I’m sorry but I have to bow out of blogging for a few days… some things have come up with my momma and we brought her home with us at least for a day or two. Things started happening around 3:00 this afternoon and I had to take her to the doctor. I have too many irons in the fire right now and really need to just concentrate on taking care of my mom. I didn’t think I had any pictures to show you, but here’s a couple… my hubby got my mom’s old twin bed down from the attic and I can show you that….It’s not the Hilton, but I hear the maid’s pretty nice! :o)
I’ll try to be back Monday…
If someone wants to ask a question and you all chime in, that’s fine with me!
Blessings, Jeanne
I wondered what happened, when you had only responded to the first few replies from yesterday’s blog!
Certainly, we don’t mind your taking a few days off….you do what you need to do for your precious mom; I think we would all do the same for ours, if needed. (and be thankful you still have your mom–mine has been gone for 12 years…where did that time go?!)
I am working on Easter dresses for my two most recent (a year or so ago) Little Darlings, Mariko and Pearl. I have Mariko’s bodice finished, the skirt gathered up, and the two pieces pinned together, ready to sew!
Pearl’s is taking a little longer, as I am fiddling with the trims. I’m combining an embroidered edging (plain except for the very edge) and a sort of open-work fancy trim (looks a bit like very fine crochet), and it’s taken me a while to figure out what to do with it for the skirt. The bodice trim was easy–stitche two pieces of edging together and lay the fancy trim down the middle! The skirt trim is a little more difficult (or maybe I’m just overthinking it and Making it more difficult!). But I Am making progress!!
Yes, I promise I will take pictures when I’m done, and send them to Jeanne, so she can share them!
Dear Charlotte, wow, you are busy! The outfits sound like they will be lovely.
Please post the photos on our ning site too.
Will do, Dorothy!
Love to hear about others’ sewing. Can’t wait to see the final results. Still have four more dresses to do myself. Time is running out and still have to do my taxes. Much rather sew. Maybe come May I can totally concentrate on that for awhile.
We all understand your having to take a blogging break. Hope all resolves well and quickly. I have been busy with our 3 year old great-grandson who is now living with us (along with our 6 1/2 month old puppy). The pup was more work than the tiny boy today. Lol.
Oh sure, Jeanne, we all understand, and you take all the time you need. You know we will still be here!
You say “old” bed?? It certainly looks brand new to me, and so much nicer than what you see nowadays! I love the color of the wood, and it looks like a very sturdy bed! Here’s hoping your momma gets better, and I’ll say a prayer or two for her.
Charlotte, so you have a sewing room? It sounds like you have a lot going on, and I can’t imagine you have to put it all away every time you stop sewing for the day, like I do! I do remember seeing someone’s sewing room on the blog, but it was so long ago, that I forgot whose it was! I am looking forward to your pictures.
Christal, how funny about the puppy being more work than your great-grandson! I hope today is better for you!
I do have a sewing room–have every since we were married, almost 45 years ago. That was a given. LOL Don’t know what I’d have done if we’d had Two kids instead of one!!
I don’t think you’d want to see mine, though–I’m one of those “spread it all in plain sight” people! If I don’t have things where I can see them, I forget I have them!! LOL (That’s my excuse, anyway….)
I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. Praying things will improve. If I can be of any help, please let me know. I can always listen and add her to a prayer chain. Remember our Savior’s arms are wrapped around all of you and lifting you up.
What a beautiful spot for your mom to spend some time with you. She will be blessed and I trust/pray you will have the energy to care for her during this time. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers, despite any absence online.
Blessings…………..
Just take care of your mom, and of you too.
We’ ll keep in touch for better news.
Bon courage.
We all understand about aging parents:)
Prayers for your mom and prayers for you as well?
Yes ^^^ the sentiments above. I am caring for my 95 year old daddy now so I know
it takes a lot of time. You are an angel to take care of your mom when she needs you.
I’m sorry your mom isn’t doing well, but I certainly can understand that you need to prioritize taking care of her. And, I’m sure she’ll be more comfortable with you and George right know. I’ll be praying for you.
