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We were so very blessed to have Maw-Maw come to live with us the last eight months of her life!! She brought such joy into my life as I watched Jimma's reaction and their interactions on a daily basis. This is my mother-in-law.....Jim's Mom.....Jimma's Maw-Maw. OOOh... the memories that stir in my mind as I think back to that day she first arrived. She was, of course, a bit nervous about being in a new place. I stayed by her bedside for several nights as she got accustomed to her new bed .. at first she didn't believe me when I told her that I could hear her if she called out to me in the night. Then, when we proved to her that the baby monitor laying by her head allowed us to even hear her quietly call out to us, she began to feel a little more at ease.....and soon was she calling our home her home!
Because I had become at ease with tube feeding my Jimma, it was an easy adjustment tube feeding Mom......we ordered a Mickey Button like Jimma's and Mom was able to finally get rid of the dangling tube that so irritated her. She seemed to be soo pleased with the button that could be opened and closed .. it was good to see her smile as we pulled her top down... because now her feeding tube wasn't so noticable and intrusive. I
I remember the first time Jimma watched Mama getting her feeding. This was the first time she had met another person with two 'belly-buttons'...and her eyes got soo big!!! I had taught Jimma that she was so special that she had two belly buttons...and the rest of us only had one! One was from Jesus...just like Mommy, Daddy and the rest...the second one was a special belly button the doctor gave her so that she could eat. That explanation seemed to satisfy Jimma.....and now it seemed that Mom liked it as well. ......Jimma reached out to hold Maw-Maw's feeding tube with one hand.....and with her other hand, she reached out to hold her new friend's hand. How I wish I could have captured that moment in a photograph. But, my hands were full........ These two had a connection that only they could truly understand.......and it seemed that, in this moment, Jimma's compassion and understanding were well beyond her young years......
Yes!! They loved each other!!!!........but, there was also a kind of rivalry.......each making sure they got their fair share of attention!! One day, I had Jimma sitting in her chair, watching as I helped Mom out of bed and got her ready for her morning bath. On this particular day, Mom was getting a sponge bath as she sat on her potty chair. I thought it was amazing .....the way Jimma was watching our every move!!! Then, as we were finishing up....Mama all clean and freshly dressed.......I helped her to stand and held her arm as she slowly walked to her recliner. Then.......out of the blue.....Jimma very loudly said, "Fak-kur".................. faker ...................
It was all I could do to get Mom seated...as laughter overtook me!!! You see, Jimma would sometimes 'fake' a cough....to get attention. Her Daddy would call her 'faker'........So, as she watched her Maw-Maw getting all that special attention that she was used to getting...and then saw her standing....and walking.......well...........to her she was faking!!!!! I asked my Jimma did she think Maw-Maw was faking to get attention.....and she nodded!.....with her pouting lips stuck our to make her point clea!!
I think this memory really sets the mood for understanding the type of relationship the two of them had! A love that grew from that special bond of feeding.......and a jealousy that made me think of siblings vying for attention!! Once Mom told me that if I didn't have the baby to take care of, I could stay by her bedside all the time.......I smiled at her and said....Yes, Mama, you're right, I sure could!!!!
The day Mom went Home was a sad day indeed! She passed away peacefully in the night. I went to her bed and found her there....and eight months just was not long enough!!! The police officer and paramedics were kind enough to wait for me to get her cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes... Then everyone said their good-byes. I got my Jimma and explained to her that her Maw-Maw was gone Home now......that she was with Jesus....I asked her if she wanted to say goodbye before they took her body away.....she nodded yes. As I held my little angel at the bedside, she leaned down to give her one last kiss..... Of course, I didn't want to let Jimma watch them zip the bag closed......so I turned her away. But before she would turn her face away....she said.........."Gone".........
Then......as with many other times......I was astounded at the depth of understanding my baby had......and she was at peace....knowing her Maw-Maw was with her trusted friend...Jesus..........
I was a child of eighteen when I prayed that Jesus would give me a love for my mother-in-law that no circumstance could ever change.......and that one day she would know that I loved her!! It was more than my young heart could imagine .. to think that one day she would love me, too. I am now and forever grateful for that answered prayer. I am blessed to have been given the gift of caring for her those last months of her life. ......I love her sooo.....and I know she loved me too.......What a lesson in 'waiting on the Lord'' !!! ...............
The picture below demonstrates their interaction with one another as they were becoming friends...Jimma seem happy and o so proud of herself.....
Here they are....holding hands...understanding one another at a level that astounded me....
Kristin loved 'playing dressup' with her beloved Maw-Maw.....they quickly became friends....sharing funny stories and laughing a lot together...
Here are Mama and eldest son, Jim.....in the year 2001.....at a family Christmas gathering....before the stroke....before our Jimma was born....
Here you can see Jimma's expression as she waited for her turn ....sometimes patiently....sometimes not....
Mama and me....
It seemed they were both saying....'all good things must come to an end'.....time for me to pick my Jimma up...
Mama asleep in her recliner....she looked soo sweet to me....like she was praying....
This is Jimma, in her bed on the other side of the living room...she loved any attention from her Tamara.....they were more like sisters than aunt and niece....
Below...the pictures Maw-maw with our three daughters...remember the high hair of the '80's????..
