My jaw has been swelling since Tuesday..dentist office is closed for the week, but I found some bactrim at my mom's and a friend brought me some ketoprofen, which helps with the pain. Today I finally caved and called my dentist at home, but he was out of town. He called me back tonight and said that what I was taking was alright, but if I needed something else tomorrow, he would try to find a pharmacy open. It's always something!
My brother went to lunch with our cousin, who is a doctor today. Finally, someone could convince him to go get an MRI....in fact, he called from the restaurant and set up an MRI for my brother today. Results showed stenosis in his back, a cyst in or on his spinal column, and a spot on his kidney. Cousin is setting him up with a neurologist as soon as possible to see about his back and our cousin will check out his kidney, since he is a urologist. He has been in such pain for such a long time. I am so glad our cousin made him do something! He's already worried about not being able to help much with Mom if (when) he has to have surgery. I just want him to feel better. I can take care of Mom....well, me and the rehab!
8 weeks since the stroke....7 weeks of therapy completed. Still tiny progress. One of the aides told me she heard mom crying today and went to see about her. She had wet her clothes because the aides that put her down to rest didn't take her to the bathroom first. Don't know why...they are usually very good at that. Mom has yet to push the button for help. We can't make her do it. The aides and my brother and I all told her that it was not her fault and she should not worry about it. First Christmas Eve in many, many years that we did not spend it with our friends. The friends came to see Mom today, but tonight my brother and I went to be with her in her room. Thanksgiving in the hospital and Christmas in the rehab center! Maybe next year! Merry Christmas everyone! I still have much to be grateful for and am happy to spend another Christmas with my mom...no matter where it is! Tomorrow we are bringing her here to my house for a Christmas lunch. I am ready! I think I need to straighten out the table cloth! :)
I spent most of the day crying because something was wrong with Mom and neither I nor any one else there could figure out what was wrong. She cried and I cried. After about 3 hours, I left for a little while and called my brother. The aide told me she went to sleep after I left. I stayed gone a couple of hours, but my brother went to see about her. She was sleeping when he got there. All was well when she woke up, except that she was all wet with sweat from a low blood sugar. Once we got that regulated, she was fine. We both left tonight never knowing what was wrong. When I got there this evening, my brother was in conference with the directors of nursing. He had a run-in with one of the aides last night that was in no hurry to get in there and help the other (very pregnant) aide help Mom go to the bathroom. The helpful aide was not even Mom's designated aide...the other lazy assed one was and my brother had a few words to say to her about not getting in there to help the other aide. My brother doesn't get angry much, but he was mad as hell last night. He told the directors that he didn't want that aide back in his mother's room and he also didn't want any retaliation for his going off on her. He is afraid she will take it out on Mom. She is the only lazy, disagreeable person we have encountered. Whew! I need to go to bed!
I was supposed to have the day off to take care of things around my house...like leaves! My brother was coming to be with Mom at the noon meal, but he called at 12 and said he was on his way when he got a fire call. As volunteer Fire Chief, he needed to go, since he couldn't find another fireman. I hurried up to help Mom with lunch and when I got there, her sister was there helping her. I was a mess because leaves are dirty. I hadn't even washed my face today, but I went on. The speech therapist came by and said she did really well today and could say "Merry Christmas" very clearly. She did say it for us several times and even said my name for the first time....and my brother's name. Yesterday, when I went there at 5, she was sitting in the wheelchair and said to me very clearly as I walked in the door, "This is mama!"
They had her dressed like a clown today! She likes to match and we had a beautiful new light velour outfit there with a zip up top. We intended for them to put the top on as a shirt. They had another non-matching shirt under the zip up jacket. I went right out and bought a shirt that would match to go with that outfit. I don't want to get there and find her dressed like a clown again!
Look at these leaves! NONE of them are mine! They all blow in my yard and swirl up against my house and stay there. I get to suck them all up with my blower/vac. Not an easy chore!
Second week in this rehab is completed. She is showing some tiny advancements and saying a few more things more clearly, but they are mostly things she doesn't have to think about. I tried to get her to learn to say Stewart, my brother's name, before he came back from Branson. She actually said it pretty good for him, but only copying what we tell her to say. I have been reading up on a concept called Earthing that I was told about by a friend. It basically just uses a pad connected to the ground part of a plug that the user places his/her feet on barefooted while sitting. I ordered one for her. I already bought a bed sheet for me that is grounded and already feel a bit more energized after 3 nights of sleeping on it. Here is the website. I have read the book that came with mine and I am quite impressed. It certainly can't hurt anything. We have disconnected ourselves from the healing properties of the Earth by wearing shoes all the time. Who knows....this might help her re-connect those broken connections in her brain!
