COMING TOGETHER--46

It is Monday. We went to the dentist, who said Mom's inflammation was nothing serious. We ate at The Egg and I, restaurant, and we got breakfast there. It was good and light.

Now we are at home, getting caught up on the forms Mom needs to pay her taxes. She is looking for another form for her utility bills. She cannot see much of anything but her attitude is noticeably better.

I can see that she is recovering in some areas, but failing in eyesight and hearing. Her memory is gradually eroding but not in all areas.

I am tired and probably somewhat sick from the stress and fatifue of what I'm doing. I took a 2 hour nap today because I needed it so bad. I can't really ever relax living with my mother; there's too much ego between us. I'd like to have a day away from her, but I can't do that just yet.

On Tuesday, we went to the dentist for me. The cost was $853 which I will pay out by a plan, now that I am working. Then I took Mom to a clinic where they examined her for her cough and running nose. They gave her two prescriptions after a long wait. She was patient, but that may be because she seems weaker than before. Today she ate a small amount of cereal, she refused lunch, and we will see if she eats for dinner.

I don't like for her to eat so little, but maybe she is just weakening with age. I try to put her in God's hands, hoping she will recover but I know she has lived a long life and it is time to go. I just don't know when. So I pray.

Now it is Thursday. We have had a good week. Mom is coughing often with this allergy stuffing her throat, but she does have two medications. They are working but they take a few days. In the meantime, she suffers with getting up in the night coughing.

Her attitude is good through all of this.

I have learned that old folks do sleep a lot and eat very little. That's normal, so I have to accept what she's doing as all right.

She is actually doing quite well for a person her age, and I have to keep that in mind.