We’ll miss you! Please remember to stop and smell the roses occasionally so that you can stay well. As you know, caring for another is big work, but something instilled deep inside.
How wonderful that you have your mother’s beautiful bed. She will feel right at home and hopefully rally quickly.
I’m sure the doctor checked for urinary tract infection as long ago, someone mentioned to us that that is one thing which throws the elderly for a loop. Easily treatable but often missed.
Take care.
It took all five of us working together to take care of my parents — some of us could do more that others, and of course everyone can manage different things, and my parents were both mentally and physically in quite good shape almost to the end, so we were very lucky. I was close and my youngest sister was determined, so we did a lot of the cooking, cleaning, helping with clothes and so on. A sister who is good with record keeping and arranging things did the doctor/hospital/health carers/banking/business arrangements. The other two filled in now and then, and one of them is the only one with regrets. One of my brothers-in-law did a fair amount of grocery shopping and taking my mom to the dentist. He learned all their preferences and could shop efficiently. That was a huge help. When one or the other of my parents was in the hospital, someone was with them every waking hour. The first day, the medical people were suspicious that we were trying to show them up. By the second day they were grateful that we were there fetching hot blankets and coffee, or once alerting them that Mom was having a heart attack. By the third day they were checking with us to be sure the patient had had particular medication and counting on us to keep track of food consumption. We made my parents feel safer. It was three years of hard work, but those of us who did it don’t regret it and it gave us some memories to balance the hard ones. It also brought me one of my favorite compliments, this one from a brother-in-law, who said to his wife, “You are just trying to survive, Marilyn thinks it should be pleasant.” I did, too. Flowers on the table, the lawn watered, home-cooked food ready to go in the refrigerator. I did learn that self-care was very important — also very difficult– and that was an expensive lesson I learned too late. If I were asked to provide one piece of advice, it would be to take all the help you are offered and never feel bad it. You’ll last longer.
Hi Jeanne ~
I have been caring for my Mom (just turned 90) over the last few months so have not had the time to participate here. Thankfully, my Mom has improved so I thought I’m going to check in on my favorite blog and saw your post. I am so sorry to hear about your Mom and pray for God’s blessing on all your family. I also think it is so wonderful that George was able to set up her bed – I’m sure that was very comforting. As Marilyn and others have said be sure to take care of yourself and accept and ask for help, we can’t do everything alone. I know you have a close family so I’m sure they will be supportive.
Take care and God Bless
Leigh
Take all the time you need, Jeanne. We’ll all be thinking of you and hoping you are able to take care of the things you need to. You are a good daughter and it’s wonderful your mama has such loving and caring children.
Take care dear.
Dear Jeanne, we are always here with you. You go and be with your mother. We will just sit on the sofa and talk among ourselves.
I am so happy that on Monday, when I say “next month,” I will mean May!!! I love May.
I am hoping to get back to the American Girl outlet in Hershey sometime soon. It is very small but the prices are great. It doesn’t have any of the newer items or dolls but it does have nice things. Right now I am dressing a Gotz Happy Kidz doll. She is slightly thinner than an American Girl doll but she has bigger feet.
Oh and when I say dressing, I mean going on ebay and etsy and buying things (laugh). I am the non-sewing, non-crafting one in the group.
I sew, but I still find things on etsy or ebay for my girls that I just can’t resist. Sometimes I wish I didn’t sew so I could buy more of them. With all the fabric, trims and experience I have, I can’t justify it. Darn! I remember May in PA. My most favorite month too. My favorite flowers are Lilacs and you can’t grow them here. I always wanted a May wedding with Lilacs everywhere. Instead I got married in Texas in January. It was 85 degrees.
Dear Barbara, well, you could come to PA in May and have a homecoming celebration. I will get the lilacs (smile).
I had a May wedding, Barbara, and we had lilacs on the altar (with glads and roses); my bouquet was white and Sterling Silver (the only lavender at the time) roses; my attendants had little Vanda orchids and white carnations. Members of our church (there are some perks to being the pastor’s daughter! LOL) brought lilacs from there yards, too, and we had bouquets of lilacs all over–even in the ladies’ room! (Yes, my attendanst wore lavender–my favorite color.)
