A bump in the night?

Well you hear about little old ladies that have gone doolally and wander around in their night clothes in the early hours of the morning, but little did I know it was going to be me!

I coloured my hair last night ready to see Tom Jones on Friday and then I had a lovely leisurely bath, which quite frankly after the worry I have had over mother and doing battle with doctors on call, who really don't wish to come out, I think I more than richly deserved a bit of pampering. I then settled into watching the film that finished at 1.30am, but as I am a late night owl, it didn't worry me.
I was already in my jimmy jams ready for bed and I knew that my eldest sister was getting mother up in the morning, so I could stay up no problem.

All going well, till I got up to switch off the tv, make my chamomile tea and tidy up before going to bed. I always look over to mother's bungalow before bed, as she does to mine and that's when I spotted lights from my mother's corner of the court.
After looking properly out the window, I could see that my mother's neighbour was still up late again. But as I was tidying up, something else was bothering me. It was a lot lighter over there than just him being up.
I turned my lights off and pressed my nose up against my window and could make out that the brightness belonged to my mother's bungalow... Bugger.
I tried telling myself that she had probably fell asleep in bed with the lights still on, but I wasn't convinced.

I sneaked out my bungalow leaving the door on the latch and walked across the court in my jimmy jams, hoping that no one would see me or that I would scare her neighbour peering through windows at nearly 2am. All I needed was to give him a heart attack.
Strange how you always meet someone, and this time it was a youth running for what seemed his life!
I ignored him and carried on, as he could fend for himself.
My worst scenario was in front of me... my mother slumped in the armchair.

Back to my bungalow to shut my door properly and get more oxygen in case this was going to be a late night.
I let myself in hers and turned off the tv which was on full volume as usual before checking her pulse and luckily, the sudden silence woke her up smiling.
Hell, I thought she was dead.

Although she had no idea of the time or why I was in my night clothes over hers, she was confused but a lot happier than the mornings confusion of when she was found on the floor.
She went happily to the toilet, talking about how the sequins on her new slippers that I had brought her that day were shining and then went off to bed again like a lamb.
At least I knew that I has lost some weight, as my pj bottoms kept slipping down on route from hers to mine!

Today has still been back and forth to her bungalow even though my sister did the breakfast shift. Mother has still got to eat another two meals and although I believe in fairies, I didn't think they were house trained enough to do the cooking for her.
Every time I enter my mother's bungalow, I feel like I've turned into a kamikaze, as I can't afford to catch this cold, so i am really pushing my luck. A cold to me with such a low immunity system is like a rabbit standing in a field of grey hounds, shouting out 'yahoo boys, come and get me!'

My sister was elated that mother has now decided to go into a care home. I couldn't be happy though, as I feel so saddened by mother giving up her independence as I know how hard she has fought for it and what a big deal it will be for her. Looking on the bright side, she won't be lonely as she'll be living with other people, but it's going to be a very sad day.
Plus a main problem that my sister has forgotten, that she is still ill now, so we've still got more caring to do yet.
After all, who will be waiting for the doctor to arrive tomorrow and cooking her three meals again... two guesses? really, as many as that? Durr... me silly.
Still don't they say 'If you want something done, ask a busy person', so I guess in this case it's sad, but if you want a sick person cared for, then ask the one waiting for the lungs transplant.

Still my brother is coming tomorrow, so hopefully he can get her dinner, fingers crossed that he comes at that time.
And me, I'll spend the day sorting out her morning personal care until we can get a home that she likes after waiting for the doctor and before going off to rehab.

Lots of love Debbie x