Hi Karen,
Welcome to our community! I too started to miss my Mom even before cancer took her. I think it's some sort of emotional preservation mode our brains go into as caregivers. Its understandable that you are starting to feel the strains of being a sole caregiver for your Mom. Could you talk to your Mom's doctor about arranging some respite care to take some of the burden off you?
Thinking of you, GWTBB