A New Abode

We've arranged for Mom to go into a care home because of her increasing weakness and instability so we knew that day was coming up soon.

It was with a sense of relief, but also sadness that we began to prepare for that.

Patrice enabled us to keep mom home longer which was a gift but it wasn't really sustainable so we agreed to the room at Mountainview when it came up.  

Nice and close by for easy visits.

There was a lot of care-giving going on between looking after mom and keeping the three pups happy.  

So much cuteness! 

Sweet Ladybug is getting thinner and weaker, but still LOVES her treats! 

And here is the regal beauty Willow scoping out the neighbourhood for dangers to protect us from. 

Despite the sickness that visited our camp, the flowers kept blooming and the apples kept growing.

I'm always kind of sad when I see the apple bins set out as I miss seeing the beautiful fruit hanging thickly on the branches, but the seasons march on despite my reluctance to let the warmer ones go! 

Patrice and I went out for a bike ride on a blustery day.  

So great to be able to move with ease and speed on my little motor-bike!

The evening before Mom's move to the care home Anita & Ollie joined us for our regular Sunday dinner.

Watching our two elders decline hasn't been easy, but it is so special that we've been able to celebrate the good times and laugh our way through the harder ones as we try to make the best of things.

Ollie and Mom have slowly become less aware of each other and their surroundings, but they still love a good meal and good company! 

The day of the BIG CHANGE arrived on the first day of fall and Patrice escorted Mom into her new abode.

It's a spacious place but we'll definitely have to cozy it up for her.

The staff seem nice and the food is good so we will hope and pray for the best!! 

We made sure to bring in mom's CD player and devotional tapes.  Sadly, she will  have to quarantine for two weeks since she is coming from the outside and had the dreaded disease.

It's heartbreaking but I can't think too much about it. 

So grateful that God will never leave Mom and His angels will take up residence with her.

Praying, trusting and praying some more...

Big heavy sigh. 

And the HEROINE of this story is...

The season of delicious peaches and the calm before the storm...

Patrice arrived to help out with mom again.

She had to come sooner than anticipated due to some un-forseen circumstances. 

It was a little complicated this time around, and here's how it played out.

Elsie attended a camp in mid-August where several of the participants were not well.

As you can imagine, she came home with more than just memories of a good time in the woods with all her pals...

She started feeling sick while looking after mom so we got Mom to come back to my place.

But before Patrice brought her up she stopped off at a clinic to have mom tested.

Just in case...

The results were positive.

I don't think I need to mention what she tested positive for.

But we didn't find that out until after cousin Harry dropped by on his way back to Alberta and had a really special visit with mom.  He was made aware of the possibilities but he was unfazed and very eager to see mom since she had such a positive impact on his life and he is forever grateful and loves her deeply.

(Turns out he remained negative following the visit which was a definite plus as we didn't want Elsie's camp experience to travel any further.)

In her eagerness to protect me from infection,  Patrice decided to bring Mom back to Elsie's.

Poor Patrice.

This was all really hard on her nerves and really unfair.

We felt badly that she had to get involved in our conundrum and to expose herself as well.

But thankfully she was protected and able to help us out in our time of need. 

I got this picture from Elsie during their quarantine and despite feeling pretty crappy, Mom was able to produce a smile.

Meanwhile, back at the orchard, I was coming to the conclusion that I had not escaped unscathed as a headache set in, followed by fever and a few days of rather extreme body aches.

It was a relief in some ways as I had been hearing of my friends succumbing to the plague and as it works out I just prefer to get things over with and to move on rather than waiting. 

So, I was getting on with it! 

I felt very peaceful in the quiet house, able to lay down and just rest.

I had no desire to listen to or watch anything, but felt very content to be able to warm up my heat bags, take some painkillers and lay on my bed undisturbed. 

Thankfully I had prepared for this possibility and I began my course of horse treatment and made sure that Elsie was taking hers.

I had no appetite so it was easy to look after myself. 

And I had my own personal Dr. Anita to call with any questions or concerns. 

 When Patrice returned with Mom 5 days later  we recuperated together.

There was coughing involved and I got Mom some antibiotics to make sure that things didn't get more complicated.  

Week two involved extreme exhaustion and looked a bit more like this. 

Mom would come into my room and we would watch travel documentaries and sleep. 

And in the midst of it all we had Winnie and Willow in heat.

That part was a bit over the top, but one cannot time these things. 

As I ended week two I headed into town and my doc listened to my chest to make sure all was well and I was grateful not to have to go on antibiotics. 

It was good to get out of the house and the autumn beauty was soothing on the eyes. 

The colours of this season never fail to inspire and God's creativity in the minute and in the vast give rise to awe and worship.

We managed a Sunday night dinner and Elsie was well enough to join us and to bring sweet smelling roses from her garden. 

She is so beautiful, a fair and lovely rose herself!  

What a sweet blessing to have a sister,

all pretty in pink. 

So glad we have family to push through the storms with.

I'm incredibly grateful to Patrice for her kindness and devotion to the cause!

She's the somewhat reluctant but amazing heroine of this story.  

Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.

Still waiting for the energy to return.

But we have all lived to see another day!