The News from Minnesota

The lead story is that mom is doing "OK" at The Home. Where that may not be a ringing endorsement, OK is good for now. She doesn't particularly love the place, but she is adjusting to the fact that she needs to be there. One day this past week, she consented to a visit to the house to take a look around. It was an exhausting trip for her; the steps were very difficult and it took both Mike and I to hoist her into the car when we left. But, it was an important moment. Mom sat in her favorite chair in the corner of the livingroom and proclaimed in a whispery voice, "I couldn't live here now. I couldn't do it." Those words must have been very difficult to get out but they may make her stay at The Home easier. She has a cold right now, but other than that is doing "OK".


In other news... we visited with Kaci, Amariah, Janet, Terry, and Chris on Thursday. It was a delightful way to spend a few hours and, of course, gave me an opportunity to dust off my camera. We probably always knew that Ammer would become a "Motorhead" what with Terry as grandpa and Chris as uncle, but we didn't know it would happen at 2. Here she is checking the batteries that were on the charger before getting in her car.

After checking out the flags and utility markings (there isn't a thing that gets by this little girl), she felt the need for speed in her swing (which she is quickly outgrowing).

Later, after a good meal, which Ammer ate on the run, she got the chance to explore her new motorcycle (an Easter present from grandpa and grandma). She loved her helmet as much as the bike! The checkered flag floor makes a perfect backdrop...

This is my new favorite picture. Can you believe those facial expressions...

And on to other news. Last night I had a chance to visit my niece Cheri's new home in Rochester. She is a first time home buyer and that calls for celebration. The women in the family brought food and beverages and kids and a few gifts, and the house became a home.

The kids loved the swingset in the spacious backyard.

A moment of joy between Cheri and Olivia.

"Us girls" - that is the new homeowner beaming in the middle.

Thanks, Cheri, for the great time and congrats on your new home!

And that is all the news from MN on this Saturday morning. We are heading back home on Tuesday, if all goes according to plan...

March Madness

I know that most of you probably think that March Madness has something to do with Basketball... but I am here to tell you a different version.

Unlike most of my blog updates, this one is not heavy on pictures or about wonderful things we have seen or great places we have visited or wonderful people with whom we are traveling. This update is about LIFE.

When I headed for Minnesota on March 5th, I had no idea what was in store for mom, or me or our family. I was lucky to get a window seat with no one in the center seat, so at least the flight was comfortable and I could stretch out. When I arrived, Jon was there to pick me up and drive me to Kenyon, my hometown. When we got to my childhood home, I walked into a mess! The cleanup and fixup after the fire was in full swing - the frig was in the dining room for gosh sakes. I began to wonder how my mother had survived any of this ordeal.

The next few days included trips to the hospital and conversations with nurses and doctors. Mom's burn was infected and she would definitely have to have it scraped. But, because of medicare rules, she would not be able to stay in the hospital the extra couple of days. So, we moved her into the Sunset Home (a terrible name for a nursing home). It was not a decision that was made by us, it was made by the doctors at the hospital. Nonetheless, it was a very difficult time.

My mother has been a widow for 17 years and has developed a strong and independent nature that makes us all proud. She is also a woman that does not adjust to change readily. For over 60 years, she has lived in our family home that was built by my dad and my grandfather. The nursing home was a drastic change and not easily made. I brought down a couple of pictures, a candy dish (for the great grand kids to feel more at home) and a quilt that was made by her sister 50 years ago. Her favorite throw and a few clothes and the room was suppose to be a temporary home - not an easy transition.

During the week, we made the trip back to the hospital for her surgery. It was successful, but mom has a tough time with sedation and for a while in the recovery room, I thought she was talking to dad and that maybe she was crossing over... A few hours later, we were back at "the home" and I had a new story to tell.

At one point in time while mom was coming out of the sedation, she opened her eyes, leaned close to me and said, in a stage whisper, "I'll get my sweater, you get the car, let's get outa here." and then her eyes closed and she was back in lala land. I have no idea, where she was or where we were going, but we were going together and that's a good thing.

I was in MN for 10 days and spent most of each day and late into the evening with mom. On Monday, when it came time to leave for my flight, cousins came from the cities to pick me up, we shared lunch with mom and then it was time to say good-bye. She stood to give me a hug and then said, "Just Go." and I have to admit, it cut to the core.

Two days later, she was back in the hospital. When I got the call from "the home", I thought it might be depression taking over but in a couple of hours, when the calls came from my brother and my neices, I realized it was much more serious. Congestive Heart Failure had caused her to gain 13 pounds in 5 days. Kidneys were a problem. Breathing was difficult. Bottom line, by Friday at 1 pm, Mike and I were in the car about to embark on a very long road trip. We had packed hurriedly and arranged for motorhome storage at the resort in Palm Springs. I had put my "garden" in the back of the Jeep and put in enough clothes to cover all possible activities because we really did not know what to expect.

In Gallup, New Mexico, where we stopped on Friday night, my tomato plants froze and so did the hibiscus that was such a beautiful shade of rose. On Saturday morning, a spring snowstorm had closed Intestate 40 for 100 miles so we dropped south to 60 and added over a hundred miles to our already long trip. News from MN was that mom was still very weak and they thought she might have a blood clot. In Pratt, Kansas, we stayed at the worst motel I have been in for many years. By 6:30 on Sunday morning, we were on our way through yet another spring snow. Around Wichita, roadways were slick and cars were in the ditch. As we got farther north, the roads improved and when we reached MN, mom was much improved!

Today is Monday and she was discharged from the hospital today and is back at the home. Jim and Monica are flying back to Florida tomorrow. Mike and I are staying a week during which time we hope to see family and friends and take care of a couple of doctors appts. I plan to spend a part of each day with mom. Hopefully, with March coming to a close, the madness of the month will end. Hopefully mom will adjust to her new "temporary" environment. Hopefully, future blog entries will be filled, once again, with photos and stories of places we've been and things we have seen. Hopefully...

I'm Off to MN Again

Since the last time I went home to see Mom in January, there have been a few mishaps. There was a small grease fire when mom was making french fries and her leg was burned. It burned the tile in the kitchen and, as with any house fire, there was substantial smoke damage to the main floor of the house. The burn that mom sustained has also turned out to be more substantial than initally thought. She will be having surgery on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Her body has not been able to heal it properly.


In addition to the fire, mom fell one day this past week and, like the commercial, was not able to get up. Eventually, 911 was called and mom landed in the hospital. It is a good thing she did or they may not have discovered her dehydration and issues with the burn.


SO, bottom line, I need to be in MN right now. Mike is staying in San Diego now and will meet me in 10 days in Palm Springs. Until then, no updates.


Enjoy wherever you are and whatever you are doing. And please say a prayer for Mom.