Adversity -- Word for the Day -- Monday, October 27, 2008

Adversity
DEFINITION: (noun) a state or condition that is contrary to one of well-being.

Hello, Children. I often remind myself when I write of my teachings in school that you should never begin a letter, document or article with an apology. With that first sentence out of the way I can now apologize for not writing sooner.

My mother is still in hospice. She was admitted, if you recall, on Tuesday, Oct. 14. We truly expected she would not make it to that weekend. Much to our surprise, she began eating again. Her eyes are now clear as glass, she speaks and is feeding herself. We were advised last week to visit with some nursing homes and decide where we want to place her. My older brother and I looked at four yesterday. What a depressing task.

She still does not know my older brother. She thinks he is a boyfriend. She surely recognizes my younger brother as 'her baby'. I am myself in the mornings and then in the afternoon she calls me by my younger brother's name. At times she makes sense of the adversity and at other times she is afraid and can't complete her sentences. She is quite seemingly healthy right now. She can get up with assistance and go to the restroom and is feeding herself regular food. She states she is ready to go home.

My sister-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She doesn't have feeling in her left leg. She was transferred to another hospital for rehab at which time she will receive chemo/radiation when her body is well enough.

I have been making trips to hospice three times a day. My body is dragging. My mind is gone and my patience is quite short. My older brother came in town again over the weekend so we could discuss more business and told ChemoSabe and me we could have Saturday off. With that, we called Rainman and Stretch and headed to north Arkansas on Saturday.

Saturday was a very, very cool day. When we departed home it was 49 deg. But what a beautiful day it turned out to be. We ended up in Harrison at a cemetery called MapleWood. It is full of maple trees and they colors were so vibrant. Although we didn't get home until 6:00 after leaving at 8:00 a.m., the long hours seemed to put us more at ease, per se.

Thank you for your calls, emails and prayers. We have another doctor's appt. for ChemoSabe tomorrow and hopefully I will know something about a facility for my mom soon. I believe that will be one of the hardest things in my life I will have to do.

The Lord builds me up and helps me to maintain my strength.

Good day and Love -- Pepper