Grandma's new set of wheels!

Monday morning we went and qualified for a wheelchair for Mom. No, it doesn't have a motor. The power behind it is ME!

I have found that within a very short time of being in a store, Mom is having to find a place to sit down because she runs out of energy to stay on her feet. Therefore, when we go to a store we have to hope there is a wheelchair available for her use in order for her to get around and shop. We have to make choices where to shop according to the availability of a wheelchair on site. So we haven't been to a mall in a long time.

Anyway, she now has a shiny new set of wheels to get her where she wants to go,... as long as I am pushing. This opens a new set of choices for us. I guess we will be taking a stroll around one of the malls here in town sometime soon.

Kara spent Monday night with us. She is our lovable little girl and we all enjoy her time here. She is at an age that will talk to you, sit on your lap, give you good hugs and kisses and is quiet. I know Mom enjoys her visits. She spent many hours holding Kara while she slept when Kara was a baby.

We had Meegan and Bryson here for dinner tonight. We enjoy seeing them, but after an hour of that sweet little BOY and his sweet HIGH-PITCHED voice, we love to see them go. Is that mean to say? He is in daycare, so by the end of the day he needs to "let off steam", and my house is not used to that kind of action!!! I advised Mom to turn her ears off, and I just wish I had a volume control for his sweet HIGH-PITCHED voice, ha ha!

Heather "breezed" in today for a short visit. She talked, we listened, she kissed, we kissed, she "breezed" out! Enough said!

Every day, something different! Nobody can say this is a "boring" household. I would like it to be, but we are just soooo popular!!

Keep those cards and letters coming, and the phone calls too. Mom loves to hear from you all. Now I need her to get into the habit of answering those letters and cards. She will tell you she is a writer, but she hasn't written a letter in a long time. Maybe I'll get her some simple cards that she can sign and send to say hi to those who write her. It's a thought.

Goodnight, family. I pray you all are well. Sweet dreams....

We Had A Great Visit!

Well, it's Saturday night and we are back in Baton Rouge after 5 days in Alexandria. We drove up last Monday morning and for the past week, I have kept Mom busy with visits to and from all the saints in Alexandria.

Starting Monday night, Butch and Diane brought us dinner and stayed to visit, then Joyce came over for dessert and visiting.

The house was so clean and fresh thanks to the efforts of Becky and her brother Alex. I didn't have to do a thing while we were there. Floors were shining and no dust to be seen.

Tuesday morning, Barbre and DL came over for a visit along with Joyce, and Tuesday evening we went out to the Linzay farm for dinner and a sister's meeting.

Wednesday evening the house was the place to be. Julia came over early for a good visit with Mom. We had the prayer meeting there and Mom was so happy. There were 15 saints all around the living room praising and praying. It brought back happy memories for Mom. She just loved it.

Joyce came over Thursday for lunch and a little one-on-one conversation with Mom. Then, Laura and her children (Mom's "adopted" grandchildren) came over in the afternoon for a sweet visit. Sister Via got lots of hugs and kisses that day.

Friday morning we had a Katherine with her girls over for a few hours of visiting and just as they were leaving, sisters starting arriving for a meeting. We used the time for prayer and praise.

Of course, all the brothers attached to the sisters were seen during the week also. We stuffed a lot of activity into this week and I think Mom truly enjoyed every minute of it.

Oh, on Wednesday night with so many people and cars at the house, the neighbor, Steve Ayers, came over to see if everything was all right. From no activity around the house to lots of activity, he was afraid something had happened to Mom. He was relieved to hear she was alive and well.

The house is doing OK. The yard is being taken care of. The city is supposed to see about trimming a tree that is hanging over the power lines and roof. Becky is keeping the inside fresh. The saints all drive by to check it out from time to time. The roof will need some repair and I have asked Mike H. if his cousin, who has done repairs on Mom's roof, could look it over and give us an estimate of costs.

