WHY CAN'T I GET UP?

Yesterday, Mom surprised us with a burst of energy and 12 pullups.  Today, she is resting peacefully and quietly.  Her words are slurred and deliberate.  She signs most of her conversation to us and we sign back to her.  It really is quite a remarkable team and family we have here.  We are all very close and help Mom together in full agreement.

Today is a bit different.  The Home Health nurse was scheduled to arrive to assist Mom in getting cleaned and refreshed.  Mom was visiting quietly with all of us daughters and her grand-daughter, Rachelle.  Suddenly Mom began to sign that she wanted to get up.

"Mom, you can't get up." I tell her.

"Why can't I," she asks in a fearful tone.

I looked at one of my sisters in hopes that they could offer a better answer.  It was explained to Mom that she was too weak to get up.

"But I have to get up," Mom insisted.  "I'm going to have a movement."  She almost looked terrified.

Dad entered the room at that time and explained to her that she couldn't get out of bed and why.  He told her that it was okay to just go in bed and her daughters would clean her up without any problems.  He also reassured her that all of us girls had already taken care of her like this several other times.

Mom looked at all of us with a look of surprise.  "You have?"  she asked.

"Yes, Mom,"  Annie said.  "It's okay."

Mom still insisted on trying to get out of bed until finally she just looked up and said, "too late."  She relaxed and had a look of embarrassment.

Just then the Home Health nurse arrived.  Perfect timing we had told her.  So, together, we all took on the task of getting Mom cleaned up.  It went very quickly and smoothly and before Mom knew it, she had new bedding, new nightgown and was resting quietly again.  The nurse was in tears at our willingness to care for our Mother as well as we have been doing.

The nurse couldn't believe how tightly knit our family was and how we have all traveled such far distances to be with Mom and care for her like we are doing.  We all truly love Mom so much that we never really put any thought to what we are doing other than it needs to be done.  Mom took care of us for our growing up years.  It's now our turn to take care of her.