Her son is adjusting well. He helps her out more around the house too. And she is lucky she lives next to her mom and dad so they help her out too (like cleaning her cat box since she was told not too while she is going through chemo). She said she never realized how much her son loved her until she was going into surgery and he was holding her hand the entire way. Terry has a great sense of humor and a good attitude so I'm sure that helps in putting her son's mind at ease. She strikes me as the type of mom who would cry alone so as not to upset him. She is also a little overwhelmed with the cost of everything but she is thankful when insurance covers the cost of her wig/hair pieces and the clinic gives her samples of extremely expensive medications. Keep those prayers comin'!

Hi all, I read your posts last night, but I wasn't up to posting a reply. The earliest I've arrived home from work this week has been 7:00 and then there's dinner and cleanup and chores and stuff. Like all of you don't already know how the days go. :-) All of you continue to amaze me with what you do day in and day out. Anyways, yesterday I took the fruit and lime soda water to this dear woman, but she wasn't interested. She was in pretty bad shape. We talked for a few minutes and then she fell asleep. I tucked her in and left. I didn't visit today, cuz I had a bunch of errands to run after work, but one of the co-workers went to see her. She was much better. She ate some fruit and she felt well enough that the co-worker helped her outside and they sat in her yard so she could enjoy the sun and fresh air. She liked that. We're realizing that the time spent with her has to be spent at her pace not ours. It's ok if we were hoping to spend time stamping (just an example) and she's not up to it. This is her journey and we'll take each day as it comes. The Home Health people arrived today and did an assessment. They'll send a health care person twice a week to help out. The local hospice organization called back; they're re-organzing but will get someone out to help the family as soon as they can. We're in a very small rural community so services aren't as available or as efficient as in larger communities. Another bit of good news. As I was leaving last night, her daughter and grand daughter showed up. The daughter came to cook dinner and tidy up the house and the grand daughter spent time with her grandmother. It's not easy for the grand daughter; she's only 14. The grandson who will be graduating next week is a wonderful young man and has always been very close to this dear lady, but so far is staying away cuz he can't stand to see her in her present condition. That's ok too...people deal with things in their own way. We're hoping he'll find the strength to visit soon so that he doesn't regret staying away and end up sorry that he didn't get to say 'goodbye'. Derry, I hear what you mean about 'fizzling'. We don't want a spurt of overly enthusiastic helpers to not see this through, so we're organizing so that there aren't a bunch of people one day and none for the long haul. We're trying to coordinate our time so that it evens out and no one feels overwhelmed. So far, so good. One day at a time. Thank you again for all your wonderful advice and kindness. It means a lot. :-) edwinna

Well, they came at lunch but did not take very much. They wanted to go to the garage first, and I gave them some plates and bowls that were overflow and do not fit into the kitchen or dining room. He took three dinner plates, three salad plates, and two dessert bowls plus two small mixing bowls. I also gave him some pans that were there, plus two 9x9" square glass Pyrex pans that I had forgotten I had. Since I never ever use those, they were just taking up space. I prefer to use my Corningware pans instead, since they have lids, and they are the same size except that they are a bit deeper, which is better. Before they left, I gave him some microfiber cloths, which Lee had introduced me to. I had bought a huge supply at Home Depot when they were on clearance sale and had more than I could easily store. I told him he needed them. They were supposed to take two quartz trivets that I got from the quartz mfg when I had my countertops installed, but they forgot to take them. Those are also just taking up space. I can take those to work to drop off, however. I was hoping they would take my Cuisinart ice cream machine, since I never use that any more, now that I have a compressor ice cream machine. I think they could have gotten everything they took at a thrift store, but I think perhaps they do not shop at thrift stores.

I suppose that asking Prince Charles, would be a bonding gesture towards her soon to be father in law, and a tribute to the royal family in general. It's not protocol to have a family member of the groom's side, escort the bride up the aisle, so as Oakley said, Meghan's mother may have suggested it, once she learned her ex-husband would't be able to do it. Aside from being her father in law, and grandfather to any future children, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Charles will likely be the next King of England. Someday if her future children ask who walked her up the aisle, she'll be answering "the King." By the way, I think they should say 'walking up the aisle' when the bride is walking towards her bridegroom, and 'walking down the aisle' when the married couple are heading towards the doors, to leave the church, IMHO.