Hey Everyone,
Well, it appears that dear, sweet, Mama is still trying desperately to get up and walk around...however, when she tries to sit again, she walks to her wheelchair and regrettably, plops on her bum!!! The stupid wheelchair doesn't have brakes on, so when she attempts to sit, it moves! UGH Poor, little girl. So far, knock on wood, she hasn't injured anything more than her pride. I sincerely hope that continues. The last thing we need is another incident that puts her in the hospital with more internal bleeding. That would effectively be the end of her...as I'm certain she couldn't bounce back from another bout. She's fallen on her butt a few times with no lasting effects. The thing I question the most is if her wheelchair is 'alarmed' why is it that nobody is watching her...the alarm definitely gets their attention! Go figure!!!
In any case, while I was with her last night, she was rather agitated and wanted nothing more to go home. I'm still trying to figure out what home is. Is it the Rutherford? Is it Wetaskiwin? She's even mentioned Calgary! Hmmm, there are far too many homes for her and I guess it just depends on where her memory is on that particular day. Heck, home for her could be with Nana & Grandpa...I guess I may never know for sure! Either way, while she's healing mentally, I do what I can to understand what she wants. When she's effective at articulating what she's after, it's easy...when everything is a word salad...it's not so easy...lol But again, one day at a time...
Anyway, that's about all I have to report. I'll be back there to see her again tonight and should have more to let you know. For now, thanks for stopping by :) xo
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Oops
Yup, an oops...
I got to Mom's and was informed that she'd taken a bit of a spill...she didn't appear to be harmed at all but I guess she's been standing up so much on her own that she's not taking care to ensure her chair is behind her or something. My guess is that, if the wheelchair is behind her when she's standing, either the chair rolls away a bit because the brakes aren't put on and when she tries to sit down, she misses the seat OR she's trying to sit down and the chair moves out of the way because the brakes aren't on and she fell out. Either way, apparently they found her sitting beside her chair. They'll check again later this evening to ensure she's got no lasting damage to her little bones...or a bruise that could turn into internal bleeding again. Dang...she's so wanting to be independent but has to be so very careful or we're back to square one!
When I got around the corner after my arrival, she exclaims, "There's my little girl!!!" Awww, how wonderful is that!!!???!!! I just love hearing that kind of thing...it's still so nice to know she's recognising me and knows who I am. That's definitely an improvement, too. There was a time not so long ago where she didn't remember who Jason was, or who I was. Not a good thing.
Anyway, I dropped off a few more toiletries she was in need of and we visited for a while. I also had a Gingerale for her. She was soooo happy to enjoy her Gingerale as she hasn't had one of those in a long time!!! Maybe tomorrow is a Dairy Queen day! Who knows...treat day is always appreciated! :)
Well, thanks for stopping by...xo
I got to Mom's and was informed that she'd taken a bit of a spill...she didn't appear to be harmed at all but I guess she's been standing up so much on her own that she's not taking care to ensure her chair is behind her or something. My guess is that, if the wheelchair is behind her when she's standing, either the chair rolls away a bit because the brakes aren't put on and when she tries to sit down, she misses the seat OR she's trying to sit down and the chair moves out of the way because the brakes aren't on and she fell out. Either way, apparently they found her sitting beside her chair. They'll check again later this evening to ensure she's got no lasting damage to her little bones...or a bruise that could turn into internal bleeding again. Dang...she's so wanting to be independent but has to be so very careful or we're back to square one!
When I got around the corner after my arrival, she exclaims, "There's my little girl!!!" Awww, how wonderful is that!!!???!!! I just love hearing that kind of thing...it's still so nice to know she's recognising me and knows who I am. That's definitely an improvement, too. There was a time not so long ago where she didn't remember who Jason was, or who I was. Not a good thing.
Anyway, I dropped off a few more toiletries she was in need of and we visited for a while. I also had a Gingerale for her. She was soooo happy to enjoy her Gingerale as she hasn't had one of those in a long time!!! Maybe tomorrow is a Dairy Queen day! Who knows...treat day is always appreciated! :)
Well, thanks for stopping by...xo
Friday, May 27, 2011
I Wanna Go Home
Hey Everyone,
Yesterday was a pretty good day for Mom. She was happy, chatty and generally in a good mood. She was ready to go, go, go. We went for a walk and then we sat down outside the elevators for a chat. THEN, she says, let's go back to my room...so off we went! But not with her sitting in her chair! Nope, we were gonna walk the whole distance...and it was quite a walk. She did well but boy was she exhausted when we got back to her room. She was definitely ready for a drink of water and a chance to sit - well, after she powdered her nose...which is an event in itself...lol
Anyway, we visited for a while longer and then it was time for me to head out.
My visit today was okay...she was a bit tired, though. We headed down to the auditorium for a game of carpet bowling and half way thru, she decided she was tired and wanted to go...NOW. So, off we went! We headed back to her room and sat in there to chat for a while...then, I had to leave. So, in essence, it was a rather uneventful visit.
The good thing is that her physical health is still fairly good. She's a bit unbalanced on her feet but at least she's getting back up on her feet again...albeit slowly, and she's getting more exercise than she's had in the past two months. I guess we've still got to take this one day at a time.
The only part of the visit I didn't like on either day was that she kept telling me that she wanted to go home. I still have to remind her that, "this is home, Mama." :(
Anyway, thanks for stopping by...xo
Yesterday was a pretty good day for Mom. She was happy, chatty and generally in a good mood. She was ready to go, go, go. We went for a walk and then we sat down outside the elevators for a chat. THEN, she says, let's go back to my room...so off we went! But not with her sitting in her chair! Nope, we were gonna walk the whole distance...and it was quite a walk. She did well but boy was she exhausted when we got back to her room. She was definitely ready for a drink of water and a chance to sit - well, after she powdered her nose...which is an event in itself...lol
Anyway, we visited for a while longer and then it was time for me to head out.
My visit today was okay...she was a bit tired, though. We headed down to the auditorium for a game of carpet bowling and half way thru, she decided she was tired and wanted to go...NOW. So, off we went! We headed back to her room and sat in there to chat for a while...then, I had to leave. So, in essence, it was a rather uneventful visit.
The good thing is that her physical health is still fairly good. She's a bit unbalanced on her feet but at least she's getting back up on her feet again...albeit slowly, and she's getting more exercise than she's had in the past two months. I guess we've still got to take this one day at a time.
The only part of the visit I didn't like on either day was that she kept telling me that she wanted to go home. I still have to remind her that, "this is home, Mama." :(
Anyway, thanks for stopping by...xo
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Stand-Up Day
Well, last night was a huge night for Mom. I walked around the corner to find her standing up! She'd figured out how to unbuckle her seatbelt on the wheelchair they have her "strapped into" and she was brushing off some crumbs from her lap. The only concern I had was that she was trying to step over the feet supports. She came close to tripping, so I hustled over and gave her the balance she needed so she didn't fall. As I was moving, so were about three other nurses and the Occupational Therapist. As it turned out, she didn't need any of us, but it's always a good thing, just in case. Needless to say, the Occupational Therapist told the nurses, etc. that she shouldn't be buckled in at all anymore and that the leg supports should be removed and put in her closet. Nice.
So, I'm hoping now that she's making her next move, she'll be noticed (especially now that the OT has seen the moves) and she'll get more attention when it comes to physio, etc. One can only hope anyway.
After her stand-up performance, they asked her to sit again. So, Mom & I went for a ride to her room, I hid my purse and we went to play dice for a while. She was a bit shy about it at first but once she got into it, she had a blast. It was nice to see her feeling comfortable enough to participate in games. Then, she'd had enough, we went back to her room, I collected her clothes and my purse. While we were there, she asked me, "Where does a girl get a drink around here? I'm so thirsty!!!" Well, off we went to find a drink for her! After she'd had her drink, she asked for more.
Anyway, I'm thinking she's on the road to more recovery and with any luck this will continue. I'm of the belief she may never be exactly the same as she was before her fall, but hopefully she'll come close.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
So, I'm hoping now that she's making her next move, she'll be noticed (especially now that the OT has seen the moves) and she'll get more attention when it comes to physio, etc. One can only hope anyway.