Today is the end of her first week in rehab. We believe she is making progress, but it is hard to see because it is just baby steps. She is trying really hard and still tries really hard to tell me something. I see her twice a day, so I guess it would be hard for me to discern the subtle changes. My brother is leaving tomorrow to go to Branson. He goes every year at this time. Last year Mom went in the hospital from her blood being dangerously thin on the day he left. She got out of the hospital on the day he returned. This year she can't even talk to him on the phone. I know it will be hard for him to leave, but he needs the break. He will call me every day at least once. That boy loves his mama.
Yesterday she got moved to a rehab facility. I was not happy with it yesterday for many reasons, but today was better. I think they are going to take care of her, but yesterday I wasn't so sure. When I got there today, they had her up in a wheelchair, she had had a bath, and her bed was made and changed. She had already seen the weekend therapist. I talked with the therapist and I am feeling better now. Next week she will get evaluated by all the therapists and get her hair did~! She is happy about that!
My sister-in-law and brother brought Thanksgiving to the hospital today. They brought dressing, corn, green beans, fruit salad and a coconut pie. Mom enjoyed it and we fed the two nurses on duty. There are 5 patients there now, but Mom is leaving tomorrow to a new facility. I still have not been to look at the new place, but by all accounts, it is a lovely rehab center. She got frustrated today trying to talk to me, but I told her it's ok. I asked her if she was going to give up when she gets frustrated and she emphatically said, "NO!" She can say a few words.
Mom's doctor came by tonight while we were helping her with dinner. He thinks she will get her movement back and her speech back in due time. It will be slow and there are no guarantees, but he is optimistic. I told her that her assignment was to be able to tell me Happy Birthday tomorrow! What a great birthday present that would be! She will be moved to another rehab facility on Friday. It is a brand new facility associated with a local nursing home. Her speech therapist at the hospital highly recommends the speech therapist at that facility, which is why we chose it. She said Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists procedures are about the same, but speech is different and this therapist works really hard with her patients. Her bowels and bladder have to be re-trained as well, but one has to be able to walk to go to the bathroom......AND they have a beauty shop at this facility. She will be happy to get her hair done. It has been being washed in rehab, but not styled.
For the first time, I am encouraged. Today Mom had a swallow test and had improved enough to get off that pureed food and move to a soft modified diet. Her eyes have also readjusted to prestroke levels so her glasses actually are working now. She looked at a magazine tonight and looked at all her cards. She also walked 12 feet today with lots of help. They are helping her move her right leg, but that is re-training her brain connections.Still no talking, but she is trying to move her right arm with limited success.
I took Echinacea with Goldenseal and it knocked my cold almost completely out! My brother has it worse now, but he is taking it as well. I made Mom some real mashed potatoes and gravy with real butter and cream. She ate it with a smile on her face. She is sick to death of their pureed no taste stuff. She still has some swallowing issues, but she seemed to swallow better when it was something she liked! :) Tomorrow the other two patients on the rehab floor are moving to the next level, so unless they get new patients, she will be the only one, and she will have her own personal R.N. I keep hearing stories of people who came back from strokes and it gives me hope. Keep those stories coming.
I did not see Mom today because I am sick with a cold, but my brother was pretty excited to see her very alert and he even saw her move her right arm. He said she talked up a storm, but, he didn't know what she was talking about. I hope that will come back. They say that stroke victims heal from the bottom up, so speech would be among the last thing to return if it is going to. I'm going tomorrow. I won't get close to her, but I have to see her.
Today was a total set back. Mom wouldn't or couldn't eat any lunch for me. The speech therapist was there and she told me Mom was holding food in her mouth and not swallowing. Her brain is not getting the message to her throat to swallow. Without much to eat (such as it is...pureed, no salt diet) they put her back to bed to rest. This evening when we went back, I took her part of a smoothie that I had made for her. She drank it right down, but when we tried to get some dinner in her, it came back up. The nurse got something for nausea and once again they put her to bed. She is very pale and lethargic. So...tonight, I am once again afraid for my mom. I just want her back!
I am feeling slightly encouraged this evening. Several people have told me stories of their own parents who had strokes just like this (all the same parts affected) and they came back...not ever completely, but functional and talking. Also, at lunch today and dinner tonight, Mom was able to use her left hand and get the food to her mouth after we put the food in the spoon. Still no use of the right arm and hand, but the doc said she does have good reflexes in the arm..also, I was told that when the brain is healing itself, the body is very sleepy, which explains why she is so sleepy. I will take whatever I can get in the way of encouragement! Also, learned that after a stroke, healing takes place from the bottom up, which explains why she can move her right leg now.
