My sister Sue and Aunt are with my mom again tonight, and my sweet niece Brittany Hagen flew in from Florida, too! I'm home with my family for one more night, and then we're all going to meet at Mom's tomorrow. Mom seems really happy to have her family around. She's even eating pizza! ;) My sister is getting to stay all next week with Mom and me. Yay

Buddy

I had posted that my mom needed a home for her doggie, but as soon as I posted it, her sweet nurse's aid said she wanted him. We're so excited that Buddy has a good home. ♥ My sister Sue and my aunt are here, too. Sue's going to stay a few days (instead of just the weekend) and that's wonderful.

UPDATE 11/15/11"
Buddy is now "truck driver!" He's been traveling with the nurse's husband all over Texas. He loves his new "daddy!"

Exhausted beyond belief. Aunt and Sister are in town to help. Feel like I have a newborn again. Love my mom with all my heart and soul. zzzzzzz

Inspiration

Sue, Mom and Me in 1995

My mom spent 25 years as a travel agent, and retired in 2010. She was fortunate to be the travel agent for the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks. After George Bush sold his part of the Rangers and the ownership changed, the Dallas Mavericks became her biggest client. Toward the end of her career, the Mavs used their own planes, so she mostly did their ground travel. Over the years, she has planned vacations for many of the Rangers and Mavs players and their families. And Juan Gonzalez's...."sisters"....;). Today she received 8 cards in the mail from the Mavs organization. What a beautiful smile it brought to her face. I'm so proud of my mom, and how many people love her. ♥

Day 5

Day 5 with Mom was great. She got a hospital bed and a walker, and things seem much easier for her. She ate some chicken and guess what? GODIVA CHOCOLATE! (her fave). The hospice nurse said that unfortunately, or I guess fortunately, Mom does not qualify for 24 hr nursing care, so as of today, I became "Becky Pelfrey, honorary RN!" Pretty good considering that the only classes I got D's in in college were the "-ology" classes. Anyway, we're hoping to find some respite care for me for the weekends. I need to be home with the kiddos and my wonderful husband, but Mom can't be alone. As she gets worse, an actual RN can stay with her on weekends, but at this moment, my main purpose is to be with her full-time, since she can't function alone. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Just found out that my friend Michelle Buttitta lost her sweet mother last night to the same cancer that my mom is battling, and another friend and former student, Lauren Siska lost her mother last week to cancer. I have no words to describe how angry I am that so many of us are losing our moms too soon. How can people say there is a good reason?

I wrote this post on Facebook today. I so adore my Facebook friends.

"Every single comment that every single one of you makes to me means the world to me. You all have been my strength, and will continue to be, I'm sure. Some people don't understand the magic of Facebook. I do. I SO do. ♥"

Day 4

Today was SUCH a monumental day for Mom. She was able to sit up by herself, then ate some chicken broth! That was the first sustenance-type thing she's had since last week. THEN for dinner, she ate part of a chicken breast! That's the first SOLID food she's had for weeks. I am so pleased. Small steps can be huge. Thank you for all your love, again. ♥

With Every Goodbye

I found this poem on a plaque on Mom's wall. It touches me. And has a lot of meanings.

Learn With Every Goodbye

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child,
And learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight
And after a while, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure…
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn
and learn…
With every goodbye, you learn

– Veronica A Shoffstall