Sunday, December 29, 2013

THE END OF A LONG JOURNEY

I had my last lucid moment with my Mom on Christmas Eve.  When I went back on Christmas evening, she did not seem to know I was there, and did not talk.  The nursing home called me Friday morning at 8:30 and said she was not doing well. I spent the day there, and my children and grand children began to gather as she was unresponsive and Hospice did not think she would come out of it. We kept vigil with her through the night Friday, and into the evening Saturday as she continued to decline.  Saturday night at 10:11 pm she peacefully slipped away snuggled in her granddaughters arms.

Although I have been so afraid and dreaded the inevitible time coming, I was in awe of how quickly and peacefully she went.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

MOM'S HEALTH DECLINE TIMELINE

Mom was in and out of hospital most of 2010. In Nov, she began being in and out of hospitals, Residental Facility, and Nursing Home weekly or monthly.  Was in Willow Lane January 2011. In march of 2011 she came home for short time for the last time.  Since March of 2011 she has lived in Willow Lane all the time. She has remained able to transfer herself from chair to bathroom and bed except for some episodes where she needed help.  The past week she has gotten weaker and more confused. Last night she did not even know I was there. Has had a med change so perhaps her head will clear in a few days

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas Eve, that magic night for all the kiddies.  I have my dinner all put together to pop in the oven tomorrow.  Looking forward for our get together. Some can come, others have other places to go.  But whoever is here, we will have a good time.

Mom has had a bad week, sleeping a lot, and confused when awake. Is getting weaker about transfering herself and they are helping her some. I am so afraid she is going to fall since she will not ask for help, they have to just catch her needing help.  Hoping she is more alert tomorrow for company.


Wednesday, December 4, 2013

WELCOME DECEMBER

December 3, 2013 was a very nice day.  Went shopping without a jacket.  Am getting a handle on Christmas, have some gifts , some wrapped, some not.

This has been a nice Fall. In November Willow Lane had a Thanksgiving Dinner. Tim, Debbie, Jackie, and I went out and ate with her.  She is doing pretty well.  Still transfers herself, tho her memory is only about 10 minutes long. She still knows us all.

I feel a freedom I have not felt for a long time. December is going to go very fast I think. WL Christmas reception is DEc 19th, and some of us will be going to that.  I have my tree up, and am gettting in the Christmas spirit.  This may be a sparse Christmas, but we can enjoy dinner and getting together.

I am already looking forward to the new year.  About this time, I am ready for out with the old and in with the new.


Saturday, November 16, 2013

NOVEMBER

November is here and moving right along.  Today the 15th is mom's birthday.  Went out this evening and took her some Russell Stover soft center chocolates, and put pictures of the 2 new great great grandbabies in a holder for her.

Have been cleaning on the house for 2 weeks. Will be all ready to put up the tree after Thanksgiving.  We are dining at Robbins on Thanksgiving.

I found a light at the end of the tunnel. and things should not be to stressful for awhile. Still hoping the house will sell soon.  Have brought the price down about as much as we want to.  It is worth more, but the market sucks.  There are 2 or  3 houses on every block for sale.

I am beginning to coast into a holiday mood, and will be looking for this year to end, and get to a fresh start.

And I can still dance.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

TICK TOCK

Yep, September is almost over.............

A step closer ...........


Monday, August 26, 2013

SHIRLEY CAN FEEL HERSELF GETTING READY TO FALL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE IN COMING MONTHS

Even though summer has come back with  vengance for a few weeks, I am already anticipating Fall.  I love 'fall.  But this fall is going to take me down .Mom's house has been on the market for over 18 months.  The utiities, insurance, and taxes are sucking me dry. Also her personal items she needs, and snacks she wants and her perms are adding in more.

Have managed them so far, but this year they are going to take me down ...flat assed broke.  I have brought the price of the house down , down  and down . I am not looking to make anything on it.  Just need what I have put into it back, and then be out from under it.

My expenses will be a breeze without hers dragging me .  If the house does not sell , it is down the rabbit hole I go.    This will just be it I will be finished, there is just no more money to come up with to keep going.  Bye Bye!                                              

                                                                                                               

Friday, August 23, 2013

AND SUMMER MARCHES ON

Had a few nice days, and thought fall was here.  Upper 90's are back and to go into next week.  Summer will be here awhile longer.

Eventually we will get to this...............

