April 18, 2013

• So Much To Journal

  In the past week, I have spent a lot of time at Granny and Papaw’s.  I took care of Granny last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Then had her again Sunday, Tuesday, and cleaned their house Wednesday.  I am supposed to go back tomorrow.  I usually like to work several days together so I can have several days off in a row.  Here lately it hasn’t worked out that way.  When I have one or two days on and then I have a day off, it takes a day to rest.  Then, if I have to go back the next day, I get nothing accomplished at home.  Ahhh well, tis life.  I have been asking myself here lately is this really how I am supposed to be spending this time in my life.  I have no clear answers, but there doesn’t seem to be any other way.  I don’t regret taking care of Mom.  She deserves the best!  She has sacrificed a lot in her life for her family.  It is just hard to be away from my family so much, and I find myself questioning that.  

  When I was there Wednesday cleaning the house, Martha was taking care of Mom.  I noticed so many things we do alike.  I snapped a couple of pictures on my phone of Martha walking Mom around the table for exercise.

  

  We have to hold her left hand behind her back.  otherwise, she will start holding on to the chairs, or start picking up stuff off the table.  It is impossible to walk her when she gets so distracted.  Martha and I will open the back door and let her stand there awhile.  She really enjoys it.

  

  If you look in the picture beyond the table, you can see them standing at the open back door.  We use the box fan as a noisemaker to help Mom when she naps.  Last week I used it to stay cool.  Dad is so stubborn.  He will not turn the air conditioning unit (heat pump) on even though it is roasting in there.  This was their thermometer on one of the days I had to help her with her bath and cleaned the bathroom.

  
  

  81.4 Degrees.  Part of the time Mom’s face was shiny from sweat.  The reason it makes me so mad is because he can easily afford to keep it comfortable for us to care for Mom.  When I cooked or washed dishes in hot water, I started turning on the fan.  I could make it fine with the fan on.  I thought, he can either have the fan running constantly or turn on the heat pump that comes on every once in a while.  So much I could rant about, but I won’t.  Anyway, Mary came to take him to the store Wednesday while I was cleaning.  She and Martha told him he needed to turn it on and he did.  He will keep it warmer than comfortable, but it will be bearable.  Martha just adjusts the control to what she is comfortable with.  I wish I had the guts to do that.  I think someday he may be sorry he didn’t try to make it easier for us girls, and sorry he didn’t appreciate how good he had it.

  When we are walking Mom around the table, sometimes we stop for a break to look out the window.  This is what we saw out the back kitchen window.

  

  Mom loves to watch the traffic on the two roads we see out this window.

  

  If you look thru the trees, you can see the roads.  Now that the leaves are on the trees, we can’t see much.  I have to find other things to talk about.  I have been talking about how green everything is and how good it looks.  I talk to her alot during the day about everything.  Some of it she may not understand, but I talk about what we are doing, going to do, and just random stuff I can think of. lol Some days I am so tired I don’t talk as much.

  On March 31, Mom turned 83.  I am thankful and amazed she is still with us.  Mary’s kids made her the neatest card.

              

  Granny used to always tell her grandchildren they were more precious than gold.  You can tell it has stuck with them.

              

  

   

  In other news, today I let Ryan lay out of school.  He promised me the moon if I would let him stay home.  He said he would clean the whole house, etc….  Ok, I am not that naive, but he did help me a lot!!  He helped me get groceries, helped me carry them upstairs, put oil in the car, mowed the yard, and trimmed the edges.  

  

  He worked really hard.  There are only four weeks of school left and I can’t wait till summer break.  He can’t wait either.

  Last week Andrew was on vacation and they took Haley and Mason to the Aquarium.  They had the best time.  Nikki called me to let Haley tell me about it.  She got so excited telling me that Nikki would have to tell her to quieten down.  She didn’t want her to wake Mason.  So, Haley would start whispering to me over the phone.  It was so cute.  

  She told me she touched one turtle.  She said she saw a white turtle.  Nikki said she wasn’t afraid and touched everything in they had in the tanks for people to touch/hold.  Haley told me she saw butterflies and one of them landed on her head, Daddy’s head, and Mommy’s head.  She held out her hand for it to land on her finger.

   

  Nikki said she did that when they saw a parrot.  She doesn’t know how Haley knew to do that.  Doesn’t she look happy?

            

  Even Mason had a good time looking at everything.  Nikki said they couldn’t get him to nap because he was looking around instead of closing his eyes.  (I have a pic of him that didn’t come thru.  I will have to post it tomorrow.)

  Here are some of the latest pictures Nikki has sent me via text.  I love getting pictures of them!!!

                                                                                      

                                     

  One day she gave Haley some pipe cleaner to play with.  Haley said she made a bunny family. 

                 

  Ok, I have got to close and get to bed.  Another early day with Mom tomorrow.  Hope you all are blessed!

   

   

   

   

   

   

  • 11:49 pm
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