After her stand-up performance, they asked her to sit again. So, Mom & I went for a ride to her room, I hid my purse and we went to play dice for a while. She was a bit shy about it at first but once she got into it, she had a blast. It was nice to see her feeling comfortable enough to participate in games. Then, she'd had enough, we went back to her room, I collected her clothes and my purse. While we were there, she asked me, "Where does a girl get a drink around here? I'm so thirsty!!!" Well, off we went to find a drink for her! After she'd had her drink, she asked for more.
Anyway, I'm thinking she's on the road to more recovery and with any luck this will continue. I'm of the belief she may never be exactly the same as she was before her fall, but hopefully she'll come close.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A Total 360
I think I must have nailed it!!! The odds that Mom wasn't feeling well both yesterday and the day before (and quite possibly on Saturday) are pretty good. I went to see her today and she was excellent! She was sitting up, looking around, smiling and chattering away. When she saw me, she smiled and said, "Oh my, how are you?" It was like she was a whole different person.
I did receive a phone call from the nurse this morning and her THS (thyroid) level is at 3!!! She's totally back to normal!!! In fact everything is normal right now...EVERYTHING!!! They did every kind of test you could imagine and she's totally normal. So, now we wait. It's been two months and she's finally physically back to normal...I guess I have to keep reminding myself that it could take another two months to find out if she's going to be back at that baseline. Perhaps I could allow myself a tiny bit of optimism...although, I do have a difficult time doing that because I don't want to be disappointed. However, it is nice to see her the way she was today!
Anyway, there's not much else to tell. I am just happy to tell you how well she was doing today and that all tests have come back normal now.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
I did receive a phone call from the nurse this morning and her THS (thyroid) level is at 3!!! She's totally back to normal!!! In fact everything is normal right now...EVERYTHING!!! They did every kind of test you could imagine and she's totally normal. So, now we wait. It's been two months and she's finally physically back to normal...I guess I have to keep reminding myself that it could take another two months to find out if she's going to be back at that baseline. Perhaps I could allow myself a tiny bit of optimism...although, I do have a difficult time doing that because I don't want to be disappointed. However, it is nice to see her the way she was today!
Anyway, there's not much else to tell. I am just happy to tell you how well she was doing today and that all tests have come back normal now.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Monday, May 23, 2011
I THINK I May Have Figured It Out
Hey Everyone...
I think I may have figured out why Mom's not feeling well...it's raining here. The temps went from 24 yesterday to 6-8 degrees here today. A barometric pressure change of that significant a change gives her a migraine EVERY time. Had Dave not had a headache this morning, I may have never thought of it. There's so much going on in my mind, I didn't even think of it! Needless to say, when I saw Mom today, she was sleeping again, in her bed this time. When I got there, she woke up...I immediately asked her if she was in pain, she said she was...I asked her if she had a migraine and she said she did. What a stupid woman I am!!! How could I not think of it!!!
Anyway, we've got it figured out now. If only I can continue to remember, we just might have it sorted out!!! Now, IF I've got it figured out, with any luck when she's feeling better, everything will be okay - or I hope so anyway.
During my visit today, Mom did have a yogurt and drink of cranberry juice...so I suppose that even though she had a migraine, she was still hungry. Other than that, there's really not much to tell you. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day and she'll be feeling better.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
I think I may have figured out why Mom's not feeling well...it's raining here. The temps went from 24 yesterday to 6-8 degrees here today. A barometric pressure change of that significant a change gives her a migraine EVERY time. Had Dave not had a headache this morning, I may have never thought of it. There's so much going on in my mind, I didn't even think of it! Needless to say, when I saw Mom today, she was sleeping again, in her bed this time. When I got there, she woke up...I immediately asked her if she was in pain, she said she was...I asked her if she had a migraine and she said she did. What a stupid woman I am!!! How could I not think of it!!!
Anyway, we've got it figured out now. If only I can continue to remember, we just might have it sorted out!!! Now, IF I've got it figured out, with any luck when she's feeling better, everything will be okay - or I hope so anyway.
During my visit today, Mom did have a yogurt and drink of cranberry juice...so I suppose that even though she had a migraine, she was still hungry. Other than that, there's really not much to tell you. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day and she'll be feeling better.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Sleepy Day
Well, definitely not much to tell you about yesterday...All Mom did was sleep throughout my entire visit. She'd peek thru her closed eye while I fed her. She was in the dining room when I arrived and hadn't eaten a thing! So, I sat down beside her and convinced her it would be a good idea to eat. So, thru sleepy bites, she ate her supper. I'm not quite sure what's going on, but I don't really like it. The staff was telling me she was like that all day.
The day-time RN and I spoke about a week ago and she was telling me that they were giving her (and likely still are) a medication to lower her blood pressure...which is already quite low. Go figure. That might be why she's so sleepy. Hmmm...
Anyway, that's about all I have to tell you...pretty boring, huh? Thanks for stopping by...xo
The day-time RN and I spoke about a week ago and she was telling me that they were giving her (and likely still are) a medication to lower her blood pressure...which is already quite low. Go figure. That might be why she's so sleepy. Hmmm...
Anyway, that's about all I have to tell you...pretty boring, huh? Thanks for stopping by...xo
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Not Such a Good Day
Hey,
Today, Brenda was up again with Krystal and her boyfriend Beau. We were clearing out the Rutherford and getting things ready for storage or to take to Mom where she is now. B & the kids had a few minutes to run up to see Mom before they headed south so we took advantage of the time. Sadly, Mom wasn't having a very good day. She didn't have her teeth in and wasn't wearing her glasses. It's kind of sad to see her like that because she's always been so very concerned about her appearance. And of course, it bothered me. She was not very coherent today, either. However, she did say hello (sort of) to Beau before I got her teeth into her. I think what it is with Mom is that she doesn't like having her dentures dirty and after a few days of not having them cleaned, she gets fed up with the build-up and just takes them out! Once I soak them and give them a good brushing, she seems to be just fine with them. I can't understand why the staff won't soak them for her - DAILY. Oh well, I think I'm going to have to write this stuff down and when we have our little meeting after Mom's been there for six weeks, I can air my grievances then. And I'm beginning to have a few!!!
Anyway, B, Krystal and I took Mom for a walk after Beau went outside for a bit of fresh air. We were sitting in the main foyer by the fire and I have no idea what happened but we were sitting there and Mom was just staring at Krystal. She just couldn't take her eyes off of her. It was so very weird. I asked Mom what was going on and she didn't have anything to say. After a while, I asked her again and had to repeat myself over and over. Finally, I said, "Darlene!" And she answered, "WHAT?" I said, "That's your Krystal!!!" She replies, "Bullshit!" LMAO I guess Krystal's looks have changed so much that Mom was having trouble recognising her. What a hoot.
Anyway, after B & the kids left, I took Mom back to her wing for supper and she kept telling me she was sorry. When I asked her why she was sorry, she kept telling me she was sorry for Krystal. The only thing I can figure is that she's sorry she didn't recognise Krys.
Mom sure wasn't feeling well today, though. I could tell. She was quite pale and didn't really have much energy. It truly wasn't a great day for her. It was another day where I left her feeling so very sad and so very lonely for my mama. I really don't like days like this and still wonder sometimes if I've chosen to do the right thing. When she has good days, I think I'm right in giving her that fighting chance because so many medical professionals say they've seen people bounce back from a thyroid episode like this before...but it takes time. But when she's having a day like today, I hear those damn words echoing in my head...you should just let nature take its course...the one thing I do know for sure is that on days like this, my heart hurts. I guess all I can hope for is that tomorrow will be a better day.
Thanks for stopping by...
