In Between

I haven't posted for nearly a month.  What could possibly have kept me out of the virtual world for so long?  In all honesty, I've just been so busy with life that my computer time has been limited.  These past couple of months I have been living in between.  I am an official, card-carrying member of the sandwich generation.

I have a very small family in town.  My mother was an army child and her family barely lived in the US during her childhood.  They lived in Hawaii (before it was a state), China, the Philippians and she met my father as a teen in Nova Scotia. When it was time to return to the US, her parents, brothers and sister all scattered.  Somehow we ended up in Ohio, which is where my mother and father have been since.  We have no extended family locally.  It's just my parents, step-parents and brother. 

About a year and a half ago we encouraged my grandmother to move from Philly to Cleveland to be nearby.  She agreed and moved here to an assisted living facility with her husband.  At that point, my grandma had Stage 4 kidney disease.  Over the past few months she has progressed to stage 5 disease.  At the same time, my mother, who has dealt with severe back injuries and pain, was preparing for major surgery that would require rods, screws and a long, difficult recovery. 

All of this background just to tell you that I have been wearing my caretaker hat over the past couple months.  My mother hasn't needed much.  I actually wish I could have been around for her more during this time.  I made her some homemade soup and took her tons of DVD's, but what she needed most was sleep and rest...so staying away was actually better.

 My grandmother, on the other hand, needed my help.  I've spent a lot of time this past month taking her to doctors appointments, getting her admitted into the hospital and getting her dialysis started.  It was a difficult transition for her, but she's now managing like a rocks star. 

My kids have also had a lot of activities.  The end of the school year is always full of stuff.  Throw in a little bit of work travel and I was left juggling a lot of balls in the air.  Trying to keep everything afloat.  Just managing most days... 

I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about Cystic Fibrosis.  It's been nice!  I've been feeling great!  I've been as compliant as humanly possible.  The Ethambutol seems to be having no side effects.  I had to have an eye exam prior to taking the first dose.  They also had to take pictures of my optic nerves.  I guess optic nerve damage is a possible side effect of this drug.  I'll go back to the Ophthalmologist every 3 months to ensure that all is going smoothly.  So far, so good!

This past couple months have proven that I am officially part of the sandwich generation.  I spent a great deal of time taking care of my older and younger family members.  I am so thankful that I have been feeling well enough to take on this role.   I love being needed.  I love being able to help...and I love not being the patient myself! 

Mom and grandma are doing great!  This is a picture of my grandma, mom and aunt in Hawaii, where they lived for several years in the 1950's.   My mother is wearing the striped dress.  My grandmothers first name is Avalon.  She is the reason I named my daughter Emma Avalon.  I am more like my grandmother than any other family member. 

I sure do love these women!