The last few weeks have been a series of ups and downs for my mother. Mom has been in and out of the ER because she has been having issues with her tracheotomy. Anytime I see the name of her rehab center on my caller ID I cringe. This week alone she has been in the ER twice. The second one happened at night and she made me stay home and I decided not tell Dad. I worried all night. There was nothing he could do except make me take him to the ER to be with her. I did tell my brother and if things were to get worse I would get Dad there ASAP.
At the same time I don't want to get so used to Mom going to the ER for tracheotomy issues. I don't want to assume she will be okay and have something bad happen because I am taking my time getting there. Mom was the one who told me to stay home so I feel that I was respecting her wishes. I let her know I wouldn't tell dad and she understood. But I felt guilty.
There have been some fun things that have happened. Next to where Mom stays is a take out place called Twisted Pickle. I drive by it every day and finally I had enough and walked over to try their food. I did try to look up their menu before I went but it was "under construction". I decided that I would walk over there and see find out exactly what a "Twisted Pickle" was.
Well, Mom wanted some wings. Of course she has no cash, there is no need for patients to have cash so she asked Dad for money. He has a tendency to be purposely funny difficult. Hmmm, now I know where I get that from. So he tries to hide his money from her. She was having none of that and even though they were both in wheelchairs and neither one could walk she "attacked" him and got the money for her wings. He decided that he would get a mixed sub, he will deny all of this however and insist that he was robbed.
I have tried to find the joy in simple things. So on one ER visit I found such joy. The ER has the smallest parking lot I have ever seen at a hospital. Even worse than parking at college. It might be large enough for 20 cars. Everytime I go there I have to get Dad out of the car, into the wheelchair, inside and into the room where mom is. This happens while my flashers are flashing so no one will hit the car in the tiny lot while I am doing this, because of course there is no parking and valet parking is on the other side of the hospital.
This time after I got dad inside the clouds opened up and as angels sang a bean of light shined on a car backing up and leaving from the seconded closest parking spot from the ER entrance. I managed to quickly maneuver their minivan into the coveted spot and just about danced into the hospital. I didn't have to go into the parking garage (I hate it in there I always actually duck my head when I drive in because the ceiling is so low!), I wouldn't have to pay a fee for parking. Joy in such a simple thing!
Now the absolute best thing that happened this week is my aunt emailed me two photos of my grandfather that were taken before he met my grandma. These had to be from the 1930's. He was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Hawaii. The photos show just how much of a fun guy he was. I miss him so much, but as the years go by I forget more and more about him. I only knew him for 15 or 16 years. The day I found these in my email was the day of the above ER visit and seeing my Grandpa doing the Hula made my day, I hope they make yours too!
At the same time I don't want to get so used to Mom going to the ER for tracheotomy issues. I don't want to assume she will be okay and have something bad happen because I am taking my time getting there. Mom was the one who told me to stay home so I feel that I was respecting her wishes. I let her know I wouldn't tell dad and she understood. But I felt guilty.
Well, Mom wanted some wings. Of course she has no cash, there is no need for patients to have cash so she asked Dad for money. He has a tendency to be purposely funny difficult. Hmmm, now I know where I get that from. So he tries to hide his money from her. She was having none of that and even though they were both in wheelchairs and neither one could walk she "attacked" him and got the money for her wings. He decided that he would get a mixed sub, he will deny all of this however and insist that he was robbed.
I have tried to find the joy in simple things. So on one ER visit I found such joy. The ER has the smallest parking lot I have ever seen at a hospital. Even worse than parking at college. It might be large enough for 20 cars. Everytime I go there I have to get Dad out of the car, into the wheelchair, inside and into the room where mom is. This happens while my flashers are flashing so no one will hit the car in the tiny lot while I am doing this, because of course there is no parking and valet parking is on the other side of the hospital.
Now the absolute best thing that happened this week is my aunt emailed me two photos of my grandfather that were taken before he met my grandma. These had to be from the 1930's. He was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Hawaii. The photos show just how much of a fun guy he was. I miss him so much, but as the years go by I forget more and more about him. I only knew him for 15 or 16 years. The day I found these in my email was the day of the above ER visit and seeing my Grandpa doing the Hula made my day, I hope they make yours too!
Today though we received some disappointing news. The surgery that Mom needs to get the tracheotomy out has been postponed indefinitely. The LASER that they need to use, the one her doctor has been patiently waiting for because it travels between hospitals is not working. They don;t know how long the repairs will take. Her surgery was supposed to be in the morning and now we have no idea. All the problems were tolerable because the possible end date was in sight. Now we have no idea. I was the one who broke the news to her. She took it okay but I could tell that she was upset. I did soften the blow with her treasured thurenger though so that helped.
While cleaning this week I found a wonderful photo of my parents together. I am leaving you with this image. This is how I always think of my parents, happy together and well.
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