My Day…(Guest Post)
Hey y’all this is me….
I’m mom’s 4 legged baby, and that’s funny because my name is Ms. baby. Mom is letting me post because I have had a day.
In my world, I eat, sleep, poop, and run after stuff. I get mom up every morning by kicking her legs while she sleeps, (it’s only fair, she kicks me when she sleeps, because I sleep at the end of the bed.)
Apparently Mom and Dad made an appointment for me a few weeks ago and today was the day. They did not however, tell me about it. Before I start in about that, I really need to let my displeasure known about how Dad took MY table away from me for some garage sale they are having at my 2 legged sister’s house. What the heck? That table is my life line to “my t.v.” which I guess is AKA the downstairs window. Now mind you, Dad did rig up some contraption and my box is still in front of the window, but it wobbles, and well after my visit today, I may be a little overweight, and, although I have 9 lives, I’m not using them trying to jump onto that thing.
That brings me back to today, I started my morning off normal, although mom did not leave when she was supposed to, but I didn’t care. She fed me and gave me treats this morning, and I was lounging in my usual spot. MY room. Hey if they can have a room , so can I. I have a bed with my special blanket on it and pillows too.
I thought it was a little odd, when Mom came in and started loving on me, and then she scooped me up into her arms. I’m used to her scooping me up, but she was whispering things to me and I got nervous. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, I noticed, she had her hand over my eyes, What the heck?
I don’t like my Mom right now. She set my happy fat butt into a Cat carrier and then SHE LOCKED THE DOOR. She picked me up and put me into that thing she loves ALMOST as much as me, and shut the door. By now, I am pissed and howling, like there is no tomorrow. Mom told me to hush and it wasn’t going to be bad, but HEY, where the heck is she taking me? The last time I was in this thing, I got shots and all kinds of other horrors. The Doctor looked up my butt, and EXCUSE me, but well…some things are private.
Mom played the radio, and jeez, do I really have to listen to her stuff? Put on some Stray Cats for goodness sake. I did notice what direction I was going in, so if she has planned to drop me off, I can find my way home.
That’s it, Mom’s a dead Mom when I get home. She brought me to that place called the Vets. I knew it as soon as she carried me in. The smell, I shut my mouth. They took me into a room and shut both doors and then Mom told me to come out. She’s my Mom, so I did, and when she wrapped her arms around me, I hid in her armpit. If I could have climbed into her shirt, I would have. I don’t like the Vet.
Pfft…I’m not sure why I worried, this was a walk in the park. I got weighed (yea, I may be a fat cat, but I’m a happy one). The Vet told Mom that I have big bones and while my legs may be short, I am still something to be reckoned with. I have not gained any weight, nor lost any weight, and I am a healthy fat cat. I got my shots, AND nobody looked at my butt. (Whew).
Momma took me home, and I had to show my displeasure over the whole experience, so I growled and snarled at her.
I’m over it, I had to show her how much I loved her tonite, and I did, AFTER she put my treats out.
It’s a good thing that I only do this once a year. But something tells me next year is gonna be a bunch worse, because I am now “classified” as a senior kitty, whatever that means. But after listening to Mom and Dad talk, I may get something from a place called AARP about a senior discount card, I hope it works for kitty treats, because I can never get enough of those…..
Life and Living…..
Can I tell ya’ll a secret? Can I tell you how much I am thankful for my life, and how I feel lucky? While I may be dealing with some “stuff”, and be moaning about how bad I have it, I really don’t. I still wake up every morning with a roof over my head, and food to fill my belly, and things that help me to do the “stuff” I do every day.
Today, was my “long” day with Momma. Due to increased gas prices, I decided that when I had to get her up and put her back to bed, I would just stay at the Farmer’s all day, and do what I have to do. Believe me, when I say, there is a bunch I do in that time, and ya know what? On my drive home today, I looked at something the Nurse bought me for Christmas, and I think I have truly gotten the message….
This hangs from my rearview mirror, and it has My birthstone, and the Farmer’s and Momma’s. It is engraved with Proverbs 31;25. “she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at her future to come.”.
When I first got it, I fell in love with it, although I did not understand it totally. Yea , everyone says how strong I am for doing what I do, but I didn’t understand it. You see, I thought everyone would do it for the people they love. Take care of them, and try to make the days better in the “ending” years.
But today, I learned something. I am strong in certain areas, because Momma has made me be that way. Maybe this is one of the lessons. Dont’ get me wrong, because God is helping me more than you all know.