I forgot to mention that my attendants were in long-sleeve velvet dresses and they had to put the A/C on in the church so they didn’t pass out. I’ve lived here most of my life but my heart and head still belong to PA, and long-sleeve velvet dresses in January would be the way to go there.
No problem at all. One of the reasons I’ve never done a blog is because there were others who needed my time often, so I totally understand your need to attend to other priorities from time to time. And it’s a good chance to go back and review other blogs you’ve sent. You are so fortunate to still have your mom in your life. Cherish every moment.
I’m wishing your family and Momma the best. You’ve done so much for her. I hope all goes well and she can get back to her apartment soon. Take good care of yourselves. We’ll always be here and thinking of you all.
I loved this:
“Dear Jeanne, we are always here with you. You go and be with your mother. We will just sit on the sofa and talk among ourselves.”
Right. We’ll take turns, 50 to 100 of us at a time will fill your living room and sitting room and sneak into the kitchen to see it for ourselves. We’ll just talk quietly among ourselves. It will sound like a giant bee hive. I hope there’s a parking lot nearby.
But don’t mind us — you’ll have plenty to do taking care of your mom. Just smile and wave as you walk through the crowd on your way to do another errand.
Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for all your prayers and well wishes for my mom. We aren’t exactly sure what happened yesterday but my mom was terribly confused, she was lost in the building, didn’t know where she lived or who anyone was.
The director said it could possibly be a urinary tract infection as that affects older adults very drastically. I took her to the dr and she didn’t show she had one but she prescribed an antibiotic just in case it escalated over the weekend.
My mom didn’t recognize her stuff or her furniture so I didn’t want to leave her there.
I took her over there today but she thought we were stealing socks and underwear from someone’s place. I’m hoping this clears up soon. Deb is coming in tomorrow
We were also concerned she may have had a mini stroke but she’d have to have an MRI to actually prove that…so we’ll see on that one.
Well, that’s it in a nutshell. Thank you for all your sweet comments and kind thoughts…it means a lot to me.
Stay on the couch, drinking your tea and waiting for me. Think of something to say tomorrow and I’ll see you soon!!
Blessings and much love to you all,
~Jeanne
I think we should bring our own tea cups to drink tea and sit on the sofa. I love tea cups so I have several to choose from. I think I’ll bring a Royal Albert cup in a pattern I’ve only seen once — a phoenix rising, not from ashes but from orange peonies (I think).
I am hoping for better news soon. Your mom does seem to know you and your family, which is a huge blessing, and I think it’s nice that she didn’t want to steal underwear and socks. I hope she slept well in her own pretty bed and that the hard-working maid got some sleep too.
Love to all of you.
Oh Jeanne, I’m so sorry to hear about your momma. It must be very scary to her not to recognize anything or know what is going on. I certainly do hope you find something to help her. You and Cindy do just what the best thing is for her. Would moving her to a memory care place be better than where she is now?
Yes, we will just sit here and wait and talk among ourselves. We are a great bunch of girls who can brighten each other’s days, and yours too! Praying that you find some sort of result in any tests or outcomes.
Much love to you, Jeanne,
Linda
Whether your mom has a virus, infection, or is moving another step on the dementia path, please know that we are thinking of you and family. Perhaps today, her head will clear under your vigilance allowing her to return to her home. Very happy to hear that Cindy is coming. All the sailors need to rally in times like these.
Whoops, guess I should have said Deb.
Dear Friends, as we all sit here on the sofa and pray for Jeanne’s mama, I have a question for you:
What is your earliest doll memory?
I remember having two little Madame Alexander dolls. I have photos of myself when I was two or three with other dolls but I don’t remember those dolls at all. I no longer have those first Alexander dolls; however, they led me to be an Alexander collector and to be active in the Madame Alexander Doll Club. We are having our annual convention in Winston-Salem this Summer and I will be going.
Okay, who has the next story?