Full Day with Grandma

I woke up this morning about 7AM.  Boy, did I sleep hard!  I slept like a kid...not sure if it was because I was so wiped out, or if it is because I am most at peace on the farm.  Maybe it was both!

Went up stairs, Grandpa was outside checking on the animals already and Grandma was still asleep.  I let her sleep and I started to make breakfast so it would be ready when Grandpa and Grandma were ready for it.  

Grandpa came in and got Grandma up for breakfast and her medicines.  She ate really good again this morning.  It was so nice to see her eating so well.  After breakfast, I did dishes and some laundry.  Grandma rested and watched some morning TV.  My cousin, Samantha came over to visit.  It was great to see her and visit with her.  Sam lives across the road so, I will be able to see her every day.  She is a lot of help to Grandma and Grandpa.  So glad that I have several cousins that live close to them.

At about 10AM, I helped Grandma take a shower.  Mostly, I just had to help her in and out, but her balance having been a little off and the water making the shower slippery, I wanted to stay close to the bathroom just in case.  After the shower, I helped her get dressed and back out to resting in the living room she went. We noticed this morning also, that the hair that had grown back so good, was now falling out again.  After the shower we could tell that it was pretty bad.  The doctors told her at her first radiation treatment yesterday that it would happen quickly, but WOW!

We enjoyed looking at some old family pictures as well.  Grandma got emotional looking at picture of her parents.  We talked about them.  I shared my memories of them and I think Grandma really enjoy that stroll down memory lane.

Grandma and I

Grandpa had been out with the animals since after breakfast.  He has a calf that is sick. It was not looking good.  He said he was very worried that he wasn't going to make it.  He sent my Uncle and cousin into town to the vet to see what they could do.  Grandpa would have gone himself, but we had to take Grandma into Fergus Falls for her radiation treatment.

Grandma had a little to eat before and took more of her medicine before we headed to her appointment.  It was a nice drive to Fergus Falls, about 45 minutes south of Grandpa and Grandma's house.  The radiation treat only took about 30 minutes.  Grandpa and I talked while we waited.  He explained that the radiation on her head and back, is to try to zap the cancer in her brain.  The doctors are doing this more as a way to help with the pain that the cancer in the brain is causing.  They are hoping that it will make it so she stays out of pain until it is her time to go home to Jesus.  They explained that the cancer in the other parts of her body will take her, but there is no need for the pain.  I am thankful for the doctors that are caring enough to want to help Grandma in these days.  What a blessing!

For a long time Grandma would not acknowledge death or the fact that this cancer was going to take her.  Grandpa said that now, with him, she has started to talk about it.  Like Grandpa said, they were told from day one that the kind of cancer she had was not curable.  But Grandma always held on to hope and had faith that she would beat it.  She would tell people she was good and fine, because if she said how she really felt or got negative then the cancer would beat her.  She is a strong woman, and I admire her so.

Grandpa told me that he was very glad that I came out.  He said that I knocked Grandma's socks off!  He also told me that the letter Caleb and Emma wrote her last week, meant a lot to her.  She cried when she got them.

This afternoon when we got home, we ate some lunch and then Grandma and I rested while Grandpa ran to town for medicine and a few groceries.  What a guy!!!  Grandma and I enjoyed more animal visitors. And I finally got a picture of my friend the Cardinal.  Plus we had some wild turkey friends today!

 My friend Mr. Cardinal

They like Grandpa's feed

Grandma and I made dinner together tonight.  It was fun to cook with her.  I almost cried when she stopped and looked at me then told me how proud of me she was.  Then gave me a hug.  That meant a lot to hear those words from her!

Before we ate, Grandpa and I buzzed Grandma's hair.  We chuckled a little bit, but Grandma is glad to have it off.  It was coming out SO much that it was leaving a mess of hair where ever she went.  Doesn't bother her one bit.  She says, "I have bigger things to worry about than my hair!"

Grandpa made the comment that in the last two days Grandma was eating lots better.  Which is true!  She has eaten EVERYTHING that was on her plate, granted, it is still far less than normal, but it was great to see her enjoying the food.  Which is so different from what I hear has been that last 2 weeks.  She has been sleeping really well at night too!  So good!!!

Right now we are enjoying some TV and chatting.  Grandpa has another calf coming into the world, so he will be in and out tonight checking on the mamma and baby.  With it being as cold as it is outside, once they are born he likes to get them in the barn as soon as he can, until they are dry.  He is such a good farmer!  The other calf that was sick this morning is still not doing well.  Sad to know that he is probably not going to make it.  Grandpa is baffled about it, because he was one of the first born in January.  Grandpa said he seemed big and healthy. 

I love watching my Grandparents.  I am so proud to be their Grand-Daughter!!  I am so blessed.