Lots of good things happening lately (yay!). The downward trend is on the bounce and I like it! I always did love a bouncy strut. =)
My son, Zak, got a 4.0 last semester at Thiel College and is heading down the home stretch of his senior year starting next week. He did a brutal internship as a psychological counselor over the summer for Keystone, a local state funded 'last chance' shelter for neglected, abused, and abandoned children. It was very difficult for him as he saw so many kids who could be helped with the proper counselling, yet the facility rather forces you to become their jailer as much as their counsellor. While Zak is not fond of the corrections field in criminal justice/psychology, he did have a wealth of opportunities to counsel several kids and was able to leave the summer internship with a feeling of accomplishment. What he seemed to take away from the internship was his determination to avoid the corrections field and to focus solely on counselling.
My Mom was able to return home from the physical rehabilitation/nursing home this past Saturday, 23 August 2010, in fine spirits and feeling much stronger. My eldest sister, Linda, is spending Mom's first week out of the hospital with her at home to get her settled in and to assist her where she can. I will fly out to Houston next Saturday, 28 August, to spend the second week at home with Mom to ensure that she is comfortable and well-fed. Mom's remarkable recovery is a testament to her strength and the strength of her family's love for her.
Our dog, Scarlett, is hanging in there and still a big, ole fuzzy, lovey bear of a dog. She definitely feels her age and this illness has taken an apparent toll on her coat, as well as her overall activity, yet she remains her sweet, loving, doting self who is always there when you need a little unconditional love.
We've also welcomed two new members to our ever growing family; two baby kittens. John's sister, Joanne, rescued them from under the house we inherited from John's mum. Since I had utterly and completely fallen in love with my Mom's two kittens while I was last in Texas, I had decided that when I did finally get kittens, that I wanted to get two siblings. Somewhere, a long time ago, I read an astrology report written for me which read, in part: "This woman believes in miracles, sometimes to the point of rashness, yet she believes... and funny thing, miracles happen most to those who believe..." Well, sure enough, my miracle arrived in the form of two sibling kittens who have been dubbed Puffin and Bitsy. According to the vet, Puffin is a female -- although I would have bet a fine sum that Puffin was an alpha male, very much the dominant leader. As to Bitsy's gender, who we all assumed by appearance and behavior to be a female, the jury's -- and the vet's -- still out. Apparently, some equipment may or may not be showing as yet. Puffin came by her name quite honestly, for she is one huge puffball of gray furry hair, quite long haired actually. Bitsy, the 'runt' of the litter (my heartstrings are always tugged by the underdog), seemed delicate and tiny and I found myself calling her "Lil Bit", which ultimately became Bits and then Bitsy. They are a delight! Watching them romp, pounce, and play together does my heart good and the gentleness and protectiveness they show toward each other, and us, has completely won us over.
Life is good. We seem to be overflowing with blessings of late and we are thankful for them all.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
"To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn..."
I haven't written in this blog in what seems an eternity. I was using a different blog but forgot the bloody sign-in info. *rolls eyes* A little voice inside my head whispers, "Hey! that's what happens when you get old!" Me? Old? Nahhhhhh.... my little voice needs to hushie.
It has been a very tumultuous time for me personally of late. So many losses, near losses, and potential losses in my life at the moment. My wonderful mother-in-law of twenty some-odd years, Lillian, died at the age of 98 in June, 2009. She lived a long, full, wonderful life and was ready to leave this earthly life. I'm just not certain we were all ready to let her go just yet. I miss you, Lillian. Then, toward the end of 2009, I learned that my ex-husband, Gene Brawn had died. Gene will be missed mightily. Next, I lost my beloved sister, Sharon, in January of this year. Sharon had just turned 60 with a couple of months to spare before her death. This loss rattled me to the core. Sharon and I were extremely close growing up and I will miss her every day that I remain on this earth.
