sounds lovely, HC! this is a deck I am thinking about myself, but have yet to purchase. I keep looking at it though!
yes, magpies are related to the crow though they are also thought to be related to the Blue Jay too, I think. they are lovely birds, magpies.
a cunning and intelligent bird, the magpie is also very much a daredevil bird too! they tease eagles and other larger birds often--I think to impress their other magpie 'buddies'. if magpie is indeed your totem for now, it can be that he is telling you to not fear taking risks.
the magpie can also be telling you that there are some spirits around you. not just human spirits, but fairies, (and, I know you like the fairies!) or gnomes, dragons, goblins, unicorns, etc. so pay attn. to that message too! magpie may be trying to help you make the connection to them all.
magpies are prophets--and are magical birds. they generally indicate great spiritual protection to those they are with. so, this is a great totem to have! watch and see if you are able to make contact with any spirits--human, fairy or otherwise--while having magpie with you.
magpies also tend to show up to help you with family or friends and the relationship you share with them. given the fact that you are troubled about your mom's health--it can be that magpie is here to help you learn and grow from this experience as well. I have read before that to communicate with the magpie it is best to do so with chanting, singing, playing certain musical instruments--such as the flute, or drumming and also dancing--and again, this sounds very appropriate for you, as I do recall you making your own drum and other musical instruments. so sounds to me like the last few mos. or so where you really began to get interested in drumming and other things of this like was to prepare you for this totem! One wonderful thing to know about this totem is that the people they are totems too generally have wide interests--and again, this seems to really fit what I know of you (through AT)--but also that they are generally very successful in everything as well! nice to know, eh? oh, and they are generally linked with medicine people! I know for awhile you were searching and learning alot about the Celtic Shamanism--so maybe magpie is coming to you for all these reasons! keep us posted please.