Update on MIL

Dear Friends,  I want to thank you all for sending up prayers last night when I posted.  It meant so much and I truly felt the peace of your prayers with us.

Quick update.  It's almost 3am and I've just come home to get some rest.  I hated leaving Neil and my mother-in-law in the emergency room but they do have her stable.  They won't be getting her into a hospital room until tomorrow morning when one's available.  I know!  It's been very scary so far.  For days we've had to force her to drink a drop of boost or eat a bite of cereal.  She just kept getting weaker and weaker.  Last week she was very difficult and stubborn the more we asked her to eat or do anything the more she wouldn't.  At one moment I would be scared to death something was really wrong and then when we would leave the room I could see her eating or whatever.  She would be barely audible to Neil but when he was out of the room she could just tell me what for all over the place, so  then I would think she's just being stubborn and doing Neil the way she does with him.  I mean she told him she'd never come back here and even much worse last week.  When Neil was out of the room she got her voice back enough to tell me she hated me from the first day she laid eyes on me and still hates me.  That the Alzheimer's because I really do know that wasn't true.  Then she started not making sense worse than usual.  We threaten hospital visits anything to get her to eat.  Neil told her, he could see her going to the hospital in a day or two.  It's been very stressful and difficult on him.  He told her he loved her and was trying to take care of her and she said she'd rather live anywhere but our house and she'd never see us again.

We barely got her to the car today, thinking a drive might boost her spirits and keep her awake.  She can't keep her eyes open. No kidding this has been so scary.  When we got home Neil tried to help her out of the car and she couldn't stand on her own and just fell against him.  We were able to get her back in the car and head to the ER.

The Dr. first said she had a serious urinary infection and was dehydrated.  Then they came back and said her kidneys were not functioning like they should be.  She also has a possible blood clot in one foot.  Her foot is ice cold and white.  They couldn't even find a pulse with the sonar or whatever it was.  And she's on heavy antibiotics and seeing a podiatrist for this same foot and a problem.  She saw him last Thurs. and has another appt. for this Thurs.

The one Dr. put his hand on Neil and said I'm sorry you have a lot to deal with coming up.  He also told us his MIL was in hospice and had maybe 48 or so more hours.  (Please say a pray for the Drs. family - I'm sorry but I'm so tired I can't even remember his name).  Needless to say Neil is beyond upset and crying.  His mother doesn't even know where she is.  Finally they gave her some pain meds.  Bless her heart she would just about cry in pain and you said what's hurting and she say nothing.  I don't feel pain.  That's the problem with Alzheimer's, they literally can't tell you if they are hurting and if they can they can't point it out.

After Neil calmed down and she had gotten her pain meds we were rubbing her and trying to comfort her and she finally started saying lots of funny things, telling old stories, not making any sense and being as sweet as taffy..  We had some good laughs and some wonderful moments.  I could tell be for I left that was quickly passing but as long as Neil stayed with her she very sweetly told me bye and she loved me and to be careful.  You should have seen her face when I said I was leaving before I told her Neil was staying.  (Little angry attitude coming).

Before I left the 2nd Dr told us that she would be staying in the hospital for several days at least.  I know they are not going to want us to bring her back home but Neil's not really to face that.  Oh' how my heart breaks for him.  But the Dr. did say that he hoped the levels in the kidneys would come up once she was hydrated and treated and hopefully be functioning much better.  He sounded very positive, which relieved Neil so much.  You could just see it in his face.  I'm still very worried.  Bless her heart she's so tired and is 90 years old and he just doesn't seem to be able to accept any of that.  Good Lord, I'm sure I would not want to face it if it were my mother.

Sorry about writing more than you probably wanted to hear but I just don't know when to stop.

Please continue to pray for Neil and his Mother.  And pray that God shows me how to handle the situation and the correct words to comfort them both.

I posted the first prayer request from the hospital and I couldn't believe how quickly you all came to my rescue.  Your words truly did make a difference for both Neil and me.  We felt so comforted knowing you were praying for us.  And I had a very unusual calmness, that could only be due to your prayers at work and the Lord comforting and holding us.

I'll keep you updated as soon as I can.
Goodnight to all of you with a grateful heart and much love.....Tracy

P.S.  Too tired to edit.  I hope you can make sense of this and look over any silly mistakes.

Catching My Breath

Wonderful, Peaceful, Restful Sunday!  Oh how happy I am to see you.  And all you friends too.

It has been a way to hectic 3 weeks.  I'm really so confused now, I don't know if it's been three weeks or not, that everything just went CRAZY!

Nadine (my MIL) is out of the hospital and in a nursing home.  Although I can't call it a nursing home to Neil.  It's rehab, only to get his Mom back on her feet and back home with us again.  Bless his heart, he worries about her so.  Honestly, I worry about him.  She will be 90 on August 20th.  I think she's just tired.  Do you know what I mean.  I, in no way am belittling her pain.  She certainly is in pain, but can't you imagine how tired she is.  Growing old is not for the weak.  I've never had to see a loved one grow old really.  My first huge loss was my paternal Grandmother - Grandma Lizzie.  Oh' how I loved that woman.  We didn't see her all the time.  She traveled between her childrens homes by the time I was born.  I was 12 when she passed away and she was 93.  She was a vintage grandmother.  All soft and pale with long dresses, kind of old timey shoes and lots of beautiful old sparkling brooches.  All white haired and powdery smelling.  Slow moving but with a mind as sharp as a tack.  I never knew her to drive, like I said she was a little old Granny by the time I came along, I truly doubt that she ever learned how.  She lived a long life and was a very strong independent woman.  Well I'm off track now but I do think I'll come back and share a little of this amazing woman's life later.

Neil told the hospital they could send his mom to rehab for 2 weeks but then he was bringing her home after that.  I believe the Doctor was suggesting it was time for a more permanent stay.  We had the rescue take her to the hospital Friday night a week ago because of her ribs and she wasn't eating and was bedridden.  We left the hospital without knowing anymore than when we went in.  She stayed there until Wednesday before moving to the rehab center.  They did xrays of her ribs,CAT scans,  went down her throat, checked for bleeding ulcers (we told them she had been complaining of heart burn or acid reflux).  Then her stomach was hurting so they did a sonogram.  They said all the test were excellent.  I'm beginning to think they were just running up the bill, but you never want to take a chance especially when with her because with the Alzheimer's she really doesn't know how to tell you how she feels.  And she really doesn't understand what your asking her a lot of the time.  It's very scary.  Sometimes she's just fed up with us and won't talk to us and we panic.  But at least we got her re-hydrated and had professionals there to look after her.  Neil stayed with her day and night.  He did come home to change and grab a bite.  He was so tired and so worried about her being confused and scared without him there.

Please keep my MIL and us in your prayers.  They are so needed right now.  I'm finally starting to catch my breath and then a panic attack sneaks in.  Uuuuggghhh. 

Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday.  Love...Tracy :)