Mom was moved to rehab from ICU on Friday and we can see a few basic improvements. We just hope for more. More than anything, I would love to see her be able to talk again so I would know what she needs. The droopiness is gone from her face and her smile is back. I just wish she had something to smile about. That doesn't stop her; she smiles anyway. What an awesome woman and mother she is.
Mom was moved to rehab from ICU on Friday and we can see a few basic improvements. We just hope for more. More than anything, I would love to see her be able to talk again so I would know what she needs. The droopiness is gone from her face and her smile is back. I just wish she had something to smile about. That doesn't stop her; she smiles anyway. What an awesome woman and mother she is.
My mother had a stroke with heart failure sometime during the night on Friday night. She is now in ICU and is unable to talk or use her right side. It is so painful to us to see her not be able to smile and see her beautiful face drawn on one side. This happened one year exactly after Dad passed away.
After cramming too much into yesterday, I took today off just for me. Slept in, then cooked homemade chicken strips, steamed cabbage, squash, mashed potatoes (real ones), jalapeno cornbread and cool, refreshing iced tea. Ate too much, so that required a nap. Now tonight I have to attend yet another meeting, but that is my only sacrifice for today.
Had a meeting at 10 A.M. just because I am on a committee, not because I had anything to contribute! Had to to get some groceries while I was still dressed for public, but after a change into work clothes I went to work at Mom's. Got there in time for the plumber to come install her new handicap toilet.....picked up limbs out of the yard (a truck load), bought pansies for Mom's containers, picked up pecans, planted turnip greens and mustard greens...then took 35 pounds of pecans to Shreveport to get them cracked. Ate my first meal of the day in the car on the way home from Shreveport at 6 P.M. No wonder I am tired....By the way, I was supposed to be at the krewe den at 5 to work on the float. Ooooops...thought about that on the way home from Shreveport while munching on my 1/4 muffaletta from Monjuni's! I may take tomorrow off because I CAN!
I purposely have avoided committees, meetings, and all other things that I hated when I was working. The last week I have had too many meetings doing things I do NOT want to do. How did this happen? Deeply involved in the tediousness that is the krewe cookbook project, now totally involved in procuring funds for a memorial at the site of my now defunct high school, and working on the Mardi Gras float. We are trying to get finished with the cookbook before all the holiday festivities begin. Getting funds for anything is just a pain in the ass, but my brother is all gung ho about this memorial project, so I can't tell him no. Three days last week I didn't even make it to my mom's and I still have projects going on at her house....PLUS, the pecans are falling big time! Mom can pick up pecans because she has those gizmos to use without bending over, but my brother and I try to help her as much as we can. Then I take the pecans and get them cracked for her. She picks out every last one of them.
This is it! I am way behind, but there is no need to plant anything unless we get rain. I have one more raised bed that I can water, but other than that, there will be no fall garden! Radishes and collards!
Not sure where this week went, but it is gone!
I am proud to have been associated with West Orange Stark High School in Orange , Texas. Many years were spent there and they were the best of my teaching career. Although I don't live there anymore, I keep up with many of my former students on Facebook. Found out tonight that the young man who died on the sidelines a month ago was elected posthumously as the homecoming king. His father wore the crown and escorted the queen. What an awesome thing to do! This makes my heart smile!
Busy, busy day! I'm not complaining though. It was OK. Still trying to de-mildew Mom's walls in her living room. I'm almost done and almost have the clean curtains re-hung.
I thought today might be a good day to mow the yard since we had a little rain a couple of days ago, but,alas, it was not. I was covered in dirt because every thing is still so very, very, dry.
Tonight I had a business dinner with our contact out of Nashville, TN in regards to the cookbook we are doing as a fundraiser for our krewe. I was so tired, but it was a nice meeting with the two of us from the krewe who are heading up
this operation. Right now I am going to BED!
I am involved in a project at Mom's that just keeps getting bigger. Due to their having a big house with central heat that they chose NOT to use in the winter, there is now mildew or mold on curtains and walls in the never used or heated living room. Dad was very frugal and couldn't understand why the whole house needed to be heated when he had space heaters in the rooms in which they lived. We have checked the heating system and it works fine. He had it completely
disconnected, but we have had it reconnected and will be using it this winter. Now there is mold/mildew which would not be there if they had kept the heat on. My project is to take down the curtains, move all the furniture and clean the mildew/mold off the white walls. It comes off fairly easily, but the windows are wood and the paint chips off when I try to clean them. The hardwood floors even have mold/mildew on them around the walls and under the furniture....so I have my work cut out for me. I am doing it in small sections and one window at a time, so it is OK. Mom will be so glad to have it all clean again.
