Mom's words - Tuesday Oc. 6

The morning began with early Eucharist and that always makes the day perfect.. Dad and I spent an hour in my office clearing out some things. We barely made a dent. Then I sat in the living room doing hand stitching while he paid bills. Relaxing or boring, depending on

one's view.

After a lunch of Sherri's lasagna, I returned to bed. Julie came with roses. A few moments later in came Linda and Pam whom I had not seen in 20 years! They saw Julie and Jen whom I called over. It was GREAT!

Pam and LInda each saved booklets I'd made for their 40 birthdays. They brought them for me to read. Gosh! I was a good writer then! And what a sense of humor! I reconnected with a part of me I'd put on the back shelf. I want that person back.

Life is good, really, really good.

After they left, Jackie came and helped me shower, blew dry my hair with poofy-ness AND changed out my oxygen tubing to a 50 foot cord! I can go everywhere now!

Edited version of a poem I wrote for Linda's book:

I think I saw a raindrop laugh

as it tiptoed past the sun.

It laughed as clear as water runs,

and I saw a rainbow.

Motto for the day from Pam's book: "you can't make banana-nut bread

without baking soda..."

A butterfly net and a beautiful day

Jen's over at the house with her daughter Haven. The grandaughters are running around outside enjoying the cool temperatures. Mom did the same, sitting outside for 30 minutes this morning in the sun while Dad watered their potted strawberries. "They're looking good," Dad proclaimed proudly. "Pretty soon, Mom can have some fresh, juicy strawberries in her oatmeal." Mom smiles at that declaration. She's proud of the time she spent outside. She even played the piano for 20 mintues. Her left hand was a struggle but her right did well. "I have to work on the left hand," she says, rubbing it gently with her right hand. 

Sydney just came into the house asking for bread to feed the ducks. "A bun will work, grandpa," she instructs. "We'll use small pieces." 

Mom and Jen are done with the shower. Jen's going to do mom's hair now. Sydney just ran by the house in a full sprint with a butterfly net, smiling from ear to ear. I wonder whether I should be outside supervising. Dad's watching over them from the top deck. He seems to be enjoying helping them measure their fun without getting into trouble doing something they shouldn't. 

Mom's talking with Jen about a new hair brush that doesn't pull her hair. Jen has all the fancy hair hardware like flat irons. She and Mom have good conversations during the bathing process. Dad and I are glad Jen and Julie are able to handle that component. We also have aides that can come during the week when we're working. 

Trip to the ER

Mom and Dad had a rough go of it last night. In fact, the day yesterday was a tough one. I won't get into all the details, but the essentials go a little like this:

• Mom had her appt. with Dr. Seavolt, the radiologist. He was absolutely thrilled with the results of the radiation treatment. He called the results "remarkable!" (gotta love that prayer power!) and showed Mom and Dad the chest xray before and after. Mom was very pleased but missed seeing Gail. She even wore her brown and orange so Gail could see.

• On the way home, Mom didn't feel well and lost her lunch. She had lost her appetite for a day or so and the kids got worried (and so was mom and dad). So, off to the emergency room for some clarification on a couple things. The ER visit ended about 12:30am when Dr. Julie Ott gave the 'all-clear' and sent an exhausted Mom and Dad home. A private ambulance came and picked them up around 1:00am this morning.

• Nurse Rick checked Mom in to the ER. Her second nurse was Jeni and her Dr. was Julie. Ironic, considering those are the names of Mom's kids. Mom liked that little coincidence.

If you are planning a visit today, please call first.