Today, Brenda was up again with Krystal and her boyfriend Beau. We were clearing out the Rutherford and getting things ready for storage or to take to Mom where she is now. B & the kids had a few minutes to run up to see Mom before they headed south so we took advantage of the time. Sadly, Mom wasn't having a very good day. She didn't have her teeth in and wasn't wearing her glasses. It's kind of sad to see her like that because she's always been so very concerned about her appearance. And of course, it bothered me. She was not very coherent today, either. However, she did say hello (sort of) to Beau before I got her teeth into her. I think what it is with Mom is that she doesn't like having her dentures dirty and after a few days of not having them cleaned, she gets fed up with the build-up and just takes them out! Once I soak them and give them a good brushing, she seems to be just fine with them. I can't understand why the staff won't soak them for her - DAILY. Oh well, I think I'm going to have to write this stuff down and when we have our little meeting after Mom's been there for six weeks, I can air my grievances then. And I'm beginning to have a few!!!
Anyway, B, Krystal and I took Mom for a walk after Beau went outside for a bit of fresh air. We were sitting in the main foyer by the fire and I have no idea what happened but we were sitting there and Mom was just staring at Krystal. She just couldn't take her eyes off of her. It was so very weird. I asked Mom what was going on and she didn't have anything to say. After a while, I asked her again and had to repeat myself over and over. Finally, I said, "Darlene!" And she answered, "WHAT?" I said, "That's your Krystal!!!" She replies, "Bullshit!" LMAO I guess Krystal's looks have changed so much that Mom was having trouble recognising her. What a hoot.
Anyway, after B & the kids left, I took Mom back to her wing for supper and she kept telling me she was sorry. When I asked her why she was sorry, she kept telling me she was sorry for Krystal. The only thing I can figure is that she's sorry she didn't recognise Krys.
Mom sure wasn't feeling well today, though. I could tell. She was quite pale and didn't really have much energy. It truly wasn't a great day for her. It was another day where I left her feeling so very sad and so very lonely for my mama. I really don't like days like this and still wonder sometimes if I've chosen to do the right thing. When she has good days, I think I'm right in giving her that fighting chance because so many medical professionals say they've seen people bounce back from a thyroid episode like this before...but it takes time. But when she's having a day like today, I hear those damn words echoing in my head...you should just let nature take its course...the one thing I do know for sure is that on days like this, my heart hurts. I guess all I can hope for is that tomorrow will be a better day.
Thanks for stopping by...
Friday, May 20, 2011
Improvements :)
Did you miss me???
Things have been looking up for Mom!!! I WAS able to stop by briefly to visit with Mom on both Wednesday and yesterday. On Wednesday, it was a breeze in and a breeze out...but I did see her before I dropped off her clothes and gave her a kiss before I left. She was sitting at the table awaiting the arrival of supper!!!
Later in the evening, Jason dropped in and visited with her for a while. He asked her if she remembered I'd visited and she replied, "Yup!" He asked her if she knew why I visited and she pointed at her clothes!!! Hmmm, could this be more improvement in her short-term memory??? Maybe! I sure hope so. Anyway, I guess she was very tired but she was still in a fabulous mood. That's always a good thing.
Yesterday, I was able to visit her in the afternoon for a while. She was waiting to go to "Happy Hour"...yup, you read that right...HAPPY HOUR!!! When we arrived in the auditorium, we were offered beer, coke, juice, tea, coffee or water. Mom had orange juice and a cookie, I had a small glass of beer. Too funny! Then, there were a couple of fellows who played guitars and sang some of the older songs...you know, songs the age group in the residence would remember...written in the stone-age!!! I hardly knew any of the words except for maybe to Goodnight Irene. As I'm singing along, I leaned over and gently put my head on Mom's shoulder and what do I hear? Mom singing along to the song...and she knew most of the words! Another improvement??? Maybe! So I began listening more closely to other songs and there were a few choruses she remembered as well. Now remember, she's not that old, so she's not going to remember most of the songs written in the stone-age, either...LMAO However, the songs they did by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and folks like that, she definitely remembered. Nice.
So, after we finished singing, we meandered back to her room for a moment and decided we'd like to go for a walk...well, actually, it was MOM who decided she'd like to go for a walk...and she kept walking, and walking, and walking!!! We got to the nursing station this time before she decided she needed to sit! Then she wanted her Girl Friday (me) to run back to her room to fetch her wheels!!! That figures! So, off I went to snag the wheels! By the time we got all of that done, I had to get going, so she was left in the ever-so-capable hands of the nursing staff there, as she had to powder her nose. That was my cue to go. So, I gave her a kiss and a hug and bid her adieu until today. She was a happy girl when I left...I think she had a fantastic day but I think she was getting a bit tired. They had part 1 of a movie scheduled for the evening and I'm hoping she was able to join them for it. I'll find out later today.
Anyway, that's about it for now. I'll post more later...sorry for the delay in getting details out...but I guess better late than never... LOL
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Things have been looking up for Mom!!! I WAS able to stop by briefly to visit with Mom on both Wednesday and yesterday. On Wednesday, it was a breeze in and a breeze out...but I did see her before I dropped off her clothes and gave her a kiss before I left. She was sitting at the table awaiting the arrival of supper!!!
Later in the evening, Jason dropped in and visited with her for a while. He asked her if she remembered I'd visited and she replied, "Yup!" He asked her if she knew why I visited and she pointed at her clothes!!! Hmmm, could this be more improvement in her short-term memory??? Maybe! I sure hope so. Anyway, I guess she was very tired but she was still in a fabulous mood. That's always a good thing.
Yesterday, I was able to visit her in the afternoon for a while. She was waiting to go to "Happy Hour"...yup, you read that right...HAPPY HOUR!!! When we arrived in the auditorium, we were offered beer, coke, juice, tea, coffee or water. Mom had orange juice and a cookie, I had a small glass of beer. Too funny! Then, there were a couple of fellows who played guitars and sang some of the older songs...you know, songs the age group in the residence would remember...written in the stone-age!!! I hardly knew any of the words except for maybe to Goodnight Irene. As I'm singing along, I leaned over and gently put my head on Mom's shoulder and what do I hear? Mom singing along to the song...and she knew most of the words! Another improvement??? Maybe! So I began listening more closely to other songs and there were a few choruses she remembered as well. Now remember, she's not that old, so she's not going to remember most of the songs written in the stone-age, either...LMAO However, the songs they did by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and folks like that, she definitely remembered. Nice.
So, after we finished singing, we meandered back to her room for a moment and decided we'd like to go for a walk...well, actually, it was MOM who decided she'd like to go for a walk...and she kept walking, and walking, and walking!!! We got to the nursing station this time before she decided she needed to sit! Then she wanted her Girl Friday (me) to run back to her room to fetch her wheels!!! That figures! So, off I went to snag the wheels! By the time we got all of that done, I had to get going, so she was left in the ever-so-capable hands of the nursing staff there, as she had to powder her nose. That was my cue to go. So, I gave her a kiss and a hug and bid her adieu until today. She was a happy girl when I left...I think she had a fantastic day but I think she was getting a bit tired. They had part 1 of a movie scheduled for the evening and I'm hoping she was able to join them for it. I'll find out later today.
Anyway, that's about it for now. I'll post more later...sorry for the delay in getting details out...but I guess better late than never... LOL
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Good News
Hi!!!
Well, I got some very good news today. Mom's thyroid numbers have come down to 6!!! That's outstanding. They did the test on 5 May and that was the result. I'm very pleased to know that. They're going to test her again at the end of May to see if there's any change. Her INR is good; everything is getting back to normal.
Now we wait. Again, the doctor said we would have to wait a good 3-4 months before we'd see any definitive changes. Right now, we're seeing some small improvements but nothing of any substance. However, it's only been two months. There's still two months to go. I can say that really all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
We read another chapter in our book last night and when I was almost done, she said, "That's enough." Okay!!! LOL Then we went to the auditorium for Pet Therapy...they had some wonderful dogs there...They brought smiles to the faces of every person in the room...Mom smiled over and over again...it was wonderful. I even heard her laugh a couple of times.
Today, I returned to help Mom shower. She can't have a "sponge bath" with their bathing products or dry shampoo because it affects her skin terribly and she breaks out in rashes. So, I volunteered to go in half way between her regularly scheduled bath time to help her shower. By the time we were finished, I don't know which one of us was more soaked, me or mom!!!
