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THIS ISN'T SMALL STUFF: I feel almost guilty doing this post - because I know good things like this just don't happen. I don't really know how in the world this came about - guess the planets were aligned or something. But it happened.

There is so little really GOOD stuff happening for care givers - I know. But something happened that has given me a real lift! Nothing short of a MIRACLE, actually!

My MIL's sister moved into a fabulous (think very elegant) ALF and has asked my MIL to come and visit here there. She wasn't sure if that would be allowed - but she wanted her only sister to come out for a visit and she had planned to check on it and get back with my MIL.

Her memory isn't real good - so she may have forgotten :0) Because she didn't call back right away.

2 days later and still no word. So, my MIL asked me if I could give them a call and ask if she would be allowed to come and visit. So, I called. The person I spoke to said they would have to pass it by the director. She would call us back.

3 more days and the call finally came. Every single day my MIL asked me if I had heard anything from AZ yet. Finally the call came and IT WAS GOOD NEWS. Yes, she could visit and stay up to a month for the cost of meals ($15 per day). My MIL will be staying with her sister for 3 weeks in January in sunny AZ!! She will be able to erase almost a month of Midwest Winter off her calendar!

I am nearly beside myself with joy! I am so afraid I will wake up and find out it is just a dream.

At first my MIL was just about jumping up and down (IF SHE COULD jump up and down) at the prospect of this trip. Now that her airline ticket has been purchased - she has changed her mind. She doesn't want to go. No doubt because she knows how much my hubby and I WANT her to go :0)

My dear hubby stepped up to bat and told his mother that unless she was dead or hospitalized - she WAS going to AZ and she WAS going to have a great time too! Is he great or what?

I almost hated to post this - because I know so many have it so hard and never ever get a break of any kind - let alone three weeks. But, you know, it doesn't happen often that we are cut a break!

I have found that even spending a few hours at the thrift store does wonders for my spirits. But THREE WEEKS without having to fret and worry at all about my MIL? I can barely contain myself!! I am smiling again ..................

I hope you all have found something GOOD in your day - even something much smaller or simpler. Sometimes it is hard to find anything at all to be grateful for - but we need to keep looking. I know what it is like to feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel too - been there and done that. Most of the time it is the little things that I appreciate. Good coffee, on one and only best friend's emails, my hubby 'fielding' for me with his mother, by soft memory foam pillow, a Blue Moon with and big orange slice in it. We have to take joy is the small stuff because most of the time there are no big things like this one.

Just this morning, we drank our coffee outside and it was such a pleasant start to our day. Try it - you'll like it too :0)

Please forgive me for posting this. I wish I could giver every one of you 3 weeks off too. If wishes came true - you would get to share my good fortune.

If this bubble bursts - I am afraid my sanity will be splattered all over the floor!!!

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This is not about respite but a nice story nonetheless. The other night I was talking with my dad about how it was the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. He came to live with us soon after. His house had some damage but at 87 he needed to move out of it anyway and either go live with one of his children or go to assisted living. I said you've been here almost a year and he replied that he's never had it this good in his whole life. My husband and I really appreciated hearing that he thinks we are taking very good care of him.
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How about a little funny today?

Under the category "things you'd rather not hear":

"Are you coming in?"
(My elderly father who has dementia to me when I was helping him in the shower).
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My good news starts with bad news......My tooth fell out. Front bottom. I knew it was coming, and I'm glad it's halloween week. I'm just keeping my witch hat on. I've neglected my teeth for years due to lack of money and FEAR. They are a mess and it's unhealthy, especially being allergic to most antibiotics.
My family is making a dream come true. I have a consultation tomorrow to get all the work I need done. It will also be nice to be able to smile from my heart again. Thanks for listening to my good news. Hope you get some soon!
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My boss offered to pay my ticket to anywhere I wanted to go and also threw in a bonus to celebrate my 20th year in the company. I used my frequent flyer miles to pay for my older sister's ticket from Colorado to meet me in Hawaii. I used my credit card points to pay for 1 night's hotel expense. And the rest of my bonus on the rest of the hotel's cost. We had a very very relaxing time. Got rid of all the "touristy" stuff out of the way first thing (zoo, Bishop Museum, etc..) After that, all we did was walk, shop, eat and rest. Once I stepped on the plane, all thoughts and worries about father left my mind. I made sure I had everything covered before I left home. AND I did NOT leave my hotel's name nor did I bring my cell phone. If there's an emergency, they can deal with it. If they can't - call 911. I had a true relaxing, "boring" one week vacation! =)
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My good thing is that in the past two weeks I've transitioned from crutches to cane, then to walking without a cane inside my house and just using a cane when I'm outside! I can do the stairs to my sewing room and am sewing up a storm. It is soooo good.
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In 26 months of doing this there have been several nice things that have been done for me. The one that really sticks out above the rest was from the audiologist where my mom gets her hearing aids. When I first arrived, we had a problem with one not working. Not knowing the first thing about hearing aids then I took mom in to have them checked. Well guess what, one of them was plugged up with wax which disables the device completely. I felt a bit foolish, and it was one of the few times I had tears come to my eyes. A couple of months later, I had to take mom in for her yearly hearing test and worked with the same audiologist. She thought I looked tired and told me to watch the mail for something. She sent me a $100.00 gift card for a local spa, I was able to get a massage, facial, and even upgraded it with a manicure and pedicure. Just the thought that someone that barely knew me would do something so kind warmed my heart.
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Can I just insert a laugh? I was standing at the bathroom sink washing my face when my cat smokey jumped up on the counter, slid and fell feet first into the toilet! He moves fast!
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My mom lives with me and my brother and I have finally started a regular schedule where my mom goes to his place for a long weekend....usually Friday until Tuesday every four to five weeks. I can't begin to explain how much I appreciate this time to myself.....my mind becomes so clear and I get a lot done! Some days I do nothing and that is also great! Some months I find myself looking at the calendar so I can "count down the days" until I get "me" time again! I love my mom but I also love me! ;)
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Well your post made me smile big! and youre so happy , how could that not seep into us??Im happy for you! Yesterday was the first time I actually got to leave and be gone for more than a few minutes...about 3 hours in fact..My husband said it was time to start getting out. So I had the honor of helping my granddaughter get ready for homecoming..oh she is beautiful. I SO MISS spending time alone with her. AND I found that one of those rotating mattresses really do work!!!!!!! I get to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!! MUCH NEEDED SLEEP!! OH JOY!!! no soars, no, not even pink. they are SO worth the expense. weeeeee!! there is happieness again! wish I would have not waited so long.
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We LOVE good news and respite for anyone of us is GREAT NEWS! Congratulations and enjoy every moment! Your hubby deserves a big hug, and anything else you give him in your 3 weeks of privacy! ;)
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