Thank you for all the prayers and very kind words. They really do mean a lot. Even more knowing that you all care very much though I tend to "slip" away from time to time. I really try to be as faithful to PT as possible, but running a family and a rescue does not leave much time for a social life whether it be in person or via computer. I have found myself spending the day (while the boys are in school) replying to numerous rescue emails, screening applications, doing house checks, transporting rescued pups, and taking trips to the vets. Sometimes I think I may forget to breathe! So, I would like to say thank you for not just writing off this thread or me because of my constant down periods.

Well, after the vet with Butch today and dropping my boys off at their gram's, I didn't make it to my Non's about until about 5pm. Dave was awesome. He dropped me off there and went to pick up my Uncle Rocco (my Non's oldest son) and my Aunt Pat, about an hour away from Non's. My Uncle does not drive and My Aunt Pat can't drive in the dark. We felt they should be there too.

My Non was resting comfortably in the hospital bed that my Aunt Vicky and Uncle Len had set up for her. The Hospice nurse came in today and was very shocked to see how fast Non went down since Thursday. The nurse sent over some pain meds and sleeping aids as well as a few other things to keep my Non comfortable. She also suggested my Non be put on Oxygen, so Aunt Vicky set Non up real nice. When I went up to Non she was sleeping. I told her I was there and that I loved her. She woke up a couple of times and Aunt Vicky gave her some water and a couple of spoons of apple sauce. I went up to her and told her again who I was, since she really does not seem to be able to see or recognize anybody very well. She nodded and I told her I loved her, she nodded again. It was pretty much the same all evening, she would moan, wake up, and slip into sleep again. She kept telling my Aunt to "take it out" referring to the oxygen tube. So finally my Uncle Len gave in and took it out. Uncle Len said she really does not need it for breathing, but to help circulate her blood since her hemoglobin is so low. He said normal count is between 10 and 12, but my Non has Thalassemia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia) it should be around 9 or 10. It is at 6.3. Once he took off the tube she calmed down and fell back to sleep.

We tried to convince my father to come out tonight, but he refused. He is so stubburn. We think that he may not be able to deal with it and him staying in AZ is his way of coping. He said he will be out on Monday night as planned. I just wish he would change his mind. All of Non's other children came tonight to see her. We stayed till about 9pm and then headed out so Aunt Vic and Uncle Len can get some rest. My Uncle Len, who is Non's youngest of 7, is staying the night there, he is putting a matress on the floor next to Non's hospital bed. We will be going back there in the morning, about 10am.

Many of you stated that my heritage will live on in my boys, and you are right. My sister Gina, who has always been extremely close to Non, has been teaching my oldest son, Austin, Italian. He loves learning it. He was a little upset that I would not let him go there today or go with us tomorrow, but I do not want him to see her this way. It is better he remembers Non the way she was. They are only 10 and 8 and have already seen death several times, his Papa, his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa (all on their biological dad's side of course), and then Dave's mom, Grandma Helen. They are doing okay, but I know it hurts them....they just don't really talk much about it. I will continue to teach the boys about our Italian ways and when older, teach them how to make Pasta Gravy and Pasta e Fagioli (pasta-va-zule), as well as several others. I pray that after my Non passes our family will still get together on holidays as we have for as long as I could remember.

Thank you again so much. I will update again, more than likely, tomorrow night. (((HUGS))) back to all of you.