This morning over breakfast, Mom said she had spent some time early considering how much she wanted to be able to just stay. But she shared this without tears, and was helpful in packing up the house and car for the trip back to B.R. We stopped at the Hopkins house for one more visit with Laura and Kids before leaving town, and there were tears at the good-bye, but not for long.

We had an uneventful trip back to B.R. and have settled back into the routine of the house. Thank you all for the prayers spoken for a good visit. Thank you Lord for this past week.

Road Trip

When I get up later this morning, I will be taking Mom back to Alexandria for a visit. She knows it's just for a visit, but this evening, she asked me "Will I ever be able to go home again and be by myself?"

Of course as I was telling her how sorry I am to have to tell her no, she was crying for everything she has lost in losing her independence. She can't see the need for having to live with someone, and I just can't bring myself to list all the reasons, (86, nearly blind, nearly cripple, forgetful, just to name a few). Of course, everything she thinks she was able to do just recently really was done several years ago. I can't bring myself to tell her that either.

I have the need to be the daughter with the mother telling me, "Make room, here I come!" I want her to see how she is doing, with a clear mind. I want her to make these decisions for herself, choosing to make the move. I want her to be able to see the the benefits of living with me. I need her to be able to transfer her enjoyments to a new place. I don't want to have to talk to her as if she was a small child. I want a real conversation with my mother!

But...the reality is...Mom just can't think the way needed to make good decisions. Not by her own choice, but because her body is shutting down. Bones weaken, blood thins, arteries close, brain cells die, muscles lose strength...it has taken place so slowly that the changes have gone unnoticed, but we see it and when we confront her with the noted changes, she is unable to agree with what we see.

So I guess I can say that this evening was a little stressful for us all. Never-the-less , we will take that trip later today and I will be doing a lot of praying that she will use this time to enjoy visiting with the saints in Alexandria, spend some time puttering around her house, and at the end of the week willingly get back in the car for the ride back to Baton Rouge. Everyone pray!

Happy thoughts!

This week was our "go to the doctor" week. Nothing bad, just refilling Rx's, checking blood work, etc. Both for Mom and for me. She is doing very well physically. The doc gave her a B12 shot and suggested we start taking a B12 supplement daily. So we will...

We also requested a wheelchair for her use. The doc had to write a Rx for one so Medicare and Medicaid would pay for it. We will be getting one within the next week. The need for a chair is for any outing that will need more walking than from the house to the car and from the car to a place to sit down. We try to get her to come to Wal-Mart for shopping, but she has no lasting strength. When we can find a store wheelchair, she enjoys being pushed around the store to see things. But...the store chairs are in demand. So, we asked the doc if she qualified for a wheelchair that will help get her out to socialize, etc. It seems she does. I can think of several places around B.R. that we could get her out to enjoy that requires walking...so with the chair she really will be able to enjoy her outings. She is still able to walk around the house. This chair will not be used indoors. Too many things to bump into, ha ha.

Mom received several phone calls the past few days and I want to share with those who called the smile on her face when she was told the call was for her, and who it was. She enjoyed hearing from you all and her smile lasted through the call and into the retelling of the call, ha.ha. As you found out, the calls don't have to be long, and most of the time all you have to do is listen.

She also received a few notes of "hello". She got mail! Was she surprised!! Thank you for putting a smile on her face. Each one was read several times and shared with us and put in a folder for her to keep.

This week we had visits from the saints. Two sisters came by Tuesday morning for fellowship and prayer. Mom sat in with us around the table and was able to participate in the prayer time. Also, a sweet couple came by this afternoon. They were sharing their enjoyment from the Memorial Day Conference. Mom was able to follow along and enter into pray with us all. It was good.

We are making plans to visit Alexandria this coming week. I am not sure about the day we will leave on, but by next week, all the bills will be paid, or set up to pay, and I will be free to enjoy doing something different. Mom is looking forward to seeing her "home" again, but I think she understands it's just for a visit. We will spend the week visiting the saints there and entering into their enjoyment of Christ. She is looking forward to seeing the kids.