WEEK 3 ~ JANUARY 15-21, 2015

Dad and Cindy brought Mom to the nursing home on Thursday and we pray that the adjustment will be smooth. Transitions and new things are difficult for Mom, however, we are so very thankful for the room at a great nursing home so close to our home and while this will be a huge time of adjustment for Mom and Dad, we are very grateful for the many blessings and answers to prayer. Even though Mom is living in a nursing home, we are comforted that God our Father is always with her wherever she is.

Friday morning rolled around and we got Rowan early so we could begin our visits...we started with Kim's Grandpa and Grandma where Rowan "enjoyed" a coffee, he said he liked it but made quite the face when he tried it. I think he just felt very grown up to be honest and beamed with his mug in hand. We went to go visit Mom next and as expected, the transition was difficult and sleep was hard to come by. Kim, Rowan and I spent quite awhile trying to help her feel more comfortable. Rowan really enjoyed all the attention from the ladies in the home...he really is quite the ladies man :) We hope that Mom will soon settle in and become more comfortable in her new home. After the VMS kids got picked up and basketball practice was over, we had a quick supper and settled in to watch the highly anticipated movie Boxtrolls...for anyone who knows us, the kids watched the movie while Kim and I had a nap. We hear the movie was good though.

We had a few errands to run in London...Columbia outlet store for some coats, Bath and Body Works for some hand soap, a promised stop at Dollorama for Savannah, Costco for groceries, Lens Mills for material for Carsten's jester costume and probably a few more stops I can't remember. Kim and I visited Mom and she really needs to get some sleep as it has become really hard for her to function and she has fallen several times...until Mom is feeling better, she will be in a wheelchair. I am super thankful to Kim who has been a great help to me, the whole family and especially to Mom and it shows as Kim freely gets hugs and kisses from Mom. Thank you for everything you do Kim!!

After church, Kim, Mark and I visited Mom and even though she was still having a rough time, we had a good chuckle when a lady down the hall saw Mark dressed in a suit, she sang "There's a maaaaan down there".  After Mark left, Kim and I wheeled Mom down in her wheelchair to hear some young people from church sing hymns with some of the residents.

Monday morning started way to early with Carsten waking me at around 3 am because he had a bad headache. By 4:15, he had thrown up and settled back into bed. I brought Savannah to school and met Kim at the gym for a quick workout before heading back home to start the day with Rowan. Alex was  home with a Study Day for his exams and Rowan always seems to love it when he has a "big brother" at home to hang out with. We visited Mom later in the day and helped her with her supper. Today was a better day with Mom sitting in the wheelchair, but walking when we were there to assist her. So thankful for the small improvement we are seeing daily.

Tuesday was my sister Jenny's birthday and she celebrated the big 4-0...I wish that she has a day of relaxation and peace with a future that holds more happiness, joys, surprises and good times than she can imagine. It was another Study Day for Alex and Rowan took full advantage of having him home, convincing him to play a game of Pokemon. After visiting Mom, I slipped out to get some pictures printed to hang in Mom's room and also placed some of her things in the box outside her room...beloved salt and pepper shakers and a toll painted picture on slate that Mom painted a number of years ago. I also finally remembered to take the picture Carsten drew for Oma and hung it in her room. In the evening, Mark visited Dad while the boys were at Catechism and Young Peoples. I love the Tuesday nights when there is a hockey game on it's just me and Savannah...it's a special bonding time for us...unfortunately it ended early tonight when Savannah decided to put herself to bed and a short while later came back out to tell me she had a bad headache. 

I think with everything going on, trying to keep the house running, it has been hard on everyone...Mark and I have been trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids, but I wasn't feeling great and was feeling emotionally exhausted...Yesterday, Kim and I declared Wednesday a chill day and Kim took good care of me. Alex had his first exam, so he was finally off to school again; Kim, Rowan and I had a great visit with Mom and we enjoyed a lady who played the guitar and sang. While visiting Mom, one of the staff asked who we were and if Kim was my daughter...anybody think we look alike? We were so thankful for the good day, Mom was having, walking around and resting in a comfy chair when needed.

WEEK 2 ~ JANUARY 8-14, 2015

This week has been another busy week but we have been reminded of so many things we have or experience regularly and so easily take for granted.  Sometimes there are seasons in our lives that seem challenging in the moment but once the storm has passed, the blessings become evident and even appreciate the storm as tough as it was.

Thursday I was planning on getting together with some friends for our monthly crop (we try but are not always successful)...however, with Mom in the hospital needing some extra help, I switched my plans and Kim and I headed up to the hospital to talk to her care team to develop a plan.  It was such a blessing to hear that Mom was medically stable and able to come home as soon as a Homecare schedule was worked out. Once again we were reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Canada with good healthcare available to all, and doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who genuinely care about what is best for their patients.  We were also thankful that Mom was looking and feeling better and starting to move around more.

