The Update: The Tired, The Grateful
Out with the whooshing of the breath and in with the thankfulness. Mom is home now, after bouts with blood infections, low heart rates, acute kidney failure, various other infections, low blood pressure and other things I can't think of right now. She has almost no memory of most of her stay in the hospital, which might be considered a good thing because it was horrible. She is still pretty beat up and not in good shape at all, and she feels pretty miserable still so it's going to be a long haul over the road to recovery.
I have been taking care of her and Uncle Gary at the same time all through this whole situation. Wake up, pick up Uncle, take him to the doctor, do his shopping, take him to do other errands, take him home, put away his groceries, go sit with Mom for seven hours. I'm not complaining, because they both need me. Uncle has been doing steadily worse lately. He just can't seem to breathe, especially in this cold weather. He can't walk to do anything at all, even go to the bathroom and back. He drove to our house the other day and picked me up, so I did a few errands and grocery shopped for him. He dropped me off and went home to bring in the groceries, and couldn't even bring in three bags. He collapsed on the porch and later told my Mom he seriously thought he was going to die out there in the cold. Now he doesn't scare easily and never says that, so I am extremely worried about him. He had to leave the groceries outside for two days until I could come out there and put them away today.
I went out to pick up all his medications that he is out of and get more groceries for him and do his Christmas shopping (if you don't think that was fun, battling the crowds). He couldn't even walk around the house and almost fell once. He reminds me of how my Dad looked before he passed away. He had physically changed to where he looked much older and not at all well. My Uncle has aged dramatically lately and just doesn't look like himself at all. My Mom thinks that if his breathing doesn't improve, he won't survive to see his next birthday. I was afraid to tell her I thought that she might be right, but I think he might have two years left if that. He has become a father figure to me and I would be lost without him.
I don't want to admit that I am tired. Running back and forth and caring for Mom and Uncle Gary all day is wearing me out. I'm stress eating and gaining back the weight I lost and just feel like I could sleep all day. I'm trying to keep going, I'm so grateful for both of them and want to take care of them.
Its been almost six months since I left school, and the student loans are coming a-calling. I thought I would be in school again by now, and since I'm taking care of family I can't get a job even though I would absolutely love to have one. They are hiring nurse techs at the hospital and everyone says I would be great at it, and they train. I'm chomping at the bit to get out and get a job. I'm going stir crazy. Since Uncle Gary and Mom are sick, I'm staying up here and applying at the local football crazy college (bye-bye Savannah) but can't start till next fall. I really had no other choice than to start loan deferment papers. I hate that. I'm the kind of person who pays early and pays extra, so this just makes me twitch. Ah well. What can you do but make lemonade out of your lemons? It's just a little tough when I seem to be missing a few ingredients.
And I just want to say a huge Thank You to everyone who sent hugs and well wishes during my Mom's illness. I am so blessed to have such a caring group of people surrounding me. Thank you all so, so much.
I have been taking care of her and Uncle Gary at the same time all through this whole situation. Wake up, pick up Uncle, take him to the doctor, do his shopping, take him to do other errands, take him home, put away his groceries, go sit with Mom for seven hours. I'm not complaining, because they both need me. Uncle has been doing steadily worse lately. He just can't seem to breathe, especially in this cold weather. He can't walk to do anything at all, even go to the bathroom and back. He drove to our house the other day and picked me up, so I did a few errands and grocery shopped for him. He dropped me off and went home to bring in the groceries, and couldn't even bring in three bags. He collapsed on the porch and later told my Mom he seriously thought he was going to die out there in the cold. Now he doesn't scare easily and never says that, so I am extremely worried about him. He had to leave the groceries outside for two days until I could come out there and put them away today.
I went out to pick up all his medications that he is out of and get more groceries for him and do his Christmas shopping (if you don't think that was fun, battling the crowds). He couldn't even walk around the house and almost fell once. He reminds me of how my Dad looked before he passed away. He had physically changed to where he looked much older and not at all well. My Uncle has aged dramatically lately and just doesn't look like himself at all. My Mom thinks that if his breathing doesn't improve, he won't survive to see his next birthday. I was afraid to tell her I thought that she might be right, but I think he might have two years left if that. He has become a father figure to me and I would be lost without him.
I don't want to admit that I am tired. Running back and forth and caring for Mom and Uncle Gary all day is wearing me out. I'm stress eating and gaining back the weight I lost and just feel like I could sleep all day. I'm trying to keep going, I'm so grateful for both of them and want to take care of them.
Its been almost six months since I left school, and the student loans are coming a-calling. I thought I would be in school again by now, and since I'm taking care of family I can't get a job even though I would absolutely love to have one. They are hiring nurse techs at the hospital and everyone says I would be great at it, and they train. I'm chomping at the bit to get out and get a job. I'm going stir crazy. Since Uncle Gary and Mom are sick, I'm staying up here and applying at the local football crazy college (bye-bye Savannah) but can't start till next fall. I really had no other choice than to start loan deferment papers. I hate that. I'm the kind of person who pays early and pays extra, so this just makes me twitch. Ah well. What can you do but make lemonade out of your lemons? It's just a little tough when I seem to be missing a few ingredients.
And I just want to say a huge Thank You to everyone who sent hugs and well wishes during my Mom's illness. I am so blessed to have such a caring group of people surrounding me. Thank you all so, so much.