Beatty Buzzzz

EXACTLY!

2012-01-26T08:56:00.001-06:00

ER AGAIN!

2012-01-16T12:33:00.002-06:00

We spent all Friday afternoon in the ER. Mom's peg tube is stopped up again, has blood in it, and hurts her when it is touched. Something is wrong and her doctor told us to take her to the ER and get them to remove it. The ER doctor barely even looked at it, called the surgeon who put it in and he told the ER doc that it could not be removed, yet. It has not been there long enough to heal and it must be healed before it can be removed or the holes will not heal properly. Not sure what we will do now. The doc who put it in told us just to leave it alone since we are not using it anymore and not even try to flush it. I'm afraid this is not going to turn out well. She also has another UTI, which is why she must swallow her Cipro. She swallows everything else with no problem, including lots of other pills.

Divine Intervention

2012-01-11T20:58:00.000-06:00

I did nothing but cry at Mom's today. Don't know why I am such an emotional wreck. I just held her and told her I couldn't stand to see her this way. I also had to deal with some bathroom issues tonight that I am just not equipped to do and that just threw me for a loop. I put her to bed at 7:00 like I always do and went back in the kitchen to read my book. My brother came in after his Bible study and told me to go home. He was going to stay until the caregiver got there. I was so grateful...but, he had NO CLUE what a wreck I had been all night! I just said "Thank you" and came home. Divine Intervention! I think so! There are NO coincidences!

No words!

2012-01-10T22:14:00.002-06:00

Things are going OK with mom. She is having a hard time walking every day, but we make her do it with my brother or with the therapist. She ooohs and ahhhs the whole time, but we just ignore it because she is not hurting. She is just scared.

Finished up my root canal yesterday, got my regular check-up today from my doc.......so I am good to go until something else falls apart! Didn't even have to do blood work because everything was so good 5 months ago at my last visit.

It's Mardi Gras time in Louisiana, which means I miss being a member of my krewe. All the festivities started Saturday night with 12th Night. I'm trying not to be bitter!!!!

Home Again!

2012-01-02T22:36:00.001-06:00

We brought Mom home on Wednesday because she just acted like they were killing her in rehab when they would try to get her to stand and take a few steps. My brother and I made the decision to just take her home...exactly the same thing we had to do after her last time in rehab after a stay in the hospital and getting so physically weak. She still was not swallowing and didn't seem to be making any progress with it. The caregivers said they were willing to try to take care of her at home even though she was much weaker and now had a peg tube. Since we got her home there has been a miraculous turn around. Not only has she swallowed everything, but she is walking with my brother and not having all the drama to go with it. She is getting stronger every day making it not so hard for me to take her to the bathroom during my shift. She is still getting her meds through the tube because we just have not tried getting her to swallow them, yet, but we have not given glucerna through the tube at all for the last two days. She seems to be eating enough.

As we were getting ready to check out of the hospital on Wednesday, I ran into my cousin in the lobby of the hospital. Her mother, my mother's sister, had been in the same hospital for two days. She went home the same day Mom did, but she is back there now with internal bleeding from an unknown source. This has Mom upset.

Mom doesn't seem to have much residual damage from the embolic strokes other than just mostly not being aware of much of anything and not being able to talk enough for us to understand. We had gotten where we could understand some of what she said, but not now. I guess we just dodged another bullet. We are thinking of gradually getting her off lexapro because she doesn't have much emotions left anyway and that is an expense we could dismiss.

Crap!

2011-12-23T09:36:00.001-06:00

Mom is still in hospital. She is in the rehab unit, but not doing much rehab. We had a peg tube put in on Wednesday because she was not getting her meds down and it is absolutely essential that she get her blood thinner (Predaxa) down. She also was swallowing very little. She can swallow, but after a few times swallowing, she just forgets how and it just sits in her mouth until we get her to spit it out. It is very frustrating. Speech therapist has never seen a swallowing issue like this. Now they are weaning her off the IV nutrition while using the peg tube, but not allowing her to swallow anything. We didn't know it would be this way or we might not have agreed to it. She has a living will which specifies no heroic efforts. Doc assures us this is not heroic, but we want her to be able to keep working on swallowing food. They assured us that she could eat by mouth some and get her meds through the tube. So far, this has not happened and it is Christmas now and the staff is limited. The only thing she has to look forward to is eating...now we have taken that from her. She did some therapy yesterday, but was asleep when I got there after my root canal. I couldn't even make her wake up enough to tell me good night. She got gout in her good foot, which made her not be able to stand up. They gave her a steroid shot which helped that, but also sent her blood sugar through the roof. We are all frustrated.

Oh,No!

