Yet Another Storm

Another major storm, perhaps producing several inches of new snow, is forecast to hit early next week.

This has been a trying winter in several ways for me and my family.  I'll be glad when it's over.

Upsets

I spent last night watching the Big Ten Network.  It featured two huge upsets-- Penn State over Ohio State, and Northwestern over Wisconsin.

The Big Ten is an incredible conference this season.  The conference tournament in March could be spectacular.

Sippy Cup Frustration

One of my regular aides is on vacation, so I had a new guy last evening.  During supper, he'd put the sippy cup in my mouth, but just as I began to suck, he'd take it away.

It was really frustrating, but we got through the meal, and my regular guy is due back next week.

Hope For Spring

I had birds pecking around on the ground outside my apartment this morning, around the poor, beaten down rose bush.  One of the birds was a fat red cardinal.

I'm sure all the birds were the kind that stay here all winter, like cardinals, but seeing them after such a tough winter-- in more ways than one, for me-- still gave me hope for spring.  I hear the birds chirping as I write this.

Family, Friends, And Flowers

Mom's funeral last Friday went well.  Even though the day was extremely cold, most of Mom's family were there, as were many of her friends.  There were also lots of flowers.

Mom was loved by lots of people.

Tough Time

There will be no blog entry tomorrow, as I will be at Mom's funeral.

This, as you can imagine, is a tough time for me and my family.

Jittery

I'm having more trouble than usual operating my computer this week.  Handling the mouse is a particular challenge.

It's no doubt caused by grieving over Mom's passing.  My nerves aren't great anyway, and stress doesn't help.

Funeral

Mom's funeral will be Friday, in Muncie, where she grew up, and where she raised her family.

She'll be laid to rest beside Dad, her husband of almost fifty years.

Google

Google decided today was the day to make me enter my password before I could gain access to my blogs.  It's a pain for me because Google doesn't show what I'm typing, so I often make mistakes.

I don't need that hassle just now.

Mom Is Gone

Mom passed away yesterday afternoon.  She went quietly, holding the hand of her only daughter.

Mom was remarkable.   She was a woman of courage and strength and love.  She devoted her life to her family.  She took care of me daily for 57 years, and saw to it that I got an education.  She did a lot for Dad in the final years of his life.  She was always there for her kids, and for her sisters.

She was also a fun, friendly person.  She loved to laugh.  We liked to tease her about talking to a wrong number for 45 minutes, but the fact is Mom did that.  Maybe more than once.  It speaks to how she treated people, and to how people responded to her.

Greg, Kim, Jeff, Joe, and Jon will never get over losing Mom, but we will always be proud to be her children.

My Weight

Out of the blue last night, when Yodit was giving me a shower-- we ran out of hot water, by the way-- she said she thought I was gaining weight.

I don't know whether I am or not, but Yodit has taken care of me since I was in the nursing home, so if she thinks I am, maybe it's so.

Mom

Mom is in hospice care at the nursing home now.  The goal is to keep her as comfortable as possible until the end.

My brother Jon, who has been a rock through Mom's final illnesses, tells me Mom sleeps most of the time now.

Names They Call Me

The various aides I've had recently has brought up an odd phenomenon that started at the nursing home-- different aides call me different names.  Most call me Greg, but some use Mr. Anderson, or Gregory.  One even calls me Gary.

Who knows what else they might call me.

Rotating Aides

My aide Tiffany hasn't been here for a while because she has no reliable transportation at the moment, so various aides have been filling in.

It has worked well enough, but I'll be glad when Tiffany has some new wheels.

No Grace

Well, Grace At Home called Friday morning saying they'd be around that afternoon to give me a chest X-ray, but they never showed.  I don't know if they called and cancelled or not.

I'm just as happy they didn't come, of course.  I'm in no mood to deal with such silliness.

Grace At Home

Grace At Home called this morning and said they're coming this afternoon to give me a chest X-ray.  As if I'm not dealing with enough right now, they want to pester me with this.

I reluctantly agreed to this, but I want some new rules.  I went on their website intending to lay those out, but as far as I could tell, prospective clients can contact them via the website, but current clients cannot.  If that's the case, I find it interesting.

Good News

I went to my urologist today for another scope, and my bladder is still cancer free.

I don't have to go back for another scope for six months.

Cathy

My cousin Cathy passed away last week.  She was only a couple years older than I am.  The cause of her death was double pneumonia, but I don't think Cathy had been in good health for years.

This is an extremely tough winter in more ways than one.

So Far, So Good

The temperature is still right at 0 and the wind chill is well below that, but we seem to be past the worst of this winter blast.  A moderation over the next few days is predicted.

My aide companies have had to scramble, understandably, but they've done a good job of getting people here when I need them.

Big Storm

Indiana was hit by a major snowstorm yesterday, and now we have subzero temperatures and a dangerous wind chill until tomorrow.

It has caused a shuffling of aides and anxiety for me, but so far, I'm okay.

Aunt Mila

My Aunt Mila, one of Mom's two sisters, passed away yesterday after a long illness.

Aunt Mila was quite a woman.  Feisty, opinionated, and outspoken, she was completely devoted to her children.  A divorced woman, she worked hard and sacrificed a lot to give her kids everything they needed to succeed in life-- and succeed they have.  Aunt Mila was a woman of principles and passions, fury and fun.  She was terrific.

Snowstorm

A big snowstorm hit here overnight, making travel tough for my aides.

Janeka was here about noon, however, and she said the roads were getting better, so hopefully Tiffany can get home easily, and Yodit will be able to get here about 6.

Monday

Monday worked out fine.  After the exterminator was a couple hours late, Janeka took me to the house of another client of my aide company, where we waited.

It was the first time in a while I'd been in a house, and I enjoyed it.  We were also able to get back in my home sooner than expected, which was a big plus.