Saturday, August 17, 2013

NEVER COUNT HER OUT

Over the past week, Mom moved from the table where they help them eat back to her regular table.  Her left eye and mouth that were drooping are back to normal. Her hand coordination has come back where she can feed herself.  I do notice that here short term memory is worse than it was and also her thought process.  She knows everyone, but will not remember you were there within an hour or less.  She also comes up with some off the wall ideas at times. Where her legs were like a rag doll on the 7th , she can now push herself up from her chair and stand on them.  So she is back to transfering herself from wheel chair to bathroom and to recliner.  It makes you grit your teeth to watch her and I figure it is just a matter of time until she falls again.  But she values her independence so much we are not going to take her wheel chair from her using it at will.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

NOT A GOOD DAY

Mom had a light stroke August 7th.  She is already weak, skin and bones, and hurts all over.  This is devastating.  I did not think things could get any worse for her, but this is. 

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA VACATION

July 24-30 West Coast Vacation.  Jackie and I flew out on 24th, Marjie got there on 25th.  We stayed in a place in the Hollywood Hills with a view from the hot tub of Universal Studios.

Places seen: Universal Studios, dinner with Melanie, Santee Alley in Fashion District, Venice Beach, Hollywood and Vine.  Oh and the Ti Ki Bar.

It was all fantastic. At Venice Beach, we went to the drum circle.  I walked in the sand and put my feet in the Ocean.  And we ate at a lot of places and had some good food.

It was a get away I will never for get.




Tuesday, June 25, 2013

SUMMER TIME

Summer is finally here.  I forget how hot it gets when I wish summer would come.  But I love the swim exercises I go to.  If nothing unexpected comes up, I will get in the full 5 days this week.  Have missed a day here and there for doctor appointments.

I feel so good all day on swim days.  I need to exercise on weekends or days off swimming, but I have no drive to do it.

Looking so forward to vacation in LA.  One month from today I will get to begin seeing the sights there.  It will be a great fun time.  Lots of sight seeing, and evenings can relax in the hot tub and get ready for the next day.


View of Universal Studios from our home for the week in the Hollywood Hills.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

GREAT GRANDCHILD NUMBER 15

Makena Mae Embrey was born May 31, 2013. Weighed 7 pound 11 ounces and was 10 inches long.

Have not met her yet, but she sure looks cute.
 

Welcome Makena
 
 
 
This is her big sister Alexah.....

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

MOM'S FALL

May 23 Mom leaned over in her wheel chair to get in a drawer and toppled out. She landed on her forehead and knees, scraping one leg and arm on closet as he went down.  Went over to hospital and had CAT scan on head, Xrays on neck, knees and shoulder.  Luckily nothing broken.  They taped up the scrapes and said the big goose egg on her forehead would probably cause black eyes.

Both eyes did not turn black but it started down her left side with the eye, then on down to cheek and clear down into neck area before the dark bruise stopped.  It was a little amazing to watch it just spread day by day. 

She is two weeks out from it now, and the forehead and eye are clearing up and down the cheek some. She still has the dark blue in chin and neck area.  There is still a knot on her forehead.

Very lucky not to break anything. She hurts all over anyhow, so this just made that worse.

But for 92, she came through it well.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

TURNING 75 IS NOT SO BAD.

On Saturday April 20, to celebrate my birthday Jackie, Samantha, Kati and I met Jessica, Marjie, Robbin, Kyle, Cindy and Barb in Lee's Summit.  We had lunch at Chili's.  Jessica brought a DQ Icecream Cake for mine and Jackie's birthday (Hers was 15th, mine 19th).
 
Then we went to Bleeding Heart Tattoo and I got my first tat by Iron Raymond.  If I was ever going to do it, it was time.  After years of going back and forth on whether I wanted one or not, about 6 months ago I found one I liked and decided to go for it.

It was a good day.




Sunday, April 7, 2013

APRIL

April is one of my favorite months. For one, it is my birthday month. But it also always seems to assure me that winter is over, and it is time for birds singing and flowers blooming.

Basically, it gives me hope. Hope that dreams can come true, and life is truly good.

Lets give a little dance for April.

Monday, March 11, 2013

WEATHER ROLLER COASTER

Snow, rain, freezing temps, and 50 s and 60 s.  March is a fickle month. Is 34 tonight, by weekend is supposed to be back to 50 and 60.

