Fading

I love my mother-in-law.

I know there are those of you out there that have problems with the in-laws, and for that I am truly sorry. But around these parts, we're doing fine.

MIL is 99 years old.  That's astounding in any book.  Not only that she's lived so long, but that she has survived heart disease, a pacemaker, and cancer.  She's still walking around, and she's still coherent.  Even though she is almost blind and can only hear certain tones without her hearing aid, nothing gets past her! She's staying with us for a couple of weeks or so because it's our turn in the rotation.  Three of her four children live in this area, but only two host her.

When she was 75 years young, the entire family went on a float trip together.  She stayed behind with her husband at the campground, but it looked to be so much fun she had to join in.  One of the grandchildren ferried her across the river in a canoe to a natural spring, and then ferried her back. She had so much fun that when we went the next year, she had one of the grandchildren take her down the river with the rest of us. Thankfully, no one rocked the boat, and she managed to get all the way down the river without tipping!

At the tender age of 96, she decided to model her new swimming suit for everyone...

What's more, she actually got in the pool!

She loves to eat good food, and she loves to tell stories about the past.  Both of those things are lessening now that she seems to be fading.  Even though we teased her about telling the same stories over and over again, it's something we miss now.  She barely eats enough to keep going, and the stories are rare.

Hubster is beginning to deal with the fact that she will not last forever.  He is 69, and having a rough time of it.  He makes sure to kiss her and give her hugs every chance he gets.

She has changed from the way she was at 96.  Last year, at our Thanksgiving dinner, she sat at the head of the table...

And at Christmas...

She is now on 6 liters of oxygen.  Her pacemaker is kicking in more and more as her blood pressure lowers. Her days are spent listening to recorded books, sitting in a chair, eating and sleeping.  The sleeping takes up the greater part of her time, more and more. She see images of people and things that aren't there; children playing, a kitty-cat she tries to pet.  She needs assistance to get to the table and the bathroom.

We know our time with her is short, now.  We do everything we can to make her comfortable.

But most of all, we let her know she is loved.