Long day today -- I started out at 7:15 a.m. Central time and ended my drive at 8:45 p.m. Eastern time. That's more than 12 hours on the road, even allowing for the time zone change.
But.... I didn't drive that whole time. I did indeed leave at 7:15 a.m. in the pouring rain, and quickly realized that I couldn't drive an unfamiliar Interstate in the dark in the pouring rain. I pulled over three exits down and found a place to have breakfast until there was enough light for me to drive in the rain.
So, I left again at 8:00 or so. It rained all the way through Iowa -- and I mean, today it poured. Not fun. Not fun at all. BUT -- I noticed that I was still far more relaxed in the situation than I normally would be, so everyone's prayers are definitely doing me good.
I stopped for another 45 minutes for lunch in Illinois. Still raining at that point.
About the time I hit the Chicago area, the rain stopped and it was only overcast for the rest of the drive.
Did you know that the speed limit around the Illinois/Indiana border is just 55 m.p.h. Did you know that NO ONE does that speed? NO ONE! It was like the Indianapolis 500 on that section of I-80. I did okay (I did learn to drive in New Jersey, after all), but sheesh! It was like they all saw the speed limit reduction to 55 and immediately leaned on the gas pedal. Through a construction zone, no less!
I decided to take advantage of the dry roads this evening and pushed on to my target stop of Milan, Ohio. It's some 40 miles east of Toledo, putting me within about 5 hours of my mother. So, even if it rains tomorrow -- which it IS supposed to do, I might add -- I have time to go slowly if I need to and still arrive before dark.
The update on my mother is that they won't be doing that procedure to draw off fluid from her abdomen. Her hemoglobin is so low that there is a big risk she would bleed to death. I think that's it for anything they could have done to relieve her discomfort. She's still not having much in the way of pain, but the fluid retention makes her very uncomfortable in her feet, in her legs, and in her abdomen.
I'm so glad I'm making the trip now and didn't wait any longer. I can see and feel God's timing in this -- just as I did when my Dad died in 2007. I do not know how much time we have, but I sense it isn't going to be very long, and I'm very glad that I get to spend it all with Mom now.
- Catherine
3 comments:
I am glad for you too that you can be with your Mom...and glad for her that you can be there. It won't be easy I know.... You will continue to be in my prayers along with your Mom and Tim too.... And I have no problem praying for Hank. I am sure he senses something is not right. And by the way, I sure had to laugh at your "walk" from the Ace Hardware! It can be Hank pulling me at a run, or I am trying to pull him in the direction he doesn't want to go! One is much faster than the other I tell you!!!
Thanks for another update. Glad to hear you made it through Chicago - driving in Atlanta is like that, too. The closer you get to the city the slower the speed limit but the faster everyone goes!
Still praying,
Christy
Hugs to you guys!!!
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