When I first started this blog my posts were well…on the darker side. After reading one of my blog posts mom had a talk with me and told me she didn’t want all of this to turn me into a bitter person. She encouraged me to try to end my blogs on a positive note and that’s what I started to do.

I think that’s why I struggle to write lately. All of this is pretty dark. The nurse came by today and explained what we can expect as things move forward. Basically everything that’s happening now weakness, lack of appetite, sleeping and confusion will all continue to get worse along with some other things to look out for.

And as my heart is breaking I think of something Julian said to me a few weeks ago. We were watching TV and a commercial came on for Disney World and he said he wanted to go and I told him it would be a while before we go again (this was pre everything shutting down). I said the trip in January was Mimi’s last trip. He informed me that it was not. I started to explain why it was. He told me he knew all that. But that it wasn’t her last trip because in heaven you can go where ever you want. So Mimi would see Disney again when she goes to heaven. And then he pointed to his heart and my heart and told me she will always be right in there.

I’m thankful for all the trips we’ve taken with her. I’m thankful that Julian finds magic in even the darkest of times. I’m thankful for my brother and sister and my mom and dad. And I’m thankful for all of you. 💜

Mom has continued to decline and today her nurse confirmed what we suspected which was that she was progressing quickly. I want to say more but I just can’t find the words. So I will end it here. Thank you to all of you for your love and support. It means so much. 💜

Our fierce leader has returned home. Mom spent about 24 hours at hospice house and decided she preferred to be at home in her own bed. The medication they gave her to regulate her bowels was rough and it made her pretty miserable.

Today we met with her regular at home hospice nurse and she brought along a doctor to evaluate mom. The medication and bowel plan they have put in place is something we all agree on.

It’s a tough situation because not only is mom dying but her GI system is pretty messed up. She has celiac disease, parts of her bowel were resected during her 2016 surgery as well as parts of her colon. Also the cancer lies with her intestines which puts her at risk for a bowel obstruction. So she’s either going too much or not at all. Which leaves her exhausted.

Thank you all for all of your thoughts and prayers. We truly do appreciate it. We are so grateful to have mom at home 💜

Mom was admitted to hospice house today. Her at home hospice nurse came this morning for her weekly visit and felt it would be best for mom to be admitted to hospice house to straighten out her bowels. They will reevaluate her in a couple days after trying some different medications and determine whether she can return home.

How’s mom? Mom doesn’t eat much and she rests a lot and doesn’t have much energy.  Sometimes she says ridiculous things like she said “goo” instead of “honey” when replying to one of my texts.  So now to make us laugh she will respond “ok goo” or “love you goo”.  We have a schedule going and work like the best dysfunctional functional machine.  Whoever stays with her has the responsibility of responding to the barrage of text messages from the other 3 of us stuck at work that day.  Needing to know How she is? Has she eaten? Is she resting? Is she in any pain?

We are all scared and watching her like this is heartbreaking.  I know she’s dying but idea of walking into that house one day and not seeing her sitting on the couch is unfathomable.

People are good and kind.  We have been shown so much love via flowers, texts, cards, food and occasional visitors when mom feels up to it. Saturday we had a visit with a couple of our childhood friends, more than friends, more like sisters.  I mean they’ve known mom almost as long as we have.  They stopped by and it was good and it was sad.  We watched embarrassing childhood videos and laughed at ourselves and mom laughed at us too.  And for a moment we were taken back to a simpler time where our biggest problem was what choreography we were going to attempt.  Mine was a lot of arm waving.  I have zero coordination.

I feel like a zombie and I’m sad and scared but I also have a deep appreciation for the friends and family that have been lifting us up and love us and love mom.

So thank you.  Thank you to every single one of you.  This all sucks but your love and support makes it suck a bit less.