We love you MeMaw!

Today we celebrated Gary's mom.  She had a beautiful service and I think she would have loved it so much.  The sun was shining bright and her flowers were beautiful.  She loved flowers as much as she loved champagne and dessert!  

We got to see family we haven't seen in years because we have been gone on our four year state to state adventure.  We had a nice lunch at Chuy's after the service. 

March 24, 2016

Gary's mom has been sick for months and she was moved to hospice care in December.  She seemed to have good days and bad days.  Sometimes we'd get calls that she was sitting up eating and wearing her jewelry and other days she wasn't able to get out of her bed or chair.  It's just such a hard thing to see your parent suffer.  We all agreed that she said no to dying.  She said no to hospice care, but we all know people can be in hospice for years.

Gary and I briefly lived in Michigan back in 2004 and we moved back to Fort Worth in April '04 and then suddenly Gary's dad got sick and unexpectedly died.  It was a sad time.  He was sick in the hospital and then was moved to hospice and we were all in shock.  God that called us to move home back then to be with his mom and family through that hard time.  

Early Thursday morning at the age of 79, Gary's mom died.  We have been living back in Texas for about 2 weeks.  God needed us to be back home.  It is crazy how it all happened.  Again.

I know Gary's mom and dad were reunited in heaven and they are so happy to be together.  He is grilling her a big steak and she is making baked potatoes to go with!

We are so sad to have lost such a wonderful woman.  She has been in and out of the hospital for years.  She had a terrible car accident when Layla was 3 months old and she struggled since then with her health.  She had the early stages of dementia and had constant struggles with that.  She was such a fighter.  There were times when we thought she wouldn't make it, but she came back from illness stronger and healthier than ever.  She was a Christian lady and couldn't wait to go to heaven to see God.   

I feel good knowing she is in heaven with her husband looking down on her grandbabies.  She wasn't able to do many things she wanted to do with Layla and Hayden because of her health.  I sometimes wish we'd have had the children earlier so Mamaw and PaPaw could have spoiled them rotten as I know they would have!  

Monday we go to the Veterans Memorial Cemetary to celebrate her life with our family.  I pray it is a beautiful day and God is honored in her service.  

she said no to hospice

The last week was a wild one emotionally.  As I mentioned in my last post, Gary got on a plane to Texas for work meetings but ended up visiting his mom in the hospital the whole time.  She was in pretty bad shape and due to her dementia and a possible stroke she failed 4 swallow tests.  She made it clear she didn't want a feeding tube, so hospice was the option the family agreed on.  She had moments of clarity and moments of unknown (to her) anger.  She was a roller coaster of emotions making her kids emotional also.

After 2 days in hospice she woke up and said she was hungry.  We knew she couldn't swallow, but she did.  We couldn't believe it as she ate soup from a spoon!  Now she seems to be eating well and even got out of bed to walk a bit.  What?  We are all in shock.  She isn't taking any medications.  She can't swallow pills, but she's doing good even without her blood pressure medicine.  Her mind is fuzzy due to no dementia medication, but all in all she seems to be proving the doctors wrong at 79 years old.

What in the world?  We have no idea what to think.  We are just taking it day to day.  A few days ago we thought she was dying and now she is making jokes and high fiving the nurses.  It's never easy with Gary's mom.  She's always been a fighter and I guess she just wasn't ready to meet Jesus.  One thing I have learned and continue to learn is doctors are practicing medicine.  They may not always be right, so never give up!  We are still day to day with MeMaw.  We aren't sure of the next steps but knowing her she will choose her own path!!

thinking of MeMaw

The last year has been very hard on Gary's mom.  She has been in an assisted living for years, but her dementia has gotten worse and she has fallen multiple times and been in and out of the hospital the past 6 months.  It is heartbreaking and has been very emotional. It's hard to be away from family in Texas during this time, but we also know she isn't the same MeMaw we once knew. She's angry often, she gets frustrated and demanding.  It's so sad to see her different from the woman I met 19 years ago.   

Due to her declining health we were forced to move her from her assisted living and into a nursing home type setting.  She seriously was there for maybe 6 days and she was back in the hospital.  She's been in the hospital since.

I feel like Gary and I are too young to have a parent with dementia. I think Gary's mom should be picking up the kids and taking them shopping and out to lunch. Sadly, she hasn't been the same since Gary's dad died 11 years ago. Yes, she survived a horrible car accident that had her in the hospital for over a year, but that accident has always effected her health. 

I mean look at that car.  God saved her because the entire front of that car is awfully crushed. (September 2005)

I have a giant lump in my throat right now.  We just got a phone call from the hospital.  She has been there for over a week this time due to her being over medicated by the nursing home.  She seemed to have somewhat recovered, but now like before she can't swallow food or her pills. This has happened before, but this time she rips out her IV's and her feeding tube.  She has moments of clarity and she told the nurse she was done fighting.  She has lost so much weight and has been refusing food since before she was last admitted to the hospital.  She has expressed her feelings to Gary and I multiple times and even signed the forms back in 2004. We know that her wishes are to go to heaven to be with her husband.  It sucks and it isn't fair for Gary to have lost both parents when he is so young, but it is true life.  If she doesn't fight and get her medications for her blood pressure she will die. 