Recently, my mother was taken quite ill and was given up for lost by the doctors when our family agreed to put her on a respirator. After a few days, she began breathing over the respirator and fought like the scrapper I've always known she is, recovering enough to have the respirator removed. While it has been a long, hard-fought battle, with quite a few gains and setbacks along the way, she has been released from the hospital and transferred to a skilled nursing/physical rehabilitation facility to get her back on her feet to return home. We are all delighted with her amazing progress.
Watching my mother's remarkable battle with this illness brought several important issues to the forefront of my mind. Firstly, her intense will to live overcame incredible obstacles. While I always knew she was strong, I was amazed with her valiant struggle, against all odds. Secondly, the end of life decisions a family must make when there is no advance directive, except for her statement at an earlier point that she wanted all medical means used in that instance, hit home for me during her illness. I made a few personal decisions for how I wish to be treated in that situation, which had never been clear to me before then, and I communicated those wishes to my husband and family. Nothing makes things clearer than while staring the issue straight in the face.
Meanwhile, at home, we are nursing our Newfie, our beloved companion, family member, and friend, Scarlett, through a rather serious bout of Cushings Disease. She has a tumor on her adrenal gland, as well one possibly on her pituitary. She appears to be doing pretty well, although I'll be happier when we can stop giving her the medication that essentially kills her adrenal gland. She's still her loving, slobbery, goofy self, though bent by her years a bit (but aren't we all) and her illness. We're working hard to keep her comfortable and happy for her remaining time with us.
All of these things have affected me deeply and taught me many things. I suppose we never stop learning life's hardest lessons, though I might like a break from them for just a bit.
Till next time...
Love,
Cindi
It has been a very tumultuous time for me personally of late. So many losses, near losses, and potential losses in my life at the moment. My wonderful mother-in-law of twenty some-odd years, Lillian, died at the age of 98 in June, 2009. She lived a long, full, wonderful life and was ready to leave this earthly life. I'm just not certain we were all ready to let her go just yet. I miss you, Lillian. Then, toward the end of 2009, I learned that my ex-husband, Gene Brawn had died. Gene will be missed mightily. Next, I lost my beloved sister, Sharon, in January of this year. Sharon had just turned 60 with a couple of months to spare before her death. This loss rattled me to the core. Sharon and I were extremely close growing up and I will miss her every day that I remain on this earth.
Recently, my mother was taken quite ill and was given up for lost by the doctors when our family agreed to put her on a respirator. After a few days, she began breathing over the respirator and fought like the scrapper I've always known she is, recovering enough to have the respirator removed. While it has been a long, hard-fought battle, with quite a few gains and setbacks along the way, she has been released from the hospital and transferred to a skilled nursing/physical rehabilitation facility to get her back on her feet to return home. We are all delighted with her amazing progress.
Watching my mother's remarkable battle with this illness brought several important issues to the forefront of my mind. Firstly, her intense will to live overcame incredible obstacles. While I always knew she was strong, I was amazed with her valiant struggle, against all odds. Secondly, the end of life decisions a family must make when there is no advance directive, except for her statement at an earlier point that she wanted all medical means used in that instance, hit home for me during her illness. I made a few personal decisions for how I wish to be treated in that situation, which had never been clear to me before then, and I communicated those wishes to my husband and family. Nothing makes things clearer than while staring the issue straight in the face.
Meanwhile, at home, we are nursing our Newfie, our beloved companion, family member, and friend, Scarlett, through a rather serious bout of Cushings Disease. She has a tumor on her adrenal gland, as well one possibly on her pituitary. She appears to be doing pretty well, although I'll be happier when we can stop giving her the medication that essentially kills her adrenal gland. She's still her loving, slobbery, goofy self, though bent by her years a bit (but aren't we all) and her illness. We're working hard to keep her comfortable and happy for her remaining time with us.
All of these things have affected me deeply and taught me many things. I suppose we never stop learning life's hardest lessons, though I might like a break from them for just a bit.
Till next time...
Love,
Cindi
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