Jen’s Update: Hanging in There

Entry by TRH from TN

GREETINGS JEN NATION!

Sis is resting comfortably on the couch across from me.

I guess since last report we exchanged Christmas gifts. Not surprisingly, our effort to “keep it small” failed — Mom, Matthew and Dad went out of their way to make this a special Christmas for all, especially my sister.

It took us a few hours Christmas evening to thoughtfully mow through all the gifts. Sis got some new pajamas, Yankee candles, an electric blanket, some audio books to pass the time … and hot cocoa, of course!

My mom shared a funny anecdote yesterday. My sister quietly woke up next to her and started blowing at her through pursed lips. “What are you doing?” my mom asked. Sis replied, “If I had hot cocoa, I’d be blowing on it.” Ha ha!

So Sis held up pretty well through all the Christmas festivities. It went too fast, but I think each of us paused at times to capture memories we’ll take with us.

She had a VERRRRY restless night Saturday, getting paranoid about having to go to the bathroom. Matthew helped her through it like a champ. My Mom and I relieved him on Sunday and eventually called the nurse as her discomfort persisted. Long story short, they were able to clean her out, so to speak, and we have her a little better regulated now.

Nurse Kim moved up her bi-weekly visit to Monday. Sis’s vital signs looked good, but one can plainly see a number of gradual changes: 1) she’s losing strength in her legs, 2) her feet are a lot colder, 3) her eyes look more withdrawn, 4) she’s sleeping most of the time now, and 5) she’s losing her appetite.

We huddled in the kitchen and Kim and the case worker were clearly concerned. No imminent danger per se — she didn’t discourage me from going back to Ohio — but it’s all quality time now. That was all obviously very hard on my Mom, whenever she let’s herself think of the finality of it all. But I keep urging her to stay in the moment and lean on us and God. It may not seem like all of this is God’s design, but it is somehow.

So we’ll see. Personally, and this isn’t a qualified opinion — I hope she’s energized by the NFL playoffs and can at least enjoy a possible Titans Super Bowl appearance. That’s a month. Only time will tell, and she’s already surprised us too many times to mention.

So we march bravely into 2009 with trust in God’s purpose and hidden meaning. Thanks for all your prayers and support in 2008 — we’ll all be thinking of you at 1am ET / 12a CT / 11p MT / 10p PT — ha ha — Love, TRH