The Blizzard Of 2010: The Merry Widow's Photo Essay

The Merry Widow is staying with me to help with caregiving Mr. AOW.

Well, she got more than she bargained for: the rare blizzard in the Washington, D.C. area!

All the photos in this posting were taken at my house, during the shifts of shoveling we're doing.

PHOTO ESSAY PART ONE





This was from last night around 9 pm, just before I cleared the ramp, rails and cars(~8" on top of the cars!)

PHOTO ESSAY PART TWO

This morning around 8:15 am...








AOW note: The next-to-last photo above is one of my azalea bush near the front porch. Now, to the left is what the bush is supposed to look like.

Visit The Merry Widow's site for additional photos of the Blizzard of 2010.

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A Day In The Life...

(Note: All posts related to Mr. AOW's stroke of September 15, 2009, and his recovery are HERE)

...at the AOWs' house.

A 4:30 am potty chair call, pee bottle dropped (in the bed), visits from physical therapist and occupational therapist, treading 10 steps down to cellar (where the washer & dryer reside) to do up to 3-4 loads at a time, hauling man in wheelchair to doctor (and other places), sweeping snow from the wheelchair ramp, cooking, learning to drive in a new area (near DC), cleaning and organizing cupboards, doing dishes by hand, scolding Cameo to keep her out of the Dusti's and Mysti's food dishes.

I'M HAVING A BLAST!

Am I a masochist?

Note to readers from AOW: This post was written by The Merry Widow, who arrived here from Florida on January 13 on her mission of mercy. She's not exaggerating in the least about the routine here! We do get the occasional break in routine. See The Beak's posting about his visit here on January 31. For this outing, The Beak did all the heavy lifting and the pushing of the transport chair, thus giving TMW and me some respite for our aching backs.

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When Friends Step Up: Part Two

(Note to family and friends: The most recent update on Mr. AOW is here, updated December 12. Also see this post, part one of "When Friends Step Up").

Wednesday evening, The Merry Widow arrives here to help me with caring for Mr. AOW.

Her post about the matter is HERE. Please read that post before continuing reading below the fold so as to get an idea as to why I need help.
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Caregiving a spouse and working part-time outside the home have exhausted me to the bone!

Unless you've been a caregiver for someone who is bedfast, as Mr. AOW is, you may not fully understand the all-consuming vortex of tending a loved one. Take my word for it: caregiving takes over your life in ways you never thought possible. Forget about having enough energy even to read the newspaper every day.

I'd straighten up the house in preparation for TMW's arrival. But I'm too exhausted to take on the task! I will manage to have fresh sheets and a clean bedspread on the bed and clean towels for the bathroom. That's the extent of what I'm capable of getting done right now.

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When Friends Step Up

(Note to family and friends: The most recent update on Mr. AOW's recovery from the stroke he had on September 15 is here)

We had a special Christmas blessing Saturday evening when one of my former clients stopped by with her family.

They brought four meals of "soul food": fried catfish, fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread, greens, cabbage, rice, and green beans. Mr. AOW and I feasted and, bellies full, fell asleep early.

But the food wasn't the best part of the visit.
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This dear family also brought in Christmas decorations and decked out our living room. We have a tabletop fiber-optic tree and lighted garland over the mantel. Now when Mr. AOW looks around the room, it's festive for this Christmas season. Having proper Christmas lights means a great deal to Mr. AOW.

Our visitors also brought stockings stuffed with gift cards for grocery stores and take-out food.

In addition to the above, we were presented with a certificate for a laundry service which picks up the dirty linens and clothes and returns same a day later! I now see some respite from all the loads of laundry I've been doing since Mr. AOW returned home on November 25.

Saturday night was Christmas morning two weeks early!

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In Memoriam: Mr. Z

On Saturday evening, news reached me that the husband of one of my dearest friends on the web passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Due to Mr. AOW's circumstances, today is the first opportunity I've had to write a posting.

Mr. Z, a wonderful man whom the Lord now holds in the palm of His hand, made his wife's life complete. I know this fact because Z centered her life around him. The flower the Lily of the Valley, pictured on the upper left of this blog post, represents "You've Made My Life Complete." Indeed, Mr. Z made Z's life complete!

Nothing prepares us for the loss of our mate. Nothing.

The words we offer will be heard in a haze of shock. That shock takes a lifetime to recover from — if indeed one can call the process recovery. The world really does stop for a long while.

May the Lord comfort Z, whom I consider my dear friend. May He strengthen her in every way.

May the Lord use us, Z's friends, many of whom have never met either Mr. or Mrs. Z face to face, as a means of comfort and solace. May He guide her to call upon us her friends whenever she needs to do so.

May the Lord give my dear friend Z the sure and certain knowledge that, one day, she and her beloved Mr. Z will reunite for all eternity.

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Happy Anniversary, Warren & Wife!

June 29th

Happy anniversary to my favorite couple.
What a blessing it is to know you two and to count you as dear, dear friends!

May your special day be filled with blessings!

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