Oh, and thank you, sweet baby Jesus, for the ever so gentle rain today. We are appreciative of every drop. Now we need about 14 more inches!
The entire state of Louisiana is under a burn ban. My brother is a volunteer fire fighter and captain of his local fire department. I have not seen him in two weeks because he has been on duty at Lake Bistineau where the dried up lake bed is burning and will continue to burn until the lake fills back up. There is no way to put it out, but depending on the wind, some houses could be in jeopardy. Today I finally saw him as we were preparing for a
reunion tomorrow and he got a fire call while we were doing it. Found out that someone blamed their dog for turning over a can. First of all, it is against the law to have any fire outside and second, there was no can to be found. Straight up liar! The perp was ticketed, but he should have spent a night in jail for endangering everything and everyone! I guess common sense just isn't very common!
Preparation has begun for the Mardi Gras season. Royalty has been crowned, fundraisers have begun and the transformation of the floats is on track. We will be working every Monday and Wednesday nights on the floats. Last night we were painting the inside of the children's float. As is usual, the same 4 of us showed up to work. This is really the only time I get involved because I enjoy working on the float and riding in a couple of parades. Last year I only rode in our local parade and it was so cold that I vowed to never do it again if it is supposed to be cold. The Gemini parade is just too long. It kills me to throw beads and dance on the float for at least 4 hours, so I won't be doing it again. Also, it is very expensive. Beads must be purchased from the Gemini krewe and the minimum is over $300 per person. Ummm, NO! I might as well throw cash! I will ride in the Highland parade if it is not too cold. Last year, I didn't because it was too cold. Our krewe is 10 years old this year, so our theme is Reflections of a Decade. There will be lots of mirrors on the big float sporting pictures of the last 10 years.
Productive day!
Before I left the Dallas area this morning, I made a run by Whole Foods. This, my friends, is the reason I love Whole Foods.
Yet another weekend with a heavy heart. Last weekend I didn't mention it in my blog, but the young man who died on the football field last Friday night was from the school where I taught. In fact, his dad was there when I was. Such a tragic loss.
This weekend I woke up to all kinds of messages about yet another of my friends from that school...a young man named Matt Didyk, 38, died last night. He had a congenital defective heart valve replaced about a month ago and was doing fine until a staph infection showed up. He was a beautiful, kind soul. I used to take some of my high school kiddos on ski trips during our Christmas break. He was already in college, but he went on the last one I took along with one of his brothers. My heart is hurting for his family. I always complimented him on his beautiful smile...and he was always smiling!
Look what I learned today! Screenshot from my iphone! Hey, at least I'm not too old to learn something new, YET!
I spent a restless night after staying up late reading Facebook statuses about the quarterback of West Orange Stark High School. He died from a seizure completely unrelated to football. This was the high school where I taught in Texas. His father was class of 88, which is when I was there, and the coaches are all still the same ones. Football tradition just comes with the territory at West Orange Stark. The whole area is in shock and the news has been carried nationally. So, so sorry for this family and the entire school, teachers, students and friends of Reggie Garrett. May his soul have eternal rest.
It apparently takes a freakin' act of Congress to cancel the Shreveport Times. I have been trying for about two weeks now. Finally contacted customer service since they don't have any way to cancel online. They do, however, have lots of OTHER things I could have done...like pay my bill or have my paper stopped while I go on vacation. I went round and round with customer service who insists on charging me $8.15 for the first 10 days of September. I told them I wasn't going to pay it because it wasn't my fault that no one would cancel my subscription. I was told I had to snail mail a copy of my last bill and write a cancellation notice. Well, I sucked it up and did that this morning and included the $8.15. Now I'm wishing I would have sent it in pennies!!!! I just want this ordeal OVER! I also told them in my letter of cancellation that because it was so difficult to cancel that I would never re-subscribe even if it ever became a paper worth reading.
My brother called me tonight and told me he found Mom passed out again. When she didn't show up for church tonight, he went to see about her. He found her in a dark house lying on her bed out of it. He woke her up and her blood sugar was 36! She had fallen asleep at some point without eating any food since lunch. I was there at lunch and watched her eat, so I know she ate at lunch. I don't know what we are going to do. I guess we are going to have to monitor everything she eats to make sure she does eat. I went on to her house to check on her and they had gotten her blood sugar back up and she was in bed. I'm just so afraid that at some point she is going to do that and NOT wake up. Thank you, God, for always alerting us in some way to go see about her!
