So Long Grandma

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, my grandma passed away last week and we traveled to Alabama for her funeral. Grandma was 92 and lived a rich, full life. She had been ill for sometime and my mom heroically cared for her for the past 6 1/2 years. Their relationship really flourished once Grandma moved in with my mom. Grandma was the happiest I'd ever seen her in the last 6 years. 

Mom was finally able to meet Tekla. Greg and I surprised her the day of the funeral with Tekla's arrival. We figured it would be a great way to cheer my mom. The expression on my mom's face when I walked up to her and said "here, hold this, " and put Tekla in her arms is a look I will not soon forget. 

My dad has also recently completed radiation for throat cancer which prevented him from traveling to see Tekla, he also got to meet her for the first time. 

Despite it being a trip to say goodbye, the trip was filled with "hello's". 

 

Good Morning....

This is what I found this morning....

Bright spot in a sad situation..

Second post for today....

As some of you may know, my mom has yet to see Tekla. She is at home in Alabama caring for my now 94 year old grandmother who has dementia, heart failure and is essentially bedriden. My mother has been her caregiver for about 6 years now. The job is 24 hours a day. She has only taken time off once and that was a visit here for a weekend. I admire my mom for the care she has given my grandma.

Grandma has been on hospice for some time now. Her memory is touch and go, but my mom has shared pictures of Tekla and told my grandmother about her. She often looks at my mom at her most incoherent moments and says "I wish I could see that baby". The last few weeks her health has been declining at a more rapid pace. Very confused and most times not recognizing my mom. She has been talking to long gone family members (when she can speak) and she has lost about 30 pounds because she can no longer swallow properly but has long ago stated that she did not want a feeding tube.

Yesterday was touch and go, her breathing was erratic and she would not rest and was essentially incoherent. They began giving her pain medicine because she was so uncomfortable from her shortness of breath. I called today and my mom was taking a break and showering, so I spoke with the nursing assistant that was there with her. She held the phone to my grandmothers ear so I could talk to her. She said a few things like she always does "I'm still making it" and a few other things that were indecipherable because her speech is so slurred. I told her goodbye and ask her to tell mom I called, she then tried to ask something and I realized she didn't know who I was. I told her "this is Phillip, I love you grandma" her reply was, "how's that baby?" It is amazing that through all of this she remembers about Tekla, I wish there was a way I could let her hold Tekla one time, maybe this is what she is waiting for.....

The exciting world

Tekla has been really becoming more aware of her surroundings in the last week or so. She is "talking" to us, responding with sounds when we talk to her. She has also been very attentive to things and those around her, she even showed the signs of recognizing a stranger over the weekend. The down side is, she becomes easily bored and lets us know this frequently. I find myself searching for ways to entertain her (even though I'm convinced she should be entertaining me). The weather was nice enough yesterday to finally try out her stroller through the neighborhood. She was so attentive checking things out and didn't want to go home even though it was time for her bottle.

I'll have some new pictures up soon.

Baptism

Despite some of the issues I have with the church at the moment, Greg and I wanted to have Tekla baptised and teach her our faith and let her make her own decisions later in life regarding faith and religion. We had a small ceremony yesterday with family and a few friends. Unfortunately my parents were not able to attend, they are in Alabama and have very pressing things going on that didn't allow them to make the trip, but all in all it was a very special day.