Zac…
17 Apr 2012 2 Comments
in Family
I’ll be dog sitting my boy, ZAC…looking forward to spending time in Bethlehem and Littleton – but, I still have a while to wait til I get there! Trying to decide what I want to see and do while I am up there…anybody have any ideas???
Moving…
01 Apr 2012 3 Comments
I’ve decided I’m moving to Maine…
April Fool’s!!!!
Not really – but, it seems everyone else in my life is moving or has moved in the last few days…
My sister and her husband , Michael, just sold the house they have lived in since they were married – (and that’s about 30 some years) – and moved into a three-story townhouse (complete with elevator in their apartment). They are most happy – retirement years are close by and they don’t want to deal with yard work anymore. Can’t say as I blame them. The dogs are enchanted with the elevator! They think it was put there expressly for them to ride when they need to go out.
My daughter, Tara, is looking for a new place to call home – but, hasn’t quite found it yet…
And, Scarlett is moving to a new house the middle of May!
Me, I’m staying where I am and finally claiming it as home! Have been crazy working on finishing the unpacking that never got done when I moved in – and it is looking good!!! When I finish – I promise there will be photos…
The Art of Acceptance…
02 Jan 2012 7 Comments
in Family
As most of you know, my mother, Carmen, is in a nursing home. She has been there several years. The last year has been difficult for me as she continues to decline with her Alzheimer’s.
We spent time over the holidays when I went out to take her the gifts I had bought. She doesn’t need much – so, I always buy her clothes. She knew it was me…and called me by name. Well, she wasn’t too excited about the clothes – but her eyes lit up when I told her I had some perfume for her.
We talked for a while – and somewhere along the line I ceased to be her daughter and became her sister. In her mind, I was one of her sisters – and as I was leaving she told me to tell the rest of her sisters hello for her.
Before I left the nursing home I spoke with the chaplain. She told me that mother is always happy, always smiling, and just seems to love everyone. She never complains – unless something really hurts (like her hand a few weeks ago – and they made a splint for her to use when she sleeps) and is always thrilled to speak to those who stop to say hi to her. She said that for someone who is partially blind and can’t hear very well – she has a very happy life. She told me that the nurses wish every patient was as easy to care for and care about as my mom. She is very happy in her world.
When I told my sister, Mary Ellen, about it – she said “Well, look at it this way – you were able to make her happy today – once as her daughter and the other as her sister…She got a two-fer for the price of one…”
Maybe I should think more like my sister – and accept the fact that mother will not be the person that she was even five years ago…and accept that even though she does not totally know me sometimes – I still bring her pleasure by being there with her and sharing part of her day.
The art of acceptance is very hard – but, this year I will be more accepting of my mom’s disease.
Doctor day…Visiting Mom…
10 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Family, Uncategorized
Today was my Welcome to Medicare Physical! WOOT! My doctor said every thing is looking good…She did put me on some new medicine – for cholesterol. My cholesterol is good – 181 – but the bad one is a little high. This is just a preventative – especially since I am diabetic.
After my visit with the doctor – I went down to spend time with Mom. I am not at all sure that she knew who I was…but, she told me she is feeling really good. The therapy dog (Tillie - a beautiful chocolate-brown lab) was there and I asked mom if she wanted to play with her – I got a resounding “NO”. The nurses tell me she’s not big on dogs.
She told me that she was ready for lunch – and was hungry. Her eating habits are real good. She seems to eat 100% of her breakfast and lunch – but, dinner – not so much. She seems tired by dinner time. I guess I would be tired too if I were 95 and up at 6:30 every morning. She loves her coffee – so she gets up early. Then after lunch – there is a couple hour nap …
Her hair was cut last week and it looks really cute…and she is still enjoying her weekly massages and listening to her music.
Well, that was my day! Now I’m off to bed and to read!
Thirty-five Years Ago Today…
27 Jun 2011 3 Comments
in Family
I gave birth to the most wonderful little girl. She was tiny – only five pounds which she quickly lost to 4 pounds. And, she was long…
A C-section kept me in the hospital for five days – and each morning at 5:00 a.m. they would bring my little daughter in…Neither one of us were morning people … cause each day, she would cuddle up on my tummy and I’d wrap my arms around her and we would sleep.
She stayed another five days after I was sent home…it was a horrible feeling to have to leave the hospital without her… but, every day I would be there sitting in the nursery rocking her for hours. On the tenth day, she came home.
She has been the light and love of my life from the day she was born. And, I continue to love her more and more with each passing year.
I am proud of the woman she has become…
Happy Birthday, Tara Danielle! We love you so very much!
Father’s day…
19 Jun 2011 Comments Off
in Family, Uncategorized
My father passed away when I was in my early 20s – and my parents were divorced when I was six – so we didn’t see much of him. The last few years of his life we got to know each other a bit –
To everyone celebrating today – Happy Father’s Day…
My sister…
15 Jun 2011 4 Comments
My sister, Mary Ellen, lives in Tampa, Florida. She is two years younger than I am, married for over 30 years to Michael, and works for the School board. We don’t see each other a lot – but, she’s been to visit us when we lived in Tennessee and now in New Hampshire. Most of the previous visits have been because Mom has been in the hospital…(except for another one when we first moved here)
But, this Easter she came up just because…and it was nice to have her here when it wasn’t an emergency situation. We spent every day going to see our mother.
But, we also managed to have some fun. We spent an afternoon visiting my friends, Laila and Jennifer. They own a wonderful farm…and we had the best time going for a ride in a carriage behind Jennifer’s beautiful draft horses.
These are big horses!!! As you can tell by this photo…
Here we are on part of the ride…
After the ride there were treats to be given to the horses. My sister said they were so gentle in taking the treat off of her hand.
It was truly a nice afternoon – and it was nice of my friends to entertain us over a holiday week-end. Other than spending time with mother, I think this was the highlight of my sister’s visit.
