Mom and Dad's oldest grandchild, Jennifer, is a cross stitching whiz! She cross stitched a beautiful piece for Mom with the above Proverbs 31:28 passage. It is so applicable...all of Mom's children, biological and otherwise, adore her and are so inspired by her!
Mom had a pretty bad day yesterday. She was very nauseated and just felt badly most of the day. Finally, about 7:30, she got hungry and felt better after eating a little bit more than the few swallows of soup she'd had earlier in the day. This morning, the nausea is gone! We have tweaked a few meds that may have contributed to the upset stomach. She ate her usual bowl of malto-meal for breakfast, had a snack shortly afterwards and is now napping.
Dad has been pretty quiet this week...I think he's bored! I want to take him on an outing next week to the Texas History Museum, if I can get him to leave Mom for a couple of hours. Mom mentioned yesterday that she would like to go see Mary and Dorene, Dad's sisters. If Mom feels up to it, I will take them Sunday. It will be good to get them out of the house!
The pleurex drain that was placed to drain fluid that was accumulating in Mom's chest wall has stopped draining fluid completely. The decision was made to leave it in place rather than have Mom go to the hospital, have sedation and have it removed. However, we have been discussing draining some of the fluid that is accumulating in her abdomen. She didn't want anyone to mess with her, up until yesterday. She is now considering having the pleurex drain removed and, while under sedation, having the ultrasound-guided procedure done to drain abdominal fluid. In most cases, fluid can be drained off the abdomen without much discomfort, but, in Mom's case, that area is so, so tender to the touch, that I don't think she could tolerate the ultrasound without some sedation. The hospice staff doesn't believe that draining the fluid would be worth it because they say it would re-accumulate possibly even within a few hours. The oncology nurse has a differing opinion. She said that she has some patients who have the draining done once a month and that they get a lot of relief from that procedure. We will do whatever Mom chooses. I am not encouraging or discouraging, simply supporting her wishes!
Mom asked the Hospice nurse yesterday about how much time she thinks she has. The nurse said we all have today, and that's all we know! She is encouraging Mom to think about living each day and trying to think less about dying. Mom has said to me that she doesn't know what to expect. To help with some of her concerns, we are having a Hospice social worker come next week and see if she can help Mom with some of her questions and concerns. Her faith is so strong that she does not fear death itself, I thinks she mostly worries about Daddy. I have prayed about it and my answer to her is that none of us knows what each day will bring and the best thing we can do it to have trust and faith in our precious Lord. She physically relaxes when I say that. My strength is in the Lord! Having such a wonderfully supportive network of family and friends helps tremendously also!!
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Amen!
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