Hopefully this helps

When we were working at the temple last night, one of the workers, a nurse, told me one of the reasons mom's shingles are lasting so long is she is in pain, and the pain causes stress.

I told her this and she finally let me call the Dr. and get strong medication as long as it was short term. He gave her a generic for prednizone. She just took 2 and is sleeping. Her perscription is for 10 days then she sees the Dr. again. I just hope they don't upset her stomach.

Good Day for Mom

Clarence and Linda were here for a couple of days. It's great for me to see everyone again, and mom loves the visits. Linda is a hospice nurse, so she gave us good advice that mom was willing to take.

She doesn't seem to feel as much pain when she's busy or visits with others. It seems to take her mind off of it.

This evening Caleb, Dave's son called. That was just absolutely the icing on the cake. She was so happy to hear from him. He lived close when he was young and she feels a special bond with him. And of course Dave is her only son. She used to look so forward to seeing Josh, Dave's other son during summers also. She loves all of us and our kids too and we all know it, but she does have a special place in her heart for Dave and his kids.

I just pray tomorrow will be another good day for her.

It is so hard for me to see her in pain. She's been so good about it.

Mom enjoys friends

We had a wonderful day with Carol and Mildred. Mildred brought beautiful daffodil and Crocus from her garden. Carol made a carrot cake and her famous lasagna. We had the cake at the open house. It was delicious and we're saving the lasagna for when Aunt Kathy comes next month.
You can kind of tell from her eyes that she is in pain, but aunt Kathy, sent her some medicated wraps for her shingles and that has really helped. She finally today started taking her pain meds. They're what she asked for, but I know and the dr even said they were too light. But it's better than nothing.

Ruth Croaker was our next door neighbor all the time I was growing up. Her and mother still keep in touch.

More Faith in the Patch

Mom has gotten some patch's made specifically to numb the pain that comes after the shingles. She has been in terrible pain the last few days.I really feel this may help her. She puts them on for 12 hrs, then off for 12 hrs. She started loosing weight with the lemon maple syrup elixer, and she just can't have that happening. She is asleep right now and we will probably stay home today to see how the patch's will work on her. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks for the cards, letters and visits

Mom got many cards and letters and phone calls and visits for her birthday. She really enjoyed them all. It was like Christmas around here.
Today we had friends in the neighborhood come over for an open house for her birthday. It was only for an hour, but I wanted her to meet the people that have offered to help her. She has most of their numbers in case of an emergency, she could call them. It was just good for her to see who they were, so if they did come she would kind of know them. About 20 people came and stayed the whole time and a little longer, and spent time talking with her. She loved it.

Got the Recipe

Mother finally got the recipe she needed, that she so much depends on. It is a cleanser, that she should use a long with a very restrictive diet. She is so thin already, but she decided she doesn't want to do the diet, just the concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayan pepper and alcalide salt. Hope it works for her and doesn't make her sick.. I had her weigh, and she promised to weigh every few days. She's in a lot of pain but refuses pain pills. That's so hard on me to see her suffer, but she's sure her way is better.

We went to lunch to day with her friends from Idaho, Carol and her mother Mildred Hickman. We went to Olive Garden and had the soup and salad. That's the most I've seen her eat. Which wasn't much. She's well while we're out. When they're gone, you can see her really let down and she admits she's in pain. It doesn't hurt when she sleeps, so she sleeps a lot.

My nephew's wife and my cousin's wife have both worked with hospice and say she should already be on hospice. But if I can't get her to take pills, I don't know how I will talk her in to that.

Clarence's wife is one of them and they will be here next week. Maybe she can talk to her.

Thanks for all the cards and letters for her birthday! She has loved them. Her birthday is tomorrow.

Waiting for the Elixer

Yesterday was a bad day for mom. It seems like it's about every other day. Today we ran errands ending at Costco for a hotdog. She ate about half.

Her Cousin Barbara's daughter, not aunt Barbara, Cheryl has told mother about this wonderful mixture the cures everything and takes away the pain. Mom has a lot of pain but won't take her pain medecine, because she is sure this mixture will do wonders. She said the pain medicine is constipating and makes her groggy. I think this stuff will make her sick to her stomach. It is a mixture of pure maple syrup, lemon juice, alkaline salt and cayan pepper. Then you cook it, I don't know if you take it by a spoonful or drink it. Barbara's daughter has ordered her two books talking about the wonders of this from Amazon.com and I guess the recipe is in them. I know she won't do anything else until she tries this. So I will let you know how it works, when she gets the recipe and tries it.

One of the reason's I think she is doing better today is Les and our friend Joe Overman gave her a blessing last night. She slept better and doesn't seem to be in as much pain today.

Mom Loves Visits

Kathryn, Aunt Norma's daughter and her daughters and grand daughter came all the way from Salt Lake, just to visit mom for the afternoon, then went home. From left to right is Kathryn, holding Salsa of course, Marlene, Carrie, Mom, Sherry and her daughter Emily. That was so sweet and mom just loved visiting and talking to everyone. They got here around noon, we had a light lunch, mom planned then they visited a while, all got back in the car and went home. It's nice to know families are forever.

