Fall already!

Well it's been awhile since I've posted obviously!
I think I have dug out from under the craziness of Mom's situation.  She is home and we have a rhythm of  care for her.  Thank God for Joan and Gloria who sit with her!  And clean up when she is sleeping!  Mom has not improved mentally.  Her decline continues.  But the leg is healed and we did manage to get some physical therapy to help her get steady on her legs again. I don't know how well she will do.   It's driven by her mental state.  If she is fearful or overly sleepy then
Nothing gets done.
Stephen loves the high school program at St Michaels.  And I have resumed Rhythm Band classes there once a week. Lots of fun!
I have continued the Couch to 5K training on and off.  I just finished week 5 and jogged for 20 minutes straight.  Quite an accomplishment for me!  Feeling energized by that!
We hosted another Pentecost Seminar for some Tulane students this past weekend.  So exciting to see God's work in his people.
I have also restarted the bible study.  We have 12 people coming!  Quite a crowd in my den!  But a great group of women!
God is good!

In Summer!

Ah summer.   June was an amazing vacation month.  We went to disneyworld with Joanna and kids.  Then to Pensacola beach - just me and Phil.  Very nice and relaxing.

 Then July was consumed by taking care of my mom who fell once again and is in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).  Even though she is not at home, the trips to see her (20 minutes across the river) and the talks with therapists, doctors and nurses has been very time consuming!  Thus I haven't had a chance to even post to my blog.  So I will try to update at least weekly.

This Tuesday she will be four weeks out from the fall, break and surgery. Can't walk on the leg for another 5 1/2 weeks.  Will probably be coming home with hospice when she does return. The doctor has decided that her advanced dementia is terminal.   Sounds awful.   But she has had some really "out of it" days.  Today however was a much better day.  Taking it week by week.

Personally, my fitness had taken a back seat, so not doing too well there.  I did however begin the "couch to 5 K " program.  I'm two weeks into it.  Hopefully it will get me back on track.

Also I was making progress on my book project- "Mom's Psalms" ©2014.  Trying to find a venue to publish me. Moving forward on that is very rewarding.

School starts in a week and a half. Then summer will be over.
Wonder what good news August will hold?

Friday

It's a week later and we are home and settled in from our trip.  Mom and I are sitting on the back deck since the rainy day is over and the sun didn't have time to heat things up!
Disneyworld was great, but I wouldn't do the 5day pass again. 3 is plenty wear and tear on the body!
We Did take a break on Sunday to visit my Aunt Phyliss and cousin Marsha and family.  That was a treat for all of us!  Played in the Atlantic Ocean as well.  Went with them to an upbeat youth Pentecost mass.  Very nice especially for the kids.
The only drama was the last night at Epcot, we misplaced Stephen for about 20 minutes.  Thank God for friendly strangers who sat with him till his family came to get him!  Stressful ending to an otherwise very fun and exciting trip.
And I was right, all the walking negated any over eating on my part.  Yay.
Now we gear up for Stephens visit to Lions camp, the sleep away special needs camp.  He loves it.

Here is my thought for Thursday:  Disney world touts that they are the  place where your dreams come true.   I think that is  intended for little ones whose dreams are uncomplicated and whose responsibilities are few.   For Stephen, he proclaimed, "all my dreams are coming true!"  It was magical to watch his wonder and amazement.  But since my dream for him is his happiness, I guess my dreams came true as well.  😊

Vacation

Who knows what day it is!  Getting away from the demands of caregiving and relaxing at disneyworld!  Wouldn't call it relaxing, but definitely a change of pace!  Lots of happy colorful faces,  costumes and perfect hair (wigs). The nights are a bit late for me.  Even when we come back to the hotel before 8 we still don't get to Bed before midnight.   Stephen has much more stamina than he did 8 years ago.  (My profile picture is from then. Guess I'll update!).  However Joanna's kids are giving out earlier.  But really it's been very nice.  Every show is amazing.   Stephen is having an awesome time.  And the characters are so very nice to him.
Looks like Grace Marie and family are taking good care if grandma and the dog.  They have grandma playing cards and monopoly.  So sweet of them!
Health wise I figure I am walking off whatever I eat right??

Thoughts for Thursday

So it's been pretty busy. Stephen had graduation today.  It was very nice.  He will
Not go to the last half day of school tomorrow. That's his birthday anyway.
.  Phils co worker came fir dinner - BBQ burgers to celebrate Stephen.  It was a nice evening.  He is 33!  Glad to get to know someone from work.
Good news is that we did have a visit with Bobby and Sloan on Sunday.  And the dr did ok the PT to
Come reevaluate mom.  he agreed we could use a few more weeks to get her up and down steps and in and out of bed.  So I'm grateful For that.
Health wise, this low carb plan has been working. Down 8 lbs in two weeks.  Need to Keep sticking to it!
I think there is a vertigo virus going around. I keep getting an off balance sensation. A few of my friends had some really bad dizziness just last week.  Craziness!
Might get to bed early tonight.
Planning a birthday swim party for Stephen on Sunday.
Thoughts for today- if you are caring for someone, you child or parent, you have to be an advocate for them. Don't be afraid to ask questions and talk to doctors.  Your loved ones depend on you!
Thanks for reading!

Sleeping Saturday

Mom us having a sleep day.  A predictable one since she was very awake and active yesterday.  And after two days of normal relating, she began to not make sense. It a her pattern of life now.
The physical therapists have completed their twelve visits.  She still needs help so I guess I'll have to
Petition the dr for more. Unsure of the outcome. Although the sitter and I have learned the routine, she definitely responds better to the therapist!

Have been enjoying yet another cool spell in the
Mid of May!
Sitter is here now so we can go to
My nieces (Chelsea) graduation party
Hope to see my brother Bobby and son Sloan passing thru tomorrow.

The new "normal" and thought for Thursday

I love my iphone.  I feel like I won't waste a minute of time waiting as long as I am connected.  Yesterday I brought my van toToyota for service.  While I waited I updated my budget and sent out emails.  Today I am Bringing Phils car in for service and decided to do a blog entry.  I am sitting outside enjoying the morning breeze ignoring (sort of) the interstate car sounds just 100 yards away.

So the new norm is  that I have a sitter everyday because mom can't get up by herself and walks very slowly with her walker. But it's only been three weeks since she broke her hip so I think she is doing really well considering.  Thankfully the home hospital bed has a side rail that keeps her safe overnight. So we all sleep well. The goal is to get her stronger and back to a regular bed that she can get in and out of herself.  Good to have goals.
In the meantime my life continues.
Stephen will make his confirmation next week and graduate elementary school the next.  Then school is out and we are planning summer trips.
Phil goes out of town on business trips and with the help of our sitter(Joan - who
Mom likes) I hold down the fort.  This prolonged spring has been glorious!

In the health column, a sure sign of my stress is that my weight was going up!   But now that I have come up for air, I decided to get serious and do atkins for awhile.  Down5 lbs so far.  Nothing breeds success line success.
So that's life in a nutshell for now.
Thoughts for Thursday - whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do to me..