Today was not a great day with Momma, it was with Cam-man, and he even gave his love to Momma in his own way. She sure perked up, when he was on the end of her bed giving her encouragement when she had her bath, and they had a “conversation about stuff”. I was going to say sorry, but I won’t, it was to cute for words.
Sometimes at the end of the day, I give Thanks, (well I always do that), but lately, I’ve been on the “dark side” of things and truly have questions about, why does Parkinson’s rob a person of so much and make them suffer so.
But then I stop and think to myself, “Camsgranny, has this experience tought you anything?”. And the answer to that, is oh my goodness. It has opened my eyes too much more than I ever thought possible. I have so much understanding of other people’s suffering, and I have more empathy than I ever thought possible, and also, It has brought an awareness to me, that if you had asked me 15 years ago, I would have felt all this, my answer would have been NO.
Parkinson’s Disease, has forever changed my life. I will no longer look at things the same. I can not explain it, I would not even try, but for me, this has given me a Life lesson, that maybe I should have learned earlier, but in the end, I like to think it has truly made me a better person, and given me more strength, than any person should have to find. I am still reaching deep to find it.
There as been spiritual growth, there has been heart breaking events, but I think it is all leading up to something, and I will deal with that too. It’s ok, especially, after putting Momma to bed tonite, she grabbed my hand, and simply stated, “I Love You Jo”.
That means the world to me, and then some.
Feelings….And Parkinson’s….
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our own stuff, that we forget about other people’s stuff.
I am Blessed, simply because I can take care of Momma on a daily basis. Do I sacrifice other parts of my life for this? Yes. At a cost to me? yes. At a cost to others? yes. Would I change it? No.
I know the saying goes, cherish what you have, because it may not be here tomorrow. I understand it, on so many levels.
Parkinson’s Disease, does not just affect the person who has it, but the entire family as well. To the husband, who diligently helps his wife, to the daughter, who tries to do what she can, to the Husband of the wife, who misses her, but semi understands what she is doing. To the heartbreak, and smiles, and to just being a part of it.
I didn’t sign up for this, but here it is. I didn’t ask for this, but here it is. I will deal with this, because here, it is.
While I try to do the best that I can, with what I know, I am like a sinking ship in the water. If I go this way, I’m gonna sink, if I go that way, I’m gonna sink. Wait, is there no floats available. Uhm….nope.
This evening, I am torn in about 300 different ways. I am trying so hard not to sink, and swim my way to shore, but guess what? While I think I am making progress, I’m not.
It’s ok, though, because, for me? There are lesson’s in this journey I am on. I’m still trying to find them, and I will, trust me. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I get thrown a curve ball. I’m on the catcher’s mound, and I will figure it out, it might take me a while, but I will. But seriously, while my family rebels, and my mind takes a nap, I’m still doing good.
God has picked me to go through this journey, and there is a reason for it, I am still trying to figure it out…..I haven’t yet, and am questioning a bunch of things through it.
To my Family….Please don’t give up on me, I’m here, but I am kind of like Momma at the moment and trying to find my way….
Yes, I may be consumed by this thing,. but instead of asking questions and being mad at it, why don’t you join me on this journey, and find out for yourself what it is all about? It is a Road less traveled, and one, not many people have the strength to go through,
I am Blessed that I have the strength to do it, and will go through it, because she is My MOMMA…..
Just another day…..
These past few days have been full, and I really haven’t had the chance to miss Cam-Man, because somehow, we have ended up with him. Don’t take that the wrong way either, we have enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve learned to adapt and change-up my schedule as needed. I’m kind of liking this “new” not known schedule.
Monday afternoon, we got a call from the kids, they wanted to borrow the truck to go pick something up, but they could not fit Cam-man into the truck with them. We told them to take the truck and leave little dude with us. Mind you, this was after I had a really bad day with Momma.
Cam man is learning to ride his Batmobile around the yard He has improved so much with his steering and his ability to stop and go. He was trying to run over Papa, and he was just so cute to watch, and made me giggle a bunch.
Now if you look, he had a very important item to him, in the back and that was the big ball he found, and it was riding shotgun. But, he could not figure out how to keep his “cup” on the back, so Papa helped him out and put it in his shirt. On the backside. Oh the giggles that happened….