Gary is heading to Dallas for work meetings, and he will get to see her tonight.  We'd appreciate all the prayers we can get for our family.  We have many many decisions to make and none of them will be easy.  I just want her to be pain free.  She knows she's going to heaven and she is ready, but only God knows when she will go home.  She gets better and worse so quickly and we just never know what will happen next.  I'm just praying daily for peace!

our weekend

Sunday we had Gary's mom and sister over to celebrate the kids birthday's.  The kids requested cheeseburgers!

It ended up being a great day!  The clouds moved in and cooled us off!

I didn't get many pictures, but this one above captured our day.  We ate and laughed and played outside.

The kids loved our homemade griddle burgers.

{we cooked them outside so we didn't dirty up the kitchen}

They loved the weather even more!

Hayden took Layla on a ride around in the backyard.  Eventually it sprinkled a bit and they were catching rain drops in their mouths.  They make me laugh every day and they teach me so much.

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the little things!

Mother's Day weekend Recap

I started off Mother's Day weekend by having a girls night out.  I went to a friends house with a load of Thirty-One goodies.  I got to drink wine and eat yummy appetizers while I visited with some of my favorite girl friends!  It was cloudy and rainy and then suddenly this double rainbow appeared.

It was so pretty!

You have to look really hard to see the double part, but it's there.

Saturday morning we got up early and visited the farmers market I mentioned.  We bought fresh tamales and salsa and we also found lobster raviolis.  Everything we got was amazing and I can't wait to see what is available next weekend!

We picked up Gary's mom from her assisted living home.  She and Aunt Susan came over and we had a fish fry.  It was so yummy, but so filling.  I ate way too much.

I had such a fun time with my family.  I am so blessed!

We had white chocolate covered strawberries and coconut pie.  Mmmmm!  The pie was so good.  I wish I could say I made it, but I didn't.  I think I ate half of it myself.  No joke!

I was being goofy with the tulips Gary and the kids got me.  They also gave me a pretty charm bracelet, a hot pink work-out shirt and a blender.  I am so excited about my blender!

I know I shared these pictures on Facebook and twitter, but I wanted to share here too.

Gahhhh!  I don't know what it is about pictures of mom's with babies, but I love them!

I love this picture of me and my mom.  

I spent today with my mom.  We had lunch and did some shopping.  

It was fun to hang out, just she and I.

I had to share this super goofy picture of the kids and I.  The outtakes are always the best part of taking pictures.  The kids love to act silly when I'm begging them to sit right and smile.  So if you can't beat 'em join them right?  I'm pretty sure Daisy is biting Layla's finger.  It's hilarious!

Mother's Day 2012 was wonderful.  I am beyond blessed!

Weekend Recap

We stared our weekend on Saturday morning by hitting up a few estate sales.  We got this globe for $1.00.  I couldn't believe it!  The kids were asking me for a globe about a week ago.  They were happy little people when we saw this steal.

I got a brand spanking new bicycle!  I am just as excited as a kid would be.  I am thrilled to ride my new beach cruiser.  I couldn't decide if I wanted a more sporty bicycle, but when I sat on this beauty I was in love!  It is comfy to ride.

Hayden and Layla got a fun care package from Netsie and DeDe.  Hayden doesn't even want me to wash his new shorts.  He wants to wear them all the time.  He is obsessed with Toy Story.

Layla loves her new zebra shades!

The outfit they gave her matches the shades perfectly.  I want a pair of flip-flops like those.  

Gary and I did an outside home makeover project on Saturday.  I can't wait to share it with you!

We had our first frozen Popsicles of the season on Saturday.  

It was a hot 80 degree day.  We had to cool off with frozen treats!

Layla wanted to play outside the entire weekend, so she wore a cap and shades while she was outside.  She matched her shirt.  I saw this picture and it made me giggle.  She is doing great protecting her injury!

Nothing says spring like deviled eggs and BBQ grilled chicken.

MeMaw and Aunt Susan came for a visit on Sunday.  We played outside.  Daisy sat with MeMaw for hours.  She loves her MeMaw.  I think MeMaw misses having a dog, so she loves Daisy equally as much!

We Skyped with Kristin on the patio outside.

When MeMaw saw the kids with Popsicles she just had to have one too.   

We had a fun weekend and are refueled and ready for a fun week!

weekend update

our weekend was full of activities.  saturday morning started bright and early with a soccer game.  layla scored her first goal EVER and i was so thrilled for her.  the girls played great.  they are getting better with each game they play.

saturday afternoon we celebrated memaw's 75th birthday.

hayden thought she needed some help blowing out her candles.

it cracked me up watching gary try to take pictures of aunt susie, layla, hayden and memaw.  it was a mess.  it was impossible to get a good picture of them so i decided to share a collage of the sillyness.

too much fun i tell ya!

today we made crowns for ourselves and our favorite little friends.

we have watched movies and eaten popcorn.  we REALLY needed today.

it seems like lately our schedule has consisted of go and go faster.  today has been a much needed day of rest.  layla enjoyed a nap with bogey.  poor little puppy dude is having surgery tomorrow.  it is for his own good.  we certainly don't want anymore bogey's running around here!

i hope your weekend was grand!