Mom got up in the night at 4:00 a.m. to go to the bathroom. I took her by w/c to the front bathroom and she did fairly well. Tucked her back in bed and when I went into her room about 7:30 a.m. she was awake and her back was hurting her. She was able to get up, go to the bathroom, and to her chair, where she fell asleep.
Aunt Ruth Ann came about 9:30 to visit and I went to the grocery while she was there. Kathy came while I was gone. ARA brought Mom watermelon and she ate 4-5 bites of it. Mike came shortly after lunch and brought her a piece of chocolate pie and she ate 3-4 bites of that.
Next, the Hospice social worker came and visited with Mom for about an hour. Mom rested until about 3:00 and then awoke and needed to pee. I knew she couldn't get to the bathroom this time, as I could tell she was weaker, so I brought the commode next to her chair. It was extremely difficult to get her up and onto the potty chair. After she finished, I was completely unable to get her up off the chair. Thank God, Chris N., walked in the back door...at just the perfect time! Together, we were able to get her back into the chair.
I could see that Mom was getting weaker by the hour. She was absolutely freezing and shaking. I had four layers of blankets on her and she was still cold. I wrestled with whether or not I should call Krista and what I should say. I don't want to run her here from Chicago if it isn't necessary. I called her though and she and Tina left to come here.
Aunt Janet and Jeff came over to visit with Mom, followed by Emma and Linda. We had quite a houseful and it made Mom feel so good to have visitors!
Janet came to the house about 6:00. We tried to get Mom up to the toilet beside her chair and it was next to impossible. We got her down and then got her back into her chair but with much difficulty. She said that Mom was burning up with fever. We took her temp with two different thermometers, and one was 100.9, the other 100.6. Janet said to give her Tylenol.
Janet suggested we call Hospice to get a catheter for Mom. I got Hospice on the phone and gave the phone to Janet so she could explain Mom's condition with her expertise. About 8:00 p.m. Jayme came and she and Janet inserted the cath while Mom stayed in her chair. Mom was helpful to the girls as they worked on her.
Mom went to sleep and slept peacefully throughout the night. Janet and I visited until she left at 1:00. Krista and Tina arrived at 2:00 a.m. It was wonderful to have them there....wonderful.
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Karen, I feel so bad for all of you. It takes me back to my Dad. Hospice was so good to all of us. I remember Andrea coming to visit Dad. Mike Shoupe and his wife were wonderful, Mike even took my Dad to the lake to fish one last time. He practicly had to carry him to and from the car but he did it. This diary is a wonderful thing that you are doing in honor of your Mom. What funny memories we have of our parents. This is what we always feared. I remember talking about getting older and what we had to look forward to and being so scared about just this very thing that is happening to you. I think about you everyday and pray for all of you. Love, Jeryl
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, Kathy and Krista,
ReplyDeleteI am so terribly sorry to hear about your Mom. She and I go back a long way as also with you girls. I know how hard this is on all of you and when God decides to take your Mom, that will be a glorious moment. No more suffering and the best part is she will be with Walt and those she loves.
I would come over, but it sounds like she is getting so weak. If you think that I should, please let me know and I will come. I didn't realize until a few weeks ago that your Mom was in the condition that she is in. I will put her on my daily prayer list and will also put her on our prayer list at our church.
You girls are her "pride and joy" and you all have been such good daughters to her and to your Dad. Keep up your strength and I will pray for the three of you and your families too. It is hard I know, but keep up your faith.
Tell you Mom that I am thinking of her and all the nice times we had together many, many years ago.
God Bless You All!
Love you too,
Judy Von Blon