I'm Back

Hello bloggy world!  I'm back!!

It's been over 3 weeks since I announced my need for a break.  Though I managed to post 2 of my golden oldies and visit a few of your blogs here and there, I have been otherwise out-of-touch.  Thank you to those who continued to visit and read and who have kept your subscriptions.  Even though I'm not the most popular blog on the block, I worried about my readership dropping as I stepped away.  I appreciate all of you who stuck with me even though there are cobwebs in the corners and tumbleweed rolling across the screen.  Thank you, and I missed your comments and emails!

I want to give praise to God who has heard the prayers of many people on behalf of my mother and given her the strength to accomplish many difficult things over the past few weeks.  She "walked" three hours after her surgery.  We were told that if she was unable to do this, she would have to be admitted to a nursing home until she rehabilitated.

There's something motivating about the words "nursing home".  At age 101 and a half, my great grandfather signed the papers to be admitted to a nursing facility.  It was something we never wanted for him, but he had become so weak that none of us could properly care for him.  It was something he never wanted either...he died two hours later.

Well, Momma heard those dreadful words, and thankfully, she didn't keel over.  Instead she grabbed her walker, pulled herself up and "walked" across the room.  With one leg paralyzed and the other healing from surgery, this was no easy task.  We know God has heard our prayers and answered with kindness and huge measures of grace.  We give him praise.

Poor Orville, on the other hand, didn't fare as well.  When he saw Mom as they rolled her from recovery to her hospital room, tears started streaming down his face.  He had to slump down in the hallway outside her door, bury his head in his hands, and sob.  Forty-five minutes and a whole bunch of stickers, juice boxes, and toys (provided by the kind nursing staff) later, he managed to tip toe to her bedside where he burried his face in her chest and sobbed some more.

The boy loves his Nohnie.

Wilbur loves her too, but when the nurse handed him a gummy man to throw on the wall and watch slide to the floor, all was well in his world.

Two days later, she was home, not in a nursing facility, with visits from home health care.  The boys and I arrived at her house each morning as my dad left for work and remained with her until after dinner.  PT came to the house.  Our church sent lots of food.  Orville recovered emotionally and read her exercise instructions to her each day.  We set up a temporary schoolroom in their home office and worked on lessons when not directly helping Mom.

The first week was rough, but after that, she regained her strength.  Each day she was able to do a little more than the previous one.  Yesterday she was released from home health care, and we returned to our home.  She is able to care for herself again, as long as she remains in her wheelchair.

Thank you for your prayers.  I know many people have been praying for Mom, and our time together was blessed as was her recovery.  Please continue to pray for her as it will be a few weeks until she reaches a full recovery. 

I'm glad to be back among my bloggy friends and have a few things for Olive Plants in the works.  I hope to see you back here soon!
Dawn

So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10