Yes Dee, they are the same. It is a wonderful organization that will allow the patient to have quality of life and dignity until they pass. I sent you a link you may be interested in looking at in your email. There is a question and answer section and it also explains what one should watch for and how to cope during this time. {{{HUGS}}} Our hospice also offers bereavement sessions.
I'm happy to read you had a nice visit last night. The time you spend with your mom now is cherished and you will never, ever regret one minute of it.

Thanks Gayle {{{HUGS}}} to you too.

I spent the day and evening with mom yesterday. She had a lot of visitors plus drs, palative care workers, and a spiritual councilor. Her day was not as good as yesterday.
She was in pain and grumpy when I got there but it improved as the pain meds did their work. She is in better spirits than last week though. She will be moved to a semi private tomorrow.

Today i will just call her. I know that my sisters are both going and dad goes twice a day with my brother. We have most of the funeral preps done. It was difficult for me yesterday to pick a picture out when I know that the next time I look at it she will be gone. I din't sleep well last night but I am feeling ok.

Now i better get to the Y for my healing time.

Thanks guys for being there.

Dee, I just don't know what to say right now that can come close to offering you comfort. Don't ever feel bad about crying--you say you're the only one, but the others may feel the same way, thinking THEY'RE the only one. Knowing what's coming doesn't make it any easier. I wish there was something I could do for you.

Thanks Cheryl. You Gals have been wonderful support. I know that I can come here and vent and cry too.

How is the baby doing Cheryl, lots of kicking? Are you feeling uncomfortable? We just had one girl at the Y have her first baby on sunday. It was a girl. We also have another girl expecting on the 25th. The girls have the same due date and it is both there first. The other girl just wants to get it over.

I hope you all have a good weekend. I will try and pop in if I have time.

The baby is good--I got a good report at the DR on Wednesday. I had to get a scrip for Nexium (man that stuff is HIGH) for the acid that I'm having with this one! She is kicking a LOT--she's still in breach, so I'm feeling lots of movement in my lower belly.

We think we're going to name her Joycelyn Sybil. Joycelyn after my mom, whose name is Joyce and Sybil just because we like it. I'm not sure how we're going to spell it yet.

Cheryl I like the name. Now you will have two children with their names beginning in J. That is unique. I hope that she turns soon.

Mom had a horrible night last night. She was scared and halucinating. She thought that she was dying and called us all to be with her. She is so wacked out on morphine. It is so hard on us all. She is just not her self.
I hope that none of you will ever have to go through this. It is so hard.

I am so sorry your family is suffering through this Dee. My dad passed peacefully in his sleep but Steve's dad went through the extreme highs and lows for days. we called the family in several times because one just never knows. Is she still in the hospital? I am happy you have Hospice in place. They make a world of difference in pain control and helping the family understand what is going on. Prayers continue here...

Love the name Cheryl! Will it be pronounced JOYCE - LYNE or with the "cel" in there? Make sense what I am asking? :-) Happy to hear things are going well!

Today is day 1 of HFHC Also known as: Hall Family Health Challenge. :-) Steve, Allison and myself are trying to become more aware in our food choices and intentionally adding in time for exercise each day. Steve is out of town tonight, but planned ahead. He will go to a place with a WW menu.

I say it without the "cel." My mom calls her Sybil.

Gayle i don't think that I answered your question about mom being in the hospital....yes she is. She is in a palative care room, so it is a private room. We thought last week that she would come home for awhile or even a day pass but with the state that she is now she won't be home.
I went to visit her yesterday morning with Jason and will be back this afternoon with Gail. She is really bad and so high on the morphine. I told her yesterday that I was praying for her and she said I am not going to make it. I said I know through tears but I am praying for peace and comfort for you. I told her that us kids would be ok and that we would look after dad. She said I hope you take care of dad. I also told that she can go now and see her Sally and Marg and all of her friends and family.

When I walked out of the room Jason was waiting for me and he put his arm around me and walked me down the hall. That meant a lot to me to have his support. It isn't given as freely as Dez's but it sure was great to have him with me. We went out for coffee after and talked about mom and his trip to toronto on the weekend.

thanks for being there girls.

mom is failing quickly. Gail and I went yesterday. The nurses said that with past experience in what they have seen that she has days or a week or two at the max. We cried alot. She is not comfortable nor cohearent most of the time. Once in awhile she says something but the morphine keeps her pretty quiet.

We all ended up at my sister Rachels last night and had a family meeting. Dad went to the hospital to be with mom. It was too much for him. We did finish off the obit and talked about any thing we had left loose. Someone will be staying with her all day and night now.

Sorry for burdening you guys but i just need to pour out my heart.

You will never be a burden, Dee. know deep within your heart, we are here for you and you can share anything. This is your mom, your one and only mom, you have to be feeling pain... it's normal. We would be thinking you were crazy if it wasn't upsetting you. I am happy Jay & Dez can spend time with their grandma and be there for your support. Praying God will hold your family in his comforting arms...

Dee, don't apologize for coming to us--no burdon at all--that's what we're here for!!!!!!!

This thread is getting long, so I'm starting a new one for FALL.

Maybe Janice and Shelley will come around?