Sat May 14th we took Mom to ER for severe lower back pain. They actually admitted her for low sodium 118 and a bad UTI. While there her heart went over 200 beats a minute....... She had a mild stroke and was disoriented for several days.
She had compressed fractures of T12 and L3. They never did diagnose what was causing the severe lower back pain. She steadily declined and they sent us home on hospice. The nurse said she thought that the lower back pain was caused from the Osteoperosis putting pressure on the nerves in the sacrum area.
She also had severe Vascular Dementia and on Monday morning June 13. 2011 at 1:05 am passed away. She had been on Morphine, and Loranzapam, and atropine. Her passing was very peaceful.
My sister Joanne had moved home about two weeks before she went into the hospital. My sister Linda was able to come in from Indiana for a week. She will be back in a couple of weeks for the burial. She may move back to Texas and buy Mom's house.
We had Mom's Memorial service today and she will be cremated and her ashes put with my Dad's grave at Sterling White Cemetary in Highlands, TX. in a couple of weeks.
We are all OK. Mom had been in severe pain, was legally blind, and had a chemical sensitivity that caused horrible pain in both of her eyes. She is no longer in any pain. She can smell the roses and enjoy all of the fragrances and beauty of paradise. We have the comfort of knowing she is with our Lord Jesus Christ and we will see her again someday soon.
We still have had little rain. I need to water my garden bad. My sister's boyfriend has been helping take care of it since I was at the hospital around the clock 24/7 with Mom at St. John's in Clear Lake, and then with Christus St. John's Hospice at her home for a week.
Hope you are all well and that your gardens are doing well.
Jeanne
My Mom passed away June 13, 2011
My dear Jeanne,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family, my thoughts are with you all. How wonderful that your Mom's passing was a peaceful one.
With love,
Jenn
God bless you, your family and especially your Mom. Maybe she will meet my Mom and they can talk about gardening. Sharon.
Thanks Jen and WormsLovSharon for your kind words. Yes, she was a gardener. She had a green thumb and could grow anything (even without Miracle Grow, hahaha).
She hybridized daylilies and at one time had almost two thousand in her back yard. Now she can smell the flowers without her eyes burning and pain. She loved nature and flowers.
You can review some of her artwork in the threads I had started about her salt dolls and sculptures, and the things she made for my doll house. She had even poured cultured marble gift items at one time. We had all of them on display yesterday at her Memorial service. She also made jewelry out of super sculpey beads.
She was very special. Now she is with her Savior in heaven enjoying all of His Majestic creations as well.
I am sure she will be in the "garden club" there, helping take care of all the beautiful plants for Jesus! (Not that HE really needs help.....)
Thanks again,
Jeanne
Edited for typos
This message was edited Jun 21, 2011 12:02 AM
Glad her passing was peaceful. Hugs to you and your family!!
my sympathy to you and your family. it is good that you can be together at this time. 'God has not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all our lives through. but God has promised strength for the day, rest for the weary, light for the way ...' God bless.
Oh dear Jeanne. Just now found this post. So sorry for your loss but we both know that it is her gain. The missing part is hard and will be with you a long time. I'm glad your two sisters are there with you now. Please take care of yourself as your health is very fragile. God bless you and keep you.
Christi
Thanks! It's been a hard past few days. I had the stomach flu or a bad case of nerves on Sat. but still managed to go to dinner with family to celebrate Father's day for DS and sister's boyfriend.
Then youngest granddaughter stayed the night. She is such a joy to have around. She is 12 now and so mature for her age. She is so comforting. It was good to have her here. She is so compassionate.
While we were out this evening I met someone who has cared for her bedridden mother in law who is now 91....... for six years. Even tho ours was only 29 days the stories were much the same. I can sincerely say "Thank goodness it was only a month......" Please say a special prayer for this wonderful lady who also has health care problems of her own. She is an angel of mercy. She definately touched my heart this evening!
Healing will take time, I know, both physically and mentally.
I do know that she is with our Lord and Savior. I do have peace that it was "her time to go". She lived a very full and productive life. She was so happy. She never complained.....even tho she was in horrible pain with her eyes for years, and legally blind. She was a trooper! She had so much inner strength, fortitude, grace under pressure, a true "LADY".
She was a military wife during Viet Nam (which I just realized I left out of her Ulogy .....spell?_ It was nine pages....single spaced yellow legal pad.....And I only hit on the high lights.......)
I'm getting chased off of DS' computer.....must go....
Thanks everyone for your kind words and prayers. They are sincerely appreciated!
Jeanne and Family
Remember, you have a host of friends here that love you.
Thanks Christi! I do know that and appreciate all of you so very much!
Thanks Everyone!
