Fostering the Bennetts

Dan and I are officially foster Parents! We are now the proud care takers of two toddlers.....

Or sometime that is what it feels like it when taking care of two Seniors.

June 27th we moved into the Thaxton Abby as we have so fondly call it.  Since that moment, our life has been one big transition. A week after we moved in my Uncle Dan(DB) who lives in the house with us, went off to Japan to visit his Daughter and finally meet his Grand Daughter. It was a long over due trip. The issue is, DB has always been home to help with Grinny and Grandad. So quite quickly we had to start adapting to becoming home health aid providers. The most important part has been the night shift. With the help of the Handy Dandy IBABY, we have to keep watch when Dementia is at its worst.  We have also been assisting Super Mom- Played by Debby Milne. 

My Mom is a Physical Therapist Assistant, Mom extraordinaire, make shift nurse and all out bad ass mom that there is. Sorry for the cuss but there is no other way to describe her but that.

She really is the glue that is keeping this all together. 

My grandmother has spinal stenosis (Among many other things). 

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spinal-stenosis/what-spinal-stenosis

She also is slowly falling prey to Dementia. I would say she is about 70% cognitive.

The issue is, the stenosis has reached a critical point. After waiting all month for our appointment with the Surgeon, we found out yesterday that he case is severe to the point that if we waited another few months for surgery, she would bee Paralyzed from the neck down! Each day she is becoming weaker and more frail. Besides my mom, it take 2 people to help move and care for her.

Then there is Warren.... oh Warren..... God Chose a special amount of patients to be in Warren's Family. Overall his heath isn't too bad for a 89 year old. But Dementia is in full swing with him.

Dan (DC) and I joke that we can be sure daily we will be told the same thing about our Cats, dinner and ice cream... 

The good news about Grandad, is that he is mostly mobile on his own. Though that is slowly starting to fade as well. 

Each day with these two is an adventure. Your not sure if mentally they will be there, or if they think they are currently sleeping in a hospital bed. You don't know if your Grand mother has enough strength to handle a one person lift to the toilet, or if you need backup. Then there are the moments that they become Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie convinces Clyde that he should help her out of bed and you have about 5 seconds to sprint down stairs to stop the escape from Alcatraz, less they both end up on the floor!

Our time has not really been our own recently. There is work, then there is coming home to see how we can help and be a support to my family. I am amazed of how DC's true colors have shown bright in it all. What a trooper my husband is. Seriously, he will have a rough day at work, and still come home to sit with my Grandparents as they tell him for 500th time about buying this house back in 1975. Its been such a blessing to see his servants heart come out.

I will be honest. I am exhausted. And I am not even doing most of the work! I have been having a few "sad" moments as I think through how this is not what I had Planned for us.  God is pretty quiet now, but I take confidence in knowing this is where He wants us to be right now. He must be preparing us for something. I have been blessed to see how the family really is acting like the Body of Christ.

Seeing my Uncle Simon fly up from Texas to work his BUTT off for a week, helping sorting and organizing this house.
My Dad, who comes over nightly to have dinner with the family and show grace with them. He then goes home and make a priority to keep the house together so Mom doesn't have to worry about that.
Dan Coffey who is working hard on projects, like installing tv mounts like a pro and working with Comcast for hours on end , so my grandparents can watch Bill Orielly.
My Cousin Thomas who came over for the weekend from NY to help mow and do lawn work.

Grinnys 89 Birthday!

Celebrating Summer, Family & Lobstah!

So that is what is going on with our life right now. To be honest, we have no idea what each day is going to bring us. So for that we ask for your patients. We are not trying to ignore our social life, but right now family has taken a very large priority. Be praying for us for the remainder of the month. The deck will be reset on August 31st during surgery. We shall see what God has plan then...

The hands and feet are at work daily here. Its hard work.... but I have to assume its Gods work.