Update 2 on Aunt May

Aunt May is still hanging on. She is failing though. The nurses didn't think she would live until this morning, but she made it. She hasn't eaten anything since I fed her some applesauce on Sunday night, nor has she drank. She is badly dehydrated, but resting comfortably most of the time.

They have taken her off the morphine, as she was having hallucinations. They are giving her a potent drug (can't remember the name) that doesn't have those types of side effects. She gets a pain shot every four hours but the nurse told us she can administer it an hour either way. So if she is in pain, it can be given every three hours and if she is asleep and comfortable, they can wait for five.

The nurses on pallative care are so sweet. They tell us what is happening with her and talk to her when they go to her bed and tell her exactly what they are going to do. When the nurse gave her the pain shot, it made her uncomfortable for a few moments, but then she drifted off to sleep.

When I picked the boys up from school on Monday, Brandon wanted to know if Aunt May had passed. I told him no, she is resting comfortably. He said, "Boy, she must be a strong lady." I told him yes, she is and she always has been. When she got knocked down, she got right back up and kept going. Then I explained that this is a great way to go through life. Never give up and when something happens, just keep on trying. A great lesson for him and he is amazed. He asked me to tell her what he said and I did. She acknowledged by a tiny smile.

She knows we are in the room and she knows when we speak to her. However, she isn't talking at all and just flutters her eyes or gives a tiny smile when we talk to her. We've all said our goodbyes and told her that it's okay for her to go. Some people need to know it's okay to pass.

What great lessons Aunt May has taught me in life. I will certainly miss her phone calls and the fun we had together, but can't wish her to stay and suffer. I told her today to shut her eye and rest easy in Jesus' arms. She gave a tiny sigh and drifted back to sleep.

My apologies to those who have sent cards. I just haven't had time to be online much. I have 25 cards now that will be forwarded to my soldier for the Christmas card shower. I have taken photos but won't be posting them until I have more time. Thank you also to those who are particpating in the Christmas book swap.

I will post about Aunt May as time permits and will get the cards off when I can. Anyone who wishes to can still send a card. I will be sending out a second mailing later.

Thank you for all the loving comments and support as our family goes through the difficult process of saying goodbye to Aunt May. Each sentiment is greatly appreciated. ~Blessings, Mary~

Update on Aunt May

Aunt May is in pallative care now. Mom and I went to see her this evening about 6 pm. We stayed there until her daughter and son-in-law came in with my uncle. May's granddaughters were with them. Mom and I stepped out and went to the coffee shop for a cup of tea so they could have some privacy. When we got back pretty much everyone was in tears.

May's oldest granddaughter, who is 16, is going with her school to England, France and Italy. She leaves Tuesday morning. I asked her about her trip and she is just so excited. She was telling me all about what she was going to see and about the uniforms they will be wearing, which she said are very uncool. She was talking a mile a minute and I noticed that May's eyes were open and that she was listening intently. When Rachel finished, I told her to look at her Grandma because she hadn't missed one word she'd said.

Rachel looked at May and said, "Grandma, I hope you are still here when I get back so I can tell you all about the trip and the things I've seen. If not, I know you will be there with me seeing all the things that I'm seeing." Wow! I think that got everyone. What a perceptive young lady. Aunt May actually gave a little smile.

When Rachel went to leave, I gave her a hug and whispered in her ear. "Go and enjoy your trip. That is what Grandma would want you to do." She cried while I was hugging her but said she knew that her Grandma would want her to have fun.

Rachel and her sister, Rita are very close and Rachel told her Grandma that she wouldn't see her tomorrow night because she had a lot of packing to do. She told her that Rita would be there and that she would send a special hug with her. What a heart touching moment.

I talked to Aunt May last Tuesday and she told me how proud she is of her granddaughters. I told the girls what she had said. I'm sure that made them both feel good. And Aunt May knew that I told them, as she was still listening intently.

