TUSAL

Not a whole lot of stitching going on the last month.  What little I've done has been focused on an exchange, so no pictures!  I did manage to finish block 9 of Anniversaries of the Heart (minus the as yet to be determined personalization) and started on Block 10.  What can I say, I'm procrastinating the last 10 minutes of stitching needed on the exchange piece because I'm still a bit insecure about my ability to do the finishing.  I'm actually going to have to touch the sewing machine, and without the comforting back-up of Mom!

Going backwards in time, last Saturday I dropped Mom and Dad off at the airport to start the Grand Adventure.  By now they should be on the ms Volendam (after a 6 hour layover in Fiji and a day and a half in Auckland).  Lucky ducks, they get to spend 38 days on that ship, touring some absolutely wonderful places I've dreamed of (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, etc).  The end destination of the trip is Vancouver, BC.  Mom will finally transition from a Pollywog to a Shellback!  Dad, of course, is already an Trusty Shellback, due to his many years in the Navy.

The Friday before that we moved Grandma out of the rehab facility and back to her room at her assisted living facility.  She made the decision a week prior that she wanted to stop taking her meds, and stuck to that decision.  We chose (as a family) to not just take her off all meds cold turkey, but to enter her into Hospice Care.  Best decision ever.  She's so much happier and more comfortable in her own room, and getting spoiled eating whatever she wants and no longer get her fingers pricked to check her blood sugar.  It made for a hectic few days to get all the logistics and paperwork done, but I know Mom left for her trip feeling more comfortable that Grandma is happy and taken care of.  Just because she's in hospice doesn't mean she's going to drop dead in the next few days.  Actually, Grandma was slightly upset when the hospice admissions nurse told her "You're not actively dying, you're going to be here for a while longer."

Thank you to everyone that has had Grandma in your thoughts and prayers, and sent well wishes.  Its meant a lot, and the power of positive thinking has really worked.  I can't expect an almost 92 year old to behave like a spring chicken, but I can be happy she's comfortable and happy.  In fact, we have a date to watch Casablanca in the next day or 2.  I'm embarrassed to say I've never seen it before.

I've been browsing blogs when I can, but have been horribly negligent in leaving comments.  Sorry about that.  I'm hoping (along with my MBA student mentor) that life gets into a bit more of a set routine.  I'm horribly behind on school, not just because of Grandma's situation, but also due to my own physical therapy and another flare-up of my Thygeson's keratitis in my eyes.  At least the opthamologist here now believes there really is a problem, and is going along with that diagnosis.