I'm worried about my mom. She has been ill recently, and is currently in the hospital. The doctor says she will have to be there a few more days or maybe a week, then she will have to go to a residential care facility for rehabilitation therapy. We (my siblings & I) are not sure we want her going back home alone after that. This is the second near fatal incident she's had in less than 3 years. She needs supervision to make sure she is taking her medications like she should, and eating properly, and not being sick & not telling anybody... She is 78 years old, and used to being active & independent. Her arthritis is getting bad and has robbed her of many of the activities she used to enjoy. Also she can no longer drive because of some of the medications she has to take for the arthritis. She has been a prisoner in her own home for the past few months unless my sister or my brother (the only two of us who still live in the vicinity) come to pick her up and take her somewhere.

I spent almost a week with her in June. She had had gall bladder surgery and needed someone to stay with her for awhile while she recovered. I noticed then that she was forgetting things and not eating properly. She has gotten worse since then. Yesterday when I talked to her she knew she would have to go to a care facility for her rehabilitation for a few weeks or maybe even months, but today when my other brother (not the one who lives nearby) talked to her, she told him she was much better and she was going home on Monday. He was happy for her that she was recovering so well and would soon be going home, until I told him what was really happening. I told him that from now on he should talk to one of us to find out what's going on with Mom, because she really doesn't know herself. That is a sad thing to have to say. She has always been so smart and kind-hearted and loving and generous, we all love her so much, and breaks our hearts to see her this way. We don't want to tell her she can't go back home, yet we're afraid to let her go. We're afraid that next time we may find her dead rather than gravely ill. We think we will have to look at long-term (permanent) care for her.

I am asking that you pray for my two brothers, my two sisters, and me over the next few weeks as we are deciding what to do about Mom. If she permanently goes to a care facility, she has two little dogs that we'll need to find homes for, plus a houseful of stuff and a car that we'll have to decide what to do with. It's a lot to deal with. I'd rather push it aside and think she'll get better and everything will return to normal, but my putting my head in the sand won't make it go away. It needs to be dealt with. She needs us to make decisions in her best interest and take care of her, like she did with all of us when we were growing up. She never faltered in making tough decisions on our behalf, it's our turn to return the kindness now.

I've been really busy for awhile now, so haven't been here lately. Also my computer went on the fritz & I had to get a new one, not NEW new, just new-er than my old one, but it gets me where I want to go. Ha ha!

Did you ever have one of those times in your life when you need to get some things done & they all cost money, but you don't have any to spare, so you just grit your teeth & make the best of it? That's the story of my life lately. Arrg!! It's hard to be thrifty ALL the time!! Sometimes you just want to splurge a little, ya know? But I can't!

Anyhow, all is well, other than that. (It's a character building experience.) What we need most right now, is a new roof. Ours is leaking, just a little, so far. We need it fixed before it's leaking bad. Be praying for us that somehow the finances will come through before that happens.

I've missed you guys. I enjoy reading your blogs & all the comments. You make me smile and you make me think.

Love to all y'all!

Sara