Her final days... "mom moment"

A year ago today we were preparing for my moms final breaths. We knew it would be coming soon as she was hardly responsive. She would open her eyes, nod, maybe mumble some but mostly she just slept. It was quite peaceful. A hospice volunteer came to bath her. We combed her hair, we moistened her lips, but we mostly just sat and waited. It was hard to leave her side not knowing how or when she would be welcomed into Heaven. We played music for the silence and lit candles because it seemed to make things more comforting. She mumbled her sister, Kerry Ann's name and I was comforted with the thought that maybe my mom could see Kerry Ann and that she was just waiting to take her with her to meet Jesus.

Last night me and Kristi would have spent the night and tonight and tomorrow night we would do the same. Minutes seemed like hours and hours seemed like days. It was so hard to just sit and watch her fade away into unconciousness.

A year ago tomorrow she would be completely unresponsive. Her breaths were even more shallow, and her state even more peaceful. What seemed like eternity was only briefs moments in her life. She had so much more ahead of her and we all anxiously awaited her life to begin in Heaven.

This is from our caring bridge site last year-

Friday, February 26, 2010 3:07 AM, CST
It is 1 am and I sit here waiting.... waiting for Jesus's perfect timing....I hear in the background the humidifier which I spent many a nights listening to in my bedroom as my mom nursed by cough or cold. I also hear Olypmic figure skating on the TV in the other room. All growing up my mom loved to watch figure skating.

I see a recent picture of my parents just taken 6 weeks ago and believe how beautiful my mom is. Inside and out. I see in front of me a woman who has lived such a great life. Has raised a great family with such an example of what it means to be a wife for 40 years, a mother for 37, and an outstanding person for 58. Wow isn't God good! Mom is still hanging on, hanging on to a life that will soon be overshadowed by Heaven. A place we can only dream about and I am sure she is dreaming about it now or at least getting some glimpses...

Kelli

You might be sick of this picture but I don't think I ever will. This was the last photo I have of my mom and me. I will cherish this forever...

Still when I look at this picture I lose my breath and I get an instant knot in my stomach. She is so real here, so alive. The reality that she is really gone is still hard take in. I miss her so much, more than I thought could be possible. Thanks for checking in again and for listening to me remember...

Kelli