Friday, May 2, 2014 

Inauspicious start of the day. I walked the pups, after having checked out “dense breasts” on the Internet. My mammogram usually comes back with “heterogeneously dense breasts.” Always been, but of course, now studies are linking this to ca in younger women. I have always had dense breasts, but reading about the studies was nonetheless upsetting. Betty and I laughed about it on the walk with the kids. She has large “fatty breasts,” something we figure I will never achieve. I am a low achiever on the fat score!

Well, Valentino had the runs. Mild case. It’s spring and his renewed diet of long grass is taking its usual toll on him. Upon returning home, I worked on loading the Elfa system into the car for Barb. She’s going to use it to store her scrapbook materials. I am delighted to give it away to someone who is equally delighted to have it and who will use it well. As I was loading the car, mom called. A bit early for her. I didn’t hurry to her bedside, figuring she had heard the garage door and would return to sleep. But she called again. When I reached her, she was obviously distressed. She said, “I think I’m dying.” I assured her we all were, but that her time had not yet come. But she reiterated her fear. I sat and cried with her for a minute or two. The thought of losing my mother was too hard to bear.

I was unaware that she had awakened Rob during the night and told him there was a man in her room. She claimed to have trouble breathing. So I sat her up and called Barb, who is a retired LPN. We sat and talked with mom for a bit. Mom complained of back pain for which I applied heat. I thought caffeine might help, figuring she was suffering from the extraordinarily high pollen counts, as I was. The coffee seemed to do the trick, as did the heating pad.

Rob stayed with mom, while Barb and I went to the gym. By the time I returned home, mom was happily watching television. I showered her and brought her to the breakfast table, where she is now eating her cereal and English muffins. Rob is entertaining her as I write, and she is sounding stronger. I think the heat from the shower and the heating pad helped.

Let’s see what the rest of this day has in store for us!

Well, just now, the doorbell rang. After I settled the chorus of dogs, I opened the door to find a man standing there. He offered to reseal my drive. This was an easy decision. As much as the drive needs it, I don’t have the money for it. So the answer was no. In the kitchen, Rob asked my mother if she would buy me a new driveway. Mom said, “I’ll go half with her. It’s her house, not mine.” Rob concluded that she was feeling just fine thank you! We had a good laugh. Was good to have my mother back!

 

Later—

Let’s see: On the same day my mother announced that she is dying, Valentino had a set-to with the Skateboarder! This dog did not come out ahead. He is breathlessly pacing my office and crying. Quite a mess! He was drinking too much water in the kitchen. Had to put a stop to that. And he’s already had the runs in the yard. I love Val, but he is the most reactive dog I have ever known! Unfortunately, the Skateboarder knows this, too. Of course, it’s only 7:58 pm, so I doubt he’s drunk yet. Kind of early for a 17-year-old Skateboarder to be drinking. Then again, when I found him last time, it was 6:00 am. Oh deliver us! Better still, deliver him!

God alone knows what the night will bring. Will mom see another “man” in the room? Will she awaken to thoughts of dying? Will she become frightened in the dark? Frankly, I think the pollen count is the real culprit. I myself had trouble sleeping and had to take a Manuka honey lozenge. Had trouble with postnasal drip. Gave mom some homeopathic remedy for sinus problems. Hope it helps some. Can hardly expect her to use a neti pot. Oh my. The day was more complicated that it might have been.