In Loving Memory - My Mommy

Franciene - My Mommy
April 12, 1942 - July 13, 2012

This is the most difficult post to write to you. Yet I am because you have been with me this whole journey from the very beginning. You have prayed for mom, me and my family and you have truly helped me every step of the way. Your comments, you leave for me, I have clung on to and have cherished. Why? because I didn't feel alone and you gave me and my family strength through your prayers. I heart-fully Thank You. My last post was at 2:47AM in the morning. Mom passed away later that day at 1:45PM. My mommy Franciene was an amazing loving and giving women to the VERY END.
I'm so sorry. When I started this blog I only intended it to be for Cross stitching projects and needleworks, just fun stuff. Nothing so deep. But then we learned mom was ill. I have never been so scared in my life. I reached out and shared with you. And you prayed for us and helped ME and my family. My mom was such a fun fun loving women. And talented with needleworks, crafts and arts. So much so that anyone who knows me or Nicole knows we are the house of crafts. Even my son Nicholas is going to Academy of Art University in San Francisco. And all because of my mom who passed on her love of arts to me, and I to him. Also I want to share that I could of have never had cared for mom at home if it wasn't for my remarkable and amazing sister Nicole. We worked beautifully as a team. I took the shifts till 4AM and then she took over so I could get some sleep. Yes we had hospice at home but a nurse only came once a week, a Chaplin and a social worker. I must of have made 17 phone calls of moms last 48 hours here on earth. Why? Because that's how fast her pain was increasing and Nicole and I stayed right on top of it. It was hard but we kept going. I'm not complaining - only sharing. With the grace of God and prayers we able to always be there for mom. The last week caring for mom my sister and I got maybe 3 hours sleep per 48 hours. We did our best to make mom comfortable, and we were told we did beautifully. How to confirm? Mom remained peaceful while sleeping. Nicole and I really haven't slept much in the last month. Now we are felling it every moment of the day. I think it will take a long time till we get back to normal sleeping and functioning day to day. Of course we still push on and remain as strong as we can each day, one day at a time.
I've learned so much through this whole experience. I know there are many of us who are the main caregiver for our parent or parents. It's been my honor to have gotten to be there for mom. I know now that mom is with my dad in heaven.
I'm so tired I have to stop writing. I hope I didn't ramble on. So much yet to do. I miss you all. I peaked at a few blogs and it felt so very foreign to me yet it was so nice to see pretties. I will need to ground myself back but not just yet. Little by little. To much of business stuff to do, planning & working on mom's Memorial (no date set yet). And I want to thank every one of you for your prayers and leaving me comments. I've read everyone of them. So sorry I did not reply back, but I've not had the strength or clarity to do so. I pray you understand.
With much Love Annette