Mothering My Mother

Alternate Title: How I'll be spending the rest of June.

In the past 23 years and 2 months, since I became a mother, there have been many phone conversations that sounded like this:

Me: Mom?
Mom: I'm on my way.

When my son was 5 weeks old and we were speeding to Boston with a sick baby, Mom and Dad nearly beat us to the ER. When I thought my daughter was arriving a week early, Mom arrived about 30 minutes before I went into labor.
When I herniated 2 discs in my back, 5 weeks after my daughter was born, Mom arrived to take care of a 3 year old and a infant.
Since Mom has been alone for 13 years, I have become very protective.

Now there are phone conversations that sound like this:
Mom: Jeanne?
Me: I'm on my way.

In Mom's family, you celebrate being in your 70's by getting shiny, new knees.
She had her first replacement 4 years ago and is having her second knee replaced next week. I've been losing a little sleep over this.
Her pre-existing medical issues have been addressed. I'm losing sleep over the fact that she is dealing with Dr Arrogant Surgeon and his able Physician's Assistant Calvin Clueless.

Calvin Clueless believes that Ambien is no different than Benadryl. He is also pretty sure that Dilaudid is not stronger than Morphine.
Calvin is making me a little nervous. My sister the RN has the assignment to Watch Mom Breathe for the first 24 hours after the surgery.
Then, I'll be going to MA for the post-surgical three weeks or so.

Mom is still living in the dial-up internet age. If I attempt to blog, it would take a day or 2 to download. She also lives in a little town with no local coffee shop/bakery places with free wi-fi. I found the address for the library and may try to get over there once or twice to get on-line.

See you in July.
Little Miss Sunshine State