Snow in Ohio

Just a short month ago Dan and I were here in Ohio as a part of our Midwest tour to see family and the "fall colors." One of our stops was to check in on my Aunt Mudgie who was living in an assisted living home. At that time we moved her from her room to a smaller room that was near the elevator as she requested. We got her all set up and within 2 weeks she had fallen (no injury), but was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Turns out she had an infection that spread throughout her system making her quite ill. So, as of Nov. 1st she has not lived at the assisted living home. She is now residing in a Catholic nursing home in Lakewood, Ohio~ a place where she was a nursing supervisor many years ago when it was a hospital!

The last 3 days Dan and I have spent closing out her affairs in town as it is clear she will not be leaving the nursing home. Actually she is quite ill with an aortic aneurysm that is 7 cm and is now leaking a bit. Many of her organs are showing signs of shutting down as they are not really assimilating the nutrients in the food or water. She is choosing not to eat or a very minimal amount at best. Her deterioration in the past month is dramatic. She has asked to go on Hospice and after a rather large meeting with multiple folks in attendance (hospice, priest, Dr., nursing staff, social workers, and family), we decided it was time to begin this process. So, whether it is days, weeks, or months, Mudgie is where she has always said she would like to spend her last days~ back at St. Augustine. Believe it or not, some of the nursing staff remember her as their supervisor 30+ years ago! What a small world we live in.

Aunt Mudgie has a long time friend named Susan who sees her daily and who keeps her laughing when times are tough. Our family is indeed fortunate to have such a wonderful woman taking such good care of her since all the family is in California.

So, today as we finish our business here in Ohio it started to snow! Flurries danced around us and the temperature dropped significantly since we were here last. In mid-October everything was decorated with a fall harvest theme. Now, Christmas lights and decorations are everywhere. It is like some fantasyland all decorated for some contest. These Buck-eye's really know how to get you in the mood for the holidays!