Anyway, when we were done showering, I was taking her back to her room for a drink and snack and she wanted to walk back to her room. Nice! Nurses and aides were watching and were quite impressed that mom was up and walking. I kept telling them she was able to walk but for some reason they just didn't believe me. I'm glad she's up and moving, too...her legs and ankles are a bit more swollen from fluid retention than they were when she arrived there...so she's not moving around as much as she should, nor are they keeping her feet elevated enough. She was also extremely tired today, so she was "hanging" her head quite a bit. I'm sure hoping tomorrow will be a better day for her. Again, we all have bad days and good days...today just wasn't such a good day for her. Here's to hoping tomorrow will be better.
I guess that's about all the news I have for now. I won't be up to see her tomorrow or Thursday, but I'll try and get information so I'm able to post how she's doing.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Well, I got some very good news today. Mom's thyroid numbers have come down to 6!!! That's outstanding. They did the test on 5 May and that was the result. I'm very pleased to know that. They're going to test her again at the end of May to see if there's any change. Her INR is good; everything is getting back to normal.
Now we wait. Again, the doctor said we would have to wait a good 3-4 months before we'd see any definitive changes. Right now, we're seeing some small improvements but nothing of any substance. However, it's only been two months. There's still two months to go. I can say that really all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
We read another chapter in our book last night and when I was almost done, she said, "That's enough." Okay!!! LOL Then we went to the auditorium for Pet Therapy...they had some wonderful dogs there...They brought smiles to the faces of every person in the room...Mom smiled over and over again...it was wonderful. I even heard her laugh a couple of times.
Today, I returned to help Mom shower. She can't have a "sponge bath" with their bathing products or dry shampoo because it affects her skin terribly and she breaks out in rashes. So, I volunteered to go in half way between her regularly scheduled bath time to help her shower. By the time we were finished, I don't know which one of us was more soaked, me or mom!!!
Anyway, when we were done showering, I was taking her back to her room for a drink and snack and she wanted to walk back to her room. Nice! Nurses and aides were watching and were quite impressed that mom was up and walking. I kept telling them she was able to walk but for some reason they just didn't believe me. I'm glad she's up and moving, too...her legs and ankles are a bit more swollen from fluid retention than they were when she arrived there...so she's not moving around as much as she should, nor are they keeping her feet elevated enough. She was also extremely tired today, so she was "hanging" her head quite a bit. I'm sure hoping tomorrow will be a better day for her. Again, we all have bad days and good days...today just wasn't such a good day for her. Here's to hoping tomorrow will be better.
I guess that's about all the news I have for now. I won't be up to see her tomorrow or Thursday, but I'll try and get information so I'm able to post how she's doing.
Thanks for stopping by...xo
Saturday, May 14, 2011
A Fairly Good Day
Mom had a fairly good day today...she was a wee bit tired when I got there but we went for a bit of a walk (her in a wheelchair) to the main area where the leather sofas are and I put her feet up on the sofa and rubbed her legs. They were a tiny bit swollen today and she said it felt good to have someone rub them.
Then after we sat there for about 20 minutes, we decided to take a walk and look at the chicken fingers, er, I mean the chicks...she definitely loves those little critters!!! When she was taken into the dining room at lunch time, she exclaimed to the nurse, "They're soooo cute!!!" And again, when she and I were sitting there, she repeated the same thing to me. We chatted there for a while, too...then the snack girl came around and we decided we'd like a cup of tea and the two of us decided we were going to read a book neither of us have read before. So, every day I go to see Mom, we'll read a chapter or two - depending on how much time we have. I'll read the book aloud and then we can both enjoy it together. She thought that would be a fabulous idea!!! She's quite looking forward to our next chapter! Me too!!! This time, we're reading 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. I hope we can finish it before she moves. :) Maybe it would behove me to BUY a book neither of us have read so that way it wouldn't matter WHERE she was, we could enjoy it at any time!
Anyway, while we were reading, Dave showed up. I looked up from the book, said hi to Dave and Mom exclaimed, "HI, sweetheart!!!" Seems she's got no difficulty remembering people, anyway. This is definitely a good thing. I sure hope this is a sign she's regaining some of her memory. There was a point where she wasn't remembering my name OR Jason's name...and considering we're the two that visit so frequently, that just wasn't a good sign...especially MY name, as I'm there pretty much daily! Now, she calls out for me if I'm behind her or if she can't see me while I'm visiting. That's a good thing, too. Whew! Let's hope that continues. Once again, I guess only time will tell. Some of her sentences are clear as a bell...others are just "word salad" and I'm not sure if that will change. Again, time...
Anyway, I won't be up to see her tomorrow...I have a prior commitment, so Jay is heading up to see Nana and I will ask him for an update so I can post an update for you. Have a great night...hugs & hearts, and thanks for stopping by...
Me
Then after we sat there for about 20 minutes, we decided to take a walk and look at the chicken fingers, er, I mean the chicks...she definitely loves those little critters!!! When she was taken into the dining room at lunch time, she exclaimed to the nurse, "They're soooo cute!!!" And again, when she and I were sitting there, she repeated the same thing to me. We chatted there for a while, too...then the snack girl came around and we decided we'd like a cup of tea and the two of us decided we were going to read a book neither of us have read before. So, every day I go to see Mom, we'll read a chapter or two - depending on how much time we have. I'll read the book aloud and then we can both enjoy it together. She thought that would be a fabulous idea!!! She's quite looking forward to our next chapter! Me too!!! This time, we're reading 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. I hope we can finish it before she moves. :) Maybe it would behove me to BUY a book neither of us have read so that way it wouldn't matter WHERE she was, we could enjoy it at any time!
Anyway, while we were reading, Dave showed up. I looked up from the book, said hi to Dave and Mom exclaimed, "HI, sweetheart!!!" Seems she's got no difficulty remembering people, anyway. This is definitely a good thing. I sure hope this is a sign she's regaining some of her memory. There was a point where she wasn't remembering my name OR Jason's name...and considering we're the two that visit so frequently, that just wasn't a good sign...especially MY name, as I'm there pretty much daily! Now, she calls out for me if I'm behind her or if she can't see me while I'm visiting. That's a good thing, too. Whew! Let's hope that continues. Once again, I guess only time will tell. Some of her sentences are clear as a bell...others are just "word salad" and I'm not sure if that will change. Again, time...
Anyway, I won't be up to see her tomorrow...I have a prior commitment, so Jay is heading up to see Nana and I will ask him for an update so I can post an update for you. Have a great night...hugs & hearts, and thanks for stopping by...
Me
A Visit With Brenda
Last night, Brenda came with me to visit Mom. I think Mom was so very happy to see B...it seemed to me that Mom was going to cry when she finally realised B was there. When we first arrived, Mom was in the auditorium bowling! Apparently, she was doing so very well playing!!! Then we stole her...lol
Anyway, we took Mom for a walk and Mom showed Brenda the dozen chicks that Youville must have hatched for Easter. They're just adorable! I joked they'll be ready soon for chicken fingers! Then we showed B where Mom's room is and Brenda met Mom's roommate. Agnes is such a wonderful lady. We chatted a bit with Agnes and then we went for a walk to the main sitting room. We must have chatted for a good while and then Brenda suggested to Mom that they call Dan. Mom thought that was a fantastic idea. They got on the phone to Dan and he got a few words out of her...she told him hello, that she was feeling well, and of course that she loved him, as well as a few other short answers
By the time we got back to Mom's room, the nurses were there with night-time meds and it was good we got there when we did. Mom was a bit tired last night so she wasn't a woman of many words. She did say a few things and said a few cohesive sentences - which was good. She smiled for a few photos for Brenda and that was about it. The nurses reminded us that the Health Care Aides were on their way shortly to assist in getting residents ready for bed, so we said goodnight and thought we'd head out. We got a few kisses on the cheek as Mom wasn't being very cooperative with her kisses - until we finally got a REAL kiss, and then we were off.