Stepping stones to Spring. March always seems  so long to me because I do not like winter and am wishing for Spring and Summer.

Happy for the signs that it will not be long.





Friday, March 8, 2013

TO EVERYTHING IT'S SEASON READY OR NOT

I was told this week that Sunday I have to spring my clock forward. Was a surprise to me.  Seems not to long ago that I had to "Fall Back".
This does not make me unhappy as it should mean that Spring will be here soon.

I have been whining and griping since New Years that winter was going to drag along.  So I am for sure ready for spring.  We have even had some light jacket days which seem almost springlike.

Before long I will be wanting to bring something home to plant in a pot even though it is too early.  Once Spring grabs ahold of me, I am not going to let it go.  The short sleeve shirts will need to come from the back of the closet, as will the sandals.


Now that I am aware of this, I am almost giddy.  Maybe should check out the garden centers this weekend to see if anything is blooming in a pot.

Friday, February 22, 2013

END OF FEBRUARY SNOWSTORM

We got quite a bit of snow, but not near as much as up around the City.  Hope this is the snow of the year.

Got a perm today, and set up new color for March.  Something to look forward to.

Having land line phone disconnected Feb 28. Had it since 1960.  Will just have cell phones.  It is kind of hard to let go of an old friend. But will save money and we hardly use it.

Almost March so a step closer to Spring.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

HURRY AND MOVE ON WINTER

So now it is finally Feb. Best scenerio is that it is a short month.

Monday, January 28, 2013

SPRING IN JANUARY

Was 74 degrees today.  Opened some windows and doors to let in the fresh air.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

WINTER CREEPS ON

This January has not went by as slow as I thought it would. It is 21 degrees right now.  But we have had some real cold days, then one up in the upper 40's.  That helps.  I am already dreading Feb. The shortest month of the year always seems so long.

I do not even want to get out when it is cold.  I have been going to the nursing home every other day, and now I am sometimes missing 2 days in a row.  Mom is in sort of a fog, so she seems not to notice most of the time. She and the 2 ladies at her dining room table all seem to be fading.

I get lab Friday, am hoping my glucose reading is as good as it was 4 or 5 weeks ago.  Have been trying to eat all sugar free sweets. Although sometimes I have to cheat and eat one of Jim's cupcakes.

My life is pretty dull.  Watching moves, doing my Ebay, and reading, and that just about sums up most of my days and nights.

Since I cannot click my heels together like Dorothy and wish winter away, guess I will just take it one day and a time and let it slide by.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

KABOOM

This has been a great Ebay selling month.  Took 8 packages to the P.O. Monday. Think it was six the Monday before.  Have one that needs packing right now.

Nice to have some large number PO runs instead of one or two at a time.

Looking forward to Spring with garage sales and auctions.

I love my Ebay hobby.

As of today, Jan 22,, my count for the month is 21 items....Whoo Hoo.  Nine more days in the month so the number could grow.
 
Final count of items sold in Jan was 25.  Best month since I began a few years ago!
 
 
 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

DAY 8

January is going slow as usual. Know it will slow down even more as Feb and March come along.

I wish I was a winter person, but I hate cold weather.

Run winter, hurry, hurry..........let Spring ride in.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

ANTICIPATING A GOOD 2013

2013 is up and running.  Had a snow on New Years Eve so it was a pretty New Years Day.

Jackie and Jesse came over for a few hours in the afternoon during her momentary recoup from her  cold/flu. She had a "relapse" today. But had a good visit.

Today I went for my annual "gyn" exam.  Discussed all the TVM ads on TV about lawsuits and recalls.  Found out the one in my procedure a couple years or so ago was not recalled and is still in use.  Now I will no longer wonder if my mesh is going to blow out....

Congress dodged a long fall over the Fiscal Cliff, but they are still in for a long hall. So we will be hearing that on TV for the rest of the year.  I do not know why I even listen to political news.

I fixed my 2013 good memories jar and hope I will have some good memories in it when I dump them out next New Years Eve.

I finally got my holiday eating binge stopped. Now need to get back into the habit of exercising regular. And back to the Chi Machine for 10 minutes 2 times a day as it really makes me feel better and keeps my ankles from being puffy.

I not like Jan Feb and Mar so hope they go by fast.  Maybe I can just dance through them and it will be spring.