I have about a bajillion posts swimming around in my head and in the drafts of my blogger . But seriously, life happens, and sometimes we can't stop the merry-go-round and get off.
Update on my mother in law: A week ago Friday they put a brain shunt in because she was having hydrocephalus...which they now know was causing the seizures she has been having for a month. To the best of my knowledge the seizures are now under control and at the end of last week she was discharged to return to the nursing home, where I think she is much happier. I spent several hours with her Friday and definitely felt she was understanding and responding more than I've seen in quite awhile. In many ways now, it's just time...waiting to see how much improvement she can make with the right kind and amount of therapy and the right adjustments to the shunt. We are still very hopeful for significant recovery over the next months.
We also finally have ONE Dr. managing her care, which is a huge relief. Up until now, her care has been left primarily to the hospitalists and ER docs that she has seen in 5 different stays in 3 different hospitals. Needless to say her care has been seriously lacking in consistency. She also now has a direct admit to the hospital that we are most happy with, so there will be no more trips to the ER. Anything comes up, she will be admitted directly to the neurosciences unit to be seen by the same Drs. who are familiar with her condition, in the same unit that has all her records (which they have collected from all her various hospital stays) and where the managing Dr. can easily see her. We are hopeful this continuity and consistency of care will make a significant difference. Don't ask me why it took 14 weeks for this to happen...that's another long story.
When I was with her on Friday, holding her hand, I told her, reminded her how many people are praying for her. I said "Even if we don't see results of that prayer, I still believe it does something, even if it's something we can't see". That brought on a huge wide-eyed smile and vigorous nodding. Somehow, in all of this, all the pain and suffering, deep down she is able to still believe in the power of prayer. That simply amazes me. I wonder if I would have given up by now.
So on to other news. My parents just sold the house they have been in for 33 years. My youngest sibling moved out last fall, and my parents are in more house than they need. About a year and a half ago, my grandparents (mom's parents) moved to assisted living and my brother began the process of remodeling the home they had lived in for 60+ years (the house my grandfather who died in June had himself built) so it could be put on the market. Well, my brother has recently finished the remodel, and my parents will be buying it. My mother was very close to her dad, and it will be a blessing to her to be able to live in the house he built, the same house she grew up in. There is certain definite sadness in my parents leaving the home they have been in so long, the only home my two brothers have ever known, the only one my sister remembers. I am the only one who has memories of living in other places, but still, I was not quite 5 when we moved into this house. So it is everything to my family in many ways, but just impractical at this point for them to remain there.
Well this leads to the obvious: packing the 4000 square feet, including attic and basement space, that is full of 33 years worth of my family's life. I have spent a great deal of time lately helping mom go through the stuff in the attic...a thrilling trip down memory lane. Baby clothes, souvenirs, heirlooms...I have found priceless relics of my childhood and teen years. Even diaries: anyone want to tell me how it was that I could be so in love with Billy or Jason or Matt when I was 13; so certain I would marry the boy of the month? I have found parts of my Madonna wannabe wardrobe and many, many relics from my senior year of high school. We have even found things my parents forgot they had. It has been a lot of work, but immense fun as well. Soon, we start in the basement.
Tonight we spent the evening with all of Randy's family (except his mom) having family portraits done (as a gift for her), having dinner together, and spending some quality time with my father in law. It was nice for everyone to be together and I hope the pictures turn out well.
Between these things my life is pretty busy and the blog has been second fiddle to everything else. I promise I do have some good and meaningful posts to put up, eventually.
Update on my mother in law: A week ago Friday they put a brain shunt in because she was having hydrocephalus...which they now know was causing the seizures she has been having for a month. To the best of my knowledge the seizures are now under control and at the end of last week she was discharged to return to the nursing home, where I think she is much happier. I spent several hours with her Friday and definitely felt she was understanding and responding more than I've seen in quite awhile. In many ways now, it's just time...waiting to see how much improvement she can make with the right kind and amount of therapy and the right adjustments to the shunt. We are still very hopeful for significant recovery over the next months.
We also finally have ONE Dr. managing her care, which is a huge relief. Up until now, her care has been left primarily to the hospitalists and ER docs that she has seen in 5 different stays in 3 different hospitals. Needless to say her care has been seriously lacking in consistency. She also now has a direct admit to the hospital that we are most happy with, so there will be no more trips to the ER. Anything comes up, she will be admitted directly to the neurosciences unit to be seen by the same Drs. who are familiar with her condition, in the same unit that has all her records (which they have collected from all her various hospital stays) and where the managing Dr. can easily see her. We are hopeful this continuity and consistency of care will make a significant difference. Don't ask me why it took 14 weeks for this to happen...that's another long story.
When I was with her on Friday, holding her hand, I told her, reminded her how many people are praying for her. I said "Even if we don't see results of that prayer, I still believe it does something, even if it's something we can't see". That brought on a huge wide-eyed smile and vigorous nodding. Somehow, in all of this, all the pain and suffering, deep down she is able to still believe in the power of prayer. That simply amazes me. I wonder if I would have given up by now.
So on to other news. My parents just sold the house they have been in for 33 years. My youngest sibling moved out last fall, and my parents are in more house than they need. About a year and a half ago, my grandparents (mom's parents) moved to assisted living and my brother began the process of remodeling the home they had lived in for 60+ years (the house my grandfather who died in June had himself built) so it could be put on the market. Well, my brother has recently finished the remodel, and my parents will be buying it. My mother was very close to her dad, and it will be a blessing to her to be able to live in the house he built, the same house she grew up in. There is certain definite sadness in my parents leaving the home they have been in so long, the only home my two brothers have ever known, the only one my sister remembers. I am the only one who has memories of living in other places, but still, I was not quite 5 when we moved into this house. So it is everything to my family in many ways, but just impractical at this point for them to remain there.
Well this leads to the obvious: packing the 4000 square feet, including attic and basement space, that is full of 33 years worth of my family's life. I have spent a great deal of time lately helping mom go through the stuff in the attic...a thrilling trip down memory lane. Baby clothes, souvenirs, heirlooms...I have found priceless relics of my childhood and teen years. Even diaries: anyone want to tell me how it was that I could be so in love with Billy or Jason or Matt when I was 13; so certain I would marry the boy of the month? I have found parts of my Madonna wannabe wardrobe and many, many relics from my senior year of high school. We have even found things my parents forgot they had. It has been a lot of work, but immense fun as well. Soon, we start in the basement.
Tonight we spent the evening with all of Randy's family (except his mom) having family portraits done (as a gift for her), having dinner together, and spending some quality time with my father in law. It was nice for everyone to be together and I hope the pictures turn out well.
Between these things my life is pretty busy and the blog has been second fiddle to everything else. I promise I do have some good and meaningful posts to put up, eventually.
Erin,
ReplyDeleteThis was good and meaningful, reminding me of the importance of family and realizing how short this journey of life is yet how many interesting memories and moments it contains. Many blessings to you and yours and prayers from me for your families.
I, for one, find *this* to be a good and meaningful post. :) Thanks for the update, Erin - and enjoy the season that you're in. You are richly blessed, and I'm glad. :) Love you!
ReplyDeleteHap
Thank you Grace. I didn't even really think about the 'good and meaningful' when I wrote it, but yes, it is.
ReplyDeleteThank, you too Hap. I am trying to enjoy, to glean lessons and grow through all this. Love you too.
ReplyDelete