She's doing fantastic--her throat is sore from the tube, so she only speaks a few words at a time, but her ears and mind are going a mile a minute. She started with thank you, moisture, ice cream, Dave, dark, and then jumped right up to "I want to see my grandkids!" So Jill and Barri hustled the kids out of the hotel pool and raced over, but obviously not fast enough for my mom, who asked "Where are they?" So Derek and Anna arrived and told "Robot-Gigi" how happy they were to see her, and Gigi said, "I love you." After they left and the nurse came in, my mom said, "Did you see my grandkids?"
Another funny story was when my sister was whispering to let my mom sleep. Jill said, "Mom, are you listening?" As anyone who knows my mother knows her acute hearing, they won't be surprised that she said yes. After that we didn't bother whispering!
We asked her if she knew where she was, and she did. Then we asked if she remembered the boxes and e-mails we had told her about. She started listing off all the people who'd sent stuff. When the nurse from yesterday stopped by to say hi and tell mom she was going to Boise, mom told her to "Be careful." Good advice.
I think my favorite moment of the morning was when my mom asked how long it would be until she could move to a normal room, and the nurse said that if she started eating and her bloodwork looked okay, she could be moving in just a couple days. My mom said, "I'm on it." My mom's back--spirit included!
We'll post a pic of Mom in her halo soon.
7 comments:
This is wonderful news. I'll be celebrating by eating some Haagen-Daas Butter Pecan ice cream this evening.
Love, Noel
What terrific news. I hope this works. I'm trying to paste a coupon for Baskin Robbins Mother's Day cakes. If you don't get it,e-mail me at tjnjyl@msn.com. Love, Teresa Liu
Print this coupon and bring it to your local Baskin-Robbins store to receive $3 off any cake purchase of $15 or more. Some restrictions may apply. Offer valid at participating Baskin-Robbins stores in the US only. Offer expires 05/12/08.PLU: 2426Expires: 05/12/08
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PS I guess it can't be copied. Let me know where to forward it, and I'll e-mail it to you. Teresa
Great news!!!! Those grandbaby hugs work miracles too. I think Janet will be on the fast track now.
Frank and I will join the celebration with an ice-cream dessert tonight. We are going to a birthday dinner at the club. "Birthday boy" gets his dinner free!! Spent hours in the garden today trimming bushes and deadheading flowers. Frank is putting up a Sunsetter awning so that we can enjoy the deck more.
Happy Mother's Day one and all. This news ensures it. Love, Linda and Frank XX
Welcome back Janet! I am rejoicing with all of you as you continue to recover & thanking God for the many miracles that have happened so far & continuing to ask Him to intervene on your behalf. Whoo-hoo & I'll say it again, whoo-hoo! I am so excited to be reading the blog & seeing how well you are doing & how you are continuing to improve. I feel like a cheerleader cheering you on! It makes my heart so happy to hear all the stories of the baby steps & sometimes giant steps you are making. I feel like a kid in a candy store or maybe a giant vat of mint chip ice cream in your case.
I am not sure you remember but my mom, Aunt Lucille, broke her hip
6 weeks ago while dancing with Dancing with the Stars at the nursing home she is in. It has been a hard battle & pretty scary at times but things are definitely improving for her. Initially the doctor said that since mom has Alzheimer's & couldn't follow commands well that she wasn't an appropriate candidate for daily physical therapy but I wasn't really interested in her opinion & strongly pushed & advocated for her to get the therapy I thought she needed & deserved. Well, Aunt Lucille has proved the doctor so wrong! In the last 3 weeks, she has gone from resisting getting out of her wheelchair & then with extensive help walking about 15 feet to her long treks up & down the halls using a walker & only being mildly assisted by the therapist. Yesterday, in 3 tries she walked about 1,000 feet & today with the same amount of help walked over 600 feet in one try. The best part is that during her walks the therapist tried to get mom to sit a few times & mom refused & kept going. That fighting spirit is showing up. She is working really hard but isn't stopping until she is ready. I am so proud of her; she is such a trooper. And I am right there cheering her on & getting so excited with the progress she is making - big & small. She also has a big fan club in the staff & gets a lot of words of encouragement as she works her way down the hall.
I think that fighting spirit runs in the family. Janet, you certainly are another example of that. I love that my mom & you are so determined to do what you can to maximize your recovery. I know you know this but you are so blessed to have such a wonderful family who is so there for you, loving you & advocating for you so strongly. Your teamwork will definitely pay off.