2011-12-12T12:44:00.001-06:00

Mom has had another stroke. Happened on Friday while she was having lunch. Caregiver said her eyes rolled back in her head and she started foaming at the mouth. She called brother; he called ambulance. She also has a "rip-roaring" (doc's words) UTI. She slept all Saturday and Sunday, but today she is much better. Had a swallowing test, which showed she is able to swallow. Will start with pureed food, but she hasn't eaten since Friday. She is getting an MRI now to see if they can tell anything by that. She walked a few steps with the therapist today, but not many. Here we go again. Rehab next. She smiled big at me and held my hand and started babbling today when I walked in. Stewart was already there, so we knew she was better.

NIght off!

2011-12-08T20:20:00.001-06:00

My brother is back from vacation, so he and his wife sent me home tonight after I took Mom to the bathroom. I showed them how to put her to bed and I got to come home. Feels good to be home so early. I am glad they are home and Mom is delighted they are back. She really missed him. I'm going to bed now and watch TV under the warmth of my electric blanket!

I'm tired!

2011-12-04T22:13:00.001-06:00

I had a night off last night to go to my Sunday school party, but I was so tired that I didn't go. We had already had our neighborhood brunch, then I went to visit with Mom some. I had someone already hired for the evening, so after I gave her instructions on how to put Mom to bed, I went home, put the garage door down and went to bed. It was nice. Mom cried when the caregiver walked her yesterday, but my brother called and talked to her and she was alright after that. Today, the caregiver said there was no problem. She walked really good and didn't cry.

We are so grateful for the rain all day today. Our drought has been so severe that even the aquifers that our drinking water comes from are getting low. It is supposed to rain all night and tomorrow, so I think I will go to bed and enjoy it.

Rare day!

2011-11-30T11:58:00.001-06:00

Boiled chicken and took it off bones ( for cornbread dressing on Saturday)
Washed clothes
Paid all bills
Went to Wal-Mart to buy stuff for our adopted soldiers in Afghanistan
Went to Post Office
Took cans to be recycled
Installed new cordless vac in garage
Toasted pecans for my world famous pralines
Went to bank

ALL BEFORE NOON! OMG...THIS NEVER HAPPENS!

I am feeling rushed to get things done because my brother is leaving to go to Branson tomorrow and I will feel compelled to go to Mom's in the morning to walk her and visit with her because that's what he does and then be back there at 3P.M. for my regular shift. When he is here, he is always there when the caregiver leaves until I get there. I will have to get there at 3 this week. Mom will miss him so much while he is gone and I will also want to pop in on the caregiver since she will know he is gone and won't be popping in. I live about 20 minutes from Mom, so it is not like popping in next door. On Saturday, I have our annual neighborhood brunch at 11 and then at 5:30 I have my annual Sunday School Christmas Party. I have someone hired to come in for my shift, but I must get in Mom's walk and a visit with her. Last year when he was gone to Branson, Mom was in the nursing home here in my town....so it was easy for me to go at lunch when my brother usually went and go back again at night when I always went. It's different this year, but I am glad she is home.

Holy Crap!

2011-11-25T12:47:00.001-06:00

One of our night time caregivers left us a note yesterday that she wanted a raise or she would be quitting after these last 3 nights. She is getting minimum wage, which is $7.25 for doing nothing except changing a diaper a couple of times a night...no laundry, no meal prep, no nothing but sitting. Plus, we gave her stuff from our garden...okra, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and pecans. We talked to our day time caregiver about the demands the night lady was asking for and she relayed to her that we were looking for someone else. The other night caregiver was fine with her pay and wasn't asking for anything. Well, turns out the demander has had a change of heart and doesn't want to quit. She just called me and told me she was going to stay after reading her Bible and praying about it! Yeah...I think God told her we were going to find someone to take her place!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T23:06:00.001-06:00

My phone has been melting down today with all the Facebook birthday greetings and it has been awesome. What a great bunch of friends I have. Each of those over 100 greetings today made me stop and think about each individual and how I know that person. Most of them are students that I had at one time or another. Many of them I actually do NOT remember, but I know they know me. I couldn't dare tell them that I really don't remember them, so I cannot accept their friend request.

I visited my mom's sister today. She is in the same rehab that Mom was in last Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving dinner at the rehab dining room last year. Next week my aunt will be moved to a rehab in a nursing home close to her home. She can walk with a walker, talk and use both hands, so hers was not as bad as Mom's.

Last night, we took Mom to a dinner at her church where she thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the members stood up and gave a testimony about my mom and how grateful this person was for Mom in their church while she was growing up. Mom taught Sunday School for 50 years....the little bitty children! Made big ole tears come to my eyes and I almost lost it when my brother stood up and told everyone how grateful he was for his family and that we were able to bring our mother home. Makes tears come to my eyes right now!

Anyway.....it's been a great birthday.

Uh OH!

