Visits with Mom

Alzheimer's disease is such an emotional roller coaster.  Mom keeps declining and changing and every visit is different. I didn't see her for almost two weeks while we were getting Jonah ready and during his home MTC, it was so hard. Visiting her right after dropping Jonah off at the airport was hard, especially because it was a hard day for her.  She can't feed herself anymore, so we feed her whenever we are there.

A few days later I went to visit her again with Mel and Dad and it was a much better visit. 

I love to make mom laugh. I would say or do anything to see her smile.  Here we were laughing about how her dinner looked like poop, ha!

I asked Mel to take some pictures of us. I love this one! 

Dad always takes such good care of mom.  He cleans her room every time he comes. He even cleans her hair brushes.  One day he showed us her hair ball that he cleaned out of it and I told mom that maybe dad could use that to make him some eyebrows, she laughed at that one!

These two are such a good example of a loving marriage. I know this is breaking both of their hearts. Neither one of them wants to be away from each other. 

We do a lot of reminiscing when we are visiting mom. We have had so many good times over the years and we have so many good memories.

Mom can't talk or communicate very much anymore, but she laughs along when we tell funny stories and gets emotional when we talk about hard times or when she can't communicate all the love she feels. 

Mel and I kept burping to make mom laugh. Mom thought it was hilarious, dad was not as impressed.

Mel usually meets me there when I go visit mom.  It's great to share that time with her.

The girls wanted to go visit grandma together.  These four have so many memories of being at grandma's together.  Grandma did so many fun activities with the girls. She was always having cousin sleepovers with them and doing crafts and baking with them. Caitlyn said it was a good night and grandma laughed along while they talked about old memories. 

I was surprised to see mom in her chair last week.  She has been in her bed most of the time since they brought in the hospital bed.  She wasn't responsive much at all that day.  I fed her and then I put on hymns and she mouthed along to the songs. 

Ron wanted to come see mom, so him and Diane came into town yesterday. I texted Ron and told him that we would love to go see mom with them.

Ron, Diane and Haley met us there. 

Mom was having a good day. She was able to follow the conversation and laugh along with us. 

It was so fun to reminisce with Ron and Diane.  It was great to have mom laugh along with us. 

This is Oscar, he is one of the aides.  We have been so impressed with the aides and the care and attention they give to mom.  Ron asked Oscar to come take our picture. Oscar told us that he put fake boobs under his shirt to make mom laugh. Mom started laughing while he was telling us.  Ron thought that was pretty funny and had to clarify with him, "wait, you made my sister laugh by dressing in drag." It was so funny. I thought I went all out to make mom laugh, ha! Oscar told us that he wrote a book about his experience leaving the church for twenty years and then coming back.  He said he didn't have a testimony before, but he gained his own testimony and came back after twenty years away from the church. He said he is gay and that used to be a challenge for him, but it's not anymore.  He said now that he knows the gospel is true and his true identity he doesn't struggle with being gay in the church anymore. It was really cool to hear his story.  I'm so grateful that mom has so many aides that love and care for her.  You can tell they really know her and want to make her happy. 

It was great to have Ron, Diane and Haley there.  I just crave being around people who love mom as much as I do.  We all love her so much and love talking about what an amazing person she is. 

Gary came into town for a quick visit to see mom.  Dad and Gary blessed and gave mom the sacrament.  That was special. 

We all went to see mom while Gary was here. 

We had fun catching up and reminiscing. Mom laughed along with us.  It was great to have Gary here and have that time together.