This and That…Life is Hard

I was talking to mom yesterday for a little while...okay, over an hour and she gave me some updates.

This week's schedule for Tina changed a little bit.  

Tina had:

• respite on Monday
• Mom and Anthony are doing the Tuesday duty
• Mom and Anthony on Wednesday
• Judy was bumped from her regular Tuesday to Thursday because mom had an appointment
• Friday is Jenn and Thelma
• Plus all her regular PSW’s, daily nurse visit, etc.

(I think I have that right?)

 Google was moved to the back room so that Tina can call mom if she needs her before someone arrives.

Mom said, that last week, her and dad took Tina up to the hospital with Austin's car.  Tina needed to get a PICC inserted.  This is so that the nurses don't have to be looking for veins especially when she is dehydrated.  They can give her medication or IV with no more pricking and prodding.  When they were finished, they got Tina back in the car and it wouldn't start.  Mom had Tina's cell phone but didn't know how to make a call.  Tina's doctor had spotted her at the hospital and came out to see her.  The phone was handed to Dr. Liz and she made a phone call.  Dr. Liz is an amazing doctor who has been there for Tina with even making house calls! 

I did pretty well through the conversation until mom said that she was thankful for all the prayers because she never wanted to be around to lose one of her girls.  

She said that she knows it's the prayers of so many people that help her get up in the morning and look after her house and take care of Tina.

Mom said that she is so thankful for Anthony too because he is there to do the heavy lifting while she provides the care.

I can’t imagine what Tina is going through.  My heart hurts thinking about how each day she loses a little more of her mobility.  

What I do know is how I feel…and I hate this disease.  I hate what it is doing to my sister.  I wish that we could go back in time and make it an annual cottage time for the Sister Three.  I am thankful for the times that Tina was able to join us when we rented the Hollywood cottage.  They were good times.

Life just doesn’t make sense right now but we are STEELE standing even when we feel like screaming, throwing or punching something! 

*****

Carol is currently in Edmonton helping Xarra get her nest ready for the baby.  She is going to wrack up those westjet points with flying to help her daughter and then at the end of the month to be with Tina.

Ron and I went for a morning hike today.  We had a reprieve from the steaming hot and smoke filled air.  Breathing hard is good for the emotions and I needed that today.

Life is about one step at a time…sometimes it’s all down hill and easy stepping and sometimes, like now, it’s climbing that mountain.  Every step seems hard but it’s the path that we have right now and so we are STEELE Standing.