Avoiding the Inevitable

I don’t know why I am avoiding writing in my blog.

Everyday there is something to say – but I don’t. Then I forget the moments. Am I trying to avoid the pain , something to think about?

Lately I have been really feeling lost like I am in the middle of the ocean my raft sinking Avoiding Painand there is no shore in sight.

I am going to a caregivers group today I am not sure if it is a good fit, but I am hoping it is.

My husband is having problems  moving his legs even with two of us helping (one in front and one in back) it is becoming impossible so we are using the wheelchair more.

The nurse came yesterday and said he is wasting – he is so skinny he may not have the muscles to walk, just one more sign my life will be changing forever.

The other day I had my husband in the recliner, and it looked like he had a bump on his cheek – when I went to take a look it was his cheek bone. That is what they call wasting when someone is losing weight and muscle…

When I get up in the morning if he is awake I say “good morning” in a sing-song voice. He used to smile not so much anymore. When I go over to kiss him, he looks me in the face and talks to me about a serious subject – I don’t know what it is but the look on his face show intensity.

I have been with this man long enough that even his facial expressions tell me a story.

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Respite Facility?

Monday I was feeling so sad and overwhelmed I was on the verge of tears over everything.

When Jaynie came in to help with my husband, she said you really should look at the respite program that Creek Side has (our hospice provider). I have been hearing about this for the last 10 months that they have a program that will put him in a hospice facility for up to five days a year. About everyone who I connect with in hospice has one time or another said I should take advantage of this, so I can just regroup and get myself together.Facility no way

I never really considered it until Monday – it would be so nice to be able to leave for a few day by myself and just do nothing.

The problem is I don’t want my husband to wake up in a facility and think I have abandoned him. I don’t want him to go through anymore sadness than he has.

Since he has been getting worse there are days where he sleeps and make no sense at all (so maybe?).

I asked some people what they thought whose opinion I value. Then yesterday morning when I walked into the bedroom my husband looked at me and said where have you been??

That settles it – he is not going to go into any respite facility – even for five days.

I don’t know how I would ever leave him and walk out the door. He still has days where he is smiling and joyful – that make it all worth while.

I Love Him So…

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Connecting is Invaluable

Connecting with people who can support you through hard times is invaluable.

In life, there are little gifts that appear and make a big difference.  It happened to me when I met a person whose spouse is also terminal. There is nothing like being able to relate to the feelings and emotions with somebody that truly is going through the same thing.

Sadly, it only lasted about a month but during that time I was able to really start to feel  Connectinglike what I was going through was normal, and I really appreciated the deep emotions that we shared, the encouragement, support and cheering on that made my days a bit brighter.

My emotions are so close to the surface, and the last correspondence made me really tearful and sad. That is silly, to put so much into someone when I knew them such a short time. But that is what happens when you go through this kind of thing. Any sliver of hope or ray of sunshine that comes your way you cling onto for dear life because you don’t know if the sun will come out again…

I thank god for putting people in my life that made a difference in this difficult time. And I especially am thankful for giving me a friend who provided me a lifeline no matter how short the time was…

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