Home hospice was set up today and practical matters needed to be discussed, details of which are not for blogging. We have a plan and will attempt to honor Shannon's wishes to the best of our abilities.
Shannon has had a mostly restful day, but she has tried to say a few more words and it is very difficult to understand her. You can feel her frustration as she curls the toes on her left foot when we can't decipher the syllables that come from her mouth. She can hear and understand everything we say, but it's a bit of a one way street right now. She can't open her eyes very easily, so using a keyboard to type or pointing to things isn't an option. I can't imagine what is going on inside her head. Tonight Dan is reading stories to her to help occupy her mind...
Today a few words came out more clearly than others: jello, egg ... and she's taken in a few bites of each of those and let it slide down her throat. She's also sipping some water from a syringe to keep her mouth and throat wet. These may seem like boring details, but this is the reality that we are living right now. Tiny little moments of interaction amidst hours of holding her hand and watching her rest.
Lots of time on our hands. Time to think. We are here, being present, and waiting ... it is surreal ...