(((((Bethy))))) Thanks so much for sharing your story with me. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved mother. You are right, our lives did kind of revolve in the same fasion.

You are so right, we couldn't save them from their demise, but we were able to care for and comfort them the best ways we could. I know in my heart that they appreciated our love and care.

Thanks also for sharing that wonderful, funny story of breakfast! I also have a funny story of mom before she went into hospice. - The doctors had told me that mom may become a bit "out of touch" with things, especially in the mornings from the radiation treatments. Now, my oldest daughter was 4 yrs old at the time and used to take her toys into mom's room and play during the day. (it was so sweet to see her do this) On my mom's dresser was one of Amy's toys called "Ants in the Pants". I don't know if you've heard of it, but there is a plastic "bucket" in the shape of pants with suspenders and little ant-shaped pieces that you can flick and make them jump, the object to get them into the pants. I walked into mom's room one morning to get her ready for the day and I see mom staring at the ceiling. I said "Mom, what are you staring at so intensely?" She said "Well, I was wondering, could any of Amy's ants gotten out of that box and up onto the ceiling?" "I see a bunch of them crawling around up there, so you better collect them and put them back in the box." OMG....I darned near split a gut .... the look on mom's face was unbelievable....she was really concentrating on those "ants" LOL I had to walk out of the room for a moment and collect myself, then said to her, "Well mom, I don't think what you are seeing are ants on the ceiling....the ones in Amy's game are not real, they are only plastic". Mom looked at me and started laughing her deep belly laugh that I always loved and she said, "Oh, sure, of course they are plastic, what the hell was I thinking???" That was the last time I can remember laughing with my mom. Three months later, she was gone.

Anyway....one year after mom passed, my second daughter was born. Let me just tell you, she looks just like my mom, in so many ways. I went into labor on the anniversary of my mom's death, and cried all day long saying, this can't happen, I won't let it. Luckily, Erin was born on the 29th, not the 6th. Funny how one is taken, and another given........the circle of life

Once again, thank you for your post. It meant the world to me. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family to help keep you strong and safe and happy in the knowledge you were loved by an awesome mom!!!Hugsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Jean