This is one very proud little boy, who learned how to steer, stop and go, and just drive around the yard with “freedom”. He’s been working on this for a bit, and psst…it’s a good thing, because his Birthday is coming up and he is going to FLIP out when he sees what he’s getting.
Spending the evening with him was a blast. From writing on the sidewalk and showing Papa the game he and I made. He was so proud, it made me just smile. He finally got Papa to take his drink out of his shirt. And then headed for a bath, and some ice cream.
Fast forward to the next day, and after taking care of Momma, I went and scooped him up (I would have taken pictures, but, uhm…Camsgranny is a little NOT techno savvy and she killed the batteries on the camera the night before).
I took Cam-man to the Park and seriously giggled a bunch. Cam loves the park, and his Momma passed by us and she honked 3 times while going by, and Cam stopped and waved. He was thrilled to be there and ride the swing, go down the slide and made Camsgranny climb the slide backwards to allow him to skip the puddle and slide down. (Guess you had to be there to truly appreciate THAT statement).
We arrived home, and rode the Batmobile again, although, Cam’s Daddy surprised us and showed up early, but the Fisher Dude and I sat and watched Cam ride. The Fisher dude was a proud Daddy, while watching Cam ride through yard. We both cracked up after Cam stopped and “did an oil change and aired up his tires”.
The Electrician and the Fisher dude, put the “topper” back on the Electrician’s beloved S-10 truck, with Cam “helping” of course. We sent Cam and his Daddy on their way with some pulled pork BBQ that I had made (I cooked that stuff for 2 days and it was the BOMB). The Electrician and I settled down after 2 nights of Cam-Man in our house.
Today, with Momma was….a suprise, and a Blessing. Wherever she has been, she is back. The Farmer came in while I gave her a bath, and was talking to her. The Farmer cracked a joke, and while I would like to share it, it was of a risqué nature, so I won’t, but it sure brought a big old giggle to Momma.
Momma practically danced on her way out to the front room, and she was THERE. That made such a difference after the past couple of days. Sometimes this journey is a roller coaster ride, you never know whether to hold onto the side of your pants or just go with the flow.
I do know, that my journey is filled, and I’m loving every minute of it. I never know what’s going to happen, and my “daily routine” has been so switched up lately, I never know what to expect, but at the same token. I’m starting to think it’s a good thing.
I’m seriously tired of being sad, and I enjoy the giggles so much more. While life can throw you some curve balls, I do know that with positive attitude, and God’s grace, I am doing ok. It doesn’t hurt, though, I’ve got some guardian Angels, and they are holding my hand.
Crash and Burn and Relite….
This morning started out with a bunch of promise. While it is not the “usual Monday morning routine”, it started out with promise. I didn’t have Cam-man this morning, so I woke up at normal time, and did some stuff around the house, to help myself for when I got home. I am trying to stop neglecting the things I normally do and try to cover all of my bases.
After doing all the stuff, I do not normally do on a Monday morning, I headed out, to the Farmers. I felt a bit lonely, because I don’t have Cam-Man with me. Have I mentioned that I personally don’t like change, but that I can adapt?
I arrived at the Farmers and got put out immediately. Pfft, I am a back door daughter, and when I went to the back door, I could not open it. The screen door was locked and I don’t have a key to the back door. Well… to be truthful, I do, but I can’t tell which friggin key it is.
So, I went back around and entered into through the front door. The Farmer was happy to see me., but not happy, to have me tell him off ,for the back door not being open. immediately we both checked into the situation of ordering Momma‘s stuff through a certain facility and me, uhm yup, me, not putting in the right address to have it delivered.
It was last week when we ordered it, and I may or may not been in my right mind when I typed the address into the computer, but it was something we had to deal with. After calling and being put on hold for a ungoodness amount of minutes, we finally got through to a human and not a computer. After telling them the situation, and them assessing the situation, we were told it would be all good.
We had no sooner hung up the phone when the drive way bell went off. Guess what? One of our favorite trucks, (we have 2 that we use), anyway,hat’s off to these guys simply because, they know us. One of our favorite drivers backed into the driveway with Momma’s stuff and told us, he had looked at the name and said, “pfft, I know these people, I can deliver it” So THANK YOU to the Fed Ex driver that delivers Momma’s supplies. (some of them). He covered us, and just when we needed it most. (That’s a song isn’t it?) I seriously do not know where my head has been at lately.
After squaring everything away and putting stuff up, and talking to the Farmer, it was time to get Momma up. (To the Farmer, I am sorry for what I am about to say, but it HAS to be said).
