The Hannah Family

This blog is all about us

Who are we?  A family of 14 -- 7 people and 7 pets:  G. Pat is 74, Mark is 54, I'm 51, Matt is 25, Katie is 23, Claire is 15, and Dave is 13.

Katie's pups are Maci and Cage. Our 3 sweet cats are Oreo, Jack and Jill. Chloe is our 1-year-old lab-shepherd-husky mix. Claire's Winter White Dwarf hamster is Ozzie. Never a dull moment around here!

I know I haven't been present

And I'm sorry. But I'm here. We had the last day of class for Quarter 3 yesterday, and then I rushed off to get my second covid shot at 3 p.m. It went great. I had arm soreness for only 24 hours and some fatigue (but what else is new). NOTHING else! A tip I heard from someone in the medical field who is "in the know" is to be sure to hydrate for the 24 hours prior to the jab, which apparently reduces adverse effects. It certainly can't hurt and it (I assume) worked for me.

So the kids and I are finally on our Spring Break. Don't hate me if I don't, but I'm hoping to clean up the blog while I have a little time. I hope so; I know it's a hot mess. Thank you for reading anyway!

Very Noteworthy: There is an "official" timeframe set for Mom's Memorial Service in New York on Long Island. We're looking at the July 23/24 weekend. I need to talk with the cemetery where my dad is buried to find out what kind of vessel they want Mom's ashes in and I need to make arrangements for the ceremony, but it's so good to have a "Save the Date" on the books and a complete Covid Card to be able to get there. I'm going to try to work on the rest of the immediate family as soon as they are eligible.   

I’m okay

Just working like crazy. We had a tornado watch today and got to work from home. I still had three meetings and a lot to do, but just having a day without the commute or teaching live was a needed respite.

Got Mom’s stuff from the SNF

She really doesn’t live there anymore.

Claire and Dave return for the second time

They went to school for 2 days in February (first time in nearly a year). They have 4 scheduled days this week which covers all of March. Any ideas why they aren’t passing considering the monotony of Remote Learning, their anxiety and ADD?

I am going a lot easier on my 8th graders (accepting all late work with no penalty, modified assignments, extra credit), and I still have a ton who are not attending at all and failing. The county still plans to do end of grade testing that reflects directly on my teaching. I can save a lot of time and money by telling you right now: I haven’t taught the kids I haven’t met anything this year.

Three in a row to date

I picked up Mom’s ashes and death certificate today after work in Raleigh which was hard. Listed cause of death: Alzheimer’s disease. First (that I know of) it was Grandma Dot, then her only sibling Great Aunt Ruth. Now Mom. Three whip-smart women reduced to helplessness. I pray the research bears fruit before my children age!

March 7, 2019 - 11:30 a.m.

These photo memories that pop up in the phone are a fun surprise. This was two years ago, six neighborhood moms waiting for our lunches at a new tuna poke bowl place. I don’t think we could have been more excited! 

Nothing unexpected, but still sad

Mom was cremated yesterday. They said I can wait to get her until the death certificate is done.

https://www.cremnc.com/obituary/patricia-whalen?fh_id=16145&fbclid=IwAR01A_-atf9diJalOtEXk5fUgVlrLdWa37bkbJ3H7EVEnLn4WR2Xygebq4M

Was yesterday real?

Grateful Mom is finally at peace. 

Heartsick for the things she missed and will continue to miss - more determined than ever to stop missing out on all the things I want to do with however much time is left for me.

Masters - check

Classroom of my own - check

Me time - what a novel idea. 

 

Just before 3 a.m.

They gave her morphine for comfort several times. Finally, Mom slipped away peacefully. The hospice nurse said most of their patients pass away in the middle of the night when they would otherwise be asleep. That’s what Grandma Dot did. Mom had her cremated and eventually took her to New York to be buried next to Grandpa Frank.

The same plan is in effect. Mom will be cremated and buried next to my dad, John, in New York this summer. 

I will always miss you, Mom!

Priest came to the SNF tonight

I thought maybe Mom was holding out for him, who knows? After the anointing, prayers and blessings, I was very gently given the boot by the nurses which is completely understandable. The facility is finally covid-free again, no visitors are permitted, yet they let me sit with Mom for 9.5 hours (with two masks and wearing a plastic trash bag over my clothes they call PPE) and they let the priest in too! I am so grateful for the time they gave us together. 

They promised to call me when the time comes.