Needless to say, it was a relatively uneventful visit last night. Until next time...thanks for stopping by...
xo
Anyway, we took Mom for a walk and Mom showed Brenda the dozen chicks that Youville must have hatched for Easter. They're just adorable! I joked they'll be ready soon for chicken fingers! Then we showed B where Mom's room is and Brenda met Mom's roommate. Agnes is such a wonderful lady. We chatted a bit with Agnes and then we went for a walk to the main sitting room. We must have chatted for a good while and then Brenda suggested to Mom that they call Dan. Mom thought that was a fantastic idea. They got on the phone to Dan and he got a few words out of her...she told him hello, that she was feeling well, and of course that she loved him, as well as a few other short answers
By the time we got back to Mom's room, the nurses were there with night-time meds and it was good we got there when we did. Mom was a bit tired last night so she wasn't a woman of many words. She did say a few things and said a few cohesive sentences - which was good. She smiled for a few photos for Brenda and that was about it. The nurses reminded us that the Health Care Aides were on their way shortly to assist in getting residents ready for bed, so we said goodnight and thought we'd head out. We got a few kisses on the cheek as Mom wasn't being very cooperative with her kisses - until we finally got a REAL kiss, and then we were off.
Needless to say, it was a relatively uneventful visit last night. Until next time...thanks for stopping by...
xo
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Big Day
Well, Mom had a good day yesterday. When I got there, she was visiting with a "friend" who was sitting beside her. It was nice to see she'd made a friend...someone to talk to.
I visited another residence yesterday afternoon that will be moving into Eaux Claires in November. While the residence isn't what I'd call luxurious (it's actually a bit cramped), it's clean, well cared for, and bright. The residents are happy and appear to be well cared for as well. I stopped to chat with a fellow and asked him if he was happy there...he emphatically said, "YES!!!" Then I asked him whether he liked the nurses and whether he was well cared for and again, "YES!!!" The last thing I asked him was weather he liked the food...he told me he'd gained weight since he got there, so yes, he thought the food was great...LOL
I've asked that Mom transfer there so she can become familiar and perhaps bond with the staff there, so when they move, it's not too difficult for her...which I don't think it will be. She's adjusted well to a few moves so far.
When I told her about this last night, she seemed to be happy about it. I told her what was going on and low and behold, a few minutes later, she mentioned Eaux Claires!!! It blew my mind! We talked more about Eaux Claires and I reminded her that she'd have to be patient and wait until they moved. She said she was okay with that. WOW, another small step in the right direction. For all those times I started to weep because I second-guessed myself, there was that little bit of progress I was looking for. Short-term memory is a great thing in heading in the right direction. Perhaps she's on the mend. The doctor DID say it would take 3-4 months and we're just now at two and a half months...hmmm
Anyway...thanks so much for stopping by...I'll try and post again later...I couldn't post last night as Blogspot was down for whatever reason and I couldn't get on.
Have a wonderful evening... xo
I visited another residence yesterday afternoon that will be moving into Eaux Claires in November. While the residence isn't what I'd call luxurious (it's actually a bit cramped), it's clean, well cared for, and bright. The residents are happy and appear to be well cared for as well. I stopped to chat with a fellow and asked him if he was happy there...he emphatically said, "YES!!!" Then I asked him whether he liked the nurses and whether he was well cared for and again, "YES!!!" The last thing I asked him was weather he liked the food...he told me he'd gained weight since he got there, so yes, he thought the food was great...LOL
I've asked that Mom transfer there so she can become familiar and perhaps bond with the staff there, so when they move, it's not too difficult for her...which I don't think it will be. She's adjusted well to a few moves so far.
When I told her about this last night, she seemed to be happy about it. I told her what was going on and low and behold, a few minutes later, she mentioned Eaux Claires!!! It blew my mind! We talked more about Eaux Claires and I reminded her that she'd have to be patient and wait until they moved. She said she was okay with that. WOW, another small step in the right direction. For all those times I started to weep because I second-guessed myself, there was that little bit of progress I was looking for. Short-term memory is a great thing in heading in the right direction. Perhaps she's on the mend. The doctor DID say it would take 3-4 months and we're just now at two and a half months...hmmm
Anyway...thanks so much for stopping by...I'll try and post again later...I couldn't post last night as Blogspot was down for whatever reason and I couldn't get on.
Have a wonderful evening... xo
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Not Much Going On Today
Hey...
There's really not much to post about today...Mom was tired and a bit grumpy. She was very fussy and wasn't in a good mood at all. I'm not certain what bee was in her bonnet but she wasn't all that happy about anything. Didn't matter what we did or said, she just wasn't going to smile or anything for anyone. UGH, I don't like days like this at all...
Oh well, I spent a great deal of time talking to one nurse or another today...trying to get the last of the paperwork done...and I wasn't able to. I guess there was one RN for two floors today. Wow, talk about short-staffed. That's just awful. Still not sure about the place. It's nice and all, but first impressions are so important and although I'm still giving it a chance, I'm still not "in love."
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
There's really not much to post about today...Mom was tired and a bit grumpy. She was very fussy and wasn't in a good mood at all. I'm not certain what bee was in her bonnet but she wasn't all that happy about anything. Didn't matter what we did or said, she just wasn't going to smile or anything for anyone. UGH, I don't like days like this at all...
Oh well, I spent a great deal of time talking to one nurse or another today...trying to get the last of the paperwork done...and I wasn't able to. I guess there was one RN for two floors today. Wow, talk about short-staffed. That's just awful. Still not sure about the place. It's nice and all, but first impressions are so important and although I'm still giving it a chance, I'm still not "in love."
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A VERY Long Day
Holy Freeholy!!! This has got to have been the longest day! I think Mom did okay but the two of us were pretty exhausted by 1800 hrs. She was going to go to the Auditorium to watch a program on bugs or something just to kill some time this evening but I had to come home. I'd been at the new residence since 1200 hrs. I met her there and had meetings with the Social Worker, nurses, health care aids, all kinds of staff. And we're not done, yet! UGH... I have a feeling I'll be getting phone calls over the next few days. There were several delays between meetings.
I was with Mom over lunch and supper and she did eat well. Thankfully! Funny thing was, she insisted on sitting on the visitors' chair while I was there, so I sat on the foot of her bed...then I got tired of no back support, so I grabbed one of her pillows, propped it against the foot-rail/wall and promptly the two of us fell asleep in our respective positions! This was between visits as well...lol I think we were both so very tired. I just hope she enjoyed the program she watched this evening.
I really hope she sleeps well tonight. I guess I'll know more tomorrow. Oh yeah, turns out one of her nurses is a nurse who used to work at the Rutherford!!! So we have a familiar face who knows Mom AND Dad!!! What a pleasant surprise!!! She absolutely adored Dad and still adores Mom...so this is a bit of a relief! It's so nice to have someone there who already knows Mom.
I think it will take a few days for her to entirely adjust to her new residence...as well, it will take me a few days to adjust. I'm also now doing her laundry until I find out the residence's routine. I have no idea if they do it or not. If they do, I suspect they'll need her clothing labeled...yeah, like I have a clothing labeller just hanging around here...hahahaha
Anyway, I'm so very ready for bed...Thanks for stopping by...
xo
I was with Mom over lunch and supper and she did eat well. Thankfully! Funny thing was, she insisted on sitting on the visitors' chair while I was there, so I sat on the foot of her bed...then I got tired of no back support, so I grabbed one of her pillows, propped it against the foot-rail/wall and promptly the two of us fell asleep in our respective positions! This was between visits as well...lol I think we were both so very tired. I just hope she enjoyed the program she watched this evening.
I really hope she sleeps well tonight. I guess I'll know more tomorrow. Oh yeah, turns out one of her nurses is a nurse who used to work at the Rutherford!!! So we have a familiar face who knows Mom AND Dad!!! What a pleasant surprise!!! She absolutely adored Dad and still adores Mom...so this is a bit of a relief! It's so nice to have someone there who already knows Mom.
