Visiting Mom

As soon as I got back from North Carolina I went up to Canada with Ashley to see Mom. Carolyn and Nadine spent over a week there and so she wasn't alone too long before we went up. It was no pleasure trip. At all. I was shocked at her condition.

 We settled into a routine with dad. He got up in the morning and Ashley and I cooked so dad had something to eat during his break from about 1-4. Every single day for lunch Ashley and I went to the Zucchini Blossom or the ZB as we so lovingly called it. It was heaven. It just gave us a chance to have something lovely in a sea of misery. 

It was such a calm in the storm around us!!

 After the ZB we went to the hospital everyday so dad could go. Then he would come back around 3 or 4 and we would sit with mom together.

During this time she would have some visitors and then we would try to escape for a bit to the lounge and mp my sisters and give them an update. We tried to be there when Drs came but I swear they would slip in at random times. By about 7 or 8 dad would call it a night and we would stay until she went down for the night. Usually about 10 or so. It was a schedule and a half. Dad was cranky so that made it fun. I got so tired of walking on egg shells with him. I know he was tired and stressed out but it was exhausting dealing with them both. He questioned everything we threw out as we were cleaning etc. I was really glad we could make it up though to give him some relief and spell him. He should have taken better advantage of it. But it just all added to the stress of it all.

Ashley was amazing with mom and dad too actually. She should have been a geriatric nurse!

While we were there mom was able to get up and walk with some help. Her mobility improved alot but that's about it.

On Labor Day the ZB was closed and we were devastated.

Ashley and I tried to have some fun experiences together while we were there. We saw a couple of sights downtown and did a tiny bit of shopping here and there. We stocked up on chocolate for the kids etc.

It was discouraging to see that mom's mind was so gone. She failed the dementia test completely. She was so confused and didn't know what was going on most of the time. She could not go to the bathroom herself and had frequent accidents. She seemed in pain most of the time and was very unsettled. Her sleep was disturbed. She made no sense most of the time. She repeated the same things over and over. I can't count how many times she relived Verna's funeral. She didn't do well feeding herself and often got confused and put her spoon in the cup etc. It was a sad and discouraging time and I was so glad to have Ashley with me. I am so grateful Benjy could handle the family so she could come with me for 10 very long days. It would have been too much to endure alone. Too much.

Mount Aire

We've always wanted to go to Mount Aire and see all the things so Saturday we made it happen.

 It was a cute little town but we all felt like they really missed the mark in some ways. They could have really gone all out with the Mayberry theme. But it was fun to be there and check it out.

 We had lunch at Barney's Cafe. It was okay. It could have been awesome.

 After lunch we went to the museum. It was very small but we still really enjoyed seeing the original things from the show.

This was our last full day together So we celebrated Hayden's and Rachel's birthdays.

The Biltmore House

We headed to Ashville the night of the 23rd so we could go to Biltmore first thing in the morning. Rachel and MEgan hadn't been there before so we looked forward to showing them the sites.

 The tour was as fabulous as ever. We got headsets for everyone and did it at our own pace. We were surprised we could take the stroller in but grateful we could.

After the tour we did the gardens and the shops and even had lunch in the stables. We were so excited to finally eat there. Our first time!

Rachel was such a trooper walking around so much in the heat being pregnant. 

We've been here quite a few times now and it just never ever gets old. In fact we can't wait to go back.

Kallie's 1st Birthday

We were lucky enough to be in Winston Salem for Kallie's birthday.And Hayden's birthday. And Rachel's birthday too.

 She had lots of presents to open. Megan went to so much work to make it a special day.

 We gave her the teepee and she seemed to really like it.

 Then it was birthday cake time!

She didn't want to get dirty and so she didn't really dive in until we gave her a spoon. Too funny.

We were so fortunate to be there for everyone's birthdays. What a treat. and PS don't tell Kallie we actually celebrated on teh 23 to we could go to Ashville that night.