What a lady!

This photo is for my family and friends. I took it of my Mom in front of the Sunnyvale Care Home where she is staying for a while until she recovers from her fall. This was the second day and she was still not sure that she wanted to be here, but she smiled for the camera. That's our Mom: The lady was dressed, had her makeup on ( and lipstick ), wanted to sit outside and she told me to be sure that the door to the garage, at home, was open for the cat. "Be sure you make a bed for Honey on top of the dryer and keep her bowl filled with kibble." What a lady!

Mom's journey

There is a point in life when you realize that things are not going to stay the same forever. When my mother fell two weeks ago I thought, as before, that she would need some help for a while and then she would be all right. I was wrong.
This is the Rhaphiolepis bush that broke her fall when she tripped on the crack in the concrete porch . She was watering the plants and went outside with her cane instead of her walker. She fell into the bush and that is what saved her from more life threatening injuries. She suffered a couple of brused ribs, scrapes, cuts and lots of damage to her joints. She was and is in a lot of pain.
After spending a week taking care of her, I realized that she was not able to take care of herself, at home, even with the Elder Care help. She couldn't get in and out of bed, test her blood sugar, take her insulin, bath or sort her medications without help. She needed care 24/7.
So, my sister and I , with the help of the wonderful ladies at Elder Care, decided to have a quiet intervention with Mom and see if we could convience her that a few weeks in a nursing care facility would really help her. Surprisingly, she agreed and so last Thursday we drove her over to the care home that my Dad had been in; where she knew the people and liked all of them a lot; a small home with only 4 other ladies and a garden.
The first couple of days were hard for her. She missed the house and her cat. She didn't like the food and the other ladies living there didn't talk. This was the biggest adjustment of her life.

Our mother is like this old oak tree in her backyard; Many years ago a bird or squirrel drop an acorn near the patio and it grew into this beautiful Oak tree that shades the whole yard now. It's a safe haven for the animals and birds that come into the backyard. It's strong and it's a survivor just like Mom.










The house waits, quietly, for her to come back. Promises have been made that I hope my sister and I can keep. We will take each day as it comes and hope for the best. She is in a safe place right now and she has adjusted well this week.
The journey is not over. We are learning how to be strong and accept what is..., and I know that my sister and I will do this well because we are branches of that old Oak tree and Mom, and God, gave us what we need to "Walk her Home."

Apology

I'm so sorry for the rant below. I think there was some tension left from the last two weeks and I did loose a "post" about my Mom that meant a lot to me. I took a cold shower and a long walk. I don't feel that much better but I will. I will try to re-write the post tomarrow.

Screaming Mad

I just wrote a long post with photos and Blogger didn't auto save or publish it. I lost it all. Something is wrong with Blogger, Blog this, or my computer. I'll try again tomarrow because I'm so mad I can hardly write.