Hi Everyone. Just thought I'd let you have an update on the FIL business. Unfortunately, it is not good. My FIL passed away on Wednesday night about 8:40 pm. But something wonderful did come out of it. He was released (really shouldn't have been) from the hospital and arrived at his home about 7:15. He managed to crack a joke when the EMTs were placing him in the ambulance, all he wanted to know was whether he had to drive home himself.
He managed to hang in long enough to say more final words of wisdom before he slipped into sleep/coma and he was surrounded by his wife, one son (my DH) and his grandchildren and myself. He was in dire pain at the end and was on 10mg of morphine pr hour but he was fully aware of everyone and everything. He never really became delirious or delusional which I am very grateful for. The hospice nurse arrived at 8:25 and he said that he seen him take two shallow breathes but he passed during the inital exam. One of the last persons to see him and hold his hand was my youngest and for this I am eternally gratefull. This was our first "real close loss" and I am extremely proud of how April handled it. I was very worried she would have nightmares but she has handled it like a trooper. She even sat at his bedside until the mortuary guy arrived to pick up the body.
So here is what I will say. As a person who normally has not had to deal with death and on the contrary has avoided talk of death, I was always afraid of thinking about it and wanted to pass in a hospital. But after this experience, I must say, when I pass, if its illness related, I would really love to pass surrounded by my loved ones as my FIL - Larry did - at home. He was in dire pain but he knew we were all there. I expected to have nightmares and be scarred but you kow - other than the normal guilt, Its not been a bad experience at all. We have even been over at my MIL's house every day since his passing and it is not "weird". He passed in the living room but somehow, none of my children are avoiding it. The only thing is that no one is sitting in Grandpa's chair. I believe this might be a bit normal and eventually someone will sit there. Other than that, things are moving ahead. Megan and I have started working on a photo slideshow which we will show at the memorial service and at the banquet. This I believe has helped everyone move on a bit as we had to scan all the pictures before we could start work on the slideshow.
So I want to thank all of you that have kept my family and I in your prayers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and rest assured that I will do in kind if you ever need me too pray for you or your family. I will probably not be on until after the service which is supposed to occur on Sunday, March 15. From now until then, I am running around with my MIL and DH making arrangements and setting up stuff and picking up out of town guests. We are going to have a Celebration of Life after the memorial service as Larry specifically told us he didn't want any of us to cry over him. So instead, per his wishes, we will celebrate a life well-lived and a man who I can was I was proud to have known.
OK.....on to your regularly scheduled programming.
XOXOXO
Laura
I only have 4 or 5 loads of
to do. DH wants to go to Costco or Sam's Club, I don't have anything to wear. California really frowns on people going grocery shopping in their night gowns.
