kmhmom

You are an awesome person, and a fantastic Mom! I hope you always know how proud I am of you! And have an awesome birthday night out, make up for last year, and trust that your precious child will be in the best hands . . . Let me know what the final plans are ASAP! Love! Mom

Yes, I have fond memories of it from my childhood, and often have wondered what became of it. Do you think it would be sacriligious (sp?) to try to save a few various parts and make a scrapbook-type shadow box with the pieces??

But it's in really BAD condition -- spine coming apart, old water damage and mildew . . .

As I continue going through my deceased Mother's things, I've run across my childhood Bible which, unfortunately, is in terrible physical condition and is beyond repair. I certainly don't want to throw it out in the trash like a common item. I thought it should be burned, as we do old flags as a respectful gesture. I do plan to keep the cross/chain that used to zip and unzip my Bible. My older daughter thought burning it sounded creepy, and suggested I get opinions. What's yours? TIA

It's been several years since "Santa" visited us, as my married daughters are 24 and 22 (tomorrow!), so it's become traditional for them to come here late Christmas Eve after the visit to Grandma's. We open the wrapped presents at that time. Then, when they have the chance to drop in on Christmas Day, we eat and have the stockings from "Santa" (the girls are responsible for filling mine and their dad's!) I'm not sure how much things will change this year, with the addition of our precious granddaughter. I know we want to make an early-morning visit to see what Santa brings to her house

Congratulations!! Girls are GREAT!!

I've run across a magazine titled "Congratulations", copyright 1938. This was given to my grandmother when my mother was born in January 1939 at Georgia Baptist Hospital. The articles and advertisements are really interesting! Did you know that baby food was originally available in cans, not jars? I want to share the page of "Do's and Don'ts". Most items are outdated, but some are probably advice that has held true through the ages! -- Consult your doctor at regular intervals during your baby's infancy whether he is sick or well. -- Nurse your baby if you possibly can. -

Thanks again, everyone!! I'm almost ready to head to my Mother's house in Mableton . . . I have so much to do this week, but I did get to celebrate over the weekend!

This is certainly true in my life right now. Mother died on Aug. 1, and I've been so busy ever since going through all her "stuff" from two residences. I've already had to repeat myself several times: IT AIN'T TRASH UNTIL I SAY IT'S TRASH!! Today, my dear dumba$$ sister picks up yet another box saying "Is this trash?" The bottom falls out of the flimsy box, items crashing and breaking. Needless to say, that box was definitely trash! She just needs to concentrate on cleaning the place and let me go through all the #$($* !!!

You're certainly right about that!! And I can't believe the birthday present I just found! (Quick update: After my mother's death on Aug. 1, I have been incredibly busy cleaning out all of her stuff (from a senior apartment, and her house in Mableton). ANYWAY, I'M SITTING HERE WATCHING MY PAWPAW'S 86TH BIRTHDAY AT MY HOUSE!!! (Care to guess who the cute kid hogging all the attention is??) It's awesome! I'm crying and laughing at the same time . . .

Thanks, baby! I love you!

My mother (who died on August 1st) has always made all the family Christmas stockings. And she has left an unbelievable amount of things behind. There are MANY stockings that are started, but not finished. Also, many stockings that are completed, but another name would be needed on it. I would be GREATLY interested in finding out if I could make some kind of bartering agreement with a local knitter. For this Christmas, I think I need a name change on one, 6 completed-large size stockings, and perhaps 4 completed small-size stockings. I still believe there would be plenty for the

Actually, the only thing that really seems sad to me is that she never got to meet her only great-grandchild, my precious Peyton!! She was much too hostile and demanding before Mother's Day. Then, we finally had the meeting arranged (which would be in an outside environment to protect the baby as much as possible, of course). But, because of Mother's condition, I completely agreed with Peyton's mom and dad that the risks far out-weighed any possible good that could come from it. I doubt it, but hopefully during the funeral service, God will let her look down, see the great-granddaughte

Thanks you, and it's truly awesome to know!! Please send a special one for my two dear daughters, *Kelly*, and ~*Kim*~, and their husbands, that we'll all make it through this whole ordeal stronger and better than ever before!!

Mother was turned over to hospice care on Thursday, and returned to her senior living apartment on Friday. My sister and I were there most of the night Thursday, trying to get things ready for her homecoming! Then I carted all her "everyday" dishes home and ran them through the dishwasher, as she has requested once before. (This was FOUR loads in my dishwasher! [Needless to say, sleep was nonexistent that night . . .]) We "thought" we had to go back to the hospital for a 10 o'clock meeting; however, that was cancelled and Mother arrived home in Smyrna via ambulance around 4 o'clock p.m.

I've just received a call from the psychologist of our Palliative Care team. My sister and I will still meet with her tomorrow without Mother, but she wants the whole team to meet with us again on Friday. The psychologist believes that Mother doesn't comprehend the entire situation; she keeps us hopping and planning for a return to her normal life that is not going to happen. Since Mother goes in and out of confusion and the long-term alcohol abuse has so severely affected her, they don't feel she is capable of reasonable conversation, I realize that we will never get the chance to re

Thanks everyone! Every comment is deeply appreciated. When my sister picked me up on Monday, expecting to return to the hospital and see her still unresponsive, she was sitting up, eating lunch, and complaining about everything possible. I think she will have good days and bad days . . . as one doctor said, she will go downhill, then uphill (but not as far as she was to begin with), and keep repeating that process until the end. Between my sister and I, I think it's my week to be strong (as strength is what I've been praying for). It's really working, as I do feel much stronger no

My sister is coming back from the hospital to get me now . . . Mother is unconscious . . . Should we plan to open her safety deposit box today (I am a co-signer, but have no idea what it contains.)

Mother isn't dead yet, just very close to it. The "list" was pretty impressive in listing everything that will have to be done. It will just be my older sister and I, and we're going to have to share the fulfillment of all duties. My dad/Mother's first ex-husband, is the executor of her estate. As for "clear and concise decions", no -- not really . . .

Basically, I just want to give a heads-up to any relatives that might want to come down from the Carolinas, and I really only remember 1-2 people on those branches. It's probably going to have to work in this situation!

If you're a psychic in real life and you think you would call this **(#&$** of an uncle of mine right now instead of 12 hours from now, please inform! His is just not a voice I care to hear right now . . .

Oh, GOD I'm so sorry -- I didn't take your post as poking fun at ALL -- I use that face sometimes just for the hell of it, I PROMISE!!! Please forgive my unknon mistake!

You mean we can't keep it ALL on PCOM? Please remember that this is the PRACTICAL thread of this advice issue!! I'm doing all right. Sometimes you just do what you have to do . . . you don't have a choice.

I've found a two-page checklist of items to be handled between this time and when my mother's final affairs are settled. #1 - Notify immediate family and close friends. That is accomplished. #2 - Evaluate the emotional impact on the surviving (in this case) children and close relatives and friends; arrange for SUPPORT. That's what PCOM (and the other thread) accomplished! then, past several duties, we come to Notify other members of family and friends. I procrastinated myself out of calling her semi-estranged brother out west tonight and telling him