Finding it hard to believe we are in our fourth week of having my Mom with us.
I know that God has her with me for a number of reasons.
The obvious, I am the only sister that does not work outside the home, therefore it's
only fair, I don't have to miss any work. This also means I have the time
to take her to Doctor appointments.
Another reason I believe she is here is that little Khloe brings life to her,
they both light up when they see each other.
I trust she is here in order for her and myself to have conversation,
and to make that conversation count.
I'm not going to pretend this has been easy, because it hasn't.
Only if you
have done so would you understand how difficult it is.
I love my Mother and she loves me....that doesn't make it effortless.
At the same time I'm aware of how blessed I am that I can care for her.
It is difficult to look at Mom and see the frail person she has become.
She was the tomboy type I never thought would become frail.
I am challenged daily.
Challenged to prepare healthy meals for her and the bigger challenge,
to get her to eat them.
I'm trying to fatten her up before her surgery date.
I encourage her to sit out back in the sunshine daily
(as I sit now listening to the rain)
I push her to walk daily to build some strength in order that
she have the strength she will need in order to recover from bypass surgery.
I'm fearful if I'm not with her she may not watch her step. I stay with her when
she showers in hopes she doesn't fall.
I dry and attempt to style her hair,
can't help but think each time how things change.
I look as I dry her hair and she appears childlike to me,
I can't help but think each time that
she used to stand over me putting my hair in pigtails.
Or doing a horrible job trimming my bangs :-)
She tried to get them straight, and often did though they were
not very long at that point.
Now a fond memory.
I see her frustration daily as she deals with her ever worsening memory.
I remind her it happens to all of us, myself included.
It's in my face daily that she has been living alone for four years now since
my Dad passed away. How lonely that must be...to feel you have no one at times.
Between her and Khloe I'm running a race from the minute I get up until at last
my head hits the pillow. Boy, do I sleep good!
I'm hoping I can ask for prayer that I am given the energy to continue to do this daily,
and to do it in love.
Prayer that I can make this a special time with my Mom.
Prayer that I will have patience when I'm tempted to lose it.
Yesterday we finally received a surgery date for bypass, April 23rd.
There is a sense of relief for both her and us, her family, to at last have a date.
Mom has lost about 10 pounds since she moved away from here, the surgeon told
us yesterday it's not uncommon to lose 15 to 20 pounds after this surgery.
So please pray my attempt to fatten her up is a success!
I do try and keep up with you my blogging family when I think to log on.
I'm sorry
if I don't get a chance to read daily and communicate back to you.
I do miss that time with you.
Please feel email me a note if you have a prayer request I don't know about in my
absence from blogging.
Major hugs to each of you.....
those I love are what echo from my heart today........
