The Real Gun Guys

Thank You!

I would like to thank everyone who sent me their well wishes and condolences on the passing of my Mother last Sunday morning. My family and I deeply appreciate your well wishes. Thank You!

-Yuri

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mom

Tonight’s probably it. She has a 102F temp and lung congestion. She’s so weak now she can’t swallow without choking. She slept most of the day and my Dad was only able to get a small yogurt into her all day. That’s it. No liquids.

I’ll be very surprised if she’s alive in the morning, but I have been surprised before.

UPDATE: At 8PM they called and said her lungs were filling with fluid, so they put oxygen on her. Then at 12:33AM October 12th, 2008, the nursing home called to tell us she had passed away in her sleep.

I can’t imagine I’ll be posting much for awhile. I don’t know how I’m going to tell my kids. I’m going to try and get some sleep now, if that’s possible.

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Yesterday etc…

I know I promised to blog about the plate match yesterday, but this ain’t it. Sorry about that. It’s coming, I promise.

I went to visit my mom at the “nursing center” yesterday. My dad and brother were there as were two of my nephews and a neice. I had the three kids with me as usual, having just picked them up from my oldest brothers house since he had graciously agreed to watch them while I was at the plate match.

My mom was awake and was able to talk, but very weak. I had to get close to her and concentrate to hear her above the noise the oxygen machine was making. It was a good visit.

…and then mom’s cranky roommate started complaining about the kids making noise. I distinctly heard her telling a nurse she called with her call button that “Someone should teach those kids some manners!” Now I’ll admit they can be loud, especially the boy, but in general they are very well behaved kids. I get people telling me how well behaved they are all the time. But still they are little kids. What am I supposed to do? If this bitch had her way, I guess I should just not take the kids to see their dying grandmother.

I have to admit to imagining a Greyhound bus flattening her (the roommate, not my mom), is that wrong?

So the rest of the visit we shushed the kids whenever they got much above a whisper to keep from offending the bitch’s delicate sensabilities.

Oh, and one more thing… This same old fart will play her TV so loud that my Dad can’t communicate with my Mom when he visits, which is everyday, almost the entire day. And she has the balls to complain about my kids being a little loud when they come down to see their grandmother?

Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

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Convelescant Blues

I visit Mom like I normally do each day. Some days she won’t wake up to get more than one eye opening, however briefly, and a nod of the head, and then it’s back to sleep. Some days she’s awake but only responds to yes or no questions with a nod or shake of the head. One day she talked to me, almost like she used to.

Today she was watching The View from her wheel chair when I walked in with the kids, my Dad was sitting beside her. “Hi Mom!” I said as I walked in.

No response. Her eyes never leave the screen.

The kids go over and give her a hug each and tell her they love her.

No response.

I take her right arm and kneel beside her and tell her I love her. She glances at me and nods briefly and turns back to the screen. My dad is occupying the only other chair in the room. I stand, as do the girls. My son manages to squeeze around and sit on the bed. He hands her a picture he drew for her and explains what it is. She never even looks at it, apparently the TV is more important.

The kids and I stay for a while longer and I try to make small talk while Martha Stewart comes on the screen.

Finally I tell the kids to give their grandmother a hug and tell her goodbye. They do, with hardly a response from the other side, and we leave.

I go to the store down the road and get something to make for lunch for the kids and I, and I almost break down in the store. I catch myself being short with my kids when really they’re only minor annoyances.

I’ve got to go now and make lunch for them.

God I’m depressed.

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Mom Again

This evening (8/7/08) my Mother was placed into a Care facility about a mile and a half from here. My dad didn’t want to do it, and I don’t blame him, but her care has gotten to the point where it is beyond his ability to provide. As far as her condition, well, I took the kids into the hospital to see her yesterday and she was talking to us and smiling and laughing. She doesn’t remember being put into the hospital to begin with. She still isn’t eating or drinking much, but the IV’s rehydrated her and brought her around quite a bit, although she still is too weak to walk or stand on her own. I plan to go see her tomorow afternoon at her new location and see how she’s doing. Part of me is relieved, but the other part of me is still very worried about her.

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Mom

My oldest brother and Dad took her to the hospital earlier tonight. She’s dehydrated and hasn’t eaten anything today and has been slipping in and out of coherence. She also stayed in bed and slept all day today. It’s been several hours now and I haven’t heard anything even though I was promised a phone call about her condition.

I hope she’s okay…

I’m tired and sick and am going to bed now. Hopefully I’ll know what’s going on in the morning.

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Mom Update

She seems to be improving and the last couple of days she has been stronger and more alert. She still needs help up and is too weak to walk, but I’m so relieved that she seems to be doing better. I just hope this continues.

My sister leaves tomorrow afternoon and then I will be on my own in helping my Dad with her until August 5th.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes and prayers! I’m sorry I haven’t expressed my appreciation until now.

-Yuri

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My Mom

My sister and I have been asked to help take care of my mother this week while my Dad has cataract surgery and won’t be allowed to lift anything. I have been assisting my father with her already and I still have the three kids to take care of. My Mom is very ill and cannot stand or walk on her own. Everyday I wake up and expect her to have died during the night. I won’t go into details, but yes, it’s that bad. Some days are better than others, but even on the good days when I have spare time, it’s hard to get up the “gumption” to post something. I love my mom very much and it’s hard to watch her continue to decline day by day. It’s constantly  in the back of my mind.

I’m not taking a break from blogging, as attractive as that sounds, I just won’t be posting as much for a while…

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