Yesterday was a busy day.
We all went to church in the morning and prayers were said for Sylvia during the service. We arrived back home had a quick lunch. About 2pm my sister in law arrived with her carers to go for a visit to see mum at the hospital. They were there for just under an hour and the sister in law behaved herself wonderfully which is quite a rare event as she has no concept of the volume of her voice or the appropriateness of her words. As they were leaving Sylvia thanked Hubby for bringing his sister for a visit and how wonderful it had been to see them both together. Hubby explained he would be back the next day as we had a birthday party to take the children to that evening.
The minister from Sylvia's church back home came to visit her at about 3.30 and stayed for 40 minutes. They read Psalm 23 and prayed together. They spoke of forgiveness and peace. He left her in a happy frame of mind and feeling particularly well.
At 5.30 the ward sister went to see Sylvia and she was sitting up in bed reading the news paper. She asked how she was and Sylvia replied that she felt quite good happy, comfortable and unusually energetic. No pain at all (although she had complained of some pain earlier in the day).
Sometime between 5.30 and 5.45 Sylvia folded and laid down her paper to take a rest. She passed away quietly.
We recieved a call from the hospital just as we were to leave for the childrens party excited boys coats and shoes on ready to go. Such a shock. We drove the children to the party and left them in the charge of a trusted friend and went on to the hospital to see sylvia. She looked so peaceful as if just asleep, the way she always looked when I took her her morning coffee each day. Hubby shed his first tears since all this started but was very strong and much relieved that she was at peace without anymore suffering.
We've,between us, called all those who needed to know immediately her sister (who agreed to tell much of her family the news), the minister, hubby's father and the care home where his sister lives.
Today will be a tough one. First we must tell the children what has happened and try to help them make sense of it. Then hubby will drive to Sister in law's home where he will break the news to her in person. It promises to be a very painful and tiring day. I've promised I'll handle all the formal legal stuff and he is glad of it. She was supposed to be signing her will today, the solicitor has an appointment to visit her at the hospital. I don't know how much of a difference this will make. So don't want to have to deal with it just want to stick with hubby and the children, all together in our home not letting all the outside in. Dispite that I'm bombarded with, must do this, must do that, got to call such and such. My mind is harranging me constantly and I can't make it stop. Woke at 3.30am already thinking of jobs that need doing before I even knew I was awake.
Thanks for being a place where I can get it all out. Can't lay it all on the Hubby his pain is greater than mine.
