Holiday catch up - Mom Howard

No photos, just an update.
Christmas Eve early morning I received a cell phone call from my Mom...my cell was not by my bed so by the time I saw it 7:30 am it was panic time. She was really sick, did not answer her phone, she is an hour's drive away, almost 88 years old, recently having back pain and sick from the pain meds...........The day before she drove her car to Senior Center for lunch and was very active.
I Spent Christmas Eve in ER while they diagnosed a UTI (urinary track infection) then sent her home after 12 hours.
I tucked her in bed and rushed (25 minute drive) to our planned family gathering at Nicole's . Made it after dinner but just in time for the gift exchange. Spent a couple wonderful hours with all our children and grandchildren together then rushed back to mom.
Next day, Christmas, she was not doing well so back to ER and they admitted her. Long story short. After numerous tests, a WEEK later they discovered a fractured back! No wonder she was wincing in pain every time she moved.
After the diagnosis they released her to go home and rest. OK, go home? Pour mom can't even get in or out of bed without help. So, I brought her home with me. Mike and I became instant caregivers and learned about toilet risers, bedside toilets, bell to ring at night for help getting up, Ensure to drink for strength, taking blood pressure several times a day, being here 24/7 because she needed supervision.
After a week of improving-all but the blood pressure, she had a Mini Stroke. Off to San Clemente hospital for 4 days in ICU. She has completely recovered from the garbled speech symptoms. Thankfully no motor skills were affected.
She is working on strength and we are making plans for her to go back home maybe by the end of February with very limited activities and caregivers coming in a couple times a day...
Really interesting how your life changes in a moment. I am so glad to be able to be there to help her recover and she is so appreciative.

Garden Club Fun

Work day at Crystal Cove State Beach. We are restoring the gardens around the historic cabins as an Orange County District Garden Club project.

Garden Club work day at Casa Romantica. We learned how to tag Monarch butterflies. We are part of a study to see where and if our local Monarchs migrate.

I actually tagged this one...see the white sticker? It has a tiny ID number and phone number on the tag. Butterflies are a lot tougher than you think.

And our annual popular succulent wreath workshop on our deck. About 30 garden clubbers participated.

Everyone goes home with a beautiful succulent wreath that they made.

Snowy Big Bear trip

We took off for a weekend of R & R at the cabin...rushed to get there just before an early November snow. Well, the drive was treacherous to say the least. It was a beautiful site and relaxing weekend tucked inside with a roaring fire.

Christmas at Casa

Garrett and Aubrey visiting Santa at Casa

My blog has suffered since I started taking all of my photos with my new iPhone4. Somehow photos do not want to show up and I haven't had time to figure it out and am turning it over to Mike who does not blog but is my tech support.

Here are a couple of photos with his camera many more to come of a special weekend at Christmas at the Casa. All our children and grandchildren were here for an overnighter. We celebrated the start of the season at Casa and all bunked down in our humble abode. Little ones on the floor in the 'club house' under the expanded dining room table. Adults sharing spaces but all in family fun.

Randy and family, Staci, Siena and Tegan at Casa Christmas.

Michelyn and Nicole. Yes, they are still twins! And beautiful daughters!

Watch for more to come!

Cousins in Texas

Mom and I visited my cousins Joyce and John in Texas. John had us over for a delicious lunch and here we are checking out his cows. Joyce is the daughter of my Aunt Claire (passed away recently). Mom and I enjoyed the visit and helped Joyce with closure and going on with life.

Travelland and Stockton

Jumped at the opportunity to entertain Siena and Tegan for a couple hours while their mom had a hair appointment. I remembered the Travelland complex, across the street from her appointment. Years ago they had a pond area. Well the pond is about half the size but still lots of ducks and no one around. The girls enjoyed creating a collection of everything from duck feathers to special rocks. Then we had lunch in the gazebo overlooking their collection, the ducks etc..

I attended my first California Gardens, Inc. Fall Board meeting as District Director of the Orange County Garden Clubs. At Hilton in Stockton. The photo is of a brief walk outside. Brought back lots of information for the 23 clubs and about 1400 members of the OC District. Most of it boring but important, like filing your non profit tax forms...San Clemente Garden Club president Bette, did the road trip with me and we never ran out of subjects to chat about! Most fun was the road trip with Bette.

Mellow Yellow iPhone

Today I was volunteering in our Garden Club community gardens. We were pruning and weeding when someone spotted a caterpillar on a native Yarrow plant. We were excited to see nature in action but I questioned whether it would turn into a beautiful butterfly or a moth.

With my new iPhone that takes photos, I took a photo and immediately emailed it to my Butterfly expert Kris to identify. My friend, Kathleen, captured the moment (to my surprised until she sent it to me) and loved that I am addressing the new generation of texting, phone and photos from one device I am learning and loving using the new iPhone.

Sadly, the caterpillar will turn into a moth...need to squash it tomorrow before it destroys our pretty yarrow plant.