2020 has gotten off to a very rough start for Mama...being isolated in her senior living apartment due to Covid was bad enough, then she broke her right arm on March 30 and just after she got that sling off she fell again on May 26 and fractured her left wrist.  She was hurting, depressed, weak, and just generally miserable, so despite her weak protestations I brought her home with me on Thursday, May 28 for some TLC and 24-hour care.

Let me just say right off the bat that I am NOT a nurse.  In general, I have no patience for sick people...except when they're someone I love.  And I do love my Mama, so I put my schedule temporarily on hold to give her the care and attention she needed.

We spent many hours of porch-sittin' and coffee-drinkin'.  I'm already a morning coffee addict, but she definitely upped my java game considerably...we drank coffee all day long!

Mama's occupational (for her arms) and physical (for her legs) therapists came to the cabin 4 times a week, as well as a home health nurse each week.  Early on we got her a walker to provide more stability for her to get around.  She wasn't crazy about the idea of having a "cart," but she seems to have accepted it and is getting more comfortable using it.

I don't have a lot of room inside the cabin, but I did make her practice with it up and down the hallway.

Mama spent plenty of time napping and watching "Dr. Phil."

The kids (yes, my sister Barb is the biggest kid of all!) decorated her cast with their names...

...and nearly every afternoon came over for ice cream-o'clock with Mama.  She really enjoyed her time with them!

Barb was wonderful to come up and stay with Mama one afternoon so Kim and I could go to one of the grandkid's birthday party.

I brought Mama's phone to the cabin and she was thrilled to receive many phone calls from family and friends checking up on her.  She also LOVED all the cards she received in the mail, rereading them every day.  Mama is so loved by so many!

Sunday mornings she joined worship services at her home White Branch Church of the Brethren via Facebook Live.  Such a nice option for her and she enjoyed that very much.

Nothing like an ice cream sandwich on a chilly day!

Barb was able to visit with us and use her PT wisdom to help Mama maneuver the walker.  

Mama was very appreciative, thanking us profusely every day for taking her in.  She wanted to help, but with two bum arms it's tough.  I did give her a few jobs though, and I think it made her feel better helping just a little.

She rolled the molasses cookies in sugar for me...

...and then took them off the cookie sheet.

Setting the table for Sunday lunch with the kids....

...and cutting the dessert into servings.

There's lots of healing in family time!

And nothing like some vitamin D therapy...Mama enjoyed just soaking up the sunshine!

Her hand, which was swollen and almost black the day after her fall, returned to almost normal amazingly fast!  God created our bodies with incredible healing power in place...even at 84 years old.

You cannot overestimate how much the love of a wonderful friend contributes to someone's happiness.  Mama's best friend of almost 60 years spent one morning sharing memories and laughter with Mama...made my heart happy seeing those big smiles and hearing them laughing together again.  

Mama cannot WAIT to get her cast off...she asked me probably a dozen times (at least!) each day how much longer she had to wear it.  So we made a count-down on her calendar...as of yesterday, 27 days (but who's counting?!).

While I really did enjoy our time together (Mama was a very easy roomie), she wanted to go back to her own apartment and she was much stronger and her therapists agreed that she was ready.

Kinda quiet again around the cabin this morning and I do kinda miss her being around.  I will treasure those 2 weeks we spent together as she regained some of her mojo...

...at Terry's Rest & Rehab Retreat.