Re: Family update

[Guest guest]

Oh Beth,

I'm sorry. We have all gone through the changes *with* you, so to speak.

Please know that Nonni, you and your family are in my prayers. I hope Pete,

who will always be Ben to me, handles the coming loss okay.

Gail :-)

Will keep you posted. And maybe at some point I'll be more active on

the list again!

God Bless Us, every one!

Beth

[Guest guest]

Wow, your Nonni is so with it! In her time many kids like ours would have

died or been institutionalized. When I see older people look at Hannah, I think

they feel uncomfortable or perhaps they remember another child way back when

that had passed away. I could be totally wrong. But I know my mom has virtually

no relationship with my daughter. She spent 3 times as much money on my other

kids for Christmas then she did on Hannah and even then I did the shopping for

her. It's her money and she can do what she likes, and other than that she

and I have a close relationship, but that part just really hurts. I think part

of it has to do with her being an only child too. But before I further digress

in " analyzing " my mom, my dad is a totally different story. Hannah Loves Him!

He Loves Hannah! Sometimes he just drops in at Hannah's school and some of

the verbal kids in her class yell, hey everyone, Grandpa's here!! My dad also

used to be Santa at a major department store around here and now he and my

stepmom run an Adult Family Home.

You are blessed Beth. Ben has had such a special gift in Nonni!

Blessings to all of you!

a (Hannah 9 DS/Aut)

[Guest guest]

Have you thought of making (or having someone make) a memory quilt for PB to

use? Made from Nonni's clothes with pix that can be transferred to cloth

and included? Many of my foster kids get one made for them - usually in a

small (lap size.) THen when the kids are bigger, it can be made into a

decorative bed pillow.

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Family update

>Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 08:52:50 -0400

>

>Dear Friends,

>

>I decided hibernation was a good thing this winter, since Pete (aka

> Ben) was/is finally having an excellent school year. Sorry I

>haven't posted much, but as always, I am in awe of the power of the

>members of this list! As the list grows larger, it is wonderful to

>see so many members continue to reach out and share all the help that

>they have received from others.

>

>For those of you who remember, my dear Mother-in-Law, " Nonni " , lived

>with us for three years. We made the painful decision back in 2001

>that we could no longer care for her adequately, and she moved to a

>nursing home that is just five minutes from our home. This meant we

>could easily bring her over for Sunday dinners, all the holidays,

>etc., and pop in at any time to visit her. Pete is her ONLY

>grandchild, so we were relieved that they have continued to have a

>strong bond.

>

>Now, at 92, Nonni is receiving hospice care at the nursing home. She

>is for the most part just winding down her life, running out of

>steam. (Congestive heart failure, O2 round the clock, etc. etc.) We

>have been fortunate in that she is till pretty clear-minded, although

>that has changed in the last few weeks. Anyway, over the years

>people on this list have asked how she is doing, and that has meant a

>lot to me.

>

>Nonni herself is well-prepared. She has been at peace, and is

>talking a lot about " going home " , about her childhood, etc. So we

>are preparing along with her. I feel that we have been very blessed

>to have this time to make thoughtful preparations. I am getting

>together materials to make some social stories for Pete in the form

>of memory books with photos. We have been given lots of other good

>suggestions, too, such as keeping some piece of her clothing with her

>scent on it in a ziplock bag. I have some old videos of her and Pete

>doing this Albanian nursery rhyme together but will make one more

>this weekend.

>

>I feel that we have been really fortunate to have had at least one

>grandparent here throughout Pete's life. And Pete has been the lucky

>recipient of Nonni's unconditional love.

>

>Will keep you posted. And maybe at some point I'll be more active on

>the list again!

>

>God Bless Us, every one!

>

> Beth

>

>

>

>

>

>--------------------------------------------------

>Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of

>our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by

>including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the

>archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/

>--------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

Thanks for posting Nonni's update. I remember the special bond she has with

Pete. I will say and prayer for her and look forward to hearing from you again.

I am pleased to hear that Pete is having a good year.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 13 DS/OCD/ASD?

Beth wrote:

Dear Friends,

I decided hibernation was a good thing this winter, since Pete (aka

Ben) was/is finally having an excellent school year. Sorry I

haven't posted much, but as always, I am in awe of the power of the

members of this list! As the list grows larger, it is wonderful to

see so many members continue to reach out and share all the help that

they have received from others.

For those of you who remember, my dear Mother-in-Law, " Nonni " , lived

with us for three years. We made the painful decision back in 2001

that we could no longer care for her adequately, and she moved to a

nursing home that is just five minutes from our home. This meant we

could easily bring her over for Sunday dinners, all the holidays,

etc., and pop in at any time to visit her. Pete is her ONLY

grandchild, so we were relieved that they have continued to have a

strong bond.

Now, at 92, Nonni is receiving hospice care at the nursing home. She

is for the most part just winding down her life, running out of

steam. (Congestive heart failure, O2 round the clock, etc. etc.) We

have been fortunate in that she is till pretty clear-minded, although

that has changed in the last few weeks. Anyway, over the years

people on this list have asked how she is doing, and that has meant a

lot to me.