2011-11-07T11:40:00.003-06:00

Mom's sister had a stroke last night. Doesn't seem to be as bad as Mom's was as there is no evidence of bleeding in the brain. Doc thinks it may have been an embolic stroke which originates in the heart and moves to block an artery to the brain, but does not go into the brain. She is in ICU today. I told Mom last night, but I had to because her phone kept ringing, so she knew something was going on. She was able to sleep after I told her that it wasn't as bad as they had first thought. She has right side weakness, but is not talking yet.

Most excellent day!

2011-11-04T11:39:00.000-05:00

Mom

My mom had an awesome day yesterday. Her sister got to come visit for the first time since coming home from rehab. Mom was so excited. They just cried and held hands. I wasn't there when my aunt and cousin arrived, but my brother said it was quite a scene. He hadn't seen Mom so excited in a long time. There are only about 14 months between Mom and her sister, with Mom being the oldest. They had another sister who died many years ago from alcoholism. Mom had been to the beauty shop, so she was looking beautiful.

Her sister

CRY BABY!

2011-10-30T11:45:00.001-05:00

Yep! Such is life!

2011-10-27T20:11:00.002-05:00

It's been a while!

2011-10-25T10:58:00.000-05:00

We almost had a crisis yesterday, When I got there at 4 my brother was outside and Mom was asleep in her chair, which she hardly ever does. We let her sleep for a while, then tried to wake her. We could NOT! Finally, we checked her blood sugar and it was VERY low. We put cake icing under her tongue because we couldn't wake her enough to drink some coke or orange juice. We finally got her awake, but her blood sugar would not come up! We tried candy, coke, juice with sugar...everything we could get in her mouth. She finally came around, but would not eat any supper (and I had made gumbo) and remained very sleepy.

On Saturday, she scraped skin off her arm (which is very easy to do) while on her power chair in the house. She never uses it in the house, but she came in from outside and headed straight to the bathroom. That's when she got too close to a piece of furniture. It looks bad!

Not much else to report. I am just tired. It is beginning to take a toll on me. My brother is going to Branson in December and I will have it by myself for a week. I'm glad he can get away. Even if I went away, I would not be able to free my mind!

Hello!

2011-10-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

I am sick to death of politicians! We need a clean slate!

Progress!

2011-10-12T12:51:00.000-05:00

She is getting a little better operating her new wheels!

Good night, Mom!

2011-10-03T22:51:00.000-05:00

Every night I put my mom to bed and tonight I remembered to turn my camera on on the iphone. She says a bunch of stuff every night that I can't decipher!

Two minutes you need to watch!

2011-10-03T22:37:00.000-05:00

New wheels!

2011-10-03T14:26:00.000-05:00

Wow! This has been much more difficult than we thought it would be. Mom is having trouble learning to drive! She won't watch where she is going, but is constantly looking down at the controls. She does fine outside on the driveway and she has managed to go up the ramp at the house, but inside the house is a bit difficult. It is sort of dangerous in there because she can scrape up her arms. She can't grasp that to stop, she has to just let go of the joy stick! By the way, notice the drought killed yard. That is her front yard. It is pitiful!

Great day!

2011-09-27T23:42:00.000-05:00

Mom's caregiver had to leave at 12:30 today, but my brother didn't tell me so I went at my regular time around 3:30. Her wheelchair was in the yard and the golf cart was gone. My brother had taken her down to the pond where he was doing some dirt work on our dried up pond. When they came home, she saw me in the yard and said, "Hi, Sandy"! That was HUGE! She has not said my name without prompting since she had her stroke almost a year ago. She walked better today as well. AND...as if that wasn't enough to make my day, tonight she was sitting on the side of her bed while I was moving her wheelchair out of the way. She stood up and straightened out her gown.....by herself...no help. I just turned around and saw her do it! Surprised her as much as it surprised me!

The power chair will be here next week. That should be interesting. Today, she probably could have done it well....not sure on any other days! Some days she is really fuzzy! But, hey, some days I AM REAL FUZZY!

Mom's New Ride!

2011-09-25T22:24:00.000-05:00

We finally got Mom's new ride. She has been all over the property to places she hasn't seen in years. We have even been in areas that I haven't seen since I was a child walking in the woods with my dad.

This used to be our pond. The drought has rendered it almost dry. My brother has been on the tractor cleaning it all out and making improvements to it. Mom was shocked to see this!

Big week!

2011-09-18T13:21:00.001-05:00

Had my yearly eye appointment and found that my cataracts have not gotten any worse in the last year, so no need to remove them yet. Had mammogram...no results yet. Got carpet cleaned using one of those Groupon deals. If you haven't checked out Groupon yet, it has some good deals in your local areas. We are in the process of finding a golf cart so we can take Mom around her property. We have been on this mission for 2 weeks. A family friend owns a golf cart dealership and he is not happy with the batteries in the one we are getting, so he is trying to fit it with used batteries that get a decent read on his machine. We certainly don't want to have to buy batteries for $650 or a charger for $400. Maybe this week, he will get it fixed like he wants it for us.

