Looking Up

Mom has had another good week.

Vital Care nurse Brent came to visit on Thursday. He recommended changing Mom’s catheter tubing, which Suzy did carefully yesterday. The blood samples he took to the lab came back with a hemoglobin result of 9.9 – a tremendous increase from the 8.7 of last week.

Mom is still very conversant and expressive with her hands. Suzy thinks the pain medication is probably the underlying cause for the increase in movement. Now that the pain is in check she motions for things and scratches her occasional itches.

Mom has had frequent visits from Paul’s mother, Ruby, who is here from California. Ruby has a very sweet demeanor and Mom is always happy to see her.

Below are some pictures from last weekend.

Pattie and Bill visiting on Saturday, July 26.

Pat and Mom on Monday, July 29.

Suzy and Mom on Monday, July 29.

Babbette has been snuggling up to Mom regularly.

Mom’s other cat buddy, Teddy, passed away last month. Teddy and Babbette were Mom’s faithful companions, and over time were able to stay on her bed together without annoying each other. We miss Teddy’s affection and blatant vulnerability. He’s the only cat I’ve ever met that would roll on his back in the middle of a room and fall asleep with his feet in the air. Teddy is no doubt warming up the foot of Mom’s bed in heaven. On his back.

Team Hoyt

A friend sent me a link to a video the other day and I just got to it this evening. Maybe you've heard of Rick and Dick Hoyt, but I hadn't until today. The father and son team have competed in hundreds of races over the years, including the Ironman competition, in spite of age and disability. The video is well worth the four minutes - I encourage you to take a look.
Team Hoyt
To learn more about Team Hoyt, go to their website at www.teamhoyt.com.
This video resonates with me today because of Mom. Not because we are carrying her through this time, but because she is important and has something unique to offer the world. We are the lucky ones who get to run the race with her, side by side, every day.

Fair to Mostly Sunny

Mom's had some valleys and peaks over the last few weeks. Currently, we're on a peak. Maybe not at the top of the mountain, but up where the air is clear.

As I mentioned in my last post, Mom's health takes periodic dives and then bounces back. The good spell that followed her rebound on June 30 lasted about a week. She enjoyed watching fireworks lit by the kids outside her bedroom door on Independence Day - in fact, she had looked forward to them all day long. The screeches and whistles were a little much for her, but she continually commented on the beautiful display.

The following week Mom began to grow quiet. There was no infection, but she couldn't seem to speak above a whisper and slowly stopped speaking altogether. Even telling her "I love you," to which she always replies, didn't get a verbal or facial response. Bill and Tyler came early July 13 to install a screen door for her, and Tina came with Aunt Dorothy, Dan, Tami, Devon and Makayla later. Mom smiled a little for the babies, but did not respond much to the rest of us.

Then, in keeping with tradition, when Monday came I greeted her with "Good morning, Mama," and she said, "Well, hi honey!" It was a joy to hear from her again.

That rebound has stayed pretty consistent since. She is experiencing some pain in her joints, her left shoulder and her abdomen. We are administering oral morphine and vicoden in oral suspension to keep her comfortable. She is generally happy and conversant, constantly talking to us and to her occasional hallucinations.

Recently she has given us some fun new Rose-isms, which we will share with you in a later post.



Below are some pictures and a video clip from the last three weeks.


Friend Lei visiting on July 13, Aunt Dorothy in background. Lei sings "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength" to Mom whenever they get together.




Mom, Bill and Tyler.




Tina and Mom.





Dan, Mom and Tami.





Below is a video of Devon saying good-bye to Grandma Rose. You may have to go to the blog to view this if you are receiving this post via email. Go to www.everythingsrosie.blogspot.com and click the right pointing arrow on the video clip.

Last weekend, Paul and Suzy renewed their wedding vows for their 25th wedding anniversary. Mom had a lot of visitors. Here is Mom with Tina and Aunt Dorothy.

Sometime over the weekend someone put these glasses on her - I don't remember who. But we did tell her she looked like Jackie O. She wasn't impressed, but she liked the glasses.

Mom posed for me just before I left for GR on Monday, July 21. Very happy, comfortable and gracious for the camera.

We're in a good place right now. And in case you were wondering, Mom is her generous self again when it comes to I love yous and kisses.

Rosie on the Rebound

Mom had a rough go of it last week. Low grade temp, non-communicative, unable to eat or swallow her pills. Then, marvelous Monday came and you'd never know how difficult last week had been. My mom knows how to rally.

This is not to say that she is her old self. Every time Mom has a round of infection and treatment, she loses a little ground. But just a little.

I told Mom last weekend that I have decided not to take it personally that she seems to get better when I'm leaving. She looked at me like she wondered if I was nuts, probably because she wanted to say something clever but nothing came to her.

Bill, Pattie, Jessy and Tyler came to visit on Saturday. Tina came Sunday on her own. Below are a few pictures from the weekend.

Billy saying good bye on Saturday.

With Tina on Sunday.

With Suzy on Monday.

With Cameron.

With Olivia.

Today, Mom was quiet again and slept a lot. Mondays mysteriously seem to be her best days.