These blocks make me smile. And even though I have already posted this picture I felt like it was worth another view.  I did turn and crop it though to give it a different look.  There has been almost no sewing going on at my house.  And what little (three 6" blocks) sewing I have done I haven't bothered to take a picture of.

Four weeks ago today my sister Cathy was headed to the ER with our mom.  She just wasn't quite acting like herself.  A little slow to talk to you and her movements were slower.  Nothing extreme.  Just not the same.

In the ER her blood pressure was taken and it was 440 / 70.  Yes, that is not a typo.  I didn't even know your bp could go that high without it killing you.  Later on that evening she was admitted to the intensive care unit where she stayed for several days. We were told that she was critical and someone should be with her.  On the following Monday she had a scan that showed she had had a stroke in the middle of her brain in the small blood vessels. We were told that was a good thing.  That type of stroke doesn't do as much damage to your motor skills and ability to speak.  To make this four week story somewhat condensed - mom spent several more days in the hospital before moving to the rehab center.

Today she is headed home.  She isn't 100% but none of us expect that.  We just hope that she is able to live like she did before.  That will take some time but that's what she has is more time.

What I want, is for my mother to be able to finish the "morning glory" quilt she was working on a few weeks ago.  It is still taped to the dining room table where she was starting to pin the layers when all this happened.  I want my quilting buddy to still be able to enjoy the thrill you get when you're finally finished with a project.  I want to continue to enjoy a conversation with my mom.  Again, all with time.

Just a note - if your family member or friend isn't quite acting right and you just can't figure out what's wrong.  Take them to the doctor.  Mom didn't want to go.  As a matter of fact, she was quite put out that she was being made to go.  I'm so glad she did.

As I typed this I am thinking about how mom will feel reading it.  Hopefully, okay.  This blog is a journal of sorts.  Someday I may forget what quilt she was working on and I'll just need to read this to remember is was her morning glory quilt.  I am also using this as way to say that not all strokes present the same.  They don't all have the signs you hear about.  Mom could tell you what day it was, who the president is, and she could smile and stick out her tongue.  What she didn't do was answer as quickly.  She had trouble getting in the car.  And was slow doing things.  She was just a little off what was normal for her.  Hopefully, this will help someone else know what to pay attention to.

Have a blessed day.

Julie