Let's Have a Look-See

I agreed to to stay with my mom while my sister went to Europe with her son and family.  I brought my water weights for the pool, was going to watch movies, cross stitch and make soup for my mom. Hasn't really worked out that way. Here's a review. Friday: Flew out of Boise early .... left my phone at Callies  Got to Yuba City to find my mom in bad shape. Her breathing was labored and she couldn't walk. I knew I couldn't take care of her. Saturday: Took mom to ER in Marysville  She told all the staff that she was just drinking her tea when all the sudden these men with dark shirts showed up and made her go to the hospital.   ThIs visit was like binge watching ER. I can't count how many times she said nothing is wrong with me. I want to go home. Sunday: Still sticking to her story. Admitted with UTI and CHF. I really thought we could clear this up and she could come home.  Monday: Still sticking with her story. With the help of Andrea, the doctor ...

I always like to do my favorite parts of Summer. I've had some great moments.   I love my water arobics group. We had a different teacher this year and I missed Paula so much, but this hour of the day provides much needed exercise and friendship.  Flowers, flowers, flowers Atlantic Ocean and white sand These amazing people  The knowledge that families can be together forever.

After the service I had Spencer take family pictures with my mom. I kept saying "I really think we'll regret it if we don't take this opportunity".  My mom had a good afternoon.  She sat in her chair and told stories to all the grandkids. She was in her glory.  About 6 the next morning, I got a phone call from Allison. They had taken her to the hospital with what they called a breathing episode.  At first they thought it was a 'broken heart' heart attack, but something kept coming up on the bloodwork that made them keep testing.  She kept telling them  "Therehere is nothing wrong with me. You should let me go home." When they wanted to do angioplasty she told them, "I'm 89 and I'm not doing surgery." She finally relented.  The angioplasty showed all her arteries are blocked. They could do open heart surgery but it would be very dangerous and she is 89 and doesn't want it.  It has been a devastating diagnosis for me. ...

My dad  passed away recently.  I learned how to write an obituary.  I wrote it and my mother approved and edited. Out of the 4 people who edited, none of us noticed that I had the wrong number of years they were married. It was 69, not 59. Live and learn.  Here is the life sketch I wrote. I'm adding some pictures for fun.  Alfred Dale Empey was born on June 16, 1932 in Idaho Falls Idaho. He was so little that they put him in a box and kept him warm in the oven.   He was an only child. He grew up on a farm in Ammon Idaho in a house with no indoor plumbing. This is the house about 6 years after he moved out. He walked to school uphill both ways, with snow on the ground and holes in his shoes.  His mother died when he was 8 years old.  He and his dad lived together but he sometimes had to stay with Aunts when grandpa needed to do some extra work.            Al and hi...

Two weeks ago, July 30, 2023, I was going to sit down and write about how I felt. My dad had been in hospice for a few days. You know, it is a waiting game. Around 4 in the afternoon, my sister called to tell me he had passed. He had told my mom the day before that he had talked with his dad and it wouldn't be long. I guess his dad was right.  My mom wanted a graveside service on Friday. We went in to "get it done mode". Wes and my brother in law dressed him in temple clothes. Ty didn't come until Thursday evening and left Friday around 2. You miss a lot when you choose to be left out. We had to tell something we learned from dad. He wasn't much of a parent, it was pretty hard to come up with something.   I looked back and my bestie Liz was there.  It made my heart happy to see my children with her. She's just the kind of friend who is always there. I want to share a couple of thoughts. I had a rough ...

I have 2 cousins. I probably saw them 3 times in my life. I really want the grands to know each other; to see each other. So I begged their parents for some time with them and without  their parents.  We had a good time. They were really good.  Lots of Kool-aid and chicken nuggets.  I saved my birthday cake to share with them. We had it out back. Im not saying that they are messy, but they are. These are my cross stitchers. . Norah did her own thing...it was pretty cool.   Peter was determined. We went to the pool one day and  had a huge Water gun fight the next day.  They had a great time. Peter and Lucy reconected. Hopefully we will do it again. I  was tired but very happy.  I didn't have cousins and i feel like I missed something life enriching.  I love that I have connected with a few of my parents cousins.  Family is everything.  Safe ...