A Little Update

Journal Update!

May 7, 2011

No, we have not fallen into a deep hole or run off to China. (Though, in truth, the thought has crossed our minds!)

And…since there is absolutely no way we’re going to get caught up on the journal any time soon, we decided to do a fast forward just to let those of you who have been concerned know what’s going on.

We did finally get to go to meet our newest, precious granddaughter Ava in Virginia! We did have 3 weeks away from Mineola. And, we were blessed in many ways! Thanks for the memories!

However, when we returned to East Texas on Friday, the 15th of April, we were definitely back in the real world as we know it.

Edith’s Parkinson’s has taken over in so many ways. For 6 days, the 16th through the 22nd of April, Jim and I tried to take care of her here at the house; but since she was no longer able to walk and we are so very untrained, it was a total nightmare for all of us! Poor Edith!

Jim tried contacting the Parkinson’s doctor on the 19th, but due to some weird circumstances it wasn’t until the 22nd that we got the word to bring her immediately to Tyler to the East Texas Medical Center ER. Well…easier said than done when one cannot walk and the two who can aren’t able to get her in a vehicle to transport! Finally, through Home Health Care, we found a shuttle that would transport her.

Fast forwarding…6 days of hospital care, a urinary tract infection, plus another chipped bone in her foot, and doctor’s orders to put her in a nursing home as it was too dangerous for her to be at home, Edith is now in Mineola at the Wood Memorial Nursing Home.

Our days were and have been during that time and now, consumed with making trips to Tyler, hunting just the right nursing home here in Mineola, maintaining Edith’s house and Big V as well as the yards, taking care of the puppies who do NOT understand where their Momma went, going to visit Edith, and making certain she understands that as soon as she can walk 22 steps (the distance from her bed to the chair) we will be bringing her home! We have also completely rearranged Edith’s furniture in the bedroom to make it more accessible for her wheelchair and, hopefully, walker.

As a side note on the photo of Spike and Bonita, they usually sleep with Edith in her bed; but when she’s not here, they won’t go near her bed. Therefore, we moved a blanket and a doggie bed into the living room. This particular morning, we found the puppies huddled together and Spike’s paw is resting on Bonita as though to give her comfort. It’s a precious photo, we think.

Some days when we visit, we find Edith. Other days there seems to be no one home. We try to go to physical therapy with Edith at least once or twice a week so we can learn better how to help her.

This particular day Edith was in her new Mother’s Day duster we gave her and was enjoying the wheelchair ride Jim was giving her. As a side note here… the Parkinson’s has robbed Edith of all facial expressions so one who is not familiar with her and her disease think she is frowning. She is not! Also, the pillow keeps her from leaning to the left too much. She no longer has control of some of her muscle functions, especially when she’s tired.

Honestly, we feel that we are on a roller coaster ride that dips to the depths of the earth and then soars to the mountain tops. However, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

One day we will complete our journal with flashback entries that we have started but not finished.

"We may not be able to control events, but we can control our attitude toward them." Our Daily Bread

From Mineola with love,

Jim/Dad/Gramps & Barbara/Mom/Grams