Below, big sister, little brother. So precious!
Below, little Andy is about 11 months old here, and Diana is almost three. "Daddy's Little Firecracker" has a birthday coming up on Saturday. Happy Birthday a little early, big sister. : )
Nothin' to write home about on this Wednesday, last week. This mirror hangs in my mom's livingroom. She told me that when the air conditioning comes on, that the mirror rocks just a bit on the wall and that she would like to find a solution.
Packing peanuts to the rescue. Hee-hee! I just happened to bring some packages with me on this day to get ready for the Post Office, so...the rest is history! Problem solved.
Yet another blood test to check Mom's iron and a couple of other things.
Always the good sport.
Well, there are big changes on the horizon for my mom. She had a little tumble (nothing too serious) in her apartment last week. Because of that and several other factors, my mom will be moving into a residential Home Care facility two houses down from my sister, who lives here locally by me. It will still only take me about 10 minutes to get over there. Mom's five children have known this was coming for some time now. We've been in conference with each other all week about the issue. She will live with four other elderly women in a beautiful, clean, organized home run by a wonderful Asian couple. If I could enlist your prayers that things will go smoothly this week, it would mean very much to our family. I have not shared that my mother has Alzheimer's yet, because......I guess for lots of reasons. It hurts to even think about it. And it's not extremely bad yet, but we have watched it slowly progress over the last year and a half.
My Wednesdays With Mom will continue as before, with pix of what we do on those days. Thank you so much for your loving comments and interest in our sweet mom!
Mary Lou
39 comments:
I got chills and teary eyed when I read that your Mom has the beginnings of Alzheimer's. I am so very sorry for her and for you, too. Your family is definitely in my prayers!!!
Good luck with your Mom's move. My prayers will be with you. I know its been a hard decision. I hope all goes well and she understands why it needs to happen.
Gosh ML, I'm incredibly sorry about your mom's Alzheimer's. I do understand progressive/terminal diseases though, as my mom has one that is robbing her of motor control. I'll keep you all in my prayers. What's your mom's first name? I'll put her out on the big prayer list so others can join us in prayer. If you need to vent, email me. I really do understand how it is to watch someone fade. I was in denial for a long time.
Hi Mary Lou,
Your mom is a classy woman. I love the purse she is carrying on her wedding.
I'm glad to hear you have siblings that help you with decisions on your mom. That you guys can be there for each other and for her.
I will keep your precious mom and family in my prayers.
Robin~♥
Having been trough this very thing with my beloved Mother-in law before she died, I recognized this from your Mom's pictures and things you've described. I would very much like to write to you Mary Lou and share some information. My email address is on my profile page of my blog. You will all be in my prayers as you take this next big step. Your love for your Mother and the rest of your family is so evident in your writing and I admire you so much for that. Your sibs sound remarkable, too. I have always loved the Wednesdays with My Mom entries. She is a beautiful woman-inside and out!
I love your old family pictures ~ there's something extra special about those old black & whites! And what precious memories!
Your solution for the mirror was a good one! How funny that you happened to have packing peanuts with you!
I count it a privilege to keep you and your mom in my prayers. What a blessing to have her nearer to you ~ I hope that makes the transistion a bit easier for each of you. I'll be praying that it's an easy adjustment for your sweet mother...and all of her family too!
I will pray that things go well with your Moms transition into her new home. I know it will be a whole lot off of your minds to know that she is in a safe environment.
Happy 4th of July.
Joyce
Oh, I am sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's. My grandmother lived with it for more than 8 years and sometimes it was a blessing and sometimes it was a curse. Hope everythign goes smoothly for you! Jenny
I am so sorry for this hard new development but am so thankful for such a blessing as a wonderful new place for her to live. Kelly
Mary Lou- I am loving your Wednesday with Mom. The old pictures are special- beyond words! And the pictures you are taking now are truly special, too. I will be praying for your Mom. I love how you and your siblings love and care so much for her. You are all so blessed!:) Lori
Mary Lou - of course I will be praying that your mom's move will go smoothly. I know it will be hard for her to give up her little home. I love how you share who she is and was. I love how you always solve whatever little problems she has around her house. You are a wonderful daughter! I'm so glad you shared about your mother having Alzheimer's with your blog friends.
Those are beautiful pictures as always. I am so sorry about the beginning stages of Alzheimers. My grandmother had that disease and it IS a very hard one to watch. I am so glad the five of you children are in contact and taking such great care of your Mother. It sounds like she will be in a wonderful facility and hopefully, she will become great friends with the others that live there. I will keep all of you in my prayers.
Your parents make a lovely couple. I envy that time.
My Mother was a young girl in the 40's and when I was little I use to love looking at her pics. She seemed to always be dressed up.
Can't say that about myself. Only wear a dress on speical occasions.
Willow
Lots of prayers for GG this week. Thank you for always being so good to her!
Mary Lou!
