Blog Post #2

It feels so good to be back!​

In 2016, I was busy helping my Mom who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in January of 2014 and my stepdad at their home. They were having trouble keeping up with their bills and Mom couldn’t cook anymore. Mom also had fallen a couple of times. I hired caregivers to come in the daytime and help Mom and fix the parents meals. The family and I had Mom reevaluated and my stepdad evaluated for the first time. We found out that he has vascular dementia which explained a lot. Especially him not remembering that Mom had fallen.

The end of 2016 ended on a happy note. My youngest son got married to a beautiful, smart and athletic young lady. The hardest part for me was they moved to Maine…so far away. : (

In 2017, so much happened with the parents. Mom had fallen a total of 6 times now and my stepdad was in denial and didn’t want any help in the house. After a stressful year and a half of trying to keep them in their house and a family intervention, we moved them to a beautiful Assisted Living Facility. They get 3 meals a day and have activities to keep them busy. I know they are being watched regularly and that makes me a lot less stressed. I then emptied out their home in 2 weeks. My husband and I had the house sold in 2 months and then I was able to relax so much more.

During the time we were getting the parents moved, my family had to put our dog down. It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make. I’m writing a book about him. He saved our daughter’s life.

2018 had its ups and downs. The exciting events came when my oldest son married a beautiful and smart young lady and our youngest son and his wife had our first grandchild. I’m proud to be a Grandma!

Then Mom had a stroke. Everything changed again. She can’t walk like she used to. After her hospital stay and speech and physical rehabilitation, I hired 24/7 caregivers for her with the support from the family.

The day before Mom had her stroke, my mother-in-law fell and fractured her back. My husband helped take her to physical therapy. 
Grandma is needed!! I fly to Maine to help with my granddaughter. So precious!

In March 2019, I learned a new skill and hobby. I wanted to learn how to knit so I can make a family Christmas stocking pattern for my granddaughter and my daughter-in-laws. I needed them done by October. The ladies at Four Purls Yarn Shop thought I was crazy for attempting a difficult color work project so soon but they cheered me on. I worked so hard and I did it!
Now that I finished the stockings, I can deliver them in person since we are heading to Maine. Road trip #2 to Maine this year! I’m publishing a book about our road trips now. It’s a super quick read but I think you’ll find it interesting. No one travels like we do! I’ll let you know when the books will be available for purchase.

December brought a special gift. Our oldest son and his wife had a baby girl. We have two beautiful granddaughters! Our newest granddaughter lives close by.

In February 2020, we planned a last minute road trip to Maine. We are so glad we did! That was the only trip we made this year to see our youngest son and his family.

In March, as you all know, everything shut down due to the coronavirus. Our daughter was laid off work. I helped her with the paperwork(it took over 3 hours online!) to get the financial assistance she needed while she was unemployed.

My mom tested positive for Covid in September. She contracted the virus from one of her caregivers. She survived it!

I thought since we are at home, I’ll try to do some of my projects on my list. I’ve now made five t-shirt quilts for us and the kids. I saved all their shirts from childhood. I saved mine and my mother-in-law had all my husband’s jerseys from school. I made his first. I have one more left on that project list!

Grandma was asked to help take care of the youngest granddaughter two times a week for six hours a day. I’m thankful I can help. I know why you have children when you’re young.

I haven’t been able to get much writing accomplished. I did do some writing webinars. I’ve been busy with babysitting, our personal business, taking care of my Mom and step dad’s supplies and bills, projects, and working out with my husband in our garage gym along with walking around our neighborhood. 
2021 started off with happy news. We have another granddaughter in Maine! We are blessed to have three healthy and beautiful grandchildren. We went to Maine to see our granddaughters and their parents. Another road trip! 
Today, Mom can’t do anything for herself. Alzheimer’s disease is evil! She doesn’t know my name but I feel she recognizes my face. I tell her who I am and that I love her.  

I have four books that I am working on. I’m only helping watch my granddaughter that lives here one day a week so I’m trying to read and write as much as possible.

I hope you all haven’t been affected too badly by the pandemic.