Enough said!

2011-09-15T11:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T12:29:00.000-05:00

I hope that you are lucky enough to have a job to be off from today!

Your President is wishing the labor unions a happy day today. Yeah! They are a major part of the reason our nation is in the bad shape it is in now! People better wake up and get a clue before the next election or watch this wonderful country further decline .

Woo Hoo!

2011-09-05T09:22:00.000-05:00

My brother got someone to come in at 5 today for Mom. He told me not to come at all today, so I didn't. I went to a cookout and socialized with my friends and had a great time. We got some residual sprinkles from Tropical Storm Lee, so it was nice and cool and windy outside. Looking forward to much cooler weather this next week...a welcome break from many record breaking days of over 100 degrees. Some days I just have to take a break!

Thank God!

2011-08-30T14:48:00.001-05:00

Doctor could find no problems with my brother's liver or gall bladder. Doc suggested he see a cardiologist, but he probably won't since it has only been a few months since he had a stress test. I tried to find someone to fill in for me on Sunday at Mom's so I could go to a cook out, but I struck out on that. We only have one person who has done that shift since one of our caregivers had to move to Texas. She is one of the CNA's that took care of Mom in rehab and she works the evening shift there. She is working on Sunday, so she can't work. We need someone else who could fill in. I hate to be limited to only her days off to get a break for myself. Oh, well....I'll deal with it. No big deal!

Sorry!

2011-08-23T23:14:00.004-05:00

I have been forgetting to post here since I spend most of my computer time on Facebook. Things are going smoothly for Mom. My brother has been sick and is having a CT scan tomorrow because an ultra sound last week showed a spot on his liver. Fortunately, I had my 6 month check up with my doc and everything came out normal....no highs or lows on any of the lab results, so I'm good!

What a week!

2011-08-13T09:12:00.000-05:00

After moving to rehab, Mom went into complete meltdown and did nothing, but cry. Finally, after taking all I could take with her crying, I went to the nurse and asked her to start taking the necessary steps to get mom discharged the next morning. She did and we took her home yesterday. Now she is happy. Caregivers are back and we have a break again. The caregiver said she was not as weak as we thought. She was just "playing us" and it worked. She cried so much that we thought she had had another slight stroke that affected the emotion part of the brain. She didn't cry once yesterday, so perhaps not.

I enjoyed my one night away in a beautiful resort in Lake Charles and getting to see my adopted family! Had not seen the kids in over two years. The kids enjoyed the lazy river and we enjoyed the beautiful setting. After going out to dinner, I came back to the hotel, stepped in the casino and put in $20 and took out $58...went to my room!

Time for an update!

2011-08-09T09:13:00.001-05:00

It's been crazy! Mom has been in the hospital twice since I have updated. First, she had a UTI and was on IV antibiotics for 3 days in the hospital. She lost everything she had gained relating to physicality. Could not even stand up, so we were back to square one. We had finally got her up and walking a little bit when she had another set back...this time it was throwing up and diarrhea which sent her back to the hospital where she is now. She went there last Wednesday with a heart rate in the 30's and vomiting. Finally, an ultra sound of her gall bladder showed some small stones. She has never had that before, but doc is pretty sure that was the culprit with a small stone getting stuck in a duct and making her sick. No damage was done, so we are not doing anything about that. Heart rate has come back up after taking her off Atenelol. Yesterday, she was accepted and moved into the in-house hospital wing for rehab. Hopefully, she can regain some strength and we can continue working with her at home with my brother and me and home health physical therapists.

Tomorrow, I am taking a day off and driving down to Lake Charles to meet up with a friend from South Carolina. Looking forward to a night at L'Auberge du lac Resort.

It's a "God thing"!

2011-07-30T02:41:00.008-05:00

Update: My brother just called and we have a lady for tomorrow and Tuesday when our regular caregiver has a doctor appointment! See...I knew it would work out!

Why does blogger keep jacking with things! Leave it the hell alone! I keep trying to change the update above to red and it will not let me! WTH!

We struck out on getting a caregiver for the weekend. I had already told Mom she would just have to deal with an amateur this weekend...ME! Well, tonight our daily caregiver called to see if we had found someone. She said she would come in tomorrow. WooHoo! I will have it on Sunday, but I am happy to NOT have it during the day tomorrow. We are still in need to someone to come in the occasional evening to give me a night off. It will work out! I know it will.

Another HIccup!

2011-07-26T10:56:00.001-05:00

Our weekend caregiver and sub for the weekly daytime caregiver had to quit to move to Texas and care for her grandchild while her daughter is in Kuwait. She really liked working for us and hated to leave. We have several leads for replacements...mostly some CNA's that took care of Mom while she was in rehab. They are really good, so I hope it works out schedule-wise for them. This would be a job in addition to their regular jobs.

