Mama slept like a rock Thursday night. I was a little worried about her, but afraid to open her door in case she woke up. Last night she was up and dressed by around 2 AM. I stayed in my bed for a while, but she would not leave me alone. She came in once and said, "I love you, I love you, I love you. Now open that thing (front door)" I told her I wanted to sleep a bit more. She left me alone for about five minutes. Then she came in shaking me and saying, "Get up now, get up now, GET UP NOW! and open that thing." About 4 AM I moved to the living room, but wasn't ready to unlock the door. She fussed and moaned and took all of her "tools" to work that door open. When nothing worked, she would start in on me again.

I gave in around 5:30 and opened the door. I had been worried about my dog, Bandit, as he hadn't been feeling well since Thursday evening. Since Friday was the Fourth of July, I thought I would just watch him and hope he would get better. He hid somewhere most of the day. He finally showed up on the porch this morning, but he was having trouble breathing, and he just didn't have any energy. I knew he was really bad off when he wouldn't even take a treat from Mama or move out of the way when she went to find all the people in our yard.

I waited until around 8 to try to call the vet, but guess they were closed for the weekend. I finally called Penny and then Betty as they both have dogs and I needed advice. They both told me to call the vet at home. I did and she said she would meet me at her clinic at 10. I loaded Mama up and took her to stay at Penny's house. I drove over to the vet and climbed in the back seat with Bandit. Poor baby was feeling really rough. Just as the vet pulled up, Bandit threw up and breathed his last breath. I am just so sad. He was such a good puppy, and I will miss him terribly. The doctor said she didn't know whether he had been hit by a car, eaten some poison, or had trouble with a heart worm.

I called Penny, and she volunteered to help me bury him. She did most of the digging while I kept Mama and her little girl inside. I went out to check on her and decided to help out some. We put him in, but had to take him out to dig some more because his legs were sticking straight out. We dug some more, tried again, still not wide enough. We were running into tree roots and even a wire which we couldn't figure out where that was coming from or going to!! Finally we were able to fit him in. Penny asked if he had any favorite toys so I got his squeaky ball and a soft monkey toy that he loved to chew on and then run and flip it around. Penny, bless her heart, had fixed up a wooden cross and had some artificial flowers, too. I asked where in the world those came from and she said she had them in her car. Talk about being prepared!!
We covered up my sweet Bandy-poo. said a few words, then slid back to the house since we both had gobs of mud caked on our shoes.

Mama went to bed shortly after Penny left so heaven only knows what kind of evening I will have. The fun just never ends!!

Hugs and tears.

Last night Mama tried to get up before I even went to bed so I decided to lie down with her and try to calm her down enough to sleep! It didn't work; she was up and ready for the day at 11:30 PM. She would not settle back down! I moved into the living room to keep an eye on her. She must have walked ten miles between the dining room, living room, and kitchen. She added mileage by checking out the "people" in the cars. I would almost doze off; she would be up and running. She kept saying, "The lady said she would be here." Around 3:30 AM she said it again; I answered, "Unlike us, she is in bed asleep like the rest of the normal people in the world!" That didn't phase her at all; she kept wondering why Penny was not here. We both finally dozed off around 6:30 AM. Penny woke us up when she got here around 8:30. She gathered Mama up and took her to town; I went back to bed.

Mama is in bed right now. She didn't head that way until a few minutes ago. David Green stopped in; the hostess in her could not leave while she had a guest. I just hope she is out for a good long while. I may have to hit the sack a little early tonight myself.

Can't believe it has been so long since I posted anything here! Tommy came weekend before last, and Mama had several "poopy" accidents. Tommy cleaned up the first one as it happened while I was napping. We kind of shared duties the rest of the time. Penny had taken Mama to her house Saturday morning (21st) while Tommy and I did some shopping for window shades. He is giving them to me for my birthday gift. What a sweet brother.

Sunday we had dinner catered at the church in honor of Founder's Day. Mama fussed about staying then ate every bite on her plate.

Monday I had a teacher workshop in Victoria so I was gone all day. Mama is not used to that anymore. She called wanting me to come home NOW!

The rest of the week went fairly well. She is going to bed earlier and earlier and there doesn't seem to be much I can do to stop her. I have gotten her into the car for a ride when she tried to go to sleep way too early, but I am afraid to drive around too long in case she needs to go to the bathroom. Today Penny left early to take her daughter to an activity. Mama was headed for bed at 2:30. I could not imagine her sleeping from 2:30 P.M. to Thursday morning so I loaded up our items to be recycled and made her ride into town with me. I was going to take her shopping, but it started raining pretty hard so I just brought her on home. She went to her room around 4:30 so we may be up in the middle of the night. Guess I had better hit the sack a little early tonight, too--not quite this early, though.

Last weekend, my brother, David, stayed with Mama so I could go to Corpus. He said Mama did just fine. She asked him what day it was, and when he told her Saturday, she made cookies for the preacher. He said he didn't bring church clothes since last visit she didn't realize it was Sunday. This time she was up at 7:00 A.M. fussing at him, "Let's go. Let's go." over and over and over and over again. It can drive a person nutty, but David just told her it was not time to go and guess he tuned her out--I have trouble doing this after half an hour of non-stop "Let's go." It tends to get to my nerves!!!

I was about half an hour from the house when my cell phone rang. Mama told me, "I haven't seen you in a long time. You come home NOW!" I told her I was on my way. Don't think she understood, but she did hang up. David said she had run to the door bunches of times looking for me. I told him that is how she gets her exercise--well, that and walking around the house looking for all those guests who are hiding in the back yard.

I had a nice visit with my friend in Corpus. We picked up food and movies for Friday night, and just vegged out in her den. Saturday we ate at IHOP (oink oink) and went shopping. We spent a long time in Barnes and Noble looking for books to use with our students. That was a nice time. We rented more movies and headed back for her house. Sunday I headed back after snoozing late that morning. It was a nice relaxing time away from home. I love my mother, but I do need a break now and again. Thank you David for providing me with my break.