Momma talked with me for the first 5 minutes, and then I am not sure where she went but she wasn’t with me. I gave Momma her bath and cleaned her up “she had an accident”, she was upset about it, but I told her it was okay, she was giggling by then end of it, but when it was time to get her up, she wasn’t there.
It took everything the Farmer and I had to get her to stand so I could “clean her up”. I went and got the wheel chair and we took her into the other room with the wheelchair. When it was time to put her into her chair, that was a friggin fiasco.
I gave Momma her Christmas goose and then some by trying to lift her up and trying to carry her into her chair. She had so many back spasms, and neck spasms, I don’t know what to tell you. It was HARD.
Momma has gotten so weak over the weekend, I don’t know where to start, I can’t even begin to tell you. When Momma was in her chair, and YES the Farmer and I got her there, I put a cold cloth on her neck, took her temp, and gave her a mouth swab.
Fast forward, and she was telling me how much she loved me and the Farmer, and she was sorry. I have a hard time with that. Sorry folks, Why the HECK should she be sorry? Her body is failing. I know this, so does the Farmer. I’m here to make it easier. Although with the Christmas Goose she got…hell I’d be happy…..just kiddin….
Fast forward, I left the Farmer’s house crying today, simply because I have never seen momma that frail. Somehow, it ended up with Cam-Man at my house for the evening,. I’m not quite sure how it happened, and I am not questioning why, I just went with it.
Cam Man and I and the electrician had a most wonderful evening, and I can’t even begin to describe it into words…
There is so much happening that I am trying to wrap my head around, and I just am having a hard time with….I’m not questioning anything, I am just going with the flow at this point…..
Saturday, my style….
When I woke up this morning, I was still “flaming” after last night. I decided I would take charge and take care of all of those things I have neglected lately. Sometimes, I just have too much on the calendar, to take care of those little day-to-day things.
So, my feet hit the floor running, and I started a load of laundry, slugged back a couple of cups of coffee and got busy. Camsgranny, cleaned the entire house and did 4 loads of laundry (sheets and bedding stuff included), flipped mattresses around, and FINALLY put winter clothes away and went through summer clothes.
Apparently, something happened over the winter and that “full-bodied shampoo” I use, floated on down my body when I was rinsing, and well….somethings from last year just don’t fit anymore. It’s the shampoo, trust me!
The Electrician is all in a flutter about holding a garage sale. Our town holds an annual Garage sale town wide, and the date is rapidly approaching. Now to be truthful, I don’t “do’ garage sales, and this is all his puppy. I have been following him around the house when he grabs something and says ‘Yes, we can sell this”, and I follow tucking it into a cupboard. I have given in to some things, but well… I could secretly be a hoarder and don’t know it.
With my house cleaned and shiny, and groceries (that the Electrician bought) put away, we headed out to the Nurse’s house for a BBQ. We had a great time, with most of the family there, and then the Electrician did not feel well so we both came home. After a 2 hour nap, we are back up and at it.
We did let Ms. Baby out, and let her hang out on the porch, but when we heard all kinds of birds chirping and going off, we went outside. Apparently, Ms. Baby was stalking a baby bird and had it pinned between her paws (she has no front claws), every bird within a 2 mile radius was dive bombing her butt, and we got her to come inside, and hopefully the baby bird has made his escape. While I feel bad for the baby bird, I understand Ms. Baby’s instincts. She was a little forlorn and gave us extra loving, because her Daddy yelled at her.
My schedule is about to change, as the Nurse is now out for summer break, and Cam Man and I won’t be spending everyday together. That kind of makes me sad. I had to laugh today though, because when we were pulling up at the Nurse’s house, Cam saw his “Papa’s truck” before we had even turned the corner and had already started running. His Auntie Boo grabbed him, and he was all smiles when we got there. Of course the first few minutes were spent with Cam loving on his Papa, and then it was ‘Will you play with me Jo?”. We played and Papa pulled his truck up so Cam could hang out on the tailgate of Papa’s truck. Cam looked at me and asked “Papa Dan, he ok?” My heart kind of melted. I told him “Papa Dan is ok”, then he asked about Momma, it was so cute how he said it to me. “Jo?”, “Yes?” “Your Momma, she ok too?”. “Yes, Cam, she is ok too”.