Nonni herself is well-prepared. She has been at peace, and is

talking a lot about " going home " , about her childhood, etc. So we

are preparing along with her. I feel that we have been very blessed

to have this time to make thoughtful preparations. I am getting

together materials to make some social stories for Pete in the form

of memory books with photos. We have been given lots of other good

suggestions, too, such as keeping some piece of her clothing with her

scent on it in a ziplock bag. I have some old videos of her and Pete

doing this Albanian nursery rhyme together but will make one more

this weekend.

I feel that we have been really fortunate to have had at least one

grandparent here throughout Pete's life. And Pete has been the lucky

recipient of Nonni's unconditional love.

Will keep you posted. And maybe at some point I'll be more active on

the list again!

God Bless Us, every one!

Beth

--------------------------------------------------

Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of our

kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by including them.

Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the archives for our list.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/

--------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth! God Bless you, Nonni and Pete!! What love this family

of yours has, take care, Dawn, s mom (look forword to hearing

more soon!)

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> I decided hibernation was a good thing this winter, since Pete

(aka

> Ben) was/is finally having an excellent school year. Sorry

I

> haven't posted much, but as always, I am in awe of the power of

the

> members of this list! As the list grows larger, it is wonderful

to

> see so many members continue to reach out and share all the help

that

> they have received from others.

>

> For those of you who remember, my dear Mother-in-Law, " Nonni " ,

lived

> with us for three years. We made the painful decision back in

2001

> that we could no longer care for her adequately, and she moved to

a

> nursing home that is just five minutes from our home. This meant

we

> could easily bring her over for Sunday dinners, all the holidays,

> etc., and pop in at any time to visit her. Pete is her ONLY

> grandchild, so we were relieved that they have continued to have a

> strong bond.

>

> Now, at 92, Nonni is receiving hospice care at the nursing home.

She

> is for the most part just winding down her life, running out of

> steam. (Congestive heart failure, O2 round the clock, etc. etc.)

We

> have been fortunate in that she is till pretty clear-minded,

although

> that has changed in the last few weeks. Anyway, over the years

> people on this list have asked how she is doing, and that has

meant a

> lot to me.

>

> Nonni herself is well-prepared. She has been at peace, and is

> talking a lot about " going home " , about her childhood, etc. So we

> are preparing along with her. I feel that we have been very

blessed

> to have this time to make thoughtful preparations. I am getting

> together materials to make some social stories for Pete in the

form

> of memory books with photos. We have been given lots of other

good

> suggestions, too, such as keeping some piece of her clothing with

her

> scent on it in a ziplock bag. I have some old videos of her and

Pete

> doing this Albanian nursery rhyme together but will make one more

> this weekend.

>

> I feel that we have been really fortunate to have had at least one

> grandparent here throughout Pete's life. And Pete has been the

lucky

> recipient of Nonni's unconditional love.

>

> Will keep you posted. And maybe at some point I'll be more active

on

> the list again!

>

> God Bless Us, every one!

>

> Beth

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Dear!!!!! Thanks for the update on Nonni. I don't care HOW old or

HOW long we get to live, being left behind is SO difficult. Duff's Dad was

just a couple months shy of 88 and it's been a tough year (August will be

the one year anniversary). But I have to say that when you know your loved

one is at peace, led a full rich life, and had such a profound impact on those

around them, it is WAY easier when they pass. Both my parents died young

(63 and 65 respectively) and their lives were incredibly sad.....THAT leaves

a true ache in your heart.

I'm glad Nonni is being well cared for, and is comfortable. Keep us

posted honey.

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/6/2006 9:09:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

pastmidvale@... writes:

Have you thought of making (or having someone make) a memory quilt for PB to

use? Made from Nonni's clothes with pix that can be transferred to cloth

and included?

What a great idea Sara. Reminds me of the movie Stepmom with

Sarandon and .

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/2006 5:34:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

jacksonsmom99@... writes:

I hope it happens, I'm really good at " I have a plan.... "

LOLOL Jayne. Heck, I always have a plan...it's the implementation part

that's tough...LOL My plan for the last THREE years has been to make a

Duffey

family cookbook. All my recipes with family photos thrown in (we have

TONS that are taken around the dining table). Maybe this xmas it'll get

done....;-)

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/2006 6:23:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

duffey48@... writes:

Maybe this xmas it'll get

done....;-)

hmmm..... didn't we hear that " last " Christmas? :-)

Carol

Trishasmom

She isn't Typical, She's Trisha!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/2006 6:33:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

Csvillars@... writes:

hmmm..... didn't we hear that " last " Christmas? :-)

Alright Carol, rub it in!!!! But um, yea, you probably did....ROTFLOL

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/2006 6:36:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

duffey48@... writes:

Alright Carol, rub it in!!!! But um, yea, you probably did....ROTFLOL

Donna

Oh no, no, no! not rubbing it in, just want to make sure I get my pre-order

in before they are all sold out. :-)

Carol

Trishasmom

She isn't Typical, She's Trisha!

[Guest guest]

OH, what a tear-jerker!

I have a plan to make a quilt from all the sports t's and jersey's from over

the years and give that to my kids when they leave for college. I hope it

happens, I'm really good at " I have a plan.... "

Jayne

duffey48@... wrote:

What a great idea Sara. Reminds me of the movie Stepmom with

Sarandon and .

Donna