Wednesday, July 6, 2005 [see new photo]
Mom called me today at work and said she had thought it over and it would be OK if she waited and came home Monday. That's good, since I can't even get the lady on the phone who can help me with the discharge arrangements. I will bug her tomorrow.
If we can wait until Monday I hope Bruce will be here to help. That would be a blessing.
I did arrange for the new toilet for Mom to be installed. It is taller and has a larger seat, so hopefully that will help. The handyman is installing it tomorrow.
Mom was not in a great mood tonight when I saw her. She wants to hire people to stay with her when I'm not home. I tried to explain to her [for the tenth time] about using Alesia's babysitters, since I have agreed to use them anyway, at least next week. They have agreed to help Mom, too. It's so frustrating trying to talk to her when she's on the pain meds and spacey.
I have planned a small dinner party for a few friends Saturday night, to celebrate Alesia's birthday. I hope it's not storming. We're having awful thunderstorms - hurricane weather.
I posted the following last night on my Yahoo board, in response to a prospective adoptive Mom who said her agency is trying to get her to consider an older child instead of a baby.
I had thought after adopting Alesia [age 13] I would want a baby or toddler in a few years. However, the more I know about my friends
with babies or toddlers, the less inclined I am to that. I think if I can adopt again I will go for a 5-6 year old.
It doesn't seem possible now, but trust me, you can and will fall in love with an older child and feel an incredibly deep bond. I urge you to consider it.
Also, just as a practical matter, I never lose sleep with Alesia down the hall, I can tell her to leave me in peace for an hour if I don't feel well, she can make herself a sandwich if I don't feel like cooking,
etc. There are many advantages to an older child.
The other day I asked Alesia if she would prefer to go to a friend's house or go with me to the nursing home to see Granny. I wanted to give her an option, since it's so depressing to go to that place. Alesia didn't think for an instant, she just immediately gave her standard answer, "I want go with you, Mom, OK?" She prefers to be with me on all occasions, even just
doing housework or watching TV. It touches me deeply.
I wish I had been able to adopt Alesia at a younger age, but then again, I try to remember to be grateful to God for giving her to me at all - it is a miracle.
Whatever you decide, I wish you good luck, and you are in my prayers.
Dee