4.20.2014

almost ordinary, with a side of color




















spring flowers in the sunlight, a walk in the woods, my goofball girl (my best medicine, really), new succulents, a little whiskey, meals on the deck again~  these spring days are demanding to be noticed and I am soaking them in and basking in the nearly-ordinary days that are once again filling my world after so, so many days spent in the barbed and jarring company of sadness and fear and worry.

yesterday I visited mom (in a room on the intermediate care floor! not the ICU!) and they went looking for easter/spring fun.  today he's at work and she and I did a little egg-dyeing experimenting with turmeric, beets, cherry juice, blueberries...  the turmeric and blueberries worked the best, though I'm sure the fact that we started with brown and green eggs had a lot to do with the varying success of the others.  we threw some cloth scraps in the pots as well, with intentions to make something for her fairies.  we must have hidden the plastic eggs she got yesterday a couple dozen times for each other today.  a picnic in the sun and yes, that's a glass of wine with lunch.  

that purple yard sale dress just keeps on going....  nana stitched it up twice when she was in town a couple weeks ago and it looks like I'll need to spend a little time with it again soon.

ziggy catching sunbeams on her bed.  I am not the biggest fan of cats in general, but he is one very cool cat, no doubt about it.

mostly today has been the Van Morrison (of course) pandora station, sunshine play, snacking, and a lot of being thankful that my mom is heading in the right direction.  when we were sitting outside earlier Claire said "wow, the grass is really green today!" and truly, I couldn't have agreed with her more.  yesterday my mom had a wonderful day and I spent most of it with her.  I spoke with my uncle and learned that today was a bit rougher, but we are still so much further along than we've been in the last several weeks, so I suppose we've just got to roll with it and hope the easier days start outnumbering the challenging ones more and more as the days go by.  this is her 51st day in the hospital.  ooph. 

we'll get there.  we are getting there.




12 comments:

  1. I'm so glad the sun is shining in your world and things are continuing to improve Amanda. I hope you week is filled with easier days, you deserve them.

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    1. thank you so much, Tracey~ I am hoping for much the same!

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  2. So glad to hear your mom's on a brighter path right now. That purple dress made me smile. Beautiful colours on the eggs! (and I love your idea of dyeing them outside – I'll certainly have to remember that for next year. What a mess our kitchen was!)

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    1. thank you, thank you, all around~ the eggs were a last minute experiment, and we had a lot of fun with them!

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  3. such great news about your mom. claire's right, the grass is greener, both figuratively and literally. blessings!

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  4. This is the post I've been waiting for, I can hear it in your voice that the worst is over and hope abounds :) Happy easter to you!!

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    1. oh, Karen- this is a post I've been waiting to right, for sure! she still has so far to go (she is still fighting unexplained fevers and other issues, and she really isn't even moving much at all yet, just barely wiggling fingers and toes) but her harder days over this last 4 or 5 days would have been considered great ones a couple weeks ago, so I know we are chugging along in the right direction!

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  5. your writting here and on your last post (just read them both) is so beautiful. i'm glad you captured some beautiful moments with claire :) and i can't wait for that she's out of the hospital post!!

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    1. thank you, Jenny! I can't wait for that post, either. though it will likely be a long time until she's home- the doctors expect her to be in an acute long-term rehab facility for a couple months at least as she regains strength and weans off of the ventilator. but still- that alone will be a huge step towards home. xo

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  6. so glad to hear your mom's out of ICU! Beautiful photos and beautiful words this weekend. It sounds like things are on the upswing. I've been thinking of you.

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    1. thank you, Summer~ I've been so touched by all of the warm wishes and notes of encouragement from this big (yet small at the same time, in the most wonderful way) blogging community. she is indeed improving, and hopefully soon the good days will outnumber the challenging ones and we'll be whistling through the days! xo

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thanks for taking the time to read and comment~