Saturday October 22,2011
The weeks seem to go by quickly. Work is still filled with lot’s of challenges and more changes coming. But it is just work. We have sunshine and blue sky today, although at 10 am it just made 40 degrees. I hate seeing that temperature that starts with a 3 when I get in the car in the morning. Although I will hate 2 and 1 even more! But the wind is down, after a number of days of strong wind again. I should stay home and work on getting the shore station ready for winter, but we will head to Milwaukee shortly. We will see Mom and then spend a nice evening and over night downtown. And then stop and see her on Sunday. Skip bears the bulk of seeing her and giving her company so he can have a little break. We were down on Thursday for a meeting with Manor Park. She is progressing and able to walk 150 feet. And she is not experiencing much pain, which amazes all of us. But she still is not getting up on her own without assistance, and they estimate another 3 weeks of therapy. But by then she should be able to get out of the nursing home. For now she is trying hard, and lot’s of anxiety over what to do next. We had looked at some options, but for now have decided on bringing her back to her apartment. After looking at some ‘dorm’ room assisted living she had some shock. And with help, we think she can be independent yet. At her complex, if they qualify her, she can get assisted living ‘light’, which will get her some help and 3 meals. So we will try that and can take the next step if she is not doing well in that environment. Our goal is still to start cleaning out things from her apartment. Lot’s of ‘stuff’ in two bedrooms. Clothes she wore 100 lbs ago. She just cannot get rid of things, so we need to help and see how that goes. But the good news she is stronger than the therapists would have expected and pain has not become an issue.
Otherwise outside work we are having fun. Chris had an Insurance Women’s state meeting last Friday Saturday, and it was in Appleton. Last Saturday I made some more progress around the house, although not much since then. Sunday I attended the Green Bay-Rams football game with my group of homebrewers. We start early with a tailgate and my breakfast burrito’s, and lot’s of good beer. It was a very fun day, topped off by a Packer win. Wally is happy the St Louis Cards finished the Brewers season, but at least we have football!
So we hope everyone is enjoying the fall. Most of us are blessed and have lot’s to be thankful for. Get out and make someone smile today.
Hi Randy and Chris,
It is indeed a beautiful day. Walked with Judy this morning and decided I don’t need my fleece for the rest of today. Brian is picking me up and we are going with his children down to Discovery World. This is one of the Saturdays John works so he will be glad to see us. Amanda and Jon are especially disappointed that the Brewers didn’t get to the World Series as they would have had tickets. All in all most of us feel that they gave it a great run and have hopes for next year. We were torn about my dad too, leaving him in the apartment after my mom died and we thought he needed assisted living. He wanted to stay where he was and got upset when we talked about moving him (even though he would have still been at the Catholic Home.) He wanted what he was familiar with and we had a wise doctor who told us that the most important thing was that he was happy and not stressed out by the move. Someone may have found him and jolted him back to life had he been in the assisted living or nursing home when he had the heart attack, but in actuality he was ready to go and it was quick. You feel guilty if you think you should move her and you don’t, but life is about making the most of the time we have. I know that because you OFTEN remind me. Take care and I’m sure you will make a good decision.
Happy Fall. Mary
Tough decisions. Things will just come clear as time goes by. The problem is always the anxiety that goes with the whole thing on both sides. I will pray that the decision is well excepted by both parties and that the Lord helps you see the right way.