Clockwise from momma, Jordyn, Lauren, Janet (caretaker), me, Ally and Kendyll

There are days when I show up at my mom’s and she is engaged, happy and semi-lucid.  They have not happened frequently in the recent past, but yesterday was one of those days.  I had a training class until late on the fourth so we had to move her birthday celebration to the fifth.

Interestingly enough we had always celebrated two birthdays in June, as my sister Betty had her birthday the day after my mom.   From early days the two of them were linked and close as they could be.  I was always more my father’s daughter.  Betty has been gone 30 some years now. My mom doesn’t remember she had a daughter, Betty anymore.  I don’t know if that is good or bad.

Our plan for yesterday was pretty simple.  Ally and her kids joined Lauren and I in bringing pink balloons, cake and KFC.  Janet, her caretaker,  was there to celebrate with us.  For the first time since her broken arm, mom had her own clothes back on. She had been getting by with my shirts (most not in her favorite pink color from which we had cut off the sleeves). She looked beautiful in pink and seemed way more comfortable with her new “Robo Cop” splint.

New brace, and back to her old clothes, what a great birthday.

Jordyn brought along her pink guitar and led us through a couple of rounds of “Happy Birthday”.  Jordyn can’t really play the guitar but it did not seem to matter.  Momma loved the KFC-saying it was the best thing ever at least until she got to the chocolate birthday cake.

Getting a look at the cake.

Mom ate, sang, danced a little in her chair and just seemed so happy.  At the end Ally wanted to put the great grandkids up in her chair for a picture.  I was seeing Kendyll throwing herself across mom’s broken arm, but again it all went.

Kendyll getting a kiss from her granny-nanny with Jordyn behind.

Kendyll got down off the granny-nanny’s lap and promptly demanded of Ally- “CHEESE!!”.  Ally didn’t think we had any cheese.  Then she realized that Kendyll wanted to go back and sit on her GN’s lap and say “cheese” again.  How cute!

Jordyn giving a big hug.

All too soon it was time to clean up our giant mess and head home.  I think momma had a great 90th birthday.

Thank you for riding along with us and thank you for all the prayers.