Mom now has some gout. Her feet have been hurting, so yesterday the home health nurse took blood and I just got a call that her uric acid was high. I take meds on a daily basis for gout, so I know how very painful it is.

On a personal note, I have been using my Wii fit for about a month and really feel better. It's amazing what regular exercise can do to improve overall attitude and health. It's too hot to walk outside. It's too hot to even go outside! The yoga section always makes me feel better even if it is all I do.

MIssing in Action!

2011-07-19T21:19:00.004-05:00

Didn't realize it's been so long since an update. Mom is back in the hospital with UTI on IV antibiotics. Been there since Sunday. She has taken a few steps backwards physically. Can't walk but a few steps with help.

On top of that her car broke down on the way to the hospital, the sewer has been stopped up again and just about everything has gone to hell in a handbasket, whatever that means! The car is being towed tomorrow. The sewer had to be dug up again by my brother and the plumber called again. Once again the caregivers had been putting those damn moistened wipes that I buy for their convenience in the toilet. We told them not to do that and also put a sign on them and they did it anyway. Well, they won't anymore because I removed them from the house. I should tell them that every time we have to call a plumber, we use more of Mom's money. When her money is gone, so are their JOBS!

New Ceiling Fan

2011-07-10T03:17:00.001-05:00

New Ceiling Fan

Just testing out how to do some stuff in Blogger. Not exactly planning to install a ceiling fan like this!!!

Uh Oh!

2011-07-06T04:13:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day that PT came to see Mom. My brother and I took her out tonight to walk on her driveway. She did really well and walked almost to the end of it. After that, he rolled her around the property so she could see his ornamental gourds. I have no idea what he is going to do with them, but they are very interesting to watch grow. He has also planted some pumpkins and some cushaw, but they are slow about coming up! Tomorrow I will check with the people that we got the wheelchair from a long time ago and see if it is now ours. It should be ours after 13 months, but all the time she was in the hospital and rehab did not count against that time. I want to get started again on trying to get a power chair for her. It was hard to push her around in that wheelchair in the grass on the property today. Her cousin, who is a doctor, has said he will do the paperwork again to get that chair. The paperwork he did before has since expired and must be redone. We are also checking on perhaps getting Medicare to pay for the adult diapers and rubber gloves that we have to buy a lot of. They are very expensive.

Amen!

2011-07-04T20:42:00.000-05:00

Wow! Much needed break!

2011-07-02T10:11:00.000-05:00

Friends and I went to an upscale steakhouse last night for dinner. We all needed the break.....one has had to put her husband in a nursing home (he's much older than her) and the other just lost her husband. I really splurged and had the lobster.....yum....haven't had lobster in many years. It should have been a short trip of about 30 minutes to get back home, but due to an 18 wheeler overturned near our exit, it took us 2 hours to go a few miles.

Yesterday, I got some solar screens installed on my huge bedroom windows. This morning I really slept in because those screens had it really dark in my room, but I can now open the blinds in the daytime and not have so much heat come in as well. Soooooo...overall, it's been a good 24 hours. Back to the grind today of doing my part to care for Mom.

Smooth sailing....

2011-06-22T23:16:00.000-05:00

That crazy bluebird is making me crazy. He still will not stay off my windows and my patio door. I'm told he sees his reflection and is very territorial. All he does is make a mess. This is MY territory. Today I covered the panes on the patio door with with that kitchen wrap stuff that sticks to itself. I hope to retrain the stupid bird because I can't see out with that stuff on the door. He needs to go somewhere else!

So far, things are going smoothly at Mom's. Her regular day caregiver has to be out tomorrow for a doctor appointment, but she called the weekend person to come in for her. We didn't have to do anything. She is even giving her instructions about taking Mom to the hairdresser. We were very lucky to get the people we hired to take care of her. Every one is good and dependable. Mom is happy and that is all that matters. And.....we finally got an inch and a half of rain. It's not much, but it sure helped! My city has placed water restrictions effective immediately.

'nuf said!

2011-06-17T08:15:00.000-05:00

It's hot!

2011-06-14T14:22:00.000-05:00

And it's way too early to be 100 freakin' degrees! My grass is dying even though it gets watered every day. The aquifer from which our water comes is getting low due to severe drought ,,,,,so soon we will be on water restrictions. Maybe I should just go ahead and let it die, but my neighbors would not like that! We all take pride in our homes and especially our yards. I even got my yard aerated last week so the water could get to the roots of the grass and not just roll off the hard ground and thatch. Thank goodness for an air conditioner that works great! I have a call in to a company to get an estimate on some solar screens. My neighbor got some last week and they look great and made a huge difference in the coolness in her house.

WooHoo!