His and mine schedule is changing, and I think we miss each other a bunch more than we ever thought we would. When I stopped by his house yesterday, he was knee-deep in mud and water and having a blast helping his parents get their yard into shape, but when I was ready to go, he went up to the Rav4 and was ready to go. It broke my heart, I couldn’t take him with me. Today, was another of the same story. When Papa and I had to leave, I had a little talk with him, and told him we were going home, and he had to stay and play with all the kids at his house, and to be a “big boy” and give us hugs and kisses and go play.
It worked, until we were in the truck and ready to go and then all hell broke loose, he came running and screaming up to the truck and clung to me, and said, “NO, I go with you and Papa”. Uncle Nate came and got him, and when we drove away Grandma Sue had him and he was waving with tears in his eyes.
What a Saturday…….I’ve also been helping a friend of mine with her journey with Parkinson’s, and trying to find ways for her to succeed in what she is doing. It’s a work in process, and still ongoing, but I will help, in any way I can.
While my mind is going 1000 miles an hour, and you can probably tell by this post, Welcome to my Saturday, Camgranny’s style….
Sidetracked and Smacked!!! A Caregiver’s story….
While I have been living life ( by the seat of my pants) , lately. I have had so many Good days, that I kind of forgot about the bad ones. Things have been so jam-packed full of adventure lately, in other areas of my life, that I have kind of pushed all those PD feelings to the background, and really have not thought about them much.
Can I just say, while others of you are shaking your head, and saying “That’s not a healthy approach to the situation”, it HAD been working for me. Up until today. I’ve been busy folks, between this and that, I haven’t really had time to do things that I normally do. I found a little time out of my day today to realize, Sometimes when I am the happiest, is when I am not focusing on Momma and the PD.
Ok, I said it. Blast me for being an ungrateful daughter, but I have learned some lessons with this thing called Parkinson’s. Momma has it, I don’t. There I said it. I feel guilty when I have so much joy in my life, and then I come back to Momma, because with Momma, there is no joy. Yes, there are certain moments that amount to it, but they are few and far between.
Somewhere along the line, I got so caught up in Momma’s Parkinson‘s, that I forgot to truly enjoy life and all of its Blessings. I was so worried about, how she was feeling, what she is dealing with, has she “pooped” today, does she have a temperature, why is she doing “x, y, z”, is she going to die? That I stopped living for myself, and focused my whole being on her. THAT is not healthy, for me, nor anyone around me.
What I have learned in the last few days (THANK YOU Cam-Man), is life does go on, no matter what. Life doesn’t stop because Momma is having a bad day, I have learned to deal with it, and adjust, whatever I can to make her feel better.
Parkinson’s is a crazy disease, that a bunch of people are affected with. It is different from one person to the next, there is no cure. period. What I Have learned, is we make do with what we have and what we know, and if we don’t know, then we fly by the seat of our pants.
Momma, has actually had some really good days lately. We have new issues that we deal with daily, But ya know what? If I go back to that saying, “God will never give me more than I can handle”, and goodness knows I can lift a semi truck by myself at this time, it’s ok. I’m not on this road alone, I have a BUNCH of peeps at my side, who will help me IF I need it.
Sometimes as Caregivers, we get lost in the giving of care. It is SO important, to remember, YOU are an individual, who is dealing with the “disease” as well, maybe not as intense as the person who has it, but you still give care. I lost myself for a while, but guess what? I’M back……
The road is bumpy and filled with pot holes, you just have to learn how to manuever through them. It is so easy to get caught up with the “drama” and the feelings, but you truly have to look at your own feelings through this journey, and trust me when I say journey, because it is.
I’ve learned so much, and given so much, and received so much. Words could not even begin to describe it. I’ve learned some very hard lessons for me lately. They were a long time in coming, but I’ve learned them. I’ve always told y’all that I was on this journey for a reason, I’m just starting to figure it out.
Today was a very good day, in all aspects of it, and I told the Electrician this, and then went on to say something else, but he cut me off, because he told me, “Quit looking for trouble, accept what you have and go with it, because if you say something silly, it will happen”. He’s right.
I’m sorry but a song just popped in to my head, and call me silly if you want to but it is Doris Day singing ‘Que Serra Serra…”.
Life is good at Camsgranny’s house. I won’t say anymore.
Through his eyes…..
I’ve spent a bunch of time lately with my little dude. His name is Cam-man.
This little dude is about to turn 3. He is full of questions, LOVES all things boyish, John Deere tractors, bugs, OUTSIDE, nature, and just plain everything.