My brother and I teamed up on two mowers and mowed the home place.
Wow! Such a beautiful day and my lazy ass has done very little. Here's a recap:
Looks like the lawyer finally has Dad's succession completed and correct. Now all we have to do is go to his office...my mom, my brother, and me...and sign the final papers and pay the bill, which, I am sure, will be substantial even though he is a family friend and promised us a reduced rate. Now that he has seen how much the estate is worth, that promise probably went out the window...of course, most of it is land, mineral rights and timber..not cash!
As I was minding my own business....ok, napping yesterday, I got a call from my sister-in-law that my mother had been passed out for 2 hours on her kitchen floor from a low blood sugar. She finally woke up (God must have done it) and was able to move around on the floor to get to the phone and pull it down to call my brother. He was not home, but my sister-in-law went to her and called 911 to get someone to come pick her up. A friend with the sheriff department was in the area and heard the call, so he was there in a moment. Mom has one of those emergency call thingys around her neck, but a low blood sugar makes her lose her mind and not be able to think like that. Anyway, I went right on to see about her and she was sitting at the table having already completed the crossword puzzle in the paper, so her mind was back.
Today has been completely wasted due to my lack of sleep last night. After trying Tylenol PM, aspirin, and melatonin, I still was unable to sleep, so this morning I got up, made the bed and lay right back down on it and went back to sleep until 11:00. That probably set me up for another no sleep night tonight!!! I hope not!
I reached my limit with the Shreveport Times today. Many months I have been thinking about not renewing my subscription. All I do is the crossword puzzle anyway and I can do crosswords anywhere. I am a Glenn Beck fan and a conservative....not necessarily a Republican, but a Reagan Conservative. This was the cartoon in the paper today and the final straw for me. It's not funny and I find it offensive! I'm sure this "cartoonist" wouldn't dare make fun of a muslim, but it's ok to skewer an American Patriot!
Went and bought one of those expensive pump containers of extended death to weeds Round UP....got it home and couldn't figure out how to work the damn thing, so I took it back. No wonder it wouldn't work! I got my money back and went to the garden center again. Turns out the one I bought was missing the whole part that contained the tube and wand. I now have one that works with all its parts.
Spent all morning watching the Restoring Honor Rally at the Lincoln Memorial where my friends are today. Wow! What an experience that must have been. I cried the whole time. If the press can find anything to criticize about that, I want to see what it is. There was not one word of controversy and not one sign for them to focus on. Oh, my, what will they find to say!!!!
Also did my patriotic duty and responsibility and went to vote for David Vitter. I preach to not vote for any incumbents, but in this case, I did!
Dad has been gone 9 months and we are STILL trying to get the estate settled. My poor brother has worked and worked on property descriptions...faxed them all to the lawyer and the lawyer still has them all screwed up. He doesn't even have the dwelling on the proper parcel of land! We are trying to avoid having to have all of it surveyed. Mom cannot find any of the deeds, so it is a real chore. I thought we were paying a lawyer to do that kind of stuff, but my brother has done more than the lawyer! On a lighter note, the monument company brought renditions of what the monument will look like and all of the foot stones, which we are getting done in advance for all the rest of us. Should have it done soon!
Months ago when Glenn Beck started planning the Restoring Honor Rally at the Lincoln Memorial, two friends started making plans to attend. I turned it down because I have been to D.C. in August and it is miserable. Looks like the
weather is going to be very pleasant. God is with them! Well, 3 friends are on Amtrak at this moment on the way to D.C. I hope they have a great time. I just do not like to be in huge crowds, plus I know my back would not have been happy with all the walking and carrying a chair at the same time. I'm too old for that kind of misery! They drove to Meridian, MS to board Amtrak for an 11 A.M. departure yesterday. After about 22 hours, they will arrive in D.C.
Someone told me about a business that recently opened here in town that is in an old unused building. A young man wanted to attend Glenbrook High School here in Minden, a private school. The tuition is not cheap, so his dad opened a car wash in the old building for his sons to wash cars and earn money to go this school. They washed my friend's SUV this morning for $15 and she threw in another $5 because they did an excellent job. I went to pick her up and left my car. He washed it for $10 and I threw in some extra because I like to support people who want to do for themselves!! He will wax it for $20, so next time I will let him do that.....and to top it all off....NOW..it's raining! We need it badly and I knew it would rain if I got my car washed! BRING IT. I have a garage!!!!
My doctor's office called today to tell me my blood results from Friday. Turns out I have a vitamin D and B12 deficiency. I had to go in for a B12 shot and got a prescription for vitamin D....50,000 strength which is only taken once in a while. All other things looked good:
