Fun, fun, fun...

Today is a day off, so to speak. Mom has been needing physical therapy 3 times a week and today is not one of those days. I watch this little guy, Dominic, who recently turned one, about 4 days each week. So on therapy days, we load into the car, pick up my mom, take her to therapy, do something for an hour, and take her back home. Sometimes, we eat lunch with my mom. He was the hit of the retirement center grill last week!

I was relieved when her orthopedic surgeon said she didn't need surgery for her very old shoulder injury, gulped when I heard therapy 3 times a week for 6 six weeks and rejoiced when it seemed she would be able to have therapy at the nursing home next to her complex. So many emotions, so many ups and downs. The nursing home didn't return my calls in a timely manner, so I opted to drive her to another therapist. It seemed like it would be quite taxing but it has worked out well. Seeing my mom 3-4 times a week helps me see her progress, or laspe in progress. I was also concerned about the recent weight loss she's experienced, and now I can eat lunch with her to make sure she's eating. I'm grateful she has seemed to settle in to her new home and life. She's ready to be social and looking for people to meet. I see glimpses of my mom and it encourages my heart. God knows when it's too much for me and sends me encouragement, there's no other way to explain the perfect timing I experience in dealing with my mom. 

I'm trying to remember to have fun moments with mom. She came to my daughter's basketball game a couple weeks ago. What a riot 5th - 6th grade girl basketball is and I'm glad my mom was able to be there. It was a nail biter for sure, but we won the game. I think the score was something like 8-7! But my mom got to see my daughter Jesse play, and she played hard, too. She spent much time on the floor grabbing the balls from the other players. I realized that day that I need to have fun and not just appointments with my mom. I am grateful for all the lessons I get to learn through this experience. I'm just not sure my brain will be able to contain them. And it seems there should be an easier way to learn things, but God brings good through the bad, maybe so the bad isn't quite SO bad then? He never misses an opportunity to teach! I'll take whatever He brings because I trust Him. I saw that in my mom and dad - trust in God.