2011-06-10T23:54:00.001-05:00

I had a caregiver come in at 5 today and give me the night off...first one since October 29th. The evening was spent going to a grocery store in Bossier City and Chik-fil-A! Big night on the town, but I was glad just to go do something by myself. My friends have trouble getting together......one had to put her husband in the nursing home (he's much older than her), another has her husband in the hospital, another has her mother living with her, another is out of town caring for her mother-in-law, another is on stand-by waiting to be called to New Hampshire where her sister is in bad shape...another has her nephews here from Maui......and it just goes on and on....so it isn't just me that is tied down!!!!! I even felt guilty that a stranger was putting my mom to bed tonight. That's my job and I have done it every night even when she was in the hospital and the rehab. I have to make sure she is comfortable and tell her good night and that I love her. I told her that before I left her this evening, but it wasn't the same as telling her after I put her to bed.

We had our first major problem caused by caregivers. Someone has been putting the baby wipes in the toilet. The whole septic system got stopped up and my poor brother had to dig it all up and run the snake through it and after a couple of days of trying, he finally got it unclogged and that's what he found. Of course, no one admits to flushing those things. Only an idiot would not know those things are NOT flushable! They are not the little Charmin wipes that are flushable, but the big baby wipes! We also had to get new field lines put in today. That was not the result of the wipes being flushed, but something that just needed to be done due to roots of the huge magnolia tree which my brother also cut down earlier this week. That man has worked so hard this week and all of it at my mom's. Today after the guys finished with the field lines, my brother had to go paint at his church. He is glad this week is over. He admitted he is weary and he never says that.....he just keeps going and going like the Energizer bunny! I feel sorry for him.

Gotta make changes!

2011-06-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

It has become clear to me this week that I need to find someone who can come in occasionally during the 3-11 shift that my brother and I currently cover. I had to miss a Memorial Day cookout and tonight I am missing out on going out to dinner with friends because I have to be there to prepare something for Mom to eat, take her to the bathroom and put her to bed every night. My brother cannot take her to the bathroom. People have told me that I could become resentful and I don't want that to happen. I'm on a mission now to make that happen so that I can have a little bit of a life!

Thanks!

2011-05-30T23:13:00.000-05:00

Still not quite normal!

2011-05-27T15:12:00.000-05:00

Although my life has resumed somewhat of a normalcy, it's not what I was accustomed to. I guess this is my new normal. At least, I am sleeping in my own bed, but there is something about changing diapers on my own mom that is just not right! I didn't think I could do that, but I have had to. I have actually come home a couple of nights before the night caregiver arrived because Mom is asleep and sleeps very soundly. Today, I actually went to Bossier City which is the next city over and much bigger. I was able to get the car washed, get a hair cut and eat some Chinese food. After returning home I have been able to get the yard treated by the yard people and get it watered in since I don't have a sprinkler system. Also, arranged to get the yard aerated next weekend. Finally, a productive day for me. Now, I'm off for my shift with Mom.

Happy camper!

2011-05-23T11:13:00.000-05:00

I am a happy camper! Last week was an incredibly long week and I am totally exhausted. We have help hired for the 7-3 shift and the 11-7 shift. My brother and I will handle the afternoons, but tonight I get to sleep in my own bed in my own home and not get up until I feel like it. Thank you, Jesus! These CNA's and LPN's know way more than I do and certainly know how to take care of Mom. I am thrilled that she is going to have that quality of help. I'm off for a nap now!

Aye, Carumba!

2011-05-20T15:03:00.002-05:00

This has been a most difficult week...way harder than I ever expected it would be. So much so that my brother and I are looking for Certified Nurse Assistants to hire. I am exhausted and have lost all my zeal for anything. I am not trained to care for anyone, but especially my mom who has incontinence of the bowel and the bladder. I did not know this before we got her home. There are two upsides to the whole thing...she is happy and I have lost 8 pounds since Monday. Along with the rest of my zeal, my appetite left, too! That part is cool. I am kind of hoping for the end of the world rumors to be true tomorrow.

Good bye sweet home of mine!

2011-05-15T09:20:00.000-05:00

Tonight will be my last night in my home for who knows how long. I guess we will hire some sitters from time to time, but not for a while. Didn't sleep much last night just thinking about not getting to sleep in my home. Instead, I get to go back to my childhood home that was built when I was 4 years old! My brother and I have worked hard to get it prepared for Mom's homecoming tomorrow. I told her we had everything but the brass band. She just laughed. We have the hospital bed and have moved furniture to make sure the wheelchair will fit everywhere. We have planted flowers and hung the hummingbird feeder. The cabinets and the fridge have been re-stocked and lots of stuff thrown out. I am mentally prepared for the transition, I think. I have my high speed internet and my laptop set up at her house and wifi so that all my iphone apps will work. I know she is ready to go home. I am going to get her soon to take her to church.

CRAPPY day!

