September 27, 2009

Isn't she beautiful!  This was taken September 6, less than a month ago.

Mom had a restful night.  She woke up about 8:30 itching, and when I rubbed cream on her legs, I noticed another lump on her right knee.  She said she'll be so glad when the chemo is out of her body and she can start to get better.  I reminded her that it took my friend, Pat, a long time but he is fine now.  It feels so wrong giving her false hopes, but it's best for her...I guess. 

She sleeps pretty much all the time now.  She likes to wake up for visitors and then goes right back to sleep.

While I was at Kroger, our favorite ornery friend, Kristy, came over.  She is so good to Mom and Mom loves to talk to her.  She always cared about Dad and Mom and I think she hurt just about as much as we did when Dad died, and now she's hurting seeing Mom fail.  Her heart is a huge, kind one....but don't tell her I said that!  LOL

Aunt Janet came next and of course, Mom LOVES it when she comes.  When she left, there was a special moment between Mom and her and it meant everything to Mom.

Mom started to itch terribly so we gave her Benadryl and she slept most of mid-day.  Joyce called and I told her Mom would probably be sleeping for awhile.  I also reassured Joyce that her kind words yesterday were so much appreciated by us.  She prays and talks from the heart which is a special gift from God.  It's so amazing the time she takes from her own life and day to visit the shut-ins and bring the Eucharist to them.  We love her for it.

Amy brought us a pot of her home-picked green beans and we ate them with Darla's wonderful chicken tetrazzini.  Oh my, we are being spoiled!  Yummy Yummy!

Uncle Joe came in and talked to Mom a minute.  I want to remember to tell him that Mom keeps telling the story that when she was little, every night when she would see the first star, she would wish..."Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might have a baby brother."  She goes on to tell how someone came to their house and told her she had a baby brother.  Now...she was 11 years old and did NOT know her mother was pregnant.  She knew her aunt was pregnant but her mother had hid it and kept it a secret.  So she kept telling that lady that it wasn't HER mother, it was her aunt who had the baby.  The lady insisted it was her mother and Mom said when she realized that she REALLY did have a baby brother, she was the happiest little girl in the world!  She just told that story to our priest this week!  She is crazy about Uncle Joe!

Jeff came later and Mom looks forward to talking to Jeff because he's easy to talk to and always fills her in on the latest news.  She misses hearing what's going on since she's at home all the time.  He has always been very special to Mom.

Good ole Janet, my buddy, came for a nice long visit tonight.  Janet's a nurse so we bombarded her with medical questions that we expected her to have all the answers for.  And she keeps coming back!!!  Poor girl.  She makes Mom smile and Mom loved it that she called her "Mom".  Janet's been there for us through all of this and Mom feels like she's another daughter.  We all love her!

Janet noticed the lump at Mom's neck, knee and throat.  She feels the cancer is invading.  She's amazed, however, at her mind and how alert she is and she thinks she looks pretty good, except for her skin color.   She thinks, and this is just her opinion, that she'll go into a coma eventually. 

Leah from Hospice brought a bunch of smiles and laughter also today.

We had a nice full day with visitors, family, and good food, and now Mom's sleeping.

I want to take time to say THANK YOU also to all of you who take the time to call or text me, Mom, and my sisters with well wishes, support and love.  Also thank you for all the cards to Mom.  It is a bright spot in her day when the world's best mailman pops right into the house and hands Mom her mail.  We are all blessed to have you in our lives.