Physical Therapy

August 31, 2011

Mom's lab results came in.... her kidney's are functioning better.  She is doing better all the way around.  Dr. Potter took her off Comfort Measures and put her back on Recovery.  Today was her first day back in Physical Therapy.  She is working hard!

Shella Basso, Physical Therapist, works mom's foot

Church with Mom

August 21, 2011

I went to church with mom today before leaving to go back home.  I love the spirit that is felt in the Nursing Home with the old folks.  And I especially love mom's spirit. Going to church with mom is one of my favorite things to do with her.  It always has been.  

I think I can go home and be ok this time.  Mom is doing better.  I will miss her though.  I love her so.

Turtles

August 19, 2011

I took mom out for a stroll.  Sheldon (Parkdale's driver) was in the front yard.  He had me bring mom over to the fountain where the turtles live.  He picked one up and showed it to mom.  I think she enjoyed her short visit out of the Care Center.

Fresh Peaches and Tomatoes

August 18, 2011

Mom has eaten in between 50 and 150 calories a day now for the past week.  It's a worry.  All she wants is fresh peaches and tomatoes.  I am thankful for my orchard and that we able to provide the fresh fruit for her.  I slice the peaches and tomatoes up in the morning before I go to the Care Center.  I enjoy feeding and spending the time with my mother.  It makes me happy to have her happy.

A secret date with dad

August 16, 2011

Carol Olsen, a lady from Kelley's ward is in Parkdale, too.  She is right across the hall from mom.  Mom and Carol have become the best of friends.  They visit with each other often and sit in the dinning hall by each other.  I have adopted Carol as a wonderful friend, too.  I take fresh peaches to Carol when I take mom her's. 

One day Carol told us a story while we were sitting in the dinning hall for dinner.  She had gone on a date with my dad before he met mom.  Carol said Ida (grandma) was an onry lady and was very protective of her sons.  Carol's mother did not want Carol to have anything to do with the Bates boys because of it. One day dad asked Carol on a date.  Carol went, but didn't tell her mother.  After Carol and dad met up, they were driving along in the old car.  The car slid off an embankment and the both of them tumbled around in the car. Carol got all banged up and managed to break a few ribs in the process.  She never did tell her mother she had been out with Jimmy Bates!  She suffered through the pain in silence.

Carol Olsen and Ellen Bates.... best of friends

4 Generations

August 15, 2011

I cried all last night after leaving mom.  I felt like I needed to attend to Dave, but as soon as I got back home, all I could think of was mom.  I missed her terribly.  I missed her spirit.  I repacked my bags this morning and left for Price, again!  Thank goodness for an understanding husband.

Shaniel and Morgann came up later and we got a 4 Generation picture taken with mom.

Ellen Bates (mother), Shaniel (granddaughter, Morgann, great granddaughter, Carol (me-daughter)

Determined

August 14, 2011

Even though it was very difficult for mom to get up for church, she was determined to do so.  The aids came in, got her dressed, put her in the wheelchair, combed her hair, put her eyebrows on, put her lipstick on. Beautiful!  

Kelley and I sat on either side of mom during Sacrament Meeting.  We held her hands.  We felt her spirit. She struggled to sit in the chair.  Her back hurt so bad and when she tried to get relief by bending forward, she could not control the jerks.  Her eyes were closed all through Sacrament Meeting. Only once or twice was she able to open them.  One time she starred off in space.... like she wasn't even there.  Her eyes were so dark and distant.    She managed to get a few words out when we sang.  I cried through almost the entire meeting.  I could not stand to see mom suffering so.  Yet, the spirit she brought to the meeting and my life, brought so much comfort and joy.  She blessed my life and strengthened my testimony today with her determination to remain faithful to the end.


I went back home to Brigham City later in the day.

two of mom's favorite aids help her get ready for church

How Firm a Foundation

August 13, 2011

One of mom's favorite songs is How Firm A Foundation.  She told me the lyrics brought such comfort to her in facing some of the hardest trials in her life.  This morning, I got a couple of hymn books out of the closet in the dinning hall, and Leslie and I sang it to her.  Even in her weakened state, she mouthed the words as we sang, and asked us to sing it again.  Later in the day, her room filled to overflowing with children and grandchildren, we sang to her again.  Terri Beth accompanied us on her violin.  The spirit was so ever strong as tenor, soprano, base, and alto voices blended together.  Uplifting and beautiful music spilled over in the halls of the Nursing Home.

One of the aids told me "your mother is so lucky to have the family she does."  She then said every time she walked by the room, she paused, listened and lingered, and got goose bumps all over.  Oh... the spirit affected this young aid, too.  I told her our mother taught us to love and that "we were lucky to have her!"  

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord.  Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said, Who unto the Savior, for refuge have fled.

In every condition - in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale or a bounding in wealth.

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea - As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed.  For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.


It's our 17th Wedding Anniversary today.... couldn't focus on anything other than mom.  Love Dave for understanding!

Why Are You Doing This?

August 12, 2011

Mom's spirit is so strong.  She teaches me the things I need to know at this time.  I haven't rubbed mom's foot before tonight.  I fed her, brushed her teeth, and stayed until she was comfortable for the evening.  I asked if there was anything else I could do for her.  In her hesitation, she asked if I could please rub her feet because they were hurting so bad.  She did not want to ask because she knew it would be difficult for me. But because I love my mother, I proceeded to rub her feet.  As I was gently rubbing in the cream up and down her foot, she said I was doing what the Savior did for His disciple's when He dipped a towel in a basin of water and washed their feet.  I felt gratitude in my heart to be taught at my mother's feet at that moment.  

A few minutes later she asked the question, "why are you doing this?"  I was a little taken back by the question, but without hesitation I told her "because I love you and want to serve you".  I wept.  I can't describe the incredible feeling I received from the spirit through my mother.  I was blessed so abundantly tonight.

It wasn't until the next day that I realized the full impact of the question, "why are you doing this?"  Shaniel, her kids, Audrey, Mike, and their kids came up in the evening.  Audrey felt an urgency to  visit grandma.  She read out of the scriptures to her and Shaniel gave her an all-over-body rub with lotion.  As Shaniel finished the left side of her body and started on the other side, mom again asked the question "why are you doing this?" Without hesitation Shaniel said "because I love you grandma."  At that very moment the spirit taught me, and my daughters a lesson we will never forget.  The Savior was using mom to teach us the true meaning of life - "to love and serve one another!"  Father In Heaven's spirit was with us.  We knew it and we felt it.  We cried many tears.  I was filled with so much gratitude for my mother and the lessons she taught us.

Neurological Incident

August 11, 2011

Today.... my life, mom's life... changed.  I went to Price to see mom and to meet my siblings for another meeting concerning the house.  Kelley, Leslie and I were visiting with Bill at mom's house when we got word that mom had a neurological incident (stroke or TIA).  

The world stood still for me at that very moment.  It was going to be rough road ahead.  We just about lost her.  It didn't look like she would make it through the weekend.  She was gray, had slow movement, couldn't speak well, couldn't feed herself, couldn't move herself, and stayed asleep most of the time for the next few days.  Dr. Potter took her off Recovery and Rehabilitation and put her on Comfort Measures (like Hospice). Her kidney's were not working, she was in multi-system failure, and it was not looking good.  Just one moment at a time... that's all, nothing more.