He shows so much compassion at the age of “almost 3′, that truly triggers my heart.
He loves the Farmer, and the Farmer thinks it’s because of the “Big toys” he has. Cam-Man has fallen in love DEEPLY with tractors. Not sure why, but so it goes.
I can’t tell you, over the past couple of days, Cam-man has been at the Farmer’s and all’s he truly wanted was to be outside. So, with the weather cooperating, we’ve been outside. Cam has learned how to plant a plant, tomatoes, and green peppers, and played with the dirt, and ran from one end of the Farmer’s property to the other. He did have to stop halfway and say, “WOW“. He got truly excited when we passed by the fields that all of the Farmers are out planting right now. He counted the amount of tractors we have seen, and was trying to count the fingers. On the way home today, he gave up and fell asleep at 15.
When people ask me, how I deal with everything I deal with, I simply say look at this picture,
Because truly a picture is worth 1000 words.
Whenever I see Cam and Momma together, it makes my heart burst. This little dude has had a hard time recognizing who I am, much less the people I bring him to. I have since been renamed, to “Jo” simply because that is what his Momma calls me and he feels comfortable with this. He knows my Dad is his “Papa Dan” and my Mom is ‘Grandma Jo’s Momma”.
When I truly sit down and think about it, he is teaching me things. It must be confusing for a kid, to have THAT many Grandparents’s, but Cam’s dealing with it in his own way. He tell’s me every morning, ‘We going to Papa Dan’s?” “Yes, Cam we are, and we have to take care of Grandma Annie ok?” “She’s your Mom right?” “Yes, Cam that’s my Momma ok?” “Yup”.
Cam is the light of Momma, from him telling her to “poo on the potty and NOT in her pants” cracks me up. Dude listen to your own advice ok? Cam-Man stands at the front of Momma’s bed everyday when I give her a bath, and her and Cam carry on like nothing, talking back and forth, it makes me giggle.
But what I have truly realized, between the banter they carry on, they are both helping each other in a way. Whenever it is time for Momma to take those steps into the other room, Cam sits on her walker, and gives her encouragement the whole way. he tells her “put your foot down” to “breathe, we are almost there”.
Who knew an almost 3-year-old had that kind of power, especially when his main love is “Buzz light year, and John Deere tractors?”
I’ve said this from the beginning and I will say it forever, the “new” and the “old” have so much in commen, now if they could both just poo on the potty I would be so much happier…..
Seriously, where has the time gone?
The past few weeks for me have passed in a whirlwind. Birthdays, parties, eating out, day-to-day living. Whew. I made it. For a bit there, I wasn’t sure I would. Luckily, there isn’t another birthday for about a month, when you have 4 Birthdays, and an anniversary all within the space of the month of April and first week of May, well, it can be a little over whelming.
We started out with Momma‘s birthday, then it was the Farmer and Momma’s 32nd wedding anniversary. While it is hard to celebrate, simply because, I could not bring a cake, nor could I really give her presents, I did what I could, and brought flowers (which she loves) and an anniversary balloon (that Cam has totally had a blast with).
The next event was the Fisher Dude’s 30th birthday, his lovely wife (the Nurse) had planned a surprise party for him at Red Lobster, and about 35 + people were there. He did not have a clue, and was totally shocked.
Mind you, the Nurse had planned this about 2 months ago, and we were all in on it.
The cover story was he was meeting the Electrician and I, and we were buying him dinner. I so wish we would have gotten a picture of his face when he realized it was a party for him, because his jaw literally hit the floor.
It was such a good time, and with a bunch of friends, it was a very memorable time.
I think a good time was had by all, and it was mentioned that how would the Fisher dude “top” that as the Nurse’s birthday is 2 weeks after his. They both turned 30 this year. While he may not have “topped” his birthday surprise, he did pull off a party for the Nurse.
We all met, the family, at Monical’s pizza, and all of us, including the Nurse had a bunch of giggles. We were not the only one’s they’re celebrating birthdays, either. Apparently the other “big” party in the place was for a Grandmother’s birthday. As they were leaving, this was after the waiter brought out the cake the Fisher dude had the Electrician and I, get there early to set up everything. The Birthday girl came over to the Nurse and whispered into her ear, and then the Nurse busted up laughing, and then told us, what was said. The other Birthday “girl” (I think it was her 70th birthday), asked the Nurse, “Do you know why Tigger looked into the toilet?” The Nurse shook her head, and then heard “To look for Pooh”.
