Virginia

Well I'm still here....and I will say this last week has been hell.  I don't think I have ever posted a post like that last one, but since I did, I'm going to tell you about our week. 

I left you at (last)Wednesday morning, when I was heading to the "rehab facility" with a mashed banana and a good cup of coffee.  When I got to their door, I was getting ready to push the button to enter the building, and my cell phone rang.  I stopped, answered the phone, and it was them.  My MIL was "unresponsive" and they "think she had a stroke".  I told them I was right outside, and when I went in I heard someone say, "I just got off the phone with Cindy and she is already here." 

I went into her room and stood there.....helpless.....while people came in from who knows where.  If only they would have done that during the week...when I kept asking them to.  Because now, and at that time, it was too late.

I called her son, My Shug, and got him up.   The EMT's came in the room and they took her to the hospital (across the parking lot).  I walked there.  My Shug came in.  We were there for hours.  She had a massive stroke and was not a candidate for the "three hour drug" to try to reverse the effects of the stroke.  She could not speak, she could not swallow, she could not move anything but one arm and could only open one eye. 

Later that day My Shug went to her "rehab facility" cleaned out her room, told them they had a "lieing sack of shit for a nurse" and she would never be back. Half an hour later, the Dr. was in her hospital room.   He apologized to us that his facility let us down and asked if I was the one that called his office yesterday.   He told us this was the worst way to go to the Lord.  He was not wrong.

We had some very tough decisions to make. 

We stayed with her most of that day and the next two days off and on.  We had no idea how many days she would be able to last this way, but by Friday My Shug had to go back to work. And we had some stuff that had to be done.

We thought we had done all of the crying there was to do, but on Sunday I had a complete and total meltdown.  I was hurting on my back left side and didn't know if it was pleurisy, heart, or stress.  I took an ibuprofen, crying my eyes out, and called in the troops. 
And the troops came....

We had to insulate the stair well and prepare it for the drywall guys.
We had to clear out our house for the drywall guys.
Remove all the screens in the windows so they won't get clogged up with drywall/sanding dust.
Remove and plug all register vents.
I had fireplace installers scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow) and drywallers scheduled for next Monday, June 1.
*And yes I could have rescheduled everything above but then it wouldn't get done until mid July because of our schedule and who knows about their schedule.  We have a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks in St. Thomas, planned since October.  It was almost easier to go on with the already scheduled plans that to make more phone calls and try to re-plan.*
And now, we had a funeral imminent.....which we started planning and meeting with people.
a MIL struggling to breathe....us spending countless hours at the hospital.  Three middle of the night phone calls from the hospital.  
Not sleeping enough...
AND We found out we had to have her Assisted Living room cleaned out by June 1, or pay $3045.00...another month's rent.
 AND....
on Friday we were told  she would need moved "somewhere."  I was on my way home when I got a call that the Dr. and social services were there to talk to us.   I was actually almost  home when I turned the car around and went back to the hospital.

She could not stay in the hospital because it is used to help people get well, and she will not be getting well.  My Shug was refusing to put her in another facility, and we are living in one room in a basement.  She could not go back to her assisted living facility unless someone moved in with her full-time.  That left our room in the basement.  And hospice coming in to help. 
BUT...somehow she qualified for hospice help AT THE HOSPITAL for five more days.  Thank you Lord.

So, back to Sunday...
Sunday morning came around and I could not stop crying.  I can't remember the last time I was this stressed.  Vickie, my cousin, and her husband Robert came over Sunday and Monday and we got EVERYTHING done!  I mean EVERYTHING!  My Sister and her husband were going to come on Monday but we felt like we could get everything done without the extra help.   And Mom and Dad cooked our meals for those two days.  Thank God for family and friends huh? 

On Sunday evening I went to see my MIL.  While I was standing there she reached up, grabbed my hand, and opened both eyes and stared right at me!  I thought there might be a possibility of recovery.  I even told her that in the movie the Notebook, James Garner says, "science only goes so far, and then there is God."  She could only open one eye and move one arm since the stroke.  So I texted my Shug and he came back to the hospital.  But sadly, I think that was her "last hurrah."  On Monday,  he came home and said he does not want me going back to the hospital.  Things were really bad.

Last night at 1:15 we got a call.  My MIL passed away.  It is for the best. She was struggling just to breathe and would not have wanted to live that way.  She is at peace now. 


