Where has time gone? I can not believe that it is Thursday! I am off today and I am trying to catch up and catch my breath.

So much has happened in such a short amount of time. I have been so busy "dealing" with what needs to be done that I have let other stuff get behind. Here is the short version of what has happened in the past month and an a half.

9/30/11: Dad goes into the hospital at 1:00 am. He had been very sick for hours but refused to go to the hospital finally we call 911. They tell us he needs to have his galbladder removed in the next few days after they get him stable. After developing heart and lung problems he has the surgery and is released 18 days after being admitted (one month ago today). During this time my mom's health is declining quickly.

10/18/11: My mom has a doctors appointment. My dad was released the day before and mom is too weak to drive so I take them. The doctor tells us that the medication is no longer working and that my mom is too weak for stronger meds,  at this time it is best to call hospice and they tell us to hope for 6 more months. Four days later on Friday 10/21/11 mom is admitted to the hospice unit where she stays until 10/27/11 then is transferred to a nursing home. While in hospice we begin to make plans for her funeral at her request. She is able to tell us just what she wants (songs, flowers, memorials, clothes, and time!) She told us stories of  when she was young and when we were young. We laughed and we said our goodbyes, but we never cried. She did not want us to.

10/27/11: Once she was moved into the nursing home and felt that all the arrangments had been made her health declined faster. We visited while she came in and out.

11/1/11: At 6:30 am my dad called me to tell me that mom wanted the family with her. We all got there by 7:30 am (all 16 of us!) She was not alone and we were able to say our last goodbyes. At 9:30 am on 11/1/11 my mom passed away peacefully with her family by her side.

We began to finalize all of her plans, then there was the funeral, and doctor appointments for my dad, figuring out the bills, and all the little things that you don't know need to be taken care of. During the last 2 1/2 weeks I have not had the time to allow my emotions to hit me fully. At times I have questions for her that now I realize I will never know the answers. (Like "Where are all of dad's socks?") There are stories of my day that I would like to share and laugh with her about. (too many stories) So I think I will take today and allow myself to breakdown.

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. Now I am going back to bed and have a good cry.

Well so much for posting on Monday. Time just got away from me yesterday.  

Monday was spent catching up on laundry. Along with everything else our dryer went out and we had to wait for a week for the part to come in. I had to go to the launderette because my dad told me that he was out of underwear one day. As it turns out, he just didn't know where his underwear drawer was. Beth's reply "I hope that someday I am that good of a wife." I don't know how my mom did it all.

Today, my dad had a doctor's appointment, and of course my mom would go to all of his appointments. So, I went and that took about 2 hours. After I took Sam and Shane some lunchmeat. Mom and dad's church provided food for mom's wake. They are so wonderful we have soooo much food. We have had enough lunchmeat to last us for a while. That is all we ate for 4 days pretty much! I am trying to find ways to use up veggie trays (2) before they go to waste. Any ideas?

I also worked on a meal plan and went to the store today. I did pretty well at the store today my total was only $50.19. But like I said we have had plenty of food here. This is what I haved planned for the rest of the week: 

Dinner tonight: Cheeseburgers/baked beans/chips (used cheese from meat tray, baked beans and ground beef were on sale, the chips were full price) total cost: $9.50

Wednesday: Court with Jacob in the morning. I am going to make eggs/sausage/biscuits for breakfast before we go. (6 eggs= .75, can biscuits=1.88, sausage= from mom's fridge) total cost: $2.63 Dinner: Broccoli cheese soup with rolls (broccoli=from veggie tray, cheese soup=free from sale and coupon months ago, rolls=.69) total cost: $.69

Thursday: Medicaid appointment with my dad. I have school this night. Breakfast: Cinnamon rolls (rolls=2.18) Dinner: Taco salad (ground beef $3,  chips $1, cheese $2, lettuce $.50, tomatoes free, seasoning $.40) total cost; $6.90

Friday: Jack and I are going to look at a house, after that dad has another doctors appointment. Breakfast will be quick cereal or granola bars (about $2.00) Dinner: Quesadilla with salad (Tortilla $2, cheese $2, bacon bits $2, salad $1) total cost: $7.00

Saturday: I am going to try to work, so everyone will be on their own for breakfast. Dinner: Cubed steaks, baked potatoes, salad (cubed steaks with seasoning $6, potatoes $2, salad $1) total cost:$9.00

Sunday: I am going to try to work again. Breakfast is on your own. Dinner: Chicken and boxed rice with rolls. (chicken $4.50, rice $1, rolls .69 , and maybe steamed broccoli) total cost: $6.19

Can anyone tell me if I can freeze broccoli and cauliflour (spelling??)? And what can I do with carrots?

I hope that I can start posting more, I want to thank everyone for keeping my family in their prayers and staying with me. I love you all!

I know that it has been a long, long time since I have been here. A lot has been going on, of course. Here is a quick update.

I am going to school 2 nights a week. I love school, it is my escape and I love learning! I had been working for my sister 5 days a week. The money was nice but somethings have happened and I have not worked for the last 4 weeks (more on that in a minute). I will be working this weekend and hopefully next week.

Jacob has been a handful. Failing school and fights resulting in charges being pressed on him. Teenage boys are stressful enough then add ADHD and bi-polar to the mix and it makes it almost impossible.

Beth has had a tough year as well. In June they decided that her hearing loss was enough to require hearing aids, which she HATES. She does not like the sound quality. But has discovered many sounds that she had missed for years, such as the sound of a ziplock bag! lol She also hurt her ankle about 2 months ago, the doctor discover a larger issue with her hips and legs and suggested physical therapy. The pain is to the point that she can no longer play soccer or basketball at this point. This has her upset but she is dealing with it pretty well.

Now, for the really bad stuff. My dad went into the hospital about a month ago for gall stones and pancreatitis. What should have been a few days stay after removing his gallbladder turned into 3 weeks after he developed heart and lung issues. While he was in the hospital my mom's health also declined. 15 years ago she had one of her breast removed due to breast cancer. She had been cancer free until last year when she got sick with a cold. When she went to the doctor he put her in the hospital. The breast cancer is back and has spread to her liver and bones. Last year they said the doctors hoped for 5 years, then a few months ago they hoped for a year, last week they told us to hope for 6 months. She was put into inpatient hospice care a few days after and today she will be moving to a nursing home (by her choice). We are now looking at much less time.

So for the past month I have been taking care of my parents and their affairs. My mother was a typical 50's housewife who did everything for my father who is a hard working man. He is 74 yrs old and was still working part-time until he got sick. They will be married for 55 years in December and my mom has done everything for him. He does not know how to write a check, what they owe, or which is the washer and which is the dryer! lol

I have been very blessed in life and with my current struggles I am taking time each day to count my blessing.