4:26 p.m. - 2006-11-15
colorado
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Well, I just got done with a "Kiss and a Prayer" on my house. Just a quick cleaning in the 2 bathrooms,changing towels and sheets, doing laundry and vacumning. I don't like to leave on a trip with a dirty house because when I come home, I want the house to be clean so I can relax the first night home.
Then I had to run to get my acrylic nails redone because one was off, and several were loose. I didn't do it for vanity's sake but once the nails start coming loose, it hurts when they bend and my natural nails are long enough that it can break them off underneath. I was lucky there was no one ahead of me and she did it as a "fill" . She only charged me $20.
I still have to get the suitcases out and pack our clothes for 6 days....that means taking all the toiletries, warm clothes and lighter wear if it is in the 50's. You never know this time of year in Colorado.
We will be with 2 other brothers and their wives and my SIL and her husband.
I hope it is a peaceful time and we can accomplish whatever it is that my SIL needs from us and I hope we can leave with a smile and hope in our hearts.
I will be back Tuesday and probably can put in an entry on Wednesday.
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Wednesday, November 15, 2006
We are back from our quick trip to Colorado. About 1400 miles one way that we did in 2 days going and 2 days returning.
The visit with my wonderful sister in law and her husband was so much more than I expected.
She was much more fraile than she was in July. She is weaker, she can't speak much.
When she does try to talk, the words are very garbled. She can write a little bit and can do some "signing" too. After you listen to her for a few minutes, you can begin to understand most of what she is trying to communicate. She is a wonder....
She has such a loving spirit. She was so happy we were there. Three out of four of her brothers and three out of four of her sisters-in-law. She kept saying "I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY!"... And she was.....
We laughed and cried and laughed some more. We talked and hugged and held hands...whatever she wanted...we did it. She felt well enough on Saturday that we went to Royal Gorge and rode the train. We also had dinner on the train. It was a lovely 2 hour trip. Although she was very tired when the ride was done, she had a good day.
On Sunday, she was even better. I had a personal conversation with her and it included two of her brothers. She told us again how happy she was that we were there with her. She said she wanted her children and grandchildren to make a trip to see her and then her heart would let her pass.
Her two brothers couldn't understand what she had said. I was overcome with emotion but managed to tell them and she nodded her head that I was correct in interpreting her. She said she was sure she would pass by Christmas.
"Death . . . is no more than passing from one room into another. But there�s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see." HELEN KELLER.
We left very early on Monday morning and did not wake anyone. I had talked with another sister-in-law the previous evening. They were going to ask if it would help if they stayed a few more days as she had an important medical conference on Tuesday. They wanted to support her and her husband if the news was more than they were anticipating.
On Tuesday, we got a cell phone call while we were driving home. She had a very bad afternoon and evening on Monday. They took her to the hospital because she was having severe stomach pain below the feeding tube, she was vomiting and dizzy and weak and having breathing problems. The hospital gave her oxygen and an IV to get her stablized and relaxed. She was unable to take her anxiety pills through the tube because she couldn't keep anything down. A few hours later she wanted to go home. She did. About 4 hours later, she was again in severe pain and so they took her back to the hospital. Her primary doctor was talking with the specialists she has. More tests were being ordered. She was on a morphine IV drip and sleeping. My brothers-in-law and sister-in-law were going back to the hospital last night and were to call us.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. We are very worried and concerned.
But.....
on a brighter note.....Sister B. had applied for an apt. and can move in by December 1st....
That news is not taking anything lightly but my SIL would be the first to laugh.
