The Hannah Family

Twin fawns

Attended the parent meeting at Claire’s driver’s ed class today. There was a doe feeding near the high school with her babies. She jumped into the bushes when she spotted our van, but her offspring lingered behind and stared back.

They had lots of extra help today

Mom’s floor was crawling with nursing students and two of them were assigned to her. They fed her lunch while Mom’s grouchy roommate yelled that she didn’t want anything, “get out!” It’s good they can see what they’re getting into...

Please make sure you have my current email address

I can still access my last email, but it is unreliable so I am now relying on:

mhannah68@icloud.com

If I haven't responded to you, please forward your email. Thank you!

 

The end is nigh (grad school edition)

This was a challenging second summer semester of grad school with three classes. I followed my successful technique from last semester of posting everything to do and when it’s due on my wall in order and found this very helpful. How are you supposed to read, research and submit a zillion things without a system? That said, it’s the end of the semester and it’s go time. I have so much to do, but will let you know how it turns out.

Things are in place for the inevitable

There was another care plan meeting today. Overall, it was positive. Mom is obviously enjoying time with the chaplain and all of the music they play. She is not in pain and is the least agitated she’s been in her life. I had to ask about her weight and they were ready for it. Mom weighed 98 pounds in April and 89 pounds in July which made me tear up. They spoon feed her three full meals a day plus supplements, but don’t force it. When she stops opening her mouth like a baby bird for the next bites, they let it go. Obviously following her cues is the right approach and I am so grateful for their expertise. They reiterated that this weight loss is completely expected.

Meanwhile, everyone knows the direction this disease is going no matter how fantastic the care. The staff and hospice are doubly monitoring her condition. They are ready to call the church (already with her once a week) if the end is near. It is Mom’s wish to be cremated so that will happen. I won’t have an immediate funeral because it’s just the six of us here for her. Later I will take her ashes to New York and bury her next to my father, and this will be announced. This is the path Pat followed with my darling Grandma Dot so I continue to follow her example and know I’m still making the best possible decisions, although I never wanted to make any of them. It’s a lot like parenthood, you take care of the people in your life who are unable to take care of themselves. 

I feel tired and old, sorry this is long

Claire began driver’s ed today with the local driving school. Claire is our third baby who “saved” me from the “nearly  independent” first two kiddos who were 8 and 10 when she was born (in hindsight, they obviously weren’t close to independent then). Nonetheless, I held precious Claire so close and so much that great-grandpa George declared “that baby will never walk... you never put her down!” Well, she’s walking and (about to be) driving. Holy smokes. I’m so old.

The downsides for today aside from time on apparent fast forward: 1. Claire’s spacer for her additional braces work fell out so we crashed our busy orthodontist’s office. I hate to show up unannounced. It was worse because I had my giant shedding, drooling doggo onboard en route to the park and Claire had to plead her case alone. Fortunately, it was an easy fix and we were good to go.

2. I notice “road rash” on Claire’s arm when she gets in the car afterward. She spent 7 hours today hearing about traffic casualties after we have already experienced the worst when Katie’s boyfriend was killed on a motor scooter in 2014. Claire has been so brave this year asking for help for anxiety, committing to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with one psychiatrist and anxiolytics with another. She improved with so much with summer vacation and intervention, but exclaimed she picks at her skin when she “is anxious!” I asked her to use some of the other “fidgets” and coping mechanisms tomorrow to spare her skin. I explained there is no rush on driving, but she should finish this short course that is now completely booked for months. 

Eyes closed kind of morning

Claire dressed Chloe

Katie and her handsome son

Mom

I asked how she is feeling today and she said “pretty good!”