I think it will take a few days for her to entirely adjust to her new residence...as well, it will take me a few days to adjust. I'm also now doing her laundry until I find out the residence's routine. I have no idea if they do it or not. If they do, I suspect they'll need her clothing labeled...yeah, like I have a clothing labeller just hanging around here...hahahaha
Anyway, I'm so very ready for bed...Thanks for stopping by...
xo
Monday, May 9, 2011
A Tired Mama
Mom was pretty tired today. Dave & I got there just as she was starting supper. She is moving tomorrow so Dave took the TV and I packed up most of her things because the transport will only take two bags and mom had WAY more than two bags full of things from clothes to photos to cards. Everything had to go. I left her with a change of clothes and a few toiletries.
After Dave left with the TV and the photos, Mom and I sat and chatted for a while. I packed up her things and then it was time for me to leave. After all, I was hungry. We went up right after work...still hadn't eaten supper yet. Mom was okay with it as I told her I'd meet her at her new digs tomorrow. They'll call me when they're ready to move her so I can meet her there. I do need to sit with the manager and complete paperwork, get Mom settled and make sure she's comfortable before I leave there.
THEN, perhaps after a few weeks, I'll scale back visits to once every other night...then after a few weeks, once every third night...After visiting her every day for so long, I'm likely to have withdrawal...
Ah, the joys...anyway, I'm hoping Mom will be better rested tomorrow and will be chipper and looking forward to her new "adventure."
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
After Dave left with the TV and the photos, Mom and I sat and chatted for a while. I packed up her things and then it was time for me to leave. After all, I was hungry. We went up right after work...still hadn't eaten supper yet. Mom was okay with it as I told her I'd meet her at her new digs tomorrow. They'll call me when they're ready to move her so I can meet her there. I do need to sit with the manager and complete paperwork, get Mom settled and make sure she's comfortable before I leave there.
THEN, perhaps after a few weeks, I'll scale back visits to once every other night...then after a few weeks, once every third night...After visiting her every day for so long, I'm likely to have withdrawal...
Ah, the joys...anyway, I'm hoping Mom will be better rested tomorrow and will be chipper and looking forward to her new "adventure."
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Another Coup
Hey! Another coup today...she's still asserting her independence...love it! While Mom's still progressing slowly, I do have to admit, I was a little excited to know that she's still keeping up with asserting her independence. Keep it up, Mom...the more you do yourself, the more it shows you're getting better :)
The words were difficult in coming today, but I don't expect miracles every day. If it's a little independence one day and no increase in articulating words...or an increase in articulating words and no independence, I'll take it. Again...we still have two months to go before we'll see Mom get close to that "baseline" the doctor thinks she'll get back to.
One day at a time...and she loved her Mother's Day gift and card...so I think that's okay, too :)
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
The words were difficult in coming today, but I don't expect miracles every day. If it's a little independence one day and no increase in articulating words...or an increase in articulating words and no independence, I'll take it. Again...we still have two months to go before we'll see Mom get close to that "baseline" the doctor thinks she'll get back to.
One day at a time...and she loved her Mother's Day gift and card...so I think that's okay, too :)
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
WOW
Mom took a big step today...she did something by herself she hasn't done in a couple of months! I won't divulge the details...just suffice it to say it was fabulous! I'm just so pleased she's finally asserting her independence again. It's just one more step to "healing." I guess there's something to be said for patience...but you know me, Miss Impatience!!!
Our visit yesterday was so nice. We went for a walk and the only support Mom needed was to hold my hand. That in itself speaks volumes! We didn't get too far but we did go for a walk almost unsupported! She's definitely making small strides to her independence...
Otherwise, our visit was filled with chatting and holding hands and just being close. Not much else happened...but it was a good visit.
To all you moms out there...Happy Mother's Day! I wish you love, peace, and happiness always.
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
Our visit yesterday was so nice. We went for a walk and the only support Mom needed was to hold my hand. That in itself speaks volumes! We didn't get too far but we did go for a walk almost unsupported! She's definitely making small strides to her independence...
Otherwise, our visit was filled with chatting and holding hands and just being close. Not much else happened...but it was a good visit.
To all you moms out there...Happy Mother's Day! I wish you love, peace, and happiness always.
Thanks for stopping by...
xo
Friday, May 6, 2011
An Interim Blog for Today
Great News!!! Mom's been placed in her new residence! I got a call at lunch time. She's going to be so happy. It's a wonderful place. I toured it on Tuesday and although it's not my first choice, it's REALLY nice. They have physiotherapists and occupational therapists that will assist her in continuing her fight to get better. Right now, she'll have to share a room but the woman I spoke with told me it won't be long before she can move to a private room. And, the private rooms are pretty close to equivalent to the size of her suite at the Rutherford, without the kitchenette.
There are all kinds of friendly people there. The staff appeared to be extremely friendly and while I was on the phone with the woman, I confirmed that the doctor(s) were competent enough to deal with the complex health issues Mom faces on a daily basis. She assured me they were. They also have a Nurse Practitioner on staff Monday thru Friday. That's also a huge relief. A Nurse Practitioner is basically the same as a doctor without the "MD" behind their name.
Things seem to be looking up for the Queen Mother...lol
Thanks for stopping by again... :)
There are all kinds of friendly people there. The staff appeared to be extremely friendly and while I was on the phone with the woman, I confirmed that the doctor(s) were competent enough to deal with the complex health issues Mom faces on a daily basis. She assured me they were. They also have a Nurse Practitioner on staff Monday thru Friday. That's also a huge relief. A Nurse Practitioner is basically the same as a doctor without the "MD" behind their name.
Things seem to be looking up for the Queen Mother...lol
Thanks for stopping by again... :)
Better All the Time
Another good day yesterday :)
Mom was sitting in the dining room area when I arrived last night. She was happily chatting with the LPNs, Nurses, residents and anyone else who would chat with her. I asked her if she'd like to visit quietly in her room and of course, she said she would.
We wheeled into her room and the two of us visited until Jason arrived. She was thrilled to see Jay. The three of us visited for quite a while. One of Mom's care team came in and advised us that Mom's getting up out of bed at night and wondering out to the main area just to chat. Uh oh...they're concerned she might fall. After all, she's been confined to either her Geri-chair or a bed for six weeks. I have a feeling she's wanting to get up and walk now that she has that freedom again and now that she's feeling so much better physically.
While we were chatting, Mom was chiming in and quite often making sense. Occasionally, she'd flub up her sentences and she'd do the blah, blah, blah thing with her tongue. I suspect she KNOWS what she wants to say but her mouth isn't cooperating with her brain yet. Hopefully, that will improve with time as well.
Other than that, there's not too much to tell...I'll post again later. Looks like things are heading in the right direction. She's been awake all day for three days in a row. Hopefully, that's a good thing...
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Mom was sitting in the dining room area when I arrived last night. She was happily chatting with the LPNs, Nurses, residents and anyone else who would chat with her. I asked her if she'd like to visit quietly in her room and of course, she said she would.
We wheeled into her room and the two of us visited until Jason arrived. She was thrilled to see Jay. The three of us visited for quite a while. One of Mom's care team came in and advised us that Mom's getting up out of bed at night and wondering out to the main area just to chat. Uh oh...they're concerned she might fall. After all, she's been confined to either her Geri-chair or a bed for six weeks. I have a feeling she's wanting to get up and walk now that she has that freedom again and now that she's feeling so much better physically.
While we were chatting, Mom was chiming in and quite often making sense. Occasionally, she'd flub up her sentences and she'd do the blah, blah, blah thing with her tongue. I suspect she KNOWS what she wants to say but her mouth isn't cooperating with her brain yet. Hopefully, that will improve with time as well.
Other than that, there's not too much to tell...I'll post again later. Looks like things are heading in the right direction. She's been awake all day for three days in a row. Hopefully, that's a good thing...
Thanks for stopping by. :)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
We're Lookin' Up
Wow, today was a pretty good day for Mom. She was up doing physio after breakfast! I guess they figured she'd like to get moving. The only thing is, once they got her moving, they couldn't stop her! She kept wanting to get up all the time. They ultimately had to have her busy in the physio room and in the Occupational Therapist's room...lol Eventually, they asked her to sit for a while in the Geri-chair. By the time I got there she was sitting quietly awaiting supper.
