Together Again

Mom and Dad are together again. Mom passed on Sunday night around 10:30PM. Pat, Bridge, Colleen and I were with her along with Molly, Kate, Colleen, Brendan and Colin. She has not been alone since her health turned on Thursday. She had visits from many people who sat with her, told stories and toasted her life.

There was an outpouring from the people at St. Anne's. Aides, nurses and friends that she had made paraded in and out of her room, checking on her and offering us their support. She received Last Rites and Sr. Maureen prayed with her multiple times a day. Even Sam came and was one of the few who was able to get one last response from her. It was a comfort to all of us.

Thanks to all of you who have followed us along this journey. We appreciate your love, support and prayers. Mom isn't fighting anymore and she is surrounded by the people who loved her and have been waiting for her to join them.

Services are:
Feerick Funeral Home on Wednesday 8/8 from 4-7Pm with a service at 7.

Funeral Mass at St. Monica on Thursday 8/9 at 10:30 am.

Cemetery is Holy Cross

After Holy Cross, please join us for a luncheon celebration of Mom's long and happy life at
Taylor & Dunn's
North Green Bay Avenue and Donges Bay Road (Mequon)

God Bless you and Thank you all!
Bridget, Maureen, Colleen and Patrick

Near the end

Mom has taken a turn. The family is gathering around her, shes resting peacefully waiting for Pat to arrive. Keep her in your prayers.

Tough Days

Mom has had a few tough days. The extra fluids are creating a cough and lots of chest rattles. She is pretty confused too. She has some great moments and then she forgets who she just talked to. They did a chest x-ray and it showed some congestive heart failure but no pneumonia (yet). They will keep an eye on her and do another one if she doesn't start sounding better.

The bad news is that she may have lost her lower teeth. They can't be found anywhere and it may be that they were accidentally thrown away. Unfortunately she has no memory of when she had them or where she put them.

end of July update

Not much to report. Mom is still fighting all of the extra fluids in her body. Her legs weep constantly and that just adds to the healing issues. She has an ulcer on the back of her leg again. Her weight went up 12 pounds in 16 days so they upped the water pill again. That can cause problems with her other levels so we'll see how it goes.

She has had trouble finding comfortable clothes since pants are uncomfortable when her weight fluctuates and it is hard to cover the bandages on her legs. I am sorry that I convinced her to say goodbye to her "Muu-Muus" of old since they are very hard to find now. Brendan and I made a trip to Goldmanns on Mitchell street and found an armful of them. It was quite an adventure and Brendan was very impressed with the world's oldest department store. It really is a fascinating relic!

Mom doesn't have much interest in anything these days. She stays in her room, in her chair. It is hard to pry her away. I did get her to church this week and we had a little coffee in the great room and then sat out on the patio for awhile. She really enjoyed it but when I ask her if she wants to, she'll say no thanks. She turns down any offers to join in activities and I guess I'm ready to give up on that. She will only go if someone is there to take her.

Mom's sister Kathleen and her granddaughter visited last week and brought her some chocolates. When I visited on Sunday, one of the aides tattled on her that she had finished the whole box in a couple of days. Needless to say her blood sugar was way out of whack. I guess we'll have to hide the treats from now on.

The Wallace family is planning a family picnic on the 11th. It will be at Mike Wallace's which is very near to St. Anne's. If all goes well, I'm hoping Mom can go over for awhile to see everyone. That will make her happy. Pat is hoping to make it up here one more time before school starts again too so she will have a few things to look forward to.

All's Well

No significant changes lately. Mom is about the same. She isn't challenging herself and isn't changing much. She prefers to eat in her room rather than go down to the dining room. She is sleeping in her chair rather than in her bed. Basically she is doing what she wants to do and not much of what others are suggesting. That's OK I guess, although it is hard for us as it makes more sense to us for her to get involved with people at St. Anne's.

She is struggling more with her memory these days and she is aware of it. She will say, "My memory is getting terrible," and she will often forget who has been to visit her. Bridge, Colleen, John and Kate were all with her on Wed. night but by Thursday morning, she didn't remember the visit. I know Kate, Peggy and John were up last weekend and that, she remembered. What does that say about visits with her children?!?!

Her legs are healing slowly and so walking is difficult and hard on her breathing.

Al is celebrating his retirement this weekend with a party in the local park. We opted (and Mom agreed) not to drag her out there. The weather and facilities are not conducive to all of her needs. Bridge and Al had a wonderful time on their cruise to Alaska. Retirement is already agreeing with Al.

Well here's hoping for more status quo.

Busy 4th

It was a busy visit with Pat and Cyndi and the kids here. We brought Mom home one Saturday and had a barbecue here. She did pretty well. The 4th was spent at the park. I had to march in the Shorewood parade with a group from our school because we won an award for our Character Education Program. I recruited Colin and Mckenna to walk with me. They were good sports since we had already been to the Whitefish Bay parade and spent the afternoon at Klode park. Mom stayed at St. Anne's. That was more than she could handle.

On Friday, Pat, Cyndi, Colleen and I took Mom out to T.J.s (her favorite restaurant) for dinner. We happened to run into Lou Wahl as we walked in and he joined us for a drink. Mom went in the wheelchair and did pretty well although T.J.s remodeling has made the place very difficult for wheelchairs. She was struggling with her breathing by dinner's end so we called it a night.

Mom still struggles with her skin tears. She has such thin skin that it tears easily and then we worry about infections and slow healing. She still has a lot of water weight and so moving and breathing are compromised. Life is not easy for her.

Bridge and Al return this week from their two week cruise to Alaska. I know Mom will be glad to see them. (Bridge keeps her stocked in popsicles and snacks!)

Iowa Roches Arrive

Pat and his family arrived today for their annual summer visit. They headed right out to visit Mom and she was happy to see them all. I'll include pictures next time of Grandma and her littlest grandkids.

Mom is holding her own. She still has a lot of redness in her left foot and some swelling but no fever or warmth so no doctor call. I try to have faith in them. She has had a lot more confusion lately and it concerns me that it is a foreshadowing of something coming. I hope I'm wrong. For now she is happy for the extra company. We hope to be able to bring her home for awhile next week or over the weekend.

Bridge and Al were in to stock Mom with snacks and popsicles before they left today on their Alaskan cruise. They will be gone for 2 weeks and should have quite an adventure.