The last days

As you know Mom died August 17th at 5:32 in the morning.
August 15th I was over visiting and I started to sing a song that Mom always sang to me. I don't what it's called but it the first line is "mares eat oats and goats eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, a kid will ivy too, wouldn't you? A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you....."
Much to my surprise Mom started to sing it with me. She sang right to the very last note, I really wish I had recorded it. She sounded so sweet.

August 16th I was there most of the day. Mom and I talked very little, I talked to her but she was just too tired. At 7:00 my Dad called me and told me mom was wide awake. I ran across the street to see her and indeed she was wide awake. She told each of us how much she loved us. She asked for a banana popsicle and ate it, she had more ice-chips and chatted for an hour and 10 minutes. As she got very, very tired she told us she needed to go to sleep. I gave her one last hug and kiss, told her i loved her and asked her to tell me again that she loved me too and she did. She asked my 20 yr old nephew to sit with her for a little bit. They were always so close. All through middle school and high school he went and had lunch with mom/dad everyday without fail. So he stayed for about another 10 minutes. The she told him to go that she wanted to be alone and quickly fell asleep.

We all promised Mom we would keep her at home and we were able to do that. It was relatively easy. The nurses came in and showed us how to give Mom shots if she needed etc.
We also promised mom she would not die alone and she didn't. My oldest sister Debbie had spent the night, (we all took turns) and I believe Mom was waiting for it to be Debbie's turn. She is a personal support worker and I believe mom knew she would the one to keep Dad calm and she would handle it the most efficiently.
Dad was holding her hand when she died.

We were able to stay with mom until 11:00 which was the agreed time when they came to take her. That was heart breaking. We all shouted out that we loved her. My Dad asked the men from the funeral home to please let him touch her face one last time. So they opened up the part where her face was. Dad kissed her cheek, held her hand and told her not to be afraid. It was heart wrenching.

Mom did not want a funeral or a visitation. We honoured that but she did say we could have a celebration of life service. So we did. We had it at my parent's home. Mom did not want it a funeral home or a church because she said it was too sad and too hard on everyone.

So we dug out photos, my brother in law put together a slide show and made copies for all of us. We made all kinds of food and drinks and invited mom/dad/my neighbours (I live across the street from mom/dad), mom's closest friends and family. There were about 50 people in total. Others asked if they could come and we had to say no. There would have been way too many people and this was to honour Mom not a social event.

Now it has been 2 1/2 weeks and each day I miss her a little more than the last. I haven't watched the video again because i don't know if i am ready but i will.

Thank you my friends for your kindness and your guidance. I have been blessed to meet each and everyone you.

Kelly