Merry Christmas!

Another calendar to discard! Wow this year ripped by. I am taking this opportunity to apologize for no holiday cards this year. This will be my only indulgence to communicate my happy holidays to my friends and relatives! It hasn’t been since the girls were babies that I was too busy to sit down and write out my holiday cards. Both of my daughters are here this year helping out with the grandparents, and that is one of the best parts of this ordeal. Bri is living here and is Grandmu’s caregiver, and Erika is between political assignments and helping with the overflow now that grandpa also needs full time care.

This year my time has been filled with the care and feeding of my in-laws. A quick update (as I have not found the time to blog regularly): Moms recovery from the broken arms is going well, and she has adjusted well to her new home here in TV. Her Alzheimer’s seems a bit worse and each day is a new adventure with her. She has mixed emotions about Dad being here. She misses him terribly when he is out of sight, but he annoys her when he is here. I think that is what marriage eventually comes to.

Burt, my 90 year old father-in-law reluctantly arrived here in Florida a few weeks ago. He decided to have the full knee replacement that he has been putting off for 10 years since his first knee replacement. He found a surgeon that he was comfortable with and last week he had it done. He is a healthy 90 and we are hopeful that he will be able to get around unassisted again. He told the Doctor that his mother lived past 100 and he planned to live to 105. That means the new knee needs to last for at least 15 years. What an optimist! There have been a few complications after his surgery, and it is becoming obvious that he will not be escaping back up north by the first of the year, but our goal is to have him ready to ship off by the beginning of April.

Their convalescence has complicated our formerly narcissistic lives considerably. Between doctor appointments and nurse visits, Physical therapy, trips to the drug store, cooking meals for 6, personal hygiene for both and all the other running for their needs, it has taken almost all free time from four of us. I have resolved to keep some fun in the schedule and the girls and I snuck off to see the manatees on the gulf coast yesterday. It was a nice day and I think we’ll try the Orlando theme parks next week.

I am grateful to be able to help them get as many more good years as possible. Erika commented that she was learning a lot about how to be a responsible member of a family unit. That is good news as we will be in this situation too, someday. Good Karma all around for us. I have new respect for caregivers. It is a full time commitment.

Happy Holidays and Peace in the New Year!