Tomorrow will be Better

Yesterday was a good day for her. Today not so much. Her shingles are bothering her and she says her pain killer is making her groggy. She went to get her hair done, and came home and went to bed. She's doing a little better this evening. I know she will do better tomorrow when my cousin Katheryn and her family come from Utah. I can't believe they are coming up for the day and driving back in the afternoon. She really appreciates that.

Our neighbor is a nurse and said mother could call her if she needs help when we are gone. So I called to make sure she would be home, then Les and I went ATVing with our friends in the afternoon. It was so good to get out there again. It's really the first warm day we've had. When we got home mom was fine, and just reading a book.

How Mom's Doing

Yesterday was a difficult day. She didn't feel well, we went to Costco and made plans for what to serve when my cousin, Aunt Norma's daughter Kathryn, her daughters and granddaughter come on Saturday. She loves Costco hotdogs, but could only eat half.

Today was much better, we went to the dollar store to pick up some cards, then to see Aunt Lorraine. Lorraine was actually awake and we visited for awhile. Then she was ready to come home eat lunch about 11 and rest. I usually go to the gym while she sleeps. She slept a long time. She's taking the new medication and I hope it will help her feel better. That will be all she'll get out today. I try to get her out a little bit each day. Her attitude is good though.

Mom"s room at our house

As you can see it's pretty roomey

She has a nice size tv and firplace

The cabinet in the background is kind of like a kitchenette with her food, dishes etc.

Dr. appointment results

Just got back from the Dr. He verified that her cancer started as breast cancer, is in her neck, back and especially bad on the ribs on her left side and in the glands of the neck. He didn't even suggest treatment except to bring the swelling down in the glands and pain killers. I didn't get much of a chance to ask questions because mom did all the talking, mostly about caring for dad, so it was hard to get a word in from the Dr. or me. I think it was mostly nerves on her part. We go back in a month for lab test, then I think they will have a better idea on how fast it is moving. I am concerned that she has lost 3 lbs in the last couple of weeks, but that could be from the trama of moving and all. He shingles are still bothering her also.

Visit with the Robinson's

Pat and Frank Robinson, came from Sacramento to spend a few days with mom. We all had a great time. Ron Debendiner came over for Sunday afternoon. I don't know how we missed him in the pictures. This really made mom feel good and take her mind off of things. Since Pat is a pharmacist and Frank a doctor, they answered a lot of her questions about what drugs to take and what she should do. Dennis Hyde her nephew called today and so did her brother Willard. It was a good day.
Les and I got in this picture with Mom and Frank. Just before the picture was taken, Salsa jumped up to be in it.
Les and Pat played a friendly game of Wii boxing. Frank had surgery on his arm for an accident playing ball on New Years day, but vowed to come back for a challenge.
In case you couldn't tell Pat won. I think he's hooked and is going to try to find a Wii. Les won a few games himself and they were both exhausted by the end.

Good Times

On Friday I took mom to the my beautician, and we found she also does rollers, not just curling iron, and she did mom's hair just the way she likes it.

Today Frank and Pat Robinson, her nephews, sons of Frankie Robinson came to visit her from California. She loved it and they will be back tomorrow for a visit. Ron Debendiner, Lorraines son will also be here tomorrow. It was good for her because Frank is a Dr. and Pat a pharmacist, and so she was able to ask them a lot of questions. She loved having company.

Les challenged Pat to several games of WII, Frank's arm was in a cast so he couldn't play.

You'd Better Shop Around!

Mom wanted to plan and pay for her funeral ahead of time. Yesterday we went to Cloverdale Mortuary, they own Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens where dad is buried and where mom will be buried beside him. It was very expensive, but didn't think we had a choice. In talking to friends we found you can go through any mortuary, and they could take care of everything. Fortunately we hadn't paid for anything at Cloverdale. Our friends recommended Zeyers Mortuary as two of them had had family funerals through them.

Mom got just what she wanted and a better casket for $3,000.00 less. It's cruel that they try to take you at such a trying time. When I called Cloverdale back, the guy remembered he did have cheaper caskets and cheaper services, but we still went through Zeyers. Tough thing to think about and a tough thing for me to do, but in the end it will be easier with everything preplanned.

Not much new

It's now Wednesday, about 1:45 am and I couldn't sleep. I tried to get mom out yesterday, but she didn't feel very good. However she did buy a couple of purses. Her shingles are starting to bother her. She slept most of the day. It's kind of cute, she eats dinner, then goes to bed for a couple of hours, then gets up for "Dancing with the Stars", and a Spanish soap opera, then goes back to bed again.

She had me make an appointment today with the mortuary, to plan her graveside services and buy a casket. She seems calm about that but I don't know how I'll be.

She eats well, and when she isn't in pain, her spirits are good. She doesn't like taking pain killers in the day time as they make her groggy and gets an upset stomach. I'll be glad when we meet with the Dr. on Tuesday.

Frank, Pat, and Steve Robinson, her nephews are coming to visit this week end. She is really looking forward to their visit. I haven't seen them in years, so that will be great.