Updates

This past month and a half has been busy...I thought staying home with the girls would allow more ME time for things like blogging, what was I thinking?! I'm sure some of it is my time management..that can be improved but, a lot of it is busyness too.



Last month my parents felt a strong sense from the One above that they should be in Florida, closer to my grandpa and for whatever other reasons God may have in store. By an act of God they found an incredible condo 10m from a beach and 15m from my grandpa, for an incredibly low price.
A bit of background information: My grandpa over the last several years has cared for my gma who has been battling parkinson's disease and a form of dementia. Over the last couple of years her condition has dwindled to the point of her not being able to do anything for herself. Grandpa cared for her in every way. He is the strongest person I know..and full of so much love and devotion. He vowed to never place her in a 'home' but all that he was doing for her wasn't enough and he could no longer do as much as she needed. He found a home down the street from him, practically in the same neighborhood, specializing in alzheimer's and dementia. I was amazed when we first visited her a couple of weeks ago, it was such an uplifting atmosphere...but then again that's their point! To better the lives and quality of living for those suffering with those diseases. They had meal plans, games, and activities daily...and they wern't allowed to sit in their rooms alone..they liked them out and about socializing (as well as they could) with their 'friends'. The nurses and staff there at Clare Bridge are awesome..they are all so sweet and kind, you can really tell that they care about the people there and what they do.


The girls and I stayed and visited for a week with my parents and my grandparents and went home relaxed. Grandma took a turn for the worse this past Sunday. She had been battling a stomach infection and they had a hard time getting her to take her medicine, they had to bribe her with candy :D.....but, the infection didn't go away. Saturday the 12th she was as fine as she could be, eating normal and able to swallow on her own, then something happened that night because on Sunday she got worse. She wasn't able to eat or drink...nor take her medication. The doctors thought she probably had a stroke or maybe even a seizure. Not being able to take her medication orally, led her to hospice that evening.
Something dreadful also happened that night....we're not sure of all the details, nor does it even matter I suppose. But my grandpa went to check on my uncle down the street because he wasn't answering his phone...and he found him unresponsive in his condo. My uncle, Bebo (a childhood nickname), died early that morning.


Not only is our family mourning the loss of a son, brother, father and uncle but we are also mourning the near end of the life of my grandma. It's hard to put into words exactly what this week has been like. A roller coaster of emotions and feelings.


One reason I know my parents were led to FL was to assist in my grandma's salvation on Tuesday morning of this week. We have prayed and prayed for years for them and I specifically prayed this past monday and tuesday for grandma to have some moments of clarity and Truth spoken to her....and she did! Mom said she said so clearly, "I love Jesus". And after that they prayed and she asked Jesus into her heart. Since then she has gone downhill..by they time my sister and I flew into Ft. Myers on Friday she hasn't been awake. During the week she was somewhat responsive to touch...but, Friday and Saturday she slept nonstop and her breathing started changing....

Saturday we had my uncles memorial service which was so nice. Hospice, where my gma is offered their chapel when they found out what had happened..it was a small service, but nice. My grandpa spoke for quite a while about the love he had for his son and how proud he was of him. A close friend spoke for a bit about the love he had for his long time friend...After the service we all shared a meal at The Metzaluna (an Italian place) on Sanibel. Despite the circumstances we all had a great meal together. My aunt Roseanne and my cousin Kate (my uncles daughter) we hadn't seen in atleast 20 years..it's been so great to see them again. It's been so great to catch up and talk about the years past.

After dinner we headed out to the lighthouse to spread some of my uncles ashes. My grandpa was driving in front of me and I noticed him swirve off the road a bit and quickly pull over. As I quickly parked the car near them I ran over to see what was going on. Hospice had called and let him know that grandma had died. I keep replaying the scene in my head....over and over again...how awful to get word that your wife has passed on the night of your sons funeral. It's just nothing but sad and emotionally draining to think about. And my poor mom lost her only brother and mother in the same week. It's the same for her. I keep replaying my sobbing grandpa in the driver seat...crying so hard he was loosing his breath. How sad to loose the love of your life, they had been married for more than 50 years! It's been such a hard week...emotionally draining and in times like these how can one not lean on their Father above? He is the only one getting us through this hard time...He is the ultimate comforter....