Ok - It can stop raining!

Picture of mom eating birthday cake and ice cream with her great grandson, Axton, who turned 2 today. (Bree's little guy)

I'm getting a better understanding of the ole saying . . . when it rains, it pours . . . lucky me, I have just come down with bronchitis! I am miserable! I did know the signs (I've had it 3 times this year already) so I got right in to the doctor and I am on a pretty strong antibiotic right now and an inhaler. I hate everyone else being able to hear my every breath!

Mom is having a really rough day today. She woke up in pain and has been crying all morning. She normally doesn't have any pain, a headache from time to time but now that her left side of the body is not functioning, her arm is like dead weight that just hangs and that is where the pain is coming from this morning. We have it in a sling but apparently it's not enough to take the pressure off. Once the pain is out of control - it's pretty hard to get it back under control. Reminds me of another saying . . . once the horse is out of the barn, it's pretty hard to get it back in.

I see little signs here and there that mom is starting to withdraw socially. She welcomes visitors but the phone conversations are getting harder and harder on her. She has to concentrate on keeping the phone up to her ear and I sense she gets lost in the conversation as well. There are times she is talking but can't hear and then I notice the phone has slipped down to her lap or she will be on the phone and start a new conversation with someone in the house forgetting she's on the phone.

Mom's eyes aren't tracking too well either. Playing Hand and Foot is getting increasingly harder for her. She loves the game and so we continue to play it with her but she needs another set of eyeballs from time to time.

Mom is cat napping throughout the day. I find that TV bores her and she can't read so if there is not much going on to keep her attention, she naps.

My daughter, Breonne, has been here to help me these last 2 1/2 weeks, she goes home tomorrow and I don't know what I will do without her! She has been a saving grace for me - helping a ton with mom and just keeping my house running - dinner on the table and the dishes all done up, laundry, everything and anything, and she's been a comfort for dad as well. She's been a real trouper - thanks honey!

My brother, Larry, is here from Denver visiting mom this week - I'm glad he has come to see her and to help out.