She's Back!

December 17, 2010

Amazingly Mother has been better the last two days, especially mentally.  She seems to have gotten a little of her memory back and has begun asking questions about things.  She doesn't use the right nouns, so it's really hard to interpret her.  She knew who her granddaughter Cheyana was when she called this week, and she recognized Uncle Bill and Aunt Rosemary when they came for a visit.  

After almost of week of just sleeping all the time and my feeding her once or twice a day, she is now sitting up in bed, holding her coffee cup herself.  She fed herself her own Cheerios and stew the last two days.  She just ate breakfast two hours ago and is already asking for lunch and supper.  Today she just asked Charlene if she could go sit in her chair, so I guess we will give that a try!

She's mentioned Christmas a few times, so I know she knows what's going on around here.  Yesterday, a minister from Hospice came and sang six or seven hymns and carols to her.  When he sang the chorus of "I'll Fly Away," she started singing along with him. Of course the words weren't right, but she sang.  Tears just rolled down my cheeks, watching the effect of the singing on her face.  Jim prayed for her before he left, and she was nothing but smiles the rest of the day.  She constantly amazes us, the nurse, and her aide.  

Linda Stinson from New Hope called and said the church choir will call her and sing to her on the speaker phone Saturday night. They've done that every year since she moved here.  For years, they caroled her at her house in Muskogee, each year bringing an ornament for her tree.  Last year we bought her a small tree for her apartment, so most of the decorations on it came from the choir.

December 18, 2010

Tonight Linda called to let me know when the choir was getting ready to sing to her.  Last year when they called, she had been at the Christmas banquet at the Village.  She was so sad she had missed their call but was happy she had the recording on her phone so she could listen to it over and over.

I tried to prepare Mother by telling her the choir was going to sing. When the phone rang, I turned on the speakerphone so she could hear.  She listened to the caroling on the phone, but I don’t think she ever recognized who was singing to her.  I can’t tell you how sad that made me.

December 21, 2010

Yesterday morning, Mother got out of bed herself and was sitting in her walker waiting for us when we woke up!  She was so strong, I asked Charlene to give her her first bath in over a week. We both got her into the tub with very little effort. Charlene washed and I rolled her hair.  She came to the dining table for two meals.  She's a little confused about where she is, but she knows Christmas is coming.