21 October 09

We left for my mom's last Thursday. It took over 13 hours to get there. We were blessed, because we had no car trouble, no sickness (motion sickness that some have), good gas mileage, etc.

Arriving late we have a few moments with Grandma before she and all of us went to sleep. The girls--Vicky, Anna, and LaSara--had the guest suite that Mark and Kara had stayed in some years past. It was very nice--two beds, bath, closet, microwave, and refer. The boys stayed at Grandmas. Josh, Ezra, and Elon slept in Anita's room, and I slept on the couch.

On Friday Grandma and Anita took us to IHOP for breakfast. We accidentally ran into Betty Link, a long time family friend. Grandma wore out after 30 minutes or so. Anna helped her into the bathroom, and Betty and I got her to the car. She did admit to pain and feeling cold, which is rare considering that she is very warm natured. Betty got a blanket and I got the car keys, so we could warm her up. When we got back to the apartment, Grandma went to sleep for about 8 hours, while we tried to do some shopping.

Saturday Grandma was feeling better as the antibiotic was kicking in. We drove around GR, Cedar Springs, and Yankee Springs areas, where I showed the family most of the places I had lived and/or gone to school. LaSara had something bite her--bee, fly?--that made her hand swell up when we went to Payne Lake. That evening we ate again at the apartment dining room where Aby (?), the chef, makes and serves supper.

Sunday, Grandma was feeling better yet. We took the late morning and afternoon going to Lake Michigan. I couldn't remember much, so it took a while to find some place. After praying about it--O God find us a good place to stop, we saw a place called Rosy Mound. It was very nice. We took Lake Michigan Drive home, and I got to show them some other places where I had gone to church in my teens and where my Grandma Lindquist lived when Ron--my cousin--and I were put to bed, because we were naughty.

Monday we left Grandmas. It was really a great time--reminiscing, looking at some old pictures, just being together.

She was doing better--much better--than she was Friday.

On Monday Anita was going to call hospice to come and start Grandma's care. Carol--my cousin--had made arrangements already; they just needed the call to start.

So we'll keep in touch.