Paradise, Pain & Pastors

We woke up late after our long day in Durango the day before.  After a leisurely breakfast, we decided to go for a walk on the jeep path down to the lake.  It was gorgeous - winding through pines and aspen, through fallen logs, next to a marsh with pussy willows.  Jane organized the wolf pack and together they pretended they were on the way to their summer den.  Of course, by it was time to trek back uphill, everyone was pooped.  So, Will took the girls and Bumpers up to the cabin the jeep, which they loved.  Mom stayed behind and held Joshua, asleep in her arms. Paradise.

As we stepped back into the house, the phone was ringing.  Brittany House - Grandma Vi's assisted living facility.  She had been in the hospital a week ago and had seemed to bounce back.  Now, she is refusing to eat.  While still in moderately good health, they have to start the proceedings for hospice if patients decline food, since the hospice nurses are adept at helping them receive nourishment.  So, we spent the afternoon on the phone with the facility and the hospice agency and filling out reams of paper.  We kept asking if we should come home and they felt that Monday was fine.  But still, it was painful trying to figure out what to do.

Heather called our pastor and he listened and had her give all of his information to the hospice unit.  He is going down to check in on Grandma.  We are so blessed to have such a caring shepherd.

Even though the grownups were all feeling concerned, we wanted to make sure the kids enjoyed the rest of their day.  So, Will brought up the fire pit into the driveway and we made s'mores and told stories and sang songs.  Poor Charlotte was afraid of the fire and cuddled with her mommy.  But, Rosalie, Joseph and Grace had fun adding sticks to the fire and eating marshmallows.  The nurse from the hospice unit at Brittany House called again while we were out there and spent over an hour on the phone with Heather, answering all her questions and making us feel comfortable with this next step.  We will be home by Monday and they said that should her condition worsen suddenly, they would call us.