The Assisted Living Facility told me on Wednesday that she would contact the DHS caseworker again today if she had not been contacted with a move-in date. Could today be "the day" that we find out when we can move? I certainly hope so!
Last night when I phoned Mam-ma about her evening meds, she told me she had worked all day on an old table cloth made by a cousin. Mam-ma found some crochet thread in her sewing room that matched this cloth, and she thought she would crochet a lace border on it. In order to do this, she has to punch holes in the hem of the table cloth to insert her crochet hook. The fabric is very tightly woven, and she was having trouble punching holes. I asked, "How big is your needle?" Her reply... "I'm using an ice pick!"
I told her to put the pick and table cloth aside, and I will look at it when I am there next (today). She said, "Well, I've made myself sick over this." Then she began to cry. "Have you heard anything from Southridge?" I didn't want to get her hopes up, but I couldn't lie... "Yes, the nurse has filed her papers for you, and now it's back in the hands of DHS. We are supposed to hear something from them about what is happening by Friday." She said, "Well... I told Ruby that if something doesn't happen in the next few days, I don't think I can make it!"
I gave her a pep talk... told her we're too close to moving... don't quit on me now! She said it was very hard... she just worries and stews and thinks about it all the time. My mom asked me last night, "What does she have to do except eat her meals, take her medicine, go about her day and go to bed at night?" I reminded Mom that anyone in her situation would be anxious. You have no idea what day is your last in your own home, and you are ready, but nervous, and the anticipation and thoughts and questions from friends and family all just piles up and creates stress. Mom said she had not thought about it that way. There is really nothing I can do to keep my grandmother from stressing over this... and little I can do to keep her safe from things like ice picks and faulty wireless doorbell ringers!
Meanwhile, we have not seen our little nephew, Timothy, in a few weeks. He's been sick with a bad cold, and we've been busy with my grandmother's move. I saw him briefly at a graveside funeral service for a great-aunt last week. I snuggled him close inside my coat on a very windy, cold morning, and he fell asleep against my chest as I bounced him while the pastor read scripture and delivered a eulogy. We are missing him like crazy, and very brief telephone chats that include "Hi!", some jibberish, and "Bye!" are simply not enough! Once we get this move completed, I plan to have several days with this little guy where we can play and read and dance to "Jack's Big Music Show" and have some FUN!
So I am praying that TODAY we receive a move-in date... that by Monday we are moving some furniture, hanging curtains, and such... and that sometime next week we are driving my Mam-ma Polly to her new abode and settling her in the apartment. My husband still cautiously reminds me it could be another week or two... but I'm only looking ahead a few days... and praying hard!
No comments:
Post a Comment