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this special time in your life. My dear Mother-in-Law, Pearl, God rest her soul had Alzheimers. It is a horrible disease. The one thing Tony and I learned is to never take a day for granted. When she went to the home, we wrote the names of all of us on the back of the pics in her room, and that way when someone talked to her they constantly reminded her of the names of people. She always remembered voices and she loved to have us come and read. You will learn to be the care giver again, instead of her taking care of you. Remember to take baby steps, one day at a time. Don't look down the road, just stay right on the block. I will be praying for all of you. Thanks for stopping by. I am here anytime you need to talk. "Country Hugs", Sherry
That's so terrible. That is one disease that hurts others as much as it hurts the person afflicted with it.
I hope the move goes well for all of you, and I'm sending a prayer up right now.
I love your brother and sister's pic by the way.
Macey
HI M.L.!!!!!
Did you change up your 4th display, something about it looks different to me???
Maybe the flag deco. on the bottom???
I also love the stars on the wall behind, that also looks new to me!! There are so many wonderful things to look at I might have missed it. Your Mom's wedding photo is beautiful and what a sweet tribute you do for her and us every Wednesday. I'm so sorry to hear about her in the early stages of Alzheimer's, that is so sad, it robs them of so many sweet memories. My Grandmother and my husband's Grandmother had dimentia really bad, so hopefully both of us don't end up with it. I think the group home will be great for her, someone to talk and interact with every single day. Have a great day today with Mom
love,
jamie
I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, I will keep her in my prayers...I know it's hard to see something like this happen to a family member, please know that you have friends in blogland that are there for you...hugs, Jennifer : )
I'll be thinking of you this week. It's never easy to watch a parent going downhill. You're parents were such a cute couple and I enjoy seeing thier pictures. All you can do is make the most of each day with her and I think you're doing that now.
I hope GG's move is a help to everyone, especially GG. We love her and wish we could come visit her more often like you do. Thanks for your weekly updates!
sure do miss you!
My prayers will be with your mother and you all. I am sure that was not an easy decision, but the best for her at this time as well. I always enjoy stopping by and reading your visits with your mom. Thank you for alway sharing.
Hugs to you,
~Victoria~
It can be hard making a big move like this for your mom, but think- now she will have some girl friends to hang out with every day! My grandma goes to a center and loves the friends and attention she gets there! hehe:)
Stay strong and things will be alright!
Dear Mary Lou,
I know something of what you are going through. It's tough, and I will pray for you and your family, and your mom, as things change this week. I'm glad you all have found a good living situation for her,though.
BTW-the mirror solution is great!
Take care,
Mary Lou
I hope you will read a story I am posting just for you. Elizabeth
I love these pictures :) Thanks for sharing them again! We're of course also praying it's a smooth transition for GG. Love you all :)
Love the photos, and I will be keeping you and your mom in my prayers. She is such a sweet, lovely looking woman!!! I just watched a special last night on Alzheimer's and my heart goes out to you both.
♥ Teresa
I am new to your blog, but the way you speak of your mother is so beautiful. I'm sure that your children see how you treat your mom, and they will be as kind with you. You are in my prayers. Have a lovely day.
Valarie
I forgot to tell you I'd be praying for your mom and your family this week!
hugs
vivian
You and your family are in my prayers. This must be hard for your family.
Bless you. You are so faithful to your mom, and you honor her so beautifully. You still honor her by sharing your struggle. I will pray for her and you and your siblings this week. May all go smoothly as you make this transition. It sounds as if you have considered this very carefully and prayerfully, and I know God will honor that.
With all the latest going on here with my mom, I empathize so much with you. I will definitely keep you and your mom in my prayers. The role reversal with my mom has been a real hard thing for me these last years. Lately I am really feeling the blessing of being there for my mom...even though it's just not easy. Keep looking up...
Love,
Amy
How sweet - you do so much for your mom and she's just so adorable. I'm so sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's. My grandmother had it as well. I will be praying for your mom (and you) about all of it. {{hugs}}
Oh ML,
So sorry to hear the news about your sweet Mom. It will be good for her to be with other people where you can be assured she will be safe. I think your posts on your Mom and the time you have with her are some of my favorites in all of blogland.
I will add you and your family to my prayers.
Have a wonderful 4th...your header certainly lets the red, white and blue shine!
Blessings,
Susie
I just delight in these old photos of yours. :)
The packing peanut was a genius trick!
You certainly do have my prayers! What a tough thing to work through - things my family went through with my grandmother so I very much understand and empathize.
Oh, I'm teary eyed too. I'm so sorry that your mom has Alzheimers. I'm so glad she has you though and your siblings too. I will remember you and her in my prayers as you go though the transition to her new home. Glad it is near to you.
Love her wedding picture.
Oh and you are right--I saw your comment on Meg's blog. She is our sister-in-law and is very close to giving us a new nephew. We are so excited. Victoria is going to get to be in the delivery room w/her. She is ready---it is so hot here.
It has been some time since I have been around....sorry. I just read your post...bringing me to tears. So sorry to hear that your mom has Alzheimer's.....I feel your pain....it is hard to watch a loved ones memory fade away.....my grandmother had it. I will keep you and your mom in my prayers!!
I'm enjoying reading about your mom. My mom has dementia...very much like alzheimers. She's been in a small group family owned home for a year and we are so happy with her care.
It's a long sad scary road but I've learned to cope and understand it all through this wonderful world of blogging.
Robin
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