A Rosie Christmas

Below are some of the pictures taken as Mom celebrated Christmas in Traverse and in Boyne.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Plans

Mom started her day yesterday getting ready for a trip to Traverse City. Suzy dropped Mom off at Aunt Dorothy's, where they had a nice visit and watched game shows. Tina picked Mom up after work. She'll stay at Tina's until Sunday evening.

We were going to all go up to Boyne City on Sunday afternoon to celebrate Christmas as a family, but instead Suzy's family will come to Traverse after church on Sunday since the majority of the family will be at Tina's. Then Mom will go home with the Wises.

Mom continues to struggle with her short term memory. It's a bit frustrating for her. Funny at times, but she works to remember the simplest things. She has another appointment with her oncologist on December 27, and they'll discuss her memory problems then.

I will try to post over the next few days, but in case I can't, Merry Christmas. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Hearing Again

Mom received her new left hearing aid on Friday, so both ears are hearing better again. The first hearing aid broke into many pieces when she fell two weeks ago. Now her bruising is almost gone and Suzy removed the stitch a few days ago.

Mom has been having some memory trouble, both short and long term. This could be because her steroid dose has been lowered since she was in the hospital over Thanksgiving. She has some appointments this week and the memory loss will be addressed.

All Mom's kids will be together in Boyne City on Sunday, December 23rd. Bill's wife Pattie is bringing deviled eggs and potato salad, Tina is bringing spinach quiche and meatballs, Tami is bringing green bean bake and cookies, and I'm bringing ham and cranberry sauce. I talked to Mom yesterday and she's looking forward to Christmas.

Midland Photo Journal

The pictures here represent only a fraction of the big fun we had during Mom's Midland Adventure last month. Where do we begin?

Ah, yes. Applebees.

We had a late dinner the night before the gamma knife radiosurgery. We feasted on appetizers at 50% off. Did you know know Applebees has a 50% deal on appetizers several days of the week? Why order dinner when you can have variety. Needless to say, we ordered almost everything on the menu.





Our sweet, accommodating waitress even gave Mom extra fudge on her dessert! Even though it looks like Mom forced it out of her, she offered the fudge willingly.

We arrived early the next morning for the procedure. Mom really was happy about it, just a little late on the camera smile.


Jennifer was Mom's nurse for the procedure. After briefing Mom on the stages of the procedure, Mom was sent for her MRI.



After a break, Mom was sedated and was fitted with her head frame. Just four tiny pins is all it took to hold it in place. No sweat.

While she was out, Suzy struck a glamour pose.

Mom rested a lot afterward as the sedative wore off, napping off and on. Meanwhile, Nancy arrived from Shepherd and hung out with us.

The doctor came for Mom and took her to the gamma knife room. We were able to watch her from our waiting room. The gamma knife treatment took about ten minutes.

Afterward, Mom ate a nice lunch. I had finished my afgan project while she was gone and Mom was the first to wear it.

After lunch we packed it up, said our good bys and left. It was a fun trip. Mom said she'd do it again if she could.

On the Mend

I left the Wises' a little before 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Before I left, Mom let me take a couple of pictures of her, one with her new shiner.

If you look closely, you can see the single stitch she received at ER. If you look closer still, you may see tiny black hairs growing in amidst the longer, sparser gray. We're celebrating hair!

Mom is getting stronger every day since she's been home and getting up and around. She's lost a little weight; how much, we don't know yet. But the change is visible in her face. She told me today that she's decided to give up sundaes. Cold turkey. She was eating a small bowl of bread and butter pickles when she gave me the news. A good trade, I think.

Next post I'll have pictures of the Midland Adventure.

Thanks for your prayers and for stopping by.

Another Bump

Mom took spill on Sunday morning on her way to the bathroom. She seemed okay cognitively, but because it was another blow to the head and because she is now on Lovenox, a blood thinner, for the clots in her leg, Suzy took her to ER. During the fall Mom's left hearing aid broke and she received some abrasion near her left temple, on her left hand and her left wrist. She received one stitch where she had a small cut on her head, just to be certain the wound heals well. Her CT scan came back negative for damage and internal bleeding.

All Mom could think about at the hospital is getting home to a spaghetti dinner. We ended up stopping at Mancino's on the way home and had a nice time eating pizza and cheesy cheese bread.

The fall was partly due to her weakness from the recent hospital stay, and partly due to her not asking for assistance to use the restroom. It's hard to ask for help for even the little things, but so very necessary for her.

Suzy told Mom she looks like she was in a prize fight. It does look like someone got her with a right hook. But she walked out of the ring and got her spaghetti dinner, just like she wanted.