I tried to get Aunt May to eat a little something when we first got there, but all she would take was one teaspoon of applesauce and then she shook her head that she didn't want anymore. She refused to drink and the nurse told me she hasn't taken much food or drink all day. I believe she is shutting her body down. She has fought a valiant fight. In April 2008, the doctors told her she had between two weeks and two months. She has far surpassed that and I am thankful for the extra time we were given to enjoy her company.

The hospital has not administed any intravenous and the nurse told me they are not taking her blood sugar levels or giving her her diabetes meds. The only thing they are giving her is morphine in order to keep her comfortable. She and her nurse had some fun on Friday when she was more lucid but now the morphine is keeping her so sedated that she can barely keep her eyes open.

Please pray for the family. They are having a difficult time accepting that she is going home. But it is time - there is a time and season for everything and she has put up a great fight. May the angels minister to her and keep her in comfort and peace until the time she is called home. It is only a matter of time.

Enjoy your week. I will keep you updated. ~Blessings, Mary~

Christmas Book Swap

I've had quite a few say that they would like to take part in a Christmas book swap. This will be loads of fun and we must get the books in the mail by December 5th to be sure that everyone receives theirs before Christmas. So I'm going to make the deadline to sign up November 25th. This will give me time to partner everyone, gather the addresses and let everyone know who their partner is.

Now for the rules. The books have to be Christmas books, either fiction or non-fiction. Christmas decor and cooking magazines are fine if your partner agrees. Talk to your partner and find out the type of books they like and then send them a book or magazine that they can enjoy. Please do not send books that are not Christmas oriented.

Please, if you sign up, be sure that you send a book. What a disappointment to sign up for a swap and receive nothing after you have done your best to send your partner a book that they will enjoy.

These are the ladies that have signed up so far:

Denise at Samaritan Women

Paula at The Magic Bookcase

Sharon at Sit With Me A While

Stacey at Staceys Treasures

Amy at I Love Retro Things

Please take a copy of the above graphic and post about it so others will be able to participate if they wish. Thanks to all the ladies who have signed up so far.

The rest of my post is not such good news. Aunt May was taken to the hospital last night. She is not able to eat, or simply won't eat, saying that she doesn't want her stomach to become upset. She is very frail. Please keep her in your prayers, that the doctors will have the wisdom to allow her to go home in peace and not force her to suffer more than she already has. ~Blessings, Mary~

In Search of Eden

This week I'd like to tell you about a book that I bought a couple of weeks ago. It is titled In Search of Eden. The story is of a young woman who was forced to give her baby up for adoption eleven years ago. She writes: Today is your birthday... I want you to know that you are in my heart, as you always have been. I pray for you every day. I pray I did the right thing...

Dorrie has grown up and her mother, who forced her to give the baby away has died. Now Dorrie is determined to find the baby that she held for only a few minutes when a nurse sneaked it to her room a few hours after it was born. Dorrie's search seems impossible. She doesn't have any idea if the baby is a boy or a girl. She has no clue as to where it might be. She has searched in Chicago, Montana, New York City, Pittsburgh, San Jose, and Seattle. Clues finally lead her to Abingdon, Virginia.

Things start off on the wrong foot when Dorries pulls into Abingdon when the local cop pulls her over and gives her the third degree. With the help of a young girl, she is able to find a temporary position as a waitress at the local diner and an apartment over the local funeral home.

It took only a few pages before Nichols had me hooked. Where was Dorrie's baby? What gender was it? Would she find her child or wonder for the rest of her life where it was and if it was living a life that she would approve of.

Dorrie's mother was the villian in this story, but when Dorrie finds out about her mother's past, she takes a different view. The woman had lived a childhood of horror, which had influenced her decision to make Dorrie give up her baby. What secrets lie within the story? What is the skeleton in the family closet? The story is set in small town America. The characters are believeable but the story line would have been more believeable had it been set in the late 50s or 60s. However, I found this an easy and light read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Be sure to pick up a copy at the local bookstore or library. You'll be glad you did.

If you are interested in taking part in a Christmas book swap, please leave a comment. It's always nice to have a great book to read over the holidays. I will be giving more particulars in tomorrow's post.

Have a great weekend and remember to take some time to have fun with your family. ~Blessings, Mary~