Can my mother pay me for taking care of her for the last two years?

She may be able to pay you for the care you've provided, there must be paper work to satisfy medicaid. See a lawyer to explore that. As for the house, there's a rule for that if you've provided care for two years while living with her. It's federal so it applies in all states. You just don't get to live in it, she can give it to you and still qualify for medicaid. Again, see a lawyer to make sure it's done right.

Medi-Cal does have an exemption for situations such as yours. Read the details at the link posted below.
A good use of a portion of the $10,000 is to see a certified elder attorney who understands Medi-Cal law and can help you make sure your mom receives the benefits she is entitled to and that you aren’t left homeless. Remember that you will need to pay all the taxes, insurance snd upkeep of the home as all of mom’s income will go to pay for her care.

http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/medi-cal_fs/html/fs_medcal_recovery_FAQ.htm

Medicaid is a state-run program, so rules vary by state. You should consult with an elder law/estate planning attorney and/or Medicaid Planner for your state. Since her home is also your legal residence, she may not have to sell her house so that you can continue to live in it but if she qualifies for Medicaid, it will put a lien on the home. You must not co-mingle or accept funds from your mother without first consulting with a professional -- it may cause her qualification to be delayed or denied because the payment would appear as "gifting" and this is a no-no.

In my state normally the home is sold to pay for care until a Medicaid bed is made available.