Just What is Normal?

My sister and I were having a conversation the other day..laced with tears, of course..Debbie said "I just want to find normal!" I feel the same way, but my response is "I think this is our normal right now."

Mom eats and drinks less and less. Hospice has a booklet on anticipatory grief and it talks about "the process." It seems like it's happening faster and faster..

I did have a good visit with Mom yesterday. Right outside each room is a window box type thing that families can decorate. Most have pictures, momentos from the past, etc. I took a bunch of pictures that showed my folks past and present, well, present in 2005. At those photo thingys at Wal Mart, you can scan them in and make a collage, so that's what I did. It came out pretty good..So, I showed it to Mom and then put it in her window box. I hope she was pleased. I think so. She still has no pictures over her bed anymore. Shortly after Dad died, she asked that all the pictures be taken down. Anyway, back to the visit..we wandered a bit and went outside. Then it was back to her room and she wanted to lay down. It's getting harder for the staff to transfer her from her chair to her bed, toilet, etc..she is getting stiffer and stiffer, because of the progression of her disease. Debbie came shortly after that and we all visited a bit. I left for Costco and then home for our evening church service.

One good thing out of all of this is Debbie and I are bonding as sisters at a deeper level. I am thankful for that!