Another year gone by...

I can hardly believe it is New Year's Eve 2009. Where has time gone? This has been a long and somewhat difficult year for Mimi. Last January, she had open heart surgery because of two valves; one needing repair and one needing replacement. She healed well from that and was able to get back into her normal routine of helping others and scrapbooking and quilting and, well being busy.

As we got busy getting ready for two of her grandchildren's open houses and graduation, she started having symptoms that once prodded by Angie (my youngest stepsister), she finally agreed to see a doctor. June 7, 2009 was a day we won't forget. The neurosurgeon explained that she had a brain tumor; a gleoblastoma multiforme. The worst of all brain tumors. She wayed her options after talking with family and decided to have surgery to remove what they could. After surgery and a long recovery, she started radiation and chemotherapy medications. She had a bout of Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome which is a skin reaction to the Dilantin she was on along with the radiation she was receiving. That took quite a while to heal and was very painful and very uncomfortable for her.

Mimi just kept going; she kept trying each day to get up and around and do what she could for herself. She did quite well and even got so she could get herself showered without any help.

As you may know, Thanksgiving she and papa and JJ came to our house for dinner. She had done fine and went home and that is when things came to a head. She had a seizure that night and several more in the ambulance. Up until this point she had not had any seizures.

This cancer is awful; well any cancer is but this one just takes over so quickly and steals ones' physical life. But I must say that Mimi's spirit is strong and deep down I know she has not given up on life. She knows she has a future in God's kingdom and I am grateful she has a strong faith.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for her healing. That is what we all want for her, however, God must have other plans for her.

She is still with us and I know that everything is in God's timing so I patiently wait for Him to call her home.

Papa has been by her side almost 24 hours a day since Sunday when JJ went to Florida. He is going to need your prayers of healing and comfort now more than ever. I know that they are good for one another and they will get each other through with God's help and our prayers.

Blessings to all and I am believing that 2010 will be a good year.

Papa by her side

The last two nights papa has stayed with mimi. He slept well, as well as he could, and she did too. It's good for him to be here because with JJ in Florida, the house is pretty quiet and no doubt lonely.

I know this is hard on each of us in a different way; it's likely the hardest on him since they have been together since 1977 (I believe) when they first met and dated. Papa has been such an inspiration to me all throughout my life and I am grateful that God allowed he and his girls into our lives.

Mom is resting quietly again today and doesn't seem in pain. That is good and she needs the rest. It also helps us to deal with our loss knowing she is not in pain and resting peacefully.

Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless each of you.

Sunday morning

Mimi is still sleeping after finally settling down early this morning. Angie and I spent the night and slept in the recliner chairs next to Mimi's bed, one on each side. We took turns looking and listening to mom and resting in between.

The blessing this has created is getting closer with my sister Angie. She and I are closer in age than the others and so we have a bond. Besides the fact that we shared a room growing up at our parents house, we have always gotten along.

Ours is a unique family in that two families united, even in the midst of teenage years, and created a beautiful couple with 5 children. Both our parents have been through some tough times and their meeting was a God-send.

Blessings to all and enjoy your family today and always....

Peaceful

Mimi was able to calm down and started resting around 1am. She is still sleeping peacefully now and that is good. She is at peace with herself and she knows what lies ahead. She is not afraid to face death. A few months ago she told me she wanted me to read this book called '90 minutes in Heaven' by Don Piper. She told me she felt like she could have written this book because what the author told about his vision of heaven is exactly what she had imagined it would be.

I do not want to lose her but I know that she will be in a beautiful and peaceful place; no worries, no stress, no tears and no pain-physical or emotional. That sounds wonderful to me.

I pray that when my time comes I can be as at peace as Mimi is. God bless her and take care of her because she is awesome. I hope he realizes that when she arrives, if any organization needs done, she will take over! She will make sure all the children are taken care of and all the Sunday School classrooms are organized and supplied.

Christmas Day was December 25th and now we await Epiphany when the Wise men arrived to see the Christchild in Bethlehem.

Peace be with each of us this holiday season....

Love one another

As I lay with mom tonight in her bed at the Hospice Home, I remember many nights her lying with me. It could have been when I was sick or had a bad dream so staying with her now seems minimal compared to all the times she took care of me. How could I ever deny that even though I have to say it is very difficult to see her confused or crying. Her emotions are jumbled because of the medications and the tumor. This kind of cancer effects so many parts of the body; from emotional to sharing a thought to short-term memory. One blessing I have found is that she shares many long ago memories such as her childhood or ours. Another blessing is that I believe this turmoil has made our family ties stronger; realizing that life is so short, we must lean on one another and not be afraid to ask for help.

I've said this before but I could not ask for a better mother. She has been there for me and my family through thick and thin, good and bad, happy and sad.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I cannot tell you enough how much your support means. I do not know what people who do not have their faith and their family to give them strength do. I guess they do without and that is sad.

God bless and Merry CHRISTmas to all, and may you sleep well tonight.....

Merry CHRISTmas to all...

Merry CHRISTmas to all our family and friends!

Today when Papa and I arrived, Mimi was sleeping quietly. She had kind of a rough night in that she wanted to get herself out to bed. She keeps telling us she needs to 'get to Kohl's' and tries to put her legs out of the bed to get up. She was probably thinking she needed to get her shopping done like she always had in the past along with wrapping until midnight. Either way, Papa made sure JJ had a nice Christmas.

Continued prayers are appreciated as we continue this journey we are all on. Thank you all for your support, love and generosity. We do notice even the little things.

Thank you to all who have visited Mimi. Blessings to all.

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and Mimi is resting quietly. She had a few visitors today. Papa as usual and I came here after work and a little shopping. Tami, Debi and Staci came today (brother Bill's girls). It means a lot to have so many visitors stopping in especially this busy holiday season. Jim and Nancy came by this afternoon too. Funny thing is, Mom said that Jim looked like a preacher today "with all that white hair".

I believe in my heart that mom knows everyone and that is a blessing especially since it's hard to see her not able to do for herself like she used to.

God bless each of you and your families. As you celebrate this wonderful Christmas season, hug your family and keep each of them close. We never know when our lives will suddenly change and not have them as near as we would like.

Blessings and prayer does work!