Cindy Bee

"Rehab" facilities suck

Hi everyone,
I'm up early trying not to wake My Shug who works until midnight. I couldn't get back to sleep today because his Mother is in a "rehab" (and I use that term loosely) facility. I'm pretty sure she is dieing. We think her lungs are filling up with fluid. And I'll be honest here. She was never one of my favorite people. She always found the negative in everything. And I do mean everything. She was a drainer. But here's the thing. Except for a few politicians who make these rules they do not have to follow, and this lieing sack of shit nurse that works at this place, no one deserves the treatment she is getting. I'm thinking about hiding under the bed and recording them, except I probably wouldn't be able to get back up!  Or they'd lower the bed on me and I'd be trapped. And this nurse, here-to-fore referred to as LSoS (lieing sack of shit-my shug's endearing term for him)has blatantly lied twice, in three days. I called the Dr's office yesterday, trying to get a Dr. to see her since he visits the place "every week" but she hasn't seen him in over two weeks now, and told them my MIL can no longer speak. He told the Dr's office that he just talked to her and she was fine. Really?  Because I couldn't hear her voice, her daughter couldn't understand her, and My Shug went to see her and she could NOT speak.   My Shug also said her left leg is stretched to it's limit. It is purple and shiny. And her food, which is the same thing every day, looks like puréed crap. I'm sneaking in a mashed banana, and a cup of coffee. She is dieing. Give her some food.  Give her a cup of coffee. And for crying out loud, give her some relief.
So anyway, I'm  going in there and taking a picture of her leg. I'm recording her voice, and I'm taking it to the Dr's office.
Rant over....for now

Mad Cindy Bee

Make a Wish!

Phooooh...

Did you used to make a wish on these when you were a child?

Did you know dandelions are one of the first flowers that honeybees get nectar from?

And this is the same yard, after it's been mowed.  Still green!

 

Cindy Bee

Happy 80th Birthday Mom!

Friday was Mom's 80th birthday.  She is the youngest 80 year old lady I know!

And on Saturday...we celebrated!

Yes I took this picture Saturday, and no she has never had plastic surgery!  I think her and Dad keep each other young...plus us kids drag them along on a lot of adventures!

 Here we all are eating dinner at Pizzology in Indianapolis.  YUMMO!

 then we headed to The Pickled Pedaler...

 Lorri gave everyone red noses, but we didn't all wear them.  Too bad we didn't know it was the cool thing to do until three days after we got them.  Darn!  We would have done a family photo.

 I volunteered to be bartender.  It was my first time bartending!  I think I could do better now that I've had some practice....maybe....here my sister ordered beer in a cup!

 These three, Theresa, Mom, Dad, didn't have to pedal.  They were in the Queen's court!  I didn't have to pedal because I was bartending, which did require standing quite a bit.

  But the rest of the gang, pedaled their skinny legs off!!!

Joey & Adrienne

 Me & Dave

 Lorri & Duke (my bro!)

 Andrew & Michelle

 Trent

 Pedaling the streets of Indianapolis!

Selfie of Me, Adrienne and Vickie

 Mom & Dad by Monument Circle 

(as you can see there was construction going on)

The Original Five! (Mom, Dad, me, Duke, Theresa)

 And right after this pic, it's started raining....dribbling really,

 Lucky for us the Pickled Pedaler had green ponchos for us all!

 You have to be 21 and older to ride this so the younger family members couldn't attend. 

 But two of Mom's grandkids were a HUGE surprise!

They were standing on the street corner by Starbucks with signs that said 

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!!

 "STOP THE BUS!"

 

 

 So my sister decided to pedal for awhile and Dave took her place sitting.  And my Sister was sitting by Robert.  Well.....Robert tries to act all older and refined and such.  It's hard with this group.  A firetruck was heading our way, and he plugged his ears.  I 'secretly' looked at Theresa and pointed at Robert.  She looked directly at him and said... Out Loud, "How old are you?"  

Oh My Gosh!  I could not stop laughing.  I think Robert must have said something to her about how nice I was compared to her or something like that...because she said, "I only said what she was thinking!"  Maybe you had to be there...it was hilarious.

 These two were really turning on the pedal power towards the end!

(my brother's two oldest children)

After the rides we decided to walk to a bar to check it out.

 

That's all we got to do, quickly check it out, as they were closing early that night.

Check out this fireplace!

 So we took off walking again and went to a bar right across the street from the Pickled Pedaler, to get some food.

 We played a game of darts, and seriously, I was ahead through almost the entire game.

Then, of course, Andrew won.  Jeesh...

 

 Mom was the big winner though....

 Her family was with her on her 80th birthday for some fun loving times.

And I'm pretty sure we ALL had a blast!
Cindy Bee

The Bellagio

When you walk into the lobby of the Bellagio, this is on the ceiling.  All made out of glass.  I've seen the artist on TV before, but I can't remember his name.  I told my friend I'd love to have a ceiling like this and she reminded me of the dusting!

The main reason I wanted to go to the Bellagio was the conservatory.

I LOVE IT

I would love to have a conservatory at our house.  I wonder why people don't do that anymore.  Imagine the warmth, plant life, and sunshine in the winter months and how much happier we would all be!

But....would we have to dust them?!!?!!

Lots and lots of flowers everywhere.

Can

YOU

SMELL

THEM?

As you can tell, it was a very Asian, Zen feeling in the conservatory this time.  Every year they have something different.

This is the pool at the Bellagio.  We were not allowed out there, but we could look through the window!

We had a wonderful time on our trip, and I think this is about it for the pictures.  I've been to Vegas several times and if you want to see other pictures you can go back through the years on my blog.

And...
As you can tell by the fact that it took me two weeks to post four days....life is just too darn busy.  I am hoping to be able to post a little bit on a daily basis in the future.  If I can't, I might have to give this up.  I hope not....I've blogged for years and I enjoy it.  We'll see.

Cindy Bee