Swelling

As you can likely see from the photo, my mom has accumulated a lot of fluid - 40 pounds in the last 4 months or so. Her short-term memory is getting worse by the hour (literally) and my dad and I struggle with this daily. She can be argumentative at times, which is difficult.

My dad is wearing new glasses (yay!) but insists on keeping them low on his nose. Not quite as bad as Mr. Magoo, but close. He is in pain, too, and tired from being a servant all day. Please pray for strength and energy for him.

My parents were able to come to Gene & Joan's house for Sara's 16th birthday party. Joan outdid herself and decorated the entire house, while John's niece Jessy took GREAT photos.

And my parents had a visit this weekend from my dad's niece, Martha. My mom spent most of the next day in bed after the visit. She tires more easily now, but enjoys short visits from family and friends.

Please continue to pray for my family. There hasn't been a week in the last four that all of us have been healthy. We've been fighting something constantly and stress doesn't help the body's response to illness.

Please continue praying for my friend, Anthony. He has been in the hospital for almost a month (and went in expecting only outpatient surgery).

Thanks!
Anita

What to Write?

Just a little update . . .

If you ask my mom, she's doing "very, very well" and "much, much better". I think that's her power of positive thinking. Realistically, the swelling has spread to her abdomen and they have ordered fluid pills for her. Her memory has gotten much worse in a short period of time. She is eating pretty well and she is ready to travel somewhere. I think she's tired of being stuck in the house all the time. And she's tired of the hospice people coming to her house every day. They have stepped up the nurses to 3 days a week and the aide comes twice a week. She and my dad seem to enjoy the monthly visit from the hospice chaplain.

My dad is exhausted and it shows. He has gone from a waist size of 38 to a 32 and from an XL shirt to a small. He and I got to spend time together on Saturday morning when we went to get eye exams and new glasses. We were able to talk in-depth about my mom's illness and how he is feeling.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts. Please keep my friend, Anthony, in prayer too as he battles cancer. And my friend's uncle, Don, as he has terminal lung cancer.

Our God is an awesome God!

Anita