New Year of the Journey

Dad doesn't work at the dump on Saturdays in the winter so we have been going together to see mom on that day. It's a nice opportunity for us to be together. Mom looked great today! Her hair was clean and short and she had lipstick on and a little blush! Stripped shirt and her plaid shoes. She was playing kick ball in the circle when we arrived and said, "Bonnie!" That's my sister's name but I am always happy to have her recognize me to any degree.

We continued the game for a bit but then went to find dad in the birdroom. When I told that Donnie her sweetheart was there to see her she said, "I don't think so..." but as soon as she catches a glimpse of him she rushes to hug and kiss him.

We had a nice lunch together. It was our usual routine of looking at kids books and photo albums. Today, when she looked at the photos of my two sisters and her on a trip she said, "Well, look at those ladies." It was as if she didn't have a clue who it was??? I said, "Mom, that's you and me in the picture." No look of recognition just kind of agreed.

Mom isn't too interested in eating but dad is good at encouraging her and feeding her. He kept trying to get her to eat the potatoes and vegetables. Finally, I told her tell him you just want the pudding. It was funny because she turned and looked at him and said, "I want the pudding." It seems her tastes have changed because almost everything makes her make a funny face except sweet stuff. She smiled about that. She especially likes a apple/pear pie I bring her. Her eyes light up and she eats the whole piece feeding herself!

Days have been busy so I didn't write about Christmas. I was really dreading it but it went o.k. Not like past Christmas. I did not hear from my brothers but Kenny, Dad and I spent Christmas day with mom and it went o.k.

The question is so How's your mom doing??? She is doing fine. She doesn't remember much but she seems relaxed most of the time and the staff gives her excellent care. She enjoys holding her baby doll. Today after we looked at pictures and books I went to get her baby doll from her room. There were two dolls!!! I took one to the nurses station and said I think mom has enough to handle with one, but later when mom and I went to her room she said, "Where's the other one? There were two." Now how does she remember two dolls but not that her husband is waiting in the next room??

She doesn't remember where to go eat? or that we just played kick ball but she remembers she has two baby dolls on her bed. I told her the other mom came to pick up the other baby. I've also have started to tell her that I talked to her mom & she is just fine and going to visit her sister. Who knew that one day I would be telling my mom such fibs???

There are times my mind still can not grasp that this has happened to my mom and that she is living in a nursing home and will not come back home. That's the difficult thoughts but I am so thankful that she is in a safe, predictable place with wonderful care and I believe God has a purpose for all of us and maybe mom's purpose is to touch the lives of people in the nursing home because everyone knows who Sophie is.