallway):

April Pictures

  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!