I left her suitcases in her room for a while and went to visit with her in the dining room. While we waited for supper to be served, we went to her table and got her set up. At the hospital, they generally fed her because they wanted her to finish her meals quickly. As such, the "orders" that came from the hospital were that she needed to be fed. Consequently, they asked me to feed her. I thought it a bit ridiculous but said I would. She and I joked about her needing to be fed because she's just the Queen Mother...she laughed and in a British accent said, "Well, of course I am!" I gave her a few bites, which she enjoyed immensely, and while I was chatting with an LPN, Mom grabbed the utensil out of my hand and promptly began feeding herself because I wasn't feeding her Majesty fast enough!!! LMAO She doesn't need any help feeding herself, she does just fine.
The other thing I was astounded with, was that at the hospital they were giving her a sleeping pill at 5pm. NO WONDER she was sleeping by the time I got there so often!!! What a ridiculous time to give anyone a sleeping pill. And no frickin' wonder she was so tired and napping during the day. She wasn't sleeping through the night, so she was tired during the day. What a mess!!!
Anyway, her colour was good today, her disposition was good today and she had been up walking. I sure hope she continues to improve like she has the past few days. She's finally been given the chance to bloom again. She's moving from the Rutherford and her address will no longer be there. Any correspondence to Mom should be sent care of me now...We're not sure where her permanent place of residence will be but mail will continue to go through me.
That's all for today...thanks for stopping by...xo
I left her suitcases in her room for a while and went to visit with her in the dining room. While we waited for supper to be served, we went to her table and got her set up. At the hospital, they generally fed her because they wanted her to finish her meals quickly. As such, the "orders" that came from the hospital were that she needed to be fed. Consequently, they asked me to feed her. I thought it a bit ridiculous but said I would. She and I joked about her needing to be fed because she's just the Queen Mother...she laughed and in a British accent said, "Well, of course I am!" I gave her a few bites, which she enjoyed immensely, and while I was chatting with an LPN, Mom grabbed the utensil out of my hand and promptly began feeding herself because I wasn't feeding her Majesty fast enough!!! LMAO She doesn't need any help feeding herself, she does just fine.
The other thing I was astounded with, was that at the hospital they were giving her a sleeping pill at 5pm. NO WONDER she was sleeping by the time I got there so often!!! What a ridiculous time to give anyone a sleeping pill. And no frickin' wonder she was so tired and napping during the day. She wasn't sleeping through the night, so she was tired during the day. What a mess!!!
Anyway, her colour was good today, her disposition was good today and she had been up walking. I sure hope she continues to improve like she has the past few days. She's finally been given the chance to bloom again. She's moving from the Rutherford and her address will no longer be there. Any correspondence to Mom should be sent care of me now...We're not sure where her permanent place of residence will be but mail will continue to go through me.
That's all for today...thanks for stopping by...xo
A MUCH Better Day :)
Mom had a much better day yesterday (sorry I didn't post last night). She was transferred to a transition unit while we wait for a place to open in her new, permanent home. She was awake, alert, smiling, laughing, sitting up straight, chatty and having "fun" when I arrived to see her at the transition unit yesterday. I was shocked after seeing her the past few days. No sleepyhead for her!!!
We chatted for quite a while, I unpacked all of her things, put them away in drawers or in the bathroom and got her out of bed. She had to use the bathroom...which was a coup for her! In her temporary "home" she has to get up out of bed, get washed up, brush her teeth, get dressed and freshen up BEFORE breakfast. She then goes to the main dining room for breakfast. Then she can return to her room for a rest if she needs it. They'll get her up and moving once again during the morning, then she'll be up and moving again for lunch. She can return to her room for a rest period if she needs it again in the afternoon and then she gets up and moving around again once more in the afternoon. THEN, then get her up and going again for supper. Then she can return to her room for the evening if she wishes to watch TV or rest if she chooses. They have daily activities planned for the residents to participate in, and encourage all of them to attend. I think she's going to be far happier in the transition unit.
I checked out yet another extended care facility yesterday. It was nice, but not quite as nice as the first one. Although, this place also had lots of attendants and lots of activities planned for the residents. Once again, I have to wait until we find out where she ends up getting placed. She's on a wait-list and gets placed wherever they find a room for her. If I'm not happy where she ends up, I'll put in a request to have her moved. Although, I don't like the idea of continually moving her. However, she certainly didn't suffer the effects of being moved yesterday. In fact, she seemed to have improved...this time. Dave saw her for the first time in quite a while and thought she looked really good. She had huge smiles for him and was ever so delighted to see him. That's always a fantastic sign, too!!!
We have to take this journey one day at a time...yesterday was a good day...with any luck today will be a good day...and tomorrow the same. She needs to be challenged, I think...and this is the way to do it.
Until I post again, thanks for stopping by... xo
We chatted for quite a while, I unpacked all of her things, put them away in drawers or in the bathroom and got her out of bed. She had to use the bathroom...which was a coup for her! In her temporary "home" she has to get up out of bed, get washed up, brush her teeth, get dressed and freshen up BEFORE breakfast. She then goes to the main dining room for breakfast. Then she can return to her room for a rest if she needs it. They'll get her up and moving once again during the morning, then she'll be up and moving again for lunch. She can return to her room for a rest period if she needs it again in the afternoon and then she gets up and moving around again once more in the afternoon. THEN, then get her up and going again for supper. Then she can return to her room for the evening if she wishes to watch TV or rest if she chooses. They have daily activities planned for the residents to participate in, and encourage all of them to attend. I think she's going to be far happier in the transition unit.
I checked out yet another extended care facility yesterday. It was nice, but not quite as nice as the first one. Although, this place also had lots of attendants and lots of activities planned for the residents. Once again, I have to wait until we find out where she ends up getting placed. She's on a wait-list and gets placed wherever they find a room for her. If I'm not happy where she ends up, I'll put in a request to have her moved. Although, I don't like the idea of continually moving her. However, she certainly didn't suffer the effects of being moved yesterday. In fact, she seemed to have improved...this time. Dave saw her for the first time in quite a while and thought she looked really good. She had huge smiles for him and was ever so delighted to see him. That's always a fantastic sign, too!!!
We have to take this journey one day at a time...yesterday was a good day...with any luck today will be a good day...and tomorrow the same. She needs to be challenged, I think...and this is the way to do it.
Until I post again, thanks for stopping by... xo
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sadly, Not a Good Day
Well, this wasn't a very good day...just didn't seem like Mom was progressing at all today. Maybe she just had a bad day. We all have them, so I suppose it's okay for Mom to have one every now and then, too. However, I get disheartened when Mom has a bad day.
She slept through my visit, with the exception of about three minutes while I tickled her trying to wake her up. Didn't work very well :(
I toured an extended care facility today. I wanted to see just what they had to offer. In essence, it's exactly like the Rutherford; with the exception that it has hospital beds instead of personal beds and there are more nurses. I'm touring another one tomorrow afternoon and have yet another one to see on 11 May. In the meantime, I got a phone call this afternoon just as I was leaving the Citadel, that Mom's likely going to be transferred to a transition unit some time this week. That could be good and bad...good for her in that she'll get a bit more attention regarding physical therapy, etc., the bad for her in that, she's going to be moved again...which will cause her more confusion. That's not always a good thing for people with Alzheimer's...I sure hope it doesn't affect her too much.
I found I was incredibly sad today...I don't know if it was because of the tour or whether I've just been missing Dad or I'm a bit disheartened about Mom. Perhaps it was a combination of the three. The tears came very easily today and very often. Today was not a good day for me.
