Mom Update

Mom's back injury is healing well and we have started going for our walks again, which we both enjoy very much! She had a followup appointment last week and everything looks good. She isn't taking any medicines or pain relief, only her vitamins. Each day we go a little farther on our walks and try not to overdo it. We have been enjoying the cooler temperatures and can't wait until the leaves start turning their beautiful fall colors. This is my favorite season and I know mom will enjoy taking in every moment of it while she us still here. We'll be picking apples from the apple orchard later this week and enjoying their homemade cider & apple donuts. Mom says she doesn't mind picking apples, but she won't pick okra because of the thorns! She told me the story of when she was a kid and her grandma wanted her to help pick some okra. Even wearing gloves she tried picking a few, but it still pricked her hands so she took off running as fast as she could in the opposite direction so she didn't have to help pick the okra. I wonder who else escaped this job too!






A few weeks ago we brought mom to our neighborhoods annual potluck picnic. After eating we played games and mom really enjoyed playing Bingo. She did a great job checking for her numbers and to her surprise even won two prizes. She also plays scrabble well too!

Mom's time with us in Illinois will soon be drawing to an end and she will be going back to New Orleans to live with Joey & Trisha for a few months. The switch will probably happen sometime in mid October, but we will keep you posted. I'm sure this transition will be a little harder for mom when she realizes that she will not be going back to her own home. She asks if she still has her home in Gretna and is thankful that Uncle Joe is watching it for her (along with the roaches). Mom has a wonderful sense of humor and we all try to say things to make her laugh while reminding her that she is "just visiting and spending time" with each of her kids and their families. My time with mom has been wonderful and I feel so much closer to her. We have talked about so many things and I have even learned a few new things about my mom. While it is hard for me to imagine not having mom living here, I also know that it is time to reconnect with my family and recharge a little. I think the hardest part of taking care of mom is the time spent repeating the same things to her or shifting the conversation to something else. Saying the same phrases over and over does tend to wear a person down a little. It really bothers mom that she has memory problems and sometimes she is so apologetic for not remembering. It's amazing that she sometimes remembers that she had to do the same exact thing while taking care of her own mom. I know deep down she understands what is going on and is glad that she has her children to help her through these times. I am so thankful that mom has always been in good health and that she has always had a sweet and gentle spirit. She is a joy to be around and a blessing! I'm already starting to miss her..........