2011-05-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

When I got to the rehab center this evening, the aides couldn't wait to tell me that Mom balked again at going to therapy. One of them even told me that she said, "Hell, no"! My mother has never in her life said that, so I am really questioning what they say they heard her say. I fussed at her about not wanting to go to therapy and she fussed right back at me. I don't know what she was saying, but when I asked her if she was fussing at me, she emphatically said, "Yes"! I don't know what's wrong. She cried and I cried. I apologized for fussing at her. I don't know what is wrong, but we are going home soon and I am not going to fuss at her anymore even though we are paying $140 a day for her to get more therapy. She has no concept of that. When I left tonight, she told me to, "Be happy". I clearly understood that. I think I am just frustrated at trying to handle so much and I am just tired!!!

Glitch #1!

2011-05-03T21:41:00.000-05:00

We ran into a road block with Medicare today. Mom has a wheelchair at home and after 13 months, it becomes ours. However, that does not include the time that she has been in the care of others (hospital and rehab center). We have one more month left on the wheelchair. Because of this, Medicare will not pay for the power chair. We cannot start counting that last month until she gets home. Meanwhile, the paperwork on the power chair expires. It's only good for 40 days. What a freakin' mess! We simply must have the wheelchair at home, so the power chair is on hold until we get this all cleared up. The rep at the power chair store is not happy because of "all the work" she has done on this case. Whatever! We have friends here in our area that own a medical supply store and we would rather get it from them anyway, but since it was Mom's cousin who was taking care of all this, we just stood back. The therapist has reservations about whether or not Mom can operate a power chair. She may be right and, actually, she probably doesn't need it inside her home. We can just get a golf cart so she can get around the acreage and not be stuck inside if the power chair doesn't work out. We are making plans to get her home in about two weeks. The saga continues!

2011-04-30T21:27:00.000-05:00

Mom had a meltdown yesterday and today when a therapist came to get her to walk. She refused and rambled on and on and, of course, we couldn't figure out why she wouldn't go. She cried and I cried. Today, same thing happened and Stewart was there as well, so he saw what I was talking about that happened last night. She cried again. She got alright, but she did not go to therapy. Tomorrow I will take her to her church again and I hope on Monday, she gets back to working hard. If she doesn't, then we have no reason to be there. This photo was today when my brother and I took her outside to sit for awhile.

Mom update

2011-04-29T07:56:00.000-05:00

I spoke with the therapists yesterday and they said that after what seemed to be a plateau, Mom is once again making progress. She finally got a light brace to hold her right foot up so it cannot drag and she is walking further each day. We got a ramp built into the front door of her house and her cousin, the orthopedic surgeon, has made arrangements for a power chair. Apparently, there is lots of paperwork required by the doctor and he has taken care of all that. I have gotten internet set up at her house and moved my laptop, which I rarely used anyway, to her house. Will be getting wireless set up today, so I can use all the apps on my iphone.

It's what's for dinner!

2011-04-24T20:08:00.000-05:00

Sauteed vegetables and shrimp over a bed of rice!

Happy Easter to my peeps!

2011-04-24T05:07:00.000-05:00

Wow!

2011-04-22T21:20:00.001-05:00

Update: Report this morning is that all parties will survive!

At least a half mile from my home tonight, I was stopped from going any further. I could see up the road police vehicles, fire trucks, and helicopters. Turns out there was a major wreck at the intersection by my house. One of the vehicles was a police cruiser. After a significant amount of time, I was able to walk up and talk to my neighbors. They said they would be very surprised if one of the occupants made it. He was airlifted to Shreveport, but they said he was in bad shape.

More blessings!

2011-04-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

God just keeps on blessing us! My mom's cousin, who is an orthopedic surgeon, called me again today and told me he has all the paperwork done to get her an electric cart. He also told me he was sending me some more money to pay for extra time in rehab. I tried to discourage his doing that, but he told me my mom is very special to him and she was so good to his mom (her aunt). He just wants to help her get the extra help that home health will not be able to provide. Wow! What a wonderful gift to her and to us!

Another busy day!

2011-04-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

I spent 3 hours at Mom's house cleaning today. It was a mess since things had been pretty much left as is for 25 weeks. I had to prepare a place to put my computer and get a cable dropped since they are doing that on Tuesday. While I was there I cleaned the kitchen and got rid of all the old medicines still there. My sister-in-law took stuff out of the fridge months ago to avoid that disaster. I still have to go through the cabinets and get rid of stuff there. From her house, I stopped by to see her while my brother was there at noon and stayed until they laid her down for a nap at 2. Went to get me some crawfish for lunch and then went home for a little while before going back to be with her at 4:30. Tonight she got choked on nothing but air and had trouble getting her breath back and then her chest was hurting. The aide said she couldn't stand up to get changed and in bed. In the past when she had a major heart attack, chest pain was never an issue. She has different symptoms....almost none at all! She was ok when I left. We have plans to go to her church tomorrow, so I hope she will be ok. Today was 25 weeks since the stroke....175 days in a row that I have been with Mom, except for the one day back in November that I was sick while she was in rehab at the hospital.