The one thing the Social Worker at the Citadel told me was that, should Mom be placed there, AFTER she's settled and happy, the Social Worker doesn't want to see me around there for a while...she wants me to "go away"...hahahaha I told her I wasn't going anywhere. She said she didn't mean to literally go away...simply, that she was going to ensure that I took some "time off" because historically the "position" of care partner falls to one child regardless of whether there's a geographical distance or not, and that one child tends to need a great deal of TLC...HA, I told her I cared for Dad, too! She nearly had chickens on the spot...lol She told me she didn't want to see me!!! HA, I told her! I'm always going to be involved in Mom's care. She was happy to know that, but she wanted to ensure I was taken care of FIRST, because if I'm not taken care of, I'm no good to Mom...She told me Mom would be safe and well cared for. I sure do hope so. It was so sweet that a virtual stranger was so compelled to feel such compassion toward me. Oh, by the way, the Citadel was beautiful - well cared for, friendly, clean, lots of activities...and all residents are encouraged to attend, regardless of their "condition"...I found that a wonderful note to leave on. :)
Anyway, enough of my babble for one night. I'll post again tomorrow...hopefully, with better news - AND an evaluation of the next extended care facility.
Thanks for stopping by...
She slept through my visit, with the exception of about three minutes while I tickled her trying to wake her up. Didn't work very well :(
I toured an extended care facility today. I wanted to see just what they had to offer. In essence, it's exactly like the Rutherford; with the exception that it has hospital beds instead of personal beds and there are more nurses. I'm touring another one tomorrow afternoon and have yet another one to see on 11 May. In the meantime, I got a phone call this afternoon just as I was leaving the Citadel, that Mom's likely going to be transferred to a transition unit some time this week. That could be good and bad...good for her in that she'll get a bit more attention regarding physical therapy, etc., the bad for her in that, she's going to be moved again...which will cause her more confusion. That's not always a good thing for people with Alzheimer's...I sure hope it doesn't affect her too much.
I found I was incredibly sad today...I don't know if it was because of the tour or whether I've just been missing Dad or I'm a bit disheartened about Mom. Perhaps it was a combination of the three. The tears came very easily today and very often. Today was not a good day for me.
The one thing the Social Worker at the Citadel told me was that, should Mom be placed there, AFTER she's settled and happy, the Social Worker doesn't want to see me around there for a while...she wants me to "go away"...hahahaha I told her I wasn't going anywhere. She said she didn't mean to literally go away...simply, that she was going to ensure that I took some "time off" because historically the "position" of care partner falls to one child regardless of whether there's a geographical distance or not, and that one child tends to need a great deal of TLC...HA, I told her I cared for Dad, too! She nearly had chickens on the spot...lol She told me she didn't want to see me!!! HA, I told her! I'm always going to be involved in Mom's care. She was happy to know that, but she wanted to ensure I was taken care of FIRST, because if I'm not taken care of, I'm no good to Mom...She told me Mom would be safe and well cared for. I sure do hope so. It was so sweet that a virtual stranger was so compelled to feel such compassion toward me. Oh, by the way, the Citadel was beautiful - well cared for, friendly, clean, lots of activities...and all residents are encouraged to attend, regardless of their "condition"...I found that a wonderful note to leave on. :)
Anyway, enough of my babble for one night. I'll post again tomorrow...hopefully, with better news - AND an evaluation of the next extended care facility.
Thanks for stopping by...
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A Somewhat Good Day :o|
Hey All,
I went up to the hospital after I'd had a chance to go to Mom's apartment at the Rutherford. I picked up some Green Tea and some Chamomile tea for her. I also picked up what was left of her huge bag of cheezies (the one she got in her stocking at Christmas) and a package of Mango-Peach fruit cups. There were also two packages of Strawberry Ensure in her fridge that I decided to take up with me as well. She's not eating as much as I'd like her to, so I thought there'd be no harm in taking up the Ensure.
Anyway, when I arrived, she'd just finished lunch and was sitting quietly, pondering life (I think). When I peeked around the corner I got the biggest smile and a "Hi Sweetheart"...that's always nice to hear. We chatted for a while, she drank an Ensure, I made her a green tea, she ate one of the fruit cups and then the snack fairy came along with some yogurt, so we mixed in what was left of the fruit in the fruit cup and she ate that, too! Well, most of it anyway.
I asked her how she was doing and she said she felt pretty good today. That's nice to hear. However, she's still having trouble articulating her words. She'll start a sentence and get half way through when it turns to a word salad...I asked her if she was happy and she said yes. I asked her if she understood everything that was said to her and she said yes (well, actually it was "uh huh." I asked her if she got frustrated sometimes when she couldn't get her words out to tell someone what she wanted and she answered me with, "All the time." So she's well aware of what's going on and quite frustrated about it. We're working through this, and I know she's fighting and I know she's frustrated. Sadly, she knows she's frustrated, too. However, I can usually figure out what she wants. It takes a bit for the nurses to figure it out, but they eventually get it...they just have to ask and be patient. I'm trying to "teach" them how to work with her. I suppose it's a fruitless effort as this is an interim stay. She's slated to be moved once they can find appropriate accommodations for her. She can not return to the Rutherford because the quality of care she received there was not acceptable. The doctors at the University WILL NOT release her to the Rutherford. She needs to be carefully monitored - her INR, her thyroid, her potassium and her fluid retention all have to be close watched. They weren't doing that at the Rutherford. They were watching her INR at the Rutherford...well, the pharmacist was watching it...and she ended up in the hospital with it at 10!!! That's not appropriately monitoring it...and they WEREN'T monitoring anything else...or she wouldn't have been off the map (at 43) with her thyroid...anyway, I've already been on this rant once! I'll not go there again.
Mom's doing all she can to fight to become healthier and with any luck, she will win. We still have a good three months to determine whether she has been successful. For now, she's taken baby steps!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by today...more tomorrow...
xo
I went up to the hospital after I'd had a chance to go to Mom's apartment at the Rutherford. I picked up some Green Tea and some Chamomile tea for her. I also picked up what was left of her huge bag of cheezies (the one she got in her stocking at Christmas) and a package of Mango-Peach fruit cups. There were also two packages of Strawberry Ensure in her fridge that I decided to take up with me as well. She's not eating as much as I'd like her to, so I thought there'd be no harm in taking up the Ensure.
Anyway, when I arrived, she'd just finished lunch and was sitting quietly, pondering life (I think). When I peeked around the corner I got the biggest smile and a "Hi Sweetheart"...that's always nice to hear. We chatted for a while, she drank an Ensure, I made her a green tea, she ate one of the fruit cups and then the snack fairy came along with some yogurt, so we mixed in what was left of the fruit in the fruit cup and she ate that, too! Well, most of it anyway.
I asked her how she was doing and she said she felt pretty good today. That's nice to hear. However, she's still having trouble articulating her words. She'll start a sentence and get half way through when it turns to a word salad...I asked her if she was happy and she said yes. I asked her if she understood everything that was said to her and she said yes (well, actually it was "uh huh." I asked her if she got frustrated sometimes when she couldn't get her words out to tell someone what she wanted and she answered me with, "All the time." So she's well aware of what's going on and quite frustrated about it. We're working through this, and I know she's fighting and I know she's frustrated. Sadly, she knows she's frustrated, too. However, I can usually figure out what she wants. It takes a bit for the nurses to figure it out, but they eventually get it...they just have to ask and be patient. I'm trying to "teach" them how to work with her. I suppose it's a fruitless effort as this is an interim stay. She's slated to be moved once they can find appropriate accommodations for her. She can not return to the Rutherford because the quality of care she received there was not acceptable. The doctors at the University WILL NOT release her to the Rutherford. She needs to be carefully monitored - her INR, her thyroid, her potassium and her fluid retention all have to be close watched. They weren't doing that at the Rutherford. They were watching her INR at the Rutherford...well, the pharmacist was watching it...and she ended up in the hospital with it at 10!!! That's not appropriately monitoring it...and they WEREN'T monitoring anything else...or she wouldn't have been off the map (at 43) with her thyroid...anyway, I've already been on this rant once! I'll not go there again.
Mom's doing all she can to fight to become healthier and with any luck, she will win. We still have a good three months to determine whether she has been successful. For now, she's taken baby steps!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by today...more tomorrow...
xo
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