Friday morning, Kim and I headed up to the hospital once again; after talking to the resident doctor, he suggested we set up a meeting to discuss possible discharge in the afternoon.  Dad and Mark came up very quickly :) and plans were made for Mom to be discharged as soon as we were ready.  Kim and I slipped over to Mom and Dad's to clear out the craft room to give Mom and a PSW a space of their own overnight.  Once again I was reminded of how amazing our church family and friends are as we received a call with an offer of a homemade supper...such a treat after a week of 'homemade fast food' suppers (fast food type meals from a box and popped in the oven).  Thanks Amanda!!!  It was delicious and we loved it!  Mark and Dad brought Mom home from the hospital and got her settled back in at home, while Savannah, Kim and I spent a relaxing evening with friends at our Thirty-One party - such a treat to be able to relax and just chill for an evening.

We were so fortunate that Carol and Hadassah were able to come to Canada for a visit and to lend a helping hand.  A large part of Saturday was spent at Mom and Dad's visiting with family as the guys rearranged some furniture, Alex and Hadassah 'hung out' and us ladies reminisced as we sorted through crafting supplies, pictures, toys, etc in the basement.  It was very nice to have an 'at home' night with the kids watching a hockey game while Mark went to his work Christmas Party.

Sunday started out with a smile :)  Savannah rearranged her breakfast to be her ...we've never encouraged our kids to play with their food but are always encouraging them to further their artistic skills :)

On Monday, Dad got a call that a spot had opened at his preferred nursing home in the unit Mom required. Although Mom was doing well at home, her brief stay in the hospital was a good eye-opening experience for all of us, not only of what kind of care she would be needing long term but also how much Dad had been caring for her at home; he had done an amazing job of showing unconditional love to his wife and truly is an example of living out their wedding vows, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health - what a blessing he has been to her and to the family. 

Tuesday morning was a frigidly cold morning but I braved the cold, mainly so I could drop off the kids at school and just have some peace and quiet on my day off :)   After dropping the kids off, I stopped at Kim's house before we headed to church for Ladies Bible Study...always fun when she has her niece and nephew for the day and I can slip in some snuggles on the couch. Logan is such a cuddly (big) baby!  

Wednesday morning Rowan, Olivia, Kim and I headed to Mom and Dad's to visit with Mom and Carol and to help with some last minute stuff to get ready for Mom to move into the nursing home, we even managed a short visit with Cindy before we had to head out.  In the evening, Mark and I went out for supper with Dad, Carol and Cindy while Mom, Kim and the kids enjoyed supper at Mom and Dad's - family really is such a blessing in so many ways and although sickness and trials are challenging, it is comforting to see how family pulls together in these times and is always there to support each other.  This week has been a reminder of how amazing our extended family really is!

WEEK 1 ~ JANUARY 1-7, 2015

The time between Christmas and New Year's was a bit of a challenging time as we worked to help out my father-in-law who was taking care of his wife who has been struggling with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It's been hard this week to see such a decline in Mom's health and trying to figure out what was best for both Mom and Dad. We are praying that she will begin to feel better and that we will find a nursing home for Mom as soon as possible. We are all just taking it one day at a time. Unfortunately, Mark and Dad took Mom to the ER again on Sunday in hopes of figuring out what else could be going on. After spending the day there, they returned home with some meds.

While life got so busy, we tried to get some finishing touches to the boys room and hang some pictures that have been waiting to be hung in the living room for quite awhile. I love seeing things coming together. I also decided to clean Savannah's room up for her as well since I won't be redoing her room too soon. 

Sunday was my birthday and Kim along with the kids had a grand plan for an Amazing Race Birthday for me...they have been letting me know for quite a number of weeks that they had my birthday present and they weren't going to tell what it was. Road Blocks, Route Info and Detours...Today was THE day...Run the race...receive the prize. Mark missed the race as he was with his parents at the hospital but never fear, Savannah took plenty of video and Kim snapped pictures. It was a lot of fun and the grand prize was AWESOME!! We will be going to a Red Wings game in the near future...I was truly spoiled. I can't wait for the new upcoming season of the Amazing Race Birthday...Savannah is getting ready to race.

Unfortunately, Mom went back to the ER on Tuesday with a reaction to meds and was admitted for observation and hydration, with hopes of straightening out her medication and to get relief from the hives. Lots of visits have been made to the hospital to spend time with Mom and Dad. Mark took most of the week off to be at the hospital and to be available to help his parents when needed. So thankful for an employer who is very understanding. Kim was a great help as the two of us would head up to the hospital to help take care of Mom.

We tried to enjoy the time we had together when we weren't on the run. We especially enjoyed seeing Canada take Gold in the World Junior's Hockey Tournament. We also loved playing with Alex's new pet, Alvin, the hamster. It is often quite the job to wake him up, but we just want to play with him :)

We ended the first week with a snow day and you can tell there are a lot of kids over when the bowls and plates span the counter...Rowan enjoyed all the extra kids...9 kids and 2 adults...we had a good time.

Well Week 1 has been a bit exhausting. Hoping that Week 2 we see lots of improvement and that life will kind of settle back down into a little more of a normal routine.