Jeanne
I've been away and missed your message when I returned a couple of weeks ago...but not this time. What sad news. It's hard, no matter what age anyone is. After my mother died I found myself humming "feeling like a motherless child" at the oddest times. I still do.
My heart goes out to you. Thanks so much for inviting us in to share our strength with you.
Barbara from Merida
As this came to the top once again, it reminds me to REMIND YOU, we all love you and understand your loss. My mother has been "home" for 7 years and ever few days I think, "I'll ask Momma, she will know".
GOD BLESS your family - I know you are in mourning and we pray that your family will find comfort, knowing we are here for you!
Thanks so very much for your love and support. It is sincerely appreciated. It is getting easier as time goes by.
We still have a lot more to go thru at the house. It's amazing what you accumulate in 34 years. It just takes time.
Thanks again for your love and support.
Jeanne
It's coming up on three months now since Mom went to be with Jesus. It's cooled off enough outside to do a little work out there in the garden.
Back in the Spring before Mom got sick I had bought this little rock garden / waterfall at Kroger's for $39.99 and had never gotten it out in the garden. When it was so nice and cool out there I decided to pull a few weeds and put it just off of the patio. I really love it.
It can be a "Memorial Garden". I know she would have loved it also. I sure do!
Jeanne
Another
Garden.....which needs lots of work.
banana trees
Corner of patio with plumeria trees that have survived the two freezes and three digit heat wave.........
patio side view plumies
Hello Jeanne,
Considering the drought your plants look okay. I like the waterfall!!!! Looks like it will last a long time!!! Since it was a gift from your Mom you will have memories.
Feeling much better? Your family okay?
Belle
Hi Belle!
Thanks! Yeah, we're doing OK. It's getting easier, less stressed. I'm starting to unwind a little. Just wish this weather would cool down so we could get out in the garden and do some things. It's still up in the high Nineties. It should start cooling off here soon. There have been some nice breezes. We sure could use some rain!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you are doing well. How's your golf game going? Tell Roger I said, "Hi"!
Jeanne
Just popped into this forum, so sorry for the loss of your mother, but know that she is with our Lord does make it a little easier to bear. My mother has been home 9 years this past May. I think no matter how long they have been gone from us, you always have something come up that you for a moment think, "oh I've got to call Mom to tell her about this", that for me is the hardest, but time does have a way of making it bearable.
I'm praying for Texas that yall do start receiving some rain... so dry and yet you have done a beautiful job on your garden.
As others have said there are many here who will lean an ear or shoulder when you need one.
Jan
Thanks Jan! I am sorry for your loss also! I know you miss her. I especially still think of "I should call Mom" or "I should go see Mom". Fortunately my sister is living there, so I can go over to "Mom's house" still. We still have things to go thru. Thank goodness it is cooling down so we can get out in the garage and go thru things there. None of us are in good health so we have to take things slow. I am so thankful to have my younger sister home. She's been gone 20 years. I have missed her so much! Mom had been my "Best Friend" all of these years, so now dear sister is taking her place, and it is really helping. She is so sweet, and such a blessing! I love her so much!
Thanks for your kind words about my garden. I just love it! I have wanted a little fountain there for the longest! I had priced them and they were $199, so when I found this one for $39.99 I went directly to Kroger's to get one. They only had two, so they had saved one for me! (I phoned ahead to make sure they still had one!) I could not believe they were so inexpensive. I am just delighted with it!
Have a great day!
Jeanne
Jeanne
Glad to hear you and your sister are catching up and what a wonderful find on your fountain. I love finding a garden item at a great price.
Take your time and do continue to go slow while going through your mother's items. One think I found that helped me was to remember what or how my mother came by the item and if it was something we did together.
Memories are what keeps our loved one's around us.
Jan
WE GOT 2 INCHES OF RAIN LAST NIGHT!!! HALLELUJAH!
Jeanne, so hope some of it made it to Houston.
LouC that is such wonderful news, will continue to pray for more steady rain for all of Texas that so needs it.
Thanks for updating us.
Jan
Thanks Jan! We are taking our time. And with her having lived in the house over 30 years there is alot to go thru!
Hi Christi! Good to hear from you sweetie! I am so glad that y'all got rain!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!
We got rain also! AND it cooled down! It is so beautiful outside! Still waiting to see a picture of your thatched roof!
Jeanne
About time you guys got rain!!!!
Oh yes, Amanda, it is just wonderful! Such a blessing! It doesn't put an end to our drought but it sure helps some. It cooled it off a couple degrees which is sooooo nice!
Maybe we will have a warmer winter this year. I'm ready for it to cool off, but definately not ready for a freeze!
Have a great day!
Jeanne
So glad you got rain. I will continue praying. Sharon
Thanks Sharon! I appreciate it! Hope you have a great day!
Jeanne