Under the Weather

Mom has not been feeling well since yesterday. She's usually up by 5:00 AM and is having breakfast, watching her Japanese news, getting ready to do laundry and water her precious plants. Then she's wandering around the outside of the house trimming each bush, fertilizing and I swear she's talking to every one of them. She insists on doing some laundry each day and nothing I say will convince her to do otherwise. She washes all the dish cloths, napkins and bath towels everyday and hangs them out in the sun. Then she'll dust and vacuum and sweep and clean her bathroom or kitchen or whatever. She has an early lunch break, takes a nap and is then preparing dinner. Yes, we're spoiled.

I wanted to take over many of those chores when we moved here but she was adamant that she needed to do it, that she enjoyed it. In fact, when I tried to do something, she would watch over me and hint that she would do it another way. So we've fallen into a pattern that works nicely for us.

But now she's not well. Since yesterday she's not been able to water her plants or cook and is spending a lot of time in bed. It's really unnerving. I'm just not used to her being lethargic and subdued. When I talk to her, her voice is gentle and nostalgic. She says she's having vivid dreams of her grandsons as little boys when they used to visit her, of her father, of her friends that have passed on.

When I walked into the kitchen this morning, Art was feeling her forehead and watching over her. He's very concerned. There's nothing serious at all... no fever... no pain... no coughing or congestion. But it's just worrying.

I made a HUGE pot of chicken soup that she really enjoyed and is having for lunch and dinner. I also made some jello with fruit for tomorrow to try to whet her appetite. It was Art's idea. He knows I'm always telling her not to get jello at buffets since it's nothing super special but to save room for the really fun stuff. However, he knows she likes jello.

I know she'll be just fine in a couple of days. I'm forcing her to rest despite the fact that she's itching to get outside. I see Art's worried eyes follow mom at times and he asks me to check on her every so often. He's been joking with her to coax her to lift her spirits. You have to love a husband who is so gentle, loving, and solicitous of his mother-in-law. I do.