Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jog

On Tuesday, Mom's case manager asked me to decide between having her do skilled therapy in the rehab wing of the hospital, or back at Lakeview. Since Mom adores the therapist at Lakeview, and cooperates well with him, I decided that would be a better choice. Mom wasn't very clear-headed on Tuesday, but I talked to her about it, and she was fine with the Lakeview choice. The case manager said the move would happen the next day -- Wednesday.

Wednesday was a long day. After getting up in the morning, I stripped the bed in Mom's guest room, where I'd been sleeping; washed the sheets; and re-made the bed. I packed up my things and loaded the car. By 8:30 or so, I was ready to go see Mom at the hospital and find out what the plans were for the move. Sadly, a nurse had already been in Mom's room and said, "I hear you're going home today!" So Mom was sure she was going home. When she told me this, I said, "Oh, Mom, you need to get stronger before you go home! I think you're going to go to Lakeview for awhile." But she didn't believe me. I went and found the case manager, who confirmed that she was being discharged ("going home" as far as the nurse was concerned) today, but to Lakeview, not her house.

She was actually alright with this. I think she realized that she'd be in a pickle if she went home in the condition she is currently in.

I stayed and tried to get her to eat a little breakfast, but she wouldn't. I had made arrangements with Pat and Gloria, for them to oversee the move to Lakeview, because I had to start the trip home. It was hard saying "good-bye," but we did. Before leaving Carlsbad, I went by a flower shop to order some flowers for Mother's Day. I sure hope they get delivered to the right place. When I ordered them, I didn't know what room she'd have, in Lakeview.

The trip home seemed to take twice as long as it should! It didn't, really, although it did take a couple hours longer than usual. Part of that was because I went the scenic route to avoid construction on I-40, but it doesn't seem it should have added that much time! I stopped for about a half hour in Roswell to get gas for the car and a hamburger for me. And I stopped three or four other times, briefly, to take a picture or answer a phone call. Anyway -- I left Carlsbad at 10:30 a.m. and made it home by 5:00 p.m.

I just called Mom to see how she is doing, and she sounds good. She is planning to have someone wash her hair today, which she's really been anxious about. They've taken away her walker, and don't want her to walk anymore, right away. She'll probably have it back pretty soon, since she was walking short distances with it, while in the hospital.

Mom's in Room #59 at:
Lakeview Christian Home
1905 West Pierce Street
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220

A Setback

Sunday morning I had a call from Lakeview, telling me that Mom had taken another fall, and was being transported by ambulance to the Carlsbad hospital. I called Pat, and he said he'd check on her and get back in touch with me.

After church and lunch with Keith and Sherry, Pat and I talked and we both agreed that I should go back down there, at least for a day, until she was stable again, in the hospital. Her vitals were out of whack, and they were working to stabilize them. I got packed quickly and left Albuquerque at 3:00 p.m. Since I knew I-40 had some serious construction going on, I went the scenic route, down I-25 and cutting across through Carrizozo, Capitan and Lincoln. It really was a pretty drive, but took more time than going the I-40 way. After stopping in Roswell for gas and then being stopped outside of Artesia at an alcohol checkpoint, I finally rolled into Carlsbad at about 8:45 p.m.

I found Mom in ICU, and heavily medicated for pain, as well as for heart and blood pressure. She was pretty comfortable and talkative. I didn't stay too late, but before I left asked a nurse about the x-ray report. I was so thankful to hear that no ribs were broken, which had been a concern. I didn't stay too late, but was back in her room around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.

On Monday they moved her out of ICU into a regular room - all vitals were looking good. The "game plan" is to keep her there for a couple days, and then move her to the rehab section of the hospital (again). She remembers this as a torture chamber, so I hope it goes better for her there this time around. I have no idea what all of this means for her going-home prospects. We're taking it a day at a time.

I plan to go home on Wednesday morning, and don't know just when I'll need to come back again. I'm running low on sick leave. I'm so thankful that my employer allows me to use sick leave for family members, though! And I'm grateful that my supervisor has been so supportive, reminding me of two things: "Family comes first," and "That's what sick leave is for." (Thanks, Betsy!)

Defining Moment #5 - Childbirth

Having children defined me as a mother. I remember, a few days before Chris was born, trying to wrap my mind around that concept. "Today I'm not a mother, but next week I will be." I tried to comprehend it, but really couldn't until the first moment I held my baby.

I learned many lessons through being a mother, not least of which is that God knows, better than I, what children I should have. If I could have shopped for my children through a mail-order catalog, and been allowed to choose every single characteristic I wanted, I doubt that I would have checked the boxes beside (just to name a few):

a Allergies and asthma
a Attention deficit
a Non-stop talking
a Delayed speech
a Slow to potty train
a Fearless and accident prone
a Overly cautious

And yet, as it turned out, I love each of my sons, not in spite of having some of those characteristics, but because of them! I gradually learned to treasure each small trait that played a part in making them the wonderfully unique little fellows they were (and big fellows they are). And if I had custom ordered designer-kids, I wouldn't have ended up with the two that I love with all my heart.

Having children defined me as someone who defends, protects, provides, compliments, encourages, comforts, disciplines, trains, teaches, enjoys, plays with and takes pride in her children. That would be a mother.

Spring Winds and Forest Fires

It's been a spring marked by continuing high winds in this part of New Mexico. High winds in country as dry as this are frightening; any lightning bolt, cigarette, or spark can lead to run-away forest fires, spread rapidly by the wind.

One such forest fire has been burning in the Manzano Mountains, not far from Albuquerque, for over two weeks now. On Tuesday it was reported to be 90% contained, but yesterday's roaring winds rekindled it, and sent it out of control again. As of this evening, it had consumed 11,000 acres. Albuquerque's normally blue skies are heavy with drifting smoke.

Officials are unable to say how many homes and businesses have been lost, because the heavy smoke prohibits visibility. Today's winds were between 40 to 60 m.p.h. and kept air tankers and helicopter crews on the ground. Approximately 500 people, from Torreon and Tajique and everything in-between those two towns have been evacuated, and others have been warned to be prepared to evacuate.

This fire is burning along the scenic route where Sherry and I did our photo shoot back in September.

My heart goes out to these home- and business-owners.