Today is the anniversary of my Mother going to be with the Lord.

Myself and three of my daughters holding Mama's hand in the hospital.
Even though she could not respond to us, I like to think she knew we were there.

Out for a walk in her garden.  Summer of 2010

Just me holding her hand.  Can't really tell a difference in them can you:)

Since it was the one year Anniversary, instead of all of us feeling sad, we got together at a Pizza place and celebrated her life.
There were in excess of 50 of us there.  I do not think we did an official head count.

And the birthday of a certain brother who turned 50.  He does not like having his image or identity posted on the web, so I am only showing a back shot.  Happy Birthday dear brother.

There was lots of cousins visiting cousins

And bigger cousins holding littler cousins.

Enjoying one another's company

And adoring new babies
This baby is about #103 in mother's descendants.  

Watching babies being just plain old cute

And babies who had too much day.

Rest in His Arms, Mama.  We love you and miss you more than words can express
Mary Hazel Hunt Higgins
February 21, 1921
February 13, 2011

Today

was my day to spend with Mother. I am seeing definite improvement. It is still a long road we are traveling, but there is definite improvement. I helped her bathe, actually, I stood in the bathroom while she bathed. The only thing I had to do was help her wash her hair and rinse it for her. She dressed herself, except a very little bit of help with her undies, cause she kept getting her toe caught in the opening. She combed her own hair this time and was able to stand to brush her teeth. She did get a bit confused when she was preparing to get into the tub and started to cry, but I told her to just stop and think about what she was wanting to do. After that she was able to complete the job.
We went outside for a while to walk up the driveway and back down to the house. Then we sat out in the yard and enjoyed the warmth. All in all it was a good day for her. I am so anxious to have my mama back.

I am not complaining

But I have learned what the Sandwich Generation is and it is not fun at all. I am exhausted!! I am so blessed to still have my mother and I do not mind caring for her at all. That being said, I am still tired. I do not have any energy and absolutely no creative juice is flowing in my veins. Thus the dry empty blog of the past month. I am praying for mother to continue to improve and soon be able to care for herself. Right now she is fighting being independent. She wants to be waited on hand and foot. Today she told me she wanted to get dressed so we went to her bedroom. She sat down on her bed and I picked out some clothes from her closet, with her guidance, and put them on her bed. I said, "Now mother, you can put these on." She replied to me, "No Evelyn, I want you to dress me." I told her that I would help her put her compression socks on, but she had to do the rest. Once we got her socks on, I sat down and told her to go ahead. She did it with little trouble, but she did not want to. When she was done, I praised her and told her she did a great job. Reminds me of caring for a four year old, but this one is my mother.
On Friday, I went shopping and prepared five meals for her. All my brothers or her caretaker has to do is take them from the freezer and cook them. Do not have anything in my house to eat, but mother is eating well. Today I made her the most flavorful asparagus leek quiche. I did have a nibble of it and now I want to go to the store for ingredients so we can have one.

My Mother

had her knee surgery today. It went well. Praise God!!

She did not want anyone to stay with her tonight. I was so tired, I couldn't but one of my sisters planned to do so. Another sister will be at the hospital with her tomorrow. I need to go buy her some new jammies and undies before Olivia and I go down and check in on her. When they weighed her today, she had lost 24 pounds in the past two months. She just has not been able to eat. We have had to coax her into eating for the past two weeks.

God, I pray your place your healing hands on her today and give her strength and health for years to come.

Including her ten surviving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to whom she is GG, she has over 100 descendants, so there were many prayers being uttered in her behalf over the course of the past two months that she has been ill.

Speaking of being GG, I have to tell you a little story, coming from the prospective of a four year old.

I have told you before that I care for my granddaughter Olivia. I have taken care of her since she was six weeks old and her mother returned to work after her birth. She knows she is my whole reason for waking up in the morning and the delight of my heart. So, with my mother being so ill and me needing to spend so much time with her, Olivia has had to go to daycare. She hates it. Nancy doesn't even lay down with her when it is nap time. Can you believe it?

On Monday as Angela was dropping her off at the day care she was crying and resisting going in. As she struggled with her, Angela heard her say, "GG is just taking to long to die."

I plan to take her to the hospital with me tomorrow so she can see GG is getting better and she is not going to die, and that she and Gramma will be spending our days together once again. Soon.

My 200th post!!

Who would have thought!!
Before I tell you what I have in mind, I need to update you all on my mother.
We took her to a new Dr. yesterday afternoon. He acted like he cared. He even touched her!! The other Dr (sic) would sit with her back to her and ask her questions and put them in her computer, never touching and rarely looking at her.
Today my brother and I took her in for her pre-op appointment and the Dr. felt confident that she was strong enough to go through the surgery. Right knee replacement. He did say that since she has become so sedentary her recovery would be a bit longer than usual. I do not care how long it takes as long as she is not in continual chronic pain.
I have to go meet my husband at the Mexican Restaurant down the street for dinner, so I will leave you all in suspense for a while concerning my 200th post.
Must say though, thanks for all of the prayers and encouragement for my dear mother. Gotta love you all!!!