I had a scare this week, thinking that I was about to experience the joy of food poisoning. As I was giving Lynn his bath, I started feeling really nauseous. Then my stomach started burning and feeling crampy, and I started sweating—all the tell-tale signs of food poisoning when you’ve recently spent hours sampling leftover […]
I Can’t Just Get Sick Read More »
Christmas is now officially over, and it’s with mixed emotions that I say goodbye to it for another year. I love the Christmas holidays. I decorate everything in sight. Since we don’t go out often, we miss most of the festive sights so I bring it to us instead. I can’t outline the house in
We Survived Christmas, But Just Barely Read More »
I get a lot of offers to help; some sincere and others just being polite. What I have found is that people want to help, but they don’t know how, and realistically, many have their own problems and challenges, so they can’t help in a way that involves time or money. While I really could
No, I’m not talking about the “take no prisoners” rules, but instead, I am referring to rules associated with social engagements. This is the holiday season, and family gatherings and parties at work or at friends’ homes are cherished events and a great way to keep those social connections. However, participating can be challenging and
Rules of Engagement Read More »
I was listening to a Bible commentary today, and the commentator discussed how God takes us through trials in life that prepare us for events yet to come. He described how precious metals are often put into the fire for purification so that the impurities are removed, and the remaining metal is stronger and better
What do you see when you see me? Do you see what I’ve come to be? Do you see the mask I wear That hides the truth of all I bear? Do you see my strength, my skill My constant running all uphill? Do you see my desperate hope That with each change I still
What Do you See When You See Me? Read More »
I am obsessed with Lynn’s skin. Many years ago, I worked as a home health nurse, and I saw some terrible bed sores that started out small and then progressed to craters. Some of the patients had their entire backsides destroyed. Most of the breakdown, I expect, was due to inattention but some was also
Struggles with Skin Care Read More »
The final stage of experiencing loss or grief is acceptance. Some people never get there; some get there quickly. Most of the time people step into and out of acceptance at various times based on what is happening around them or new challenges they face associated with the loss. For the caregiver, at least, my
Stages of Loss: Acceptance Read More »
Many of my blogs focus on the feelings of loss, anger, fatigue, and the negative side of caregiving because that is what we caregivers find to be the most difficult to manage. It’s much easier to cope with happiness and being well-rested. But today, I want to talk about “acceptance,” the final stage of grief
Joy Comes in the Morning Read More »
I’m starting my “staycation” today. You know, the kind where you vacation at home so you can get things done that you never have time to do when you’re working. We normally vacation at the beach each year with our children, but when the time came this year to pay off the rental, we realized
“Can you come here a minute?” I hear that every 30-60 minutes all day long, and you know what? It’s never a minute. When I enter his room to find out what he needs, I’m typically gone for 15-30 minutes. Being the chief cook, laundress, banker, shopper, mechanic, fixer-upper, and caregiver, as well as
Can You Come Here a Minute? Read More »
Let me start by saying that I’m not a psychiatrist nor a licensed counselor, so what I say is based on my own experiences in talking to others with disabilities, my own experience with family members, and my personal beliefs. Therefore, you may or may not agree with me, and that’s fine because this is
Finding the Will to Live Read More »
