Friends, Well, dang. It is no longer Thursday or Friday. But I am hoping to get my Thankful Thursday 01.2020 post written right now before it isn’t even Saturday anymore. Had the best of intentions to link up promptly with Rebecca Jo for her gratitude series but then LIFE, in all caps, bit my behind good this week. I am most thankful that today is a better day than yesterday.
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Thankful Thursday 01.2020
Have to be honest, there were a few nights recently where I turned my back on my gratitude journal. Although I always have so much to be thankful for, those evenings I didn’t have a very grateful heart. And didn’t feel like concentrating hard enough to think of something I was thankful for. Shameful, I know.
Here are some of the things I did give gratitude for in my “Good Days Start With Gratitude” journal…or in my case, end with gratitude. I always complete my gratitude journal before going to sleep.
- Skyping and laughing with my sister Valerie
- PC helping me around the house
- Spending time with both of my daughters, Brennyn and Lauren, and their daughters, Cady and Lucia
- Money in my bank account even after Christmas
- Sunshine
- A day at home alone
- My nephew Trey’s graduation from Basic Training
- Camila was born healthy and Lauren is doing well after her C-section
- My Prince has a new job to start
- Sharon, my BFF
- Looking forward to this year’s opportunities
- Cady called me
- Finding Smile at the public library to read on Skype with Cady
- Rain
- Our kittens
- PC has been so good to help me help Lauren and Francisco
- Lauren’s ❤️ problems were addressed by her cardiologist
- Our country
- Soldiers and their families
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message
- Breakfast with Lorena
- Money to buy groceries
- Concierge service at Lafayette to replace mom’s Senior Helpers who are going away
- My brother Kevin and all he does to help my mom
So blessed. Every. Single. Day. Even when I am too stressed to think about it. Probably more so then!
Mom
My sweet mother is 92 years old and will be 93 next month. I have shared some of the struggles we have faced in caring for mom in past posts, here and here. This week, my mom’s health care providers are changing and she has been very upset about the change. As the date neared for the new health care program to begin, mom began having trouble talking. She couldn’t complete sentences or even thoughts. And struggled finding or saying, actually speaking some of the words she wanted to say. I went to bed very concerned about her Thursday night and awoke Friday to text messages from my brother saying she was worse.
We are never sure with mom if her issues are psychiatric/psychological or physical. She wanted to go to the hospital even though Kevin had taken her to the urgent care clinic on Wednesday and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Between the 3 of us kids, we decided he should take her or have EMS take her by ambulance to the only emergency room where there is psychiatric help available. We didn’t know if she was having a breakdown or a stroke.
After a number of tests, including one to determine the presence of a UTI, which we learned this time last year can cause a number of symptoms including confusion. Nothing showed up anywhere. And then, the results of a CT scan showed our mother has experienced sudden and very advanced atrophy to her brain. The ER doctor was not an expert on dementia but said it could have been brought on by our mother’s reaction to the change in health care providers. She was so upset, so stressed over the changes that it caused memory loss and atrophy. You can learn more here.
Assisted Living, Personal Care or Memory Care
The ER doctor released mom and she is home. And we are scrambling to figure out what comes next. Mom is living in a retirement community with several hours of help a day as offered first by a private entity and now by the complex where she lives. But yesterday, at the ER she didn’t know where she was, didn’t know my brother’s name. It is time to start looking for more advanced care for mom.
We hate to move her…again…but her current complex doesn’t offer the care she is probably going to need. If not immediately, very shortly. My brother Kevin has been so good to drop everything and run when mom calls but we are heading into uncharted waters. He may not be able to handle the types of situations we may soon be facing. We are learning about the differences in assisted living and personal care and memory care. Kevin has been out today looking to find the best place for mom.
Wish us luck.
YOUR TURN
So, what things have you thanking your lucky stars this month? What blessings are you counting? Please share in a comment below and let me know what you are grateful for. Then run by to say hi to my pal, Rebecca.
Excited about crossing some things off my winter bucket list tonight!! Going to have some fun out and about with my PC. Hope you enjoy your weekend, too.
Hugs and kisses,
Sending warm hugs to you and your mom!
Thank you for the warm hugs. We both need them right now.
Lots to be thankful for.
Yes, I am very grateful for my life of blessings.
Catherine says
I know how stressful this must all be for you as we had to find suitable assisted living for my Mum when my Dad died 18 months ago. She is now nearly 89. It took nearly 6 months to find her a flat in a retirement complex and I am very aware that although she is managing now the situation is always on a knife edge for the elderly. I am thankful that for the moment she is happy and settled.
You are doing all that is humanly possible for your Mom. I hope you and your brother find the right place soon and she is able to settle with new care.
Thank you so much for your supportive comment. I keep hearing that we are the sandwich generation - responsible for still raising our kids and also caring for our aged parents. My daughters are completely raised but I still worry about them some. But my mom has been one of my greatest worries. Everyday. I am glad you have your mom settled for now. Hope she thrives in her new flat.
Deb says
Oh Leslie, this is exactly what is happening with my mother in law, so I can honestly say that I know what you are going through. It is so sad to watch and notice such a fast deterioration isn’t it? It will be best for everyone if she can be somewhere with 24 hour care. I know it is a big, hard decision to make but it will take the pressure off your brother and yourself.
Thank goodness the younger generation is giving you much to be thankful for and to take your mind off what is going on with your mum. Take care x
Kellyann Rohr says
I do have so many things to be thankful for and while I try t remind myself of them often it it a great idea to list them out and get them on paper!
Feeling for y’all with your sweet mom. I cannot believe the brain can atrophy so suddenly! My MIL has Alzheimer’s and my husband is in charge of her care. It is so difficult. She is in a memory care until at an Assisted Living Facility but in the last 6 months she has fell and broken a hip, been in and out of the hospital for so many different reasons that have been had to diagnose because she cannot communicate. It’s so heartbreaking and frustrating.
Anyway, all this to say, I am thinking of your family!
xo,
Kellyann
Juhli says
I’m also so glad you have the joys of family, friends and PC’s new job to balance out the changes your Mom is going through. It does sound like she needs to be in a memory care unit but perhaps also an evaluation by a dementia expert will shed more light on exactly the care she needs and a definitive diagnosis. Take care of yourself every day.
I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. I know she’s been through a lot, but you’re all doing your best to take care of her. I hope you can find a better place for her to live that will get her the help she needs.
I love all the things you were grateful for this past month though - it’s so great that you read to your granddaughter over Skype!
-Lauren
Dara says
So sorry about the complications with your mom. I hope you can figure it all out. It’s so hard! I love your list of gratitude as well!
Its always better late than never - especially when it comes to gratitude 🙂
OH man, i’ve heard of UTI’s causing all sorts of CRAZY things… how it messes with the mind is so bizarre to me.
Money in the account after Christmas - that’s a huge one!!! I need to get my finances back on track
I had no idea brain atrophy could happen so sudden, but nothing surprises me anymore! I will keep your mom in my prayers. It is so hard when our parents aren’t well and I agree, it causes anxiety and sleepless nights! Not fun! But, hang tight and just do what you can do… your brother is so sweet to care so much for her.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com