Nina and Tex,
I haven't been on in a long while and to log back in to such news.....I know I don't know you, but how can you be human and not feel sympathy?
As someone who has dealt with the death of a mother I can tell you this, both of you:
You are handling your children's grief with grace and honesty. I don't feel like I was allowed to properly grieve for my mother's death and I wonder how my life might possibly be different if I had been. In a Freudian type of way, I got fixated in that stage of my life, I feel, and it's still a big hurdle and I think that the way you have handled your children and their connection to this event so far is spot on.
Anyway, for what it's worth, my condolences and hang in there. Your mother seemed like a lovely woman.
Aaron