Mom loves muffins!

Mom still likes books!

She doesn't look happy in this photo, but she was enjoying the book.

Mom Enjoying a Treat

Ensure

On Sunday, Ken and I visited mom. She was a little tired out and didn't eat the best. Last night, Ken brought home Ensure so dad and I could take it to mom today. Her eyes lit up when I took out that bottle from my "Sophie Bag." She drank it down in a hurry. Yes, the nursing home does give residents Ensure but I haven't seen mom with one and it always feels good to be able to bring her something. She also ate a good lunch, went for a walk and enjoyed her dolls. When we arrived she was looking at one of her board books. It was a good day!

Mom looking beautiful!

You Old Bag

I have been visiting mom once or twice a week.  I talk to dad every morning and night and see him about once a week.  Sunday, I usually visit him in the morning and mom in the afternoon.  Mom is definitely losing her language and any memories but she still will read primary board books and signs.  She enjoys sweets and still feeds herself but doesn't mind being helped out.  She asks about grandma or ma and I say that I just talked to her on the phone and she is doing fine.  She seems relieved to hear that news.
This week, when I visited, I brought treats as usual.  She really likes my homemade cranberry muffins.  She gives it a quizzical look takes a bite and her eyes light up and you can tell she is enjoying it. She really loves ice cream.  A week ago, Ken stopped into to see her and was trying to get her to go for a walk.  As she passed the snack tray, she reached out for an ice cream cup.  She didn't want to let go of his hand but she didn't want to miss the ice cream.  When he stopped, she quickly took off the top of the ice cream.  He said the walk was postponed until the ice cream was gone.
I went to see her on Wednesday and she saw me coming through the window of the door! She waved her arm calling me.  We talked a bit and then I got her up to go for a walk.  We were cruising down the hall and I said, "Mom, I love you." She responded by stopping and hugging me and saying, "I love you too.  You Old Bag."   Now that made me chuckle!! She said it like she was talking to one of her best friends.  When I told dad he said, "That sounds like her."  Mom liked to call us kids "You Bratty" and call her friends "Old Bag" in a humorous, joking way.  It was a priceless visit.

Is that my fires??

More changes...Each day I am happy for the blessings in my life.  Mom seems to have settled once again into the the routine at the nursing home.  She seems to recognize me but not with as much excitement.  She still feeds herself part of the time and staff and residents really care about her.  God has a plan and mom's plan included touching lives at the nursing home.

When I arrived yesterday for our visit, she was actually taking a nap on her bed!! This is very unusal for mom.  She woke up slowly.  Sat up on the edge of the bed and looked at her shoes on the floor, "Is that my fires?"  "Fires...hmmmm.  Yep those are your fires."  We started to look at old photos in the the little albums.  I pointed to her brother and said,  "Steve Mihna."  Her response, "Pete Mihna?"   No, Petes in our family.  Not even a friend named Pete.  She continued to make statements that made no sense through out the visit.  We still enjoyed dinner.  She grabbed the ice cream as soon as the dinner arrived.  She ate that first and then the salad.  No interest in the stew but ate the applesauce.