WRAPPING UP APRIL

April SHOWERS bring May flowers 

and sometimes frayed nerves.

I don't mind the flowers.

As for the showers, they are not always gentle ones 

and this can be a concern.

This past Winter, we had such awful winds which have glided right into what should be a lovely Spring except the Spring weather has been with excessive gusty winds.  

Gentle breezes are nice and I look forward to them, but the violent winds have added frayed nerves when I am already an old woman that needs quiet days and restful nights.

Recalling the month reminds me that I've been on the go.

Looking forward to having some time to slow way down 

and dream a little.  

Here I go,

~d~

DAUGHTER'S 42nd birthday

Mom returns HOME from Hospital

Ella has a new Home

Mom's recovery

Thinning out Mom's Closet

Mom's 90th birthday

Historic Elgin Hotel stay

Trip to Sapulpa, Oklahoma to see the kids

Soccer Games to watch the Grandsons

Easter/Resurrection Sunday

Donuts

Easter egg Hunt

Little House On The Prairie

Home to Rest

Track Meets

Daughter's 6th wedding anniversary

Taxes done

Eye Appointments

Yardwork

Laundry

Trip to Saint Louis to see Family

IKEA, TARGET, GREAT CLIPS, THE GALLERIA MALL, THE CHEESE FACTORY, ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM, PANORAMA RESTAURANT, CHUCK-A-BURGER DRIVE-IN, BLACKTHORN GRILL

Grandparents Day in St. Louis

Long drive HOME to rest

Laundry caught up

Started the Daniel Diet AGAIN for serious weight reduction and health improvements

Babysit youngest Grand baby

Back to Mom's

Take care of elderly Mom

Mom's 4 Medical Appointments

Into the month of MAY 2022

Dear Lord, Please have mercy on me...a sinner.

This month, I have been blessed to see all my children and most of my Grandchildren.  Hubby and I have had time together as retired people that still have dreams and ambitions.  After this go round of tending to my Mom, I will have to get back on track of taking care of our own estate.  Mom may have to go into a HOME and then there will be that active part of dealing with her earthly possessions.  Heavy lifting will have to be hired out because her children and their spouses have major health issues that will not allow for heavy lifting. 

I have come to know that my own estate MUST be in order.  No putting things off.  This time in life, I can see that somethings just don't matter anymore.  There's no need for a battle or drawing things out.   

Change is sometimes difficult and challenging.  Until I take my last breath, I think this is the way it just is. 

That's a wrap, 
~d~

SPRING TIME IN SAINT LOUIS

WE MADE A TRIP TO SAINT LOUIS THIS PAST WEEK FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY.  Grandson is growing up to be a tall, handsome young man that ask a great deal of questions.  Good to see him and spend some time.

The Tulips in St. Louis were gorgeous.  Absolutely gorgeous.

VENTURING TO ST. LOUIS, we encountered SPRING which seemed more like SUMMER with temps in the 80s. 

During the day, HUBBY and I took some time to have a mini vacay.  We drove out on Wednesday after our eye appointments.  My eyes were pretty good, but my Husband was asked to come back for more pictures of the inside of his eye where a potential rip is.  So back he will go in a few days for this.      

I did alright driving in the St. Louis traffic, but I didn't like it.  Way too busy for me these days.  Way too busy.  Makes my blood pressure climb.  Son's apartment is a climb as well where the elevator is out of service and they supposedly cannot get parts to fix it.  It has been broken for over a year and he cannot break the contract because of an addendum stating that if the elevator breaks down, a resident cannot break the contract with them.  I suppose you could which there'd probably be a law suit.  Life has such challenges, but I believe I would never sign a contract with such an addendum attached.  Not good.

I thought I wouldn't be as tired if we spent some time resting before going to Grandparents Day, but I was wrong.  Traveling wears me out.  Traffic wears me out.  My back hurts too much.  I sound like Debbie Downer, don't I...but I'm just being real about being worn out. Bouncing back may not happen very quickly as I am about to start another round of providing care for my elderly mom.

STAYING IN MY FLUFFY PEACH COLORED HOUSECOAT FOR THE DAY.  I needed to have a slow paced and restful day so badly as I am terribly tired from traveling long distance to Saint Louis and back HOME.  Before that, we were on the road to Sapulpa, Oklahoma.  Before that, I was going back and forth to Marion and Newton, Kansas because of Mom's stay in the Newton Hospital with a broken hip, surgery and staying with her as she rehabs.

Between the wear 'n tear of traveling and emotional issues tied up into all of this...I am a tired old woman.  Now, Hubby might have a rip/tear inside his eye.  Back to the doctor's for investigating some more and back I go to tend to my elderly mother.  I'll be taking her to 4 medical appointments this week while Hubby stays HOME.  

I've given this a great deal of thought and know that if Mom has another serious accident, I will not be able to stay with her for long amounts of time.  She is 90 and would like to stay in her apartment.  I hope she can, but realistically I think her living alone days are nearing an end and she will need to be in a HOME for medical attention, meals, laundry, medicines, etc. 

She has no business driving a car anymore as she drives entirely too fast and has lost her eye sight in one eye.  While she is recouping with this broken hip, she won't be driving her car.  I don't trust her to use good judgment after awhile and believe she will try to drive herself to doctor appointments in the future.  These days need to be over.  I'll be checking into their community shuttle bus.

I won't be able to take her to weekly medical appointments.  She will have to ride a shuttle bus.  Between my husband's health issues and my own...I am emotionally drained.  I love her, still I do not live in her community.  If we move her to a nursing home around here, it will take some doing as we found out that they are not taking new residents.  A waiting list.

Then there's her furniture, clothing, knick-knacks, pictures, personal affects, dishes, cookware, etc. to deal with.  The timing isn't good when it comes to our health challenges and moving an elderly mother into a nursing home.

How does one grow old gracefully?  With dignity?  With health?  If I figure this all out, I'll let you know.  I know that having less stress is necessary.  Being out of debt...very important.  Doing things that one enjoys...a must.  Staying out of trouble...a good thing.

Praying for strength, endurance, and peace.  
Let there be harmony in my Home and life.

~d  

HISTORIC ELGIN HOTEL

MY DEAREST HUSBAND treated me to a night at the Historic Elgin Hotel in Marion, Kansas after I took care of my elderly Mom.  He wanted to give me the gift of time to unwind from taking care of her after she returned home from the hospital.

I went overboard snapping away.  We stayed on the third floor in room 312.  These pics are in no special order as we walked around the Hotel.  Nobody else in sight.  Twas BLISS to have access to walk about.  We ate our Breakfast for Supper which was in the small fridge in the room.  I figured that we could stay in our room and enjoy it while we ate Breakfast elsewhere the next day.

This upscale Hotel is a gem and I'm not sure how long it will be around so we enjoyed our stay ever so much.  We stayed at the Elgin a few years back.  Make that 10 years ago.  I cannot believe that 10 years has passed that quickly.

This go round we stayed in the room of rooms.  A very nice surprise!  He didn't know that I had wanted to stay in this MASTER SUPREME SUITE until I told him so after we walked into it. 

We were able to talk about everything and had complete quiet to do so.

~The beautiful HOTEL we stayed in~

~THE REST OF THE HOTEL~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xRWBKNIWuc&t=37s