In my imagination, I am picturing you & my mom having races with your walkers. And you would be laughing & teasing the whole way as you zoomed toward the finish line & the prize of huge bowls of ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, it is still one of my mom's favorite foods too. She is mostly a vanilla girl now although I have been known to stir it up & mix in a little of her pureed fruit & let her drink her milkshake out of the cup it comes in.
This morning was such a good one for her. She was very connected, & animated, smiling & waving & interacting with everyone she passed. She is really well liked there & that is so great. After her therapy, we went out in the garden & she was delighted with the roses & kept saying things like "Isn't it exciting. Look. Aren't they wonderful." (in reference to the roses) I was singing to her (although badly she didn't seem to mind)& she was "singing" along at times(la-la-lu-lu)& tapping along with the music. She is definitely feeling better now that her bladder infection is cleared, she is drinking enough, getting exercise again & getting some fresh air & feeling the support of so many people & their prayers. As you can probably tell I am so excited to have this time to help & connect with my mom & see her express the joy in her heart that still expresses itself in her life. And I am so thankful to God for His goodness toward her.
Well, this has gotten to be long but I wanted to let you know that you & mom are both a source of joy & encouragement as you continue to get back to your "old" (young at heart) selves.
I love you & continue to pray for you & the family. They are amazing & so are you.
lots of gentle hugs, Valerie
WHOOOEEEE! So glad to see so many positive steps in such a short time. I think she deserves a big treat and since friends always join friends in celebrating the big accomplishments in life, my mom and I will be having ice cream and toasting Janet with hot fudge and whipped cream.
Keep working hard, Janet. I want to be able to push you around outside when I get there.
Vickie
Great news!!!! I'm soooo happy for you guys. Especially for those grankids that need their Gigi around for a lot longer, well actually you all need her around and back to her old self for a lot longer. I'm still sending prayers and thoughts often. Any excuse to eat ice cream and celebrate, I'm on it. Thanks Janet! Much apreciated:)
I was on an all day field trip with Olivia's class. They have just finished studying the Gold Rush so the next step was to go pan for gold. We went up to park that has a great creek running through it and guess what? We found gold!! Lots of it in the creek. Oliv and one of her friends found over a hundred pieces. Too bad we can't find a place that will trade in gold spray painted pebbles. We could have moved up that kitchen remodel.
They panned for gold in a very chilly creek and then came back for a BBQ and some games. It wasn't the best day to have this field trip because our thin skinned kids were all cold. It was only in the mid 50's today. BRRRR. I had on 3 layers and gloves. O, well maybe that's me with the thin skin. Just a couple of weeks ago it was 90 degrees and we made the double long, double wide slip n' slide. I have a big burn on my grass to prove to myself that it actually was really warm just a couple of weeks ago. In May and June it can be pretty cold and foggy in SB. Good thing I got a new ski parka from overstock.com a while back to keep me cozy for the summer.
The girls and I have been talking about you and Emma especially thinks it's lame that she has family that she has never met. They did meet Janet and Brian at my Dad's memorial service, but that was a whils ago and they were pretty little. I think I'm going to have to try and figure something out. Hopefully Janet will be well on her road to recovery in the summer when we pass through Sacto area on the way to Truckee and we can do a drive by.
Time to take Emma to a bday party and empty the dreaded dish washer one more time. Actually, i was without my dishwasher for about 2 months and that was no fun, so I never should talk bad about my dishwasher.
Enjoy the ice cream.
Love,
Adrienne
Hi Janet, Brian, Jill, Amy et al...
I haven't written since Monday, but I have read every up-date and comment. I know it is hard to believe, but I was at a loss for words. Encouraging words seem to come from all quarters and I couldn't think of any thing else to add. I just held my breath and knew that if any one deserved miracles it is Janet.
Dave and I are very relieved to hear that Janet is making real progress now. Having her family around, is surely the best medicine there is. Brian you and the girls have been amazing. I hope you will all get some much needed rest soon.
Janet, I shouldn't write as though you are not in the room. I know we have to postpone our "end of June" lunch date, but your not off the hook. I will take the first available date. Check your calendar. You pick the menu abd I will deliver it. I was thinking that orange juice and "feet" might be appropriate. (don't stick your tonque out at this notion).
I'm glad to hear you will be out of ICU soon. When you are settled and your throat isn't sore, Ill be calling. E-mail has proved to be a blessing this week, but it can't replace the sound of your sweet voice. All of you take care. I am now a firm believer in those miracles. Bye for now.
Love, Donna
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