Sorry, I have not updated in awhile. We were all so exited about this past holiday season and Lizzy getting a handicapped van among other things. We thought finally, we had some great things happening in our lives. Then, a complete shock..my mother was hospitalized the day of our last Christmas gathering with my dad on December 29. The hospital said " That they thought she had a stroke." She could barely speak only make noises and was on bipap at the hospital. She said in a very slow almost whisper" I want to live" That was the day the doctors tried to get her to sign DNR papers. She was doing terrible when she was first in the hospital. I called my siblings home. Seeing what mom's bipap settings were I convinced the lung doc to put her settings on a span of 10. They also added humidification at my request. Off Bipap she was on 10 liters of O2. Mom was doing much better on the bipap after that. Then, the skin break down started on her face and she hated it. She would get all upset and take the mask off. She had a full face mask on. My siblings started arriving and we knew deep down her time in this world was limited. My bother Rory and his wife flew in from Kuwait. My sister Rita flew in from Florida, my brother Tim came from around Iowa/IL border and my sister Mindy came from Kentucky. We all were there to see her almost every day her last week. She was our center of attention and it felt good to have that "sibling bonding". I told her stories of her giving our kids their first baths after they were first home from the hospital and things she loved to hear. I put lotion on her face and combed her hair. My sister Rita stayed with her at night. She loved her grandchildren and her great grandchild. She loved babies. She always cared so much about birthdays and the holidays that she would buy gifts or send cards. She was such a caring person and loved her family. She was so proud of her kids and grand kids.
She passed on Jan. 6 . The day after a bad winter blizzard. She loved the sun and light. She passed peacefully looking out the window at the sun, Monday Jan. 6 at 8:25 am. My sister Rita was at her side. I had not left home yet because the roads were still being cleared off. There were sun dogs that day and I feel she was telling us she was at peace.
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I have not been the same since her passing. Every thing I see reminds me of my mom. I think of her at least once an hour or more. My heart is having a hard time adjusting to her leaving this world. She had a rough last few years in the nursing home. It was hard for her not to live with her family. She was constantly in pain with her bladder. My heart hurts I could not just take her in myself. I had Paul and Lizzy to care for and I just could not take on more responsibility and do a good job for all three. She wanted constant nursing care so that is why she lived at the nursing home. She told us Christmas Eve 2012 she would not be here for the next Christmas. She made it a few days longer.I need to forgive myself and I have not been able to do that.
It was so hard losing my stepmother a few months ago but, losing my mother was unbearable. Again, three of my siblings, our families and I went through a funeral in just a few months. My dad also was having a hard time with my mom passing. The day she died is the day they signed their marriage license 60 years ago.
I just wish I would of been able to do everything she wanted me to do for her.
The last picture above is my mom the last week she was in this world with Reed, Rylee and me. Sad picture but.. feel the love. Ohh.. just breaks my heart to watch her suffer so.
Christmas had been great this year. My girls had helped a family out this year instead of exchanging gifts. In the past years we had people help us out when we had the roughest time in our life so, it was time to pay it forward.
Paul got Lizzy her handicapped van in Indiana. Thank you all that donated to Lizzy's fund. We did not raise a lot money online but what we did raise helped so much towards the purchase. It was a blessing to have so many kind people donate to help Lizzy. Thank you to all that helped.
Lizzy told her lawyers she wanted three things for Christmas this year. One was her dog Wrigley( which she already had since before her birthday) Two was that she got an handicapped van, and three was to have her name changed to Elizabeth LeeAnn Huette. She got all three. Her name was changed Dec.23 2013 and she got her van Dec. 23 2013. Life is good .
Never thought we would of made it through the last three years but, with faith and with being blessed with wonderful people in our lives we made it through!! Thank you to my friends and our family for helping us get through the toughest times in our lives. Thank you for being there for us.
" We believe in miracles because, we live with one!"
