Hi everybody, I’ve been stopping in at caregiving.com because I think of all of you often, and want to know what is going on in your lives, but I haven’t posted in quite a while. I want to think all of you again for being such an amazing support system this past year. We got [...]

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Weekend before last, my husband and I went to the ocean, along with our grandson and my mother-in-law. It was a wonderful trip. We were there for just two nights. The first day, a major storm blew in and we were able to watch the huge waves crash on the shore. The second day, the [...]

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We’ve been crazy busy for the past few days trying to pull together a Southern-themed Memorial service up North. Spanish moss, check. Boiled peanuts, check. Green tomato pie, check. Sunshine, not so much (but we scrambled to purchase two big canopies at a reasonable rate and get them up as there’s a chance of rain [...]

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Hi everybody, I’m sorry that I haven’t posted since Mom died. To say that it’s been overwhelming would be an understatement. The graveside services were Thursday the 4th. It was a beautiful sunny day, and things went as well as they could have under the circumstances. It was tough. My 7-year-old grandson sobbed in my [...]

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My beautiful Mumsy went home to be with the Lord, and my Daddy, today around noon. Thank you, all, for all the love and support you’ve shown Mom and I. I’ll write more later, but right now, I think I may sleep for a week straight. I wanted to let you know, though.  

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Yesterday afternoon about 2:00, Mom’s breathing changed drastically. The nurse was there within half an hour, and said that Mom was in her last hour or two. Mom is still here, but we are very close. She seems comfortable. The evening was filled with lots of family (all four kids and most of the grandchildren, [...]

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Mom is very close to the end. She quit eating and drinking a few days ago, which means no more antibiotics. Our focus has shifted to keeping her comfortable and surrounded by love. We are waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Now that we have no chance of recovery for her, I want it to be [...]

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A few things have improved around here this week. 1) We have a new nurse case manager with Hospice. She is amazing and supportive. She’s helped me with the fine line of keeping Mom comfortable, but also able to respond. Mom is drinking small amounts this morning (no fluids since Monday until today), but is [...]

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Not even sure where to start this post, so I guess I’ll just dive in. On Monday, we went to see the Infectious Disease doctor in the big city. We’ve been waiting for this appointment for 3 months now. There wasn’t a doctor that specializes in this locally. We left home at 10:00 AM, and [...]

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I hope you all had a great weekend. Mom is continuing to improve. She woke up this morning with a clear mind, and asked to go outside for some fresh air after breakfast. The twinkle in her eye is back, and she’s smiling again. She’s very weak, but each day has been a bit better [...]

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That’s it. That’s my post. Ground-breaking stuff! And, mom ate a full dinner tonight. Probably one of those posts that only someone who has cared for a person with two weeks of 11-20 diaper changes a day could appreciate, but in my little world, today is a good day! Nurse said everything looking better, except [...]

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Physically, I think Mom is improving. However, her mind is another matter. She was perfectly lucid through all of this, until four days ago. Now, she’s very agitated and hallucinating. It’s tough. She’s eating and drinking, talking up a storm…but her mind is all over the place. Difficult in a whole different way. They tested [...]

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I didn’t post a photo of the day yesterday, and I didn’t mean to make you worry. There was just no time to do it! On the plus side (I think), Mom’s vital signs are more stable and she’s eating and drinking, and talking like crazy. However, her mind is doing some very unusual things. [...]

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After her amazing day yesterday, Mom woke up at 3:30 AM with extreme anxiety and pain. I changed her, and gave her medicine for both. She looked me in the eyes and told me that she was giving up.  I told her that it was okay, that I would be here. So far today, she [...]

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Without graphic details, Mom has been non-verbal and not eating or drinking for  four days. Hospice told us that she was going. This morning, she sat up and asked for food and water. She’s looking for the dog, asked for my brother and wants to see the baby (my granddaughter, Mom’s great-granddaughter). Trying not to [...]

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We took Mom to the beach today. She told me several weeks ago that she wanted to go. We have a wheelchair van, a Hoyer lift, a power wheelchair, portable oxygen tank, and a son that is a medic. I called my brother this morning, and he was on his way up. He said (before [...]

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Today has been all about letting go. I’m at peace. Mom is at peace. I know that I’ve done all that I can, that Mom has been loved and cared for. I am exhausted, but okay. Mom’s respirations are slowing down, and other signs are pointing to about 72 hours (according to the hospice nurse…if [...]

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I hope to get some medical questions answered today. We only have 2 days left of antibiotics left, and the diarrhea has not slowed. Mom still cognitively aware of what’s going on, but not speaking. Her brother (93) is calling her this afternoon. I am very tired, and working hard to slow down a bit [...]

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Today was an up and down kind of day. I’d have to call it a tie between Mom’s will to live and the C Diff. My brother handled making arrangements with the cemetery and funeral home today, which I so appreciate. He respected my wishes, and my sister’s, but handled all the unpleasant details. Mom [...]

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If we were in a boxing match (which we are, as Mom fights to live), I’d have to give yesterday to the C Diff. Today went to Mom. She is bedridden and very ill, but she fought to drink and to eat today, and had some very lucid moments. She is in a lot of [...]

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