Two days ago, dear one was accepted by hospice. She has been in such horrendous pain from her deteriorating spine, and of course her COPD makes "everything" hard. She has an extended morphine pill which helps with the pain over 12 hours and then other meds that help her have a better life.

Hospice came with a social worker and nurse. They delivered the meds, the wheelchair, the oxygen, the walker and all the things she will need as her conditions worsen. I am so sad. Our life together has taken a quick turn for the worse, and it impacts all areas...she has a hard time breathing so she does not want to talk. This lessened communication is heartbreaking, but it is what it is. I must find ways to deal with it, and hospice people have all assured me that this is for me as well as her. So I will probably, at some point, want to speak to the social worker or chaplain.

But likeitistoday, I am readying our little Schnauzer for a toe amputation tomorrow and it is supposed to rain. It's soooo very cold that I'm not looking forward to worrying about her on top of this latest health event for dear one. But that's what I have to deal with.

Life can be very hard.