Catching Up

Since my last posting we've had quite a bit going on. In the middle of October Betty (mother in-law) was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and we were told she would not live much longer. She passed away in her sleep on December 1st while Joe was in her hospital room with her. It was so peaceful that he didn't realize she was gone.

Betty was the most caring, dedicated and compassionate person I've ever known. The youngest of 7 children, she devoted her life to taking care of her family. When her older sister EI (Edith) had a stroke she moved her to Columbia so that she could visit her daily in the nursing home. After several years she reduced her visits to three or four times and week...for 15 years she did EI's laundry, made sure the nursing home staff took good care of her and helped her recover from several subsequent illnesses. Once the Doozies came along she and Pop offered to keep them when I returned to work and did so for two years...at no charge. Pop got pneumonia in March and was hospitalized for three months. Three weeks after he returned home Betty had what we thought was a stroke. It wasn't until about a month later that we found out the true source of her difficulties. She was paralyzed on the right side and couldn't speak. It was so hard to see her trapped in a body that was so limited. There is some peace in knowing that with her passing she has entered a much better place and that she has been reunited with her daughter who died 9/11/03 and all of the others who went before her; however, it is extremely difficult to imagine life without her.

Pop is in the hospital again with pneumonia but we could it early and he is improving. At the beginning of his hospitalization he told us he had been on the Bill O'Reilly show and Bill wanted to know his preference for president. I think he understands now that he wasn't on the program. Hopefully he will be home for Christmas. :) Home for us is Pop's house for now. We are "camping out" with our clothes and some toys. Pop wants us to stay with him and I don't think we can leave. He still requires help for various things and cannot live by himself. We want to keep him out of a nursing home for as long as we can.

Emma has continued to surprise me daily with her knowledge and abilities. Last night she sang and danced the Hokey Pokey (sp?). Jehu attends a 3-year old program at a local elementary school and is getting help with his speech. He still has PT and OT. Both are ready for Santa Claus....Emma says he will bring her two presents. She doesn't give any other details...just that he will bring her two presents.

There are never enough hours in the day.