How Can You Tell?

Mother hadn't been feeling well for a while, but the problem is that she rarely feels very well and so it's really hard to tell when she needs medical attention. When I ask her if she thinks we should go to the doctor, she always says no and doesn't think that they can do anything--says, "It's just old age."

Wednesday morning I told her I was going to work in the garden for a while, then I would be back in for lunch. She said, "Okay, let's go out to lunch today." I was thrilled that she felt good enough to go out so we went to "Dear Lizzie", a charming boutique and lunch place (I think they call it a "bistro") in Highland. She enjoyed a Chicken Salad sandwich and we always love looking at their pretty things. We experience some "sticker shock" when we see the prices for those pretties but it's kind of fun to be appalled together! Mother loved a watch with lots of bling, but it was too small for her tiny arms and they said it couldn't be adjusted. Last time we were there, she bought a beautiful sweater and has really enjoyed it.

Thursday morning she was feeling really awful. When I asked what was wrong she simply said, "everything!" She seemed to be quite confused and was having a hard time communicating with me. I decided to call on the home health nurse, even though she's been discharged from home health. When I talked with her she said she thought I should take her to the hospital and get some tests done. I told mother we were going to the hospital, she said, "Oh, I'll probably be okay." She just such a trooper! At the ER, they did lots of tests and she was quite unhappy about the whole process. They determined that she was dehydrated and had a UTI--gave her some IV fluids and antibiotic, a prescription for more antibiotics and, five hours later, sent us home. By 10:00 p.m. I was relieved to see that she was doing better, though she still didn't feel very well. The next morning, I said something to her about what the doctor said and she was so surprised--she has no recollection of being at the hospital. Wow, I am amazed are how quickly she can go from going out to lunch, to being so ill she doesn't remember it. And, it's so amazing to me, Thursday, the very next day, she went to get her hair done!

I am so grateful for my wonderful daughters--all of whom had to offer lots of support on the hospital day. Amy helped me get mother into her wheelchair, then lifted one side of the chair while I lifted the other, so we could go down the steps and get her into the car. Sarabeth took Amy to her doctor's appointment (the office that won't allow you to come back if you don't call to cancel at least 24 hours prior to your appointment!), and Heather came and got David when he came home. I depend on my girls so much and I so appreciate all their help and support.

Today has been a great Sunday--mother went to church with us and stayed for the whole three-hour block. What a delight to have her with me. She really wanted to go to Relief Society, but today they had a combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting and the topic was keeping our family safe on the internet. Wasn't a great topic for her-- but she did okay, but said that it seemed like such a long time. She ate a really great dinner tonight, which made me happy. This evening we went to American Fork Canyon to visit Heather and her family, who are camping there this weekend. She enjoyed the ride and short visit. Sure hope she has a better week this next week.

We were hoping to go to Logan on Saturday to mother's great-granddaughter's wedding reception, visit friends and decorate the graves at the cemetery, but she just didn't think she could make that trip. I know she really wanted to go and she said she would try if I wanted her to--always trying to please others and do what they want.

As I sat with her in the hospital waiting for test results, I wondered if it might be something serious that would take her life. I thought, too, of all the times she cared for me during many childhood illnesses. We don't know how long we have with each other--we're so fortunate to have had the long time we've had-- and sometimes I think she would be glad to be relieved of her suffering, but I realized how hard it would be to have her go. It's a privilege to have her with us.

Mother's Life

Our Mother, Elna P. King, is an awesome lady who has lived a marvelous life. She is the mother of four children, two girls and two boys. We honor and love her and acknowledge that "all we are or ever hope to be, we owe to our angel mother." Successful in our careers and, most important, devoted parents and grandparents, we appreciate all she and our father taught us. Our childhood home was filled with love, hard work, good homemade food and lots of fun.

Mother has 19 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren. She is looking forward to the first great-great grandchildren, a set of twins, who will be born later this summer. More info to come about this grand event. Also, this summer, two great-granddaughters will be married, both in the Logan LDS Temple. I am hoping mother will feel well enough to attend the receptions and perhaps even the temple ceremony, which I know she would dearly love to do.

I wish I had begun this blog when mother first moved into her apartment, which is attached to our home and, though I am a novice, I am hoping to make this a place to chronicle her life and times in Pleasant Grove.