This was Cam-Man’s card to his Momma, I had posted a note to the Nurse on Facebook with Cam-Man holding this, and I think the Nurse liked it, especially, when he gave it to her.
Pizza, beer, family, Good times….Carrott Cake, call it winner, winner, pizza dinner. I think I ate enough pizza to fill me for the rest of the year.
While the past few weeks have been like a fart in a whirlwind, I loved each and every moment of it, I would not trade it for anything.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and I will celebrate that too. So there will be more pictures, and happy times, Folks, have you ever just wished time could stop, so you could soak up all of your Blessings?
I truly don’t mean to brag to anyone, but I am so thankful, I have so many Blessings, simply because not all areas of my life are this happy. But I do try to find the Blessings and the happiness whenever I can. Luckily for me, I feel well and truly Blessed.
Attitude, and then some….
I have noticed lately, that Momma has some “tude“. Some of it is good, some, not so good. While I understand, that Momma is not “Momma” in a sense, we are trying to find a balance that works.
To the Farmer, before I get into this, I’m sorry if I have “broken” our code, but sometimes, you need to share with other’s, things that you are dealing with, for other’s that are dealing with this thing called Parkinson’s.
I’ve been reluctant to talk about it, because we are dealing with “new things”, and we are still trying to find our own way through this thing called Parkinson’s. But I had kind of moment today, call it frustration, call it AHA, call it, someone please explain this to me, or just one of those over all moments, when you facepalm your head and say, What the Heck.
I have to back up the trolley for a second and let you all in on yesterday. We changed up Momma’s schedule yesterday, and while we thought it would not make a difference, it did. We got Momma up an hour earlier than usual, and put her to bed earlier than usual. It wasn’t a major problem, other than we had to use the wheelchair all day yesterday. Yes, I lifted Momma myself ( my back will tell you I did) (Something about a little 4’11″ roughly 115lb girl lifting her 5’7″ 138lb Momma). Momma did not walk yesterday, she tried, but it wasn’t gonna happen. Momma had a good day of sleep yesterday.
Today, Cam-man and I went in and visited with Momma a few times before we got her up. Imagine my surprise when I went into give her, her meds, and I told her “Good Morning Sunshine girl, how is my Momma today?”, she replied with “Good Morning darling, not to bad.”. All the while Cam-Man is pointing to Momma and asking me, That’s your Momma Jo?” Yes, Cam-Man it is. He smiled and grabbed her hand and then carried on a conversation with Momma, to which only he and her understood, because I was looking at both of them like “Uh, what????”.
When it came time to get Momma up, she was full of giggles and “back to normal”, after her bath, the Farmer was on the phone with one of his buddies from a long time ago, and it was one of those “Oh Shit” conversations. (plain english, one of his and momma’s friends had died)
Since the Farmer was on the phone, I decided not to disturb him, and put Momma on her porta potty by myself. While it may have taken me 2 tries, we did it. Momma latched onto me like I was the last person on earth. Cam-Man was there telling Momma, “You do it with Jo okay?”.
When the Farmer arrived, Cam-Man and Momma and me were giggling over our attempts, but when she heard the news of her friend passing, she withdrew, completely. From there it was a very hard attempt by Momma to WALK into the other room with all of our help.
MY Momma is in there, trust me, I know this. While Parkinson’s does what ever it does, she’s in there. Today, was a rare glimpse into that. I saw her fight to walk, even after I had asked her about the wheelchair, and she looked at me with spit drooling out of her mouth, because she cannot swallow I gave her a cloth and she spit it out, and told me, I WILL WALK into the other room. And folks, she did.
Wherever her mind is at, I don’t know. She see’s things that are not there, she HURTS everywhere, and sleeps probably 22 hours out of a 24 hour day. But that hour or so she is awake, sometimes is hell on wheels.
Cam-Man summed it up today, when we left the Farmer’s house. I always tell him to give the Farmer and Momma loving before we leave. Today, Momma was not quite herself, but Cam-man gave the Farmer a hug and a kiss and told him, I’ll be back. Then went up to Momma and grabbed her hand and kissed it, and looked into her eyes, and said, “I Wove you, I’ll be back, be here ok?”
After reading this, it might sound pathetic, but ya know what? It’s Parkinson’s, and we are dealing with it. We are fighters here, and even Momma is still fighting. I can only hope I can show the grace, love and dignity, when this disease robs you of all it. Momma still has all of those.