Down day!

2011-04-11T19:54:00.000-05:00

The pressure of taking care of Mom after we get her home is starting to weigh me down. We will have to have some help. People are already clamoring for the jobs, but we can't afford a lot of help. If we do that, it would cost as much as the nursing home. I guess we will just play it by ear and see how much she can help herself...which, I am afraid, is very little. Tomorrow, someone is coming to fit her for the ortho piece for her right foot. Maybe that will help. Her mind is not right. She does lots of strange things like wipe her face with her bread and trying to eat her tea with a fork....just crazy stuff! I'm just tired!

Busy day!

2011-04-08T20:54:00.000-05:00

It was unintentionally busy! I heard noises in my backyard before 8 A.M. which woke me and then the doorbell rang. Turns out that the dude that I had negotiated with to grind the two stumps where my brother had cut down my trees was there to do his job! Holy crap! It's early for me! He was done in 15 minutes, got his money and left to do the big stuff he had to do today. Since I was awake, I went on to Mom's house and did some work there which included mowing acres of grass. I had just enough time to shower and then go to the rehab center to be with her. We sat outside for a while, which she enjoys. Tomorrow the men are coming to build the ramp at her house.

It's another step!

2011-04-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

I went to the funeral of a friend today and after the celebration of life, I went by to visit my mom and took her the order of service. On the cover of the brochure was this picture of the deceased. Mom looked at it and said very clearly, "She is so pretty". Sometimes she says things that are so clear!

Another step!

2011-04-04T15:19:00.000-05:00

I try to bring Mom a little snack, usually fresh fruit, when my shift starts at around 4 P.M. (My brother goes every day at lunch time to help her with her lunch). On Saturday, I took her fresh strawberries and we went outside to sit on the porch. I watched her struggle with holding the container with her left hand, but she didn't want me to hold it for her. Since she was holding it with her left hand, she managed to pick up a few strawberries with her right hand and get them to her mouth. She had to bend her head way over to reach her hand, but she did it. When I asked her if she knew what she had just done, she was surprised that she had done it with her right hand.

Yesterday, I took her to Sunday services at her church for the first time since her stroke in October. We had been one other time to a Sunday night event, but never to the Sunday morning service. She was so excited that she had rolled her chair to the door of her room and was looking in the hall waiting for me.

Great day!

2011-04-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

Mom had a great day yesterday...probably her best yet! When I got there after her nap, I asked her how her therapy went and she just smiled and started trying to tell me how happy she was that it had gone so well. I thought I understood her to say she walked 100 feet, but I was skeptical and went to talk to the therapists. They concurred that she did indeed walk all the way back to her room after therapy. She had some new fresh flowers that someone had brought her. I managed to understand her to say that Diane had brought them. My brother said that Diane did indeed bring those flowers. I was thrilled. I asked her if she thought we were doing the right thing by paying out of pocket to keep her there for additional therapy and she said, "Oh, yes!"

I'm tired!

2011-04-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

My brother and I worked hard on our dad's row of berries today. We had to cut out all the dead wood and clean out all the grass and weeds from below them. Wow! What a job! He had to leave and do his real job, but I worked for about 3 hours until I was exhausted. This was our dad's last project before he died and he was very proud of his row of berries. Last summer they were very prolific, but then Mom had her stroke and we just didn't do the stuff that needed to be done. We are trying to catch up. My brother went on and took his regular noon shift with Mom, but I tried to get the row finished. Didn't quite finish before I gave completely out.

Holy CRAP!

2011-03-31T10:02:00.002-05:00

I was chiding myself for leaving this mess in the green pitcher at my yard work station. As I reached to clean it out, a bird flew out. Scared me bad! There are eggs in the nest, so now I have to leave it. Click on the picture to enlarge it and see the bird! CRAP...please disregard the typo on resourceful!!! This English teacher hates that!!!

Another outing!

2011-03-27T20:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I took Mom out again to the catfish place. My brother met us there with her wheelchair from home. She enjoyed getting out and we were happy to do it for her and us!

Today when I got back after her nap, she was dozing in the chair. She kept on doing this, so I asked the nurse what her blood sugar was at 4:00. It was 112. They should have given her a snack right then, but they didn't. I took fresh strawberries to her, but they don't raise blood sugar. I had them check it again and it was 77...that's why she couldn't stay awake. They plied her with orange juice and she got ok.

Another good day!

2011-03-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

The last couple of days, I have seen progress. We have a sheet of sentences to complete from the speech therapist and tonight Mom did better than she ever has with those. Today when I got there at noon, I watched in the therapy room through the door while the OT worked with her using her right hand. She was doing really well. I can't let her see me because she gets unfocused really easily. The PT said she is walking better and farther. They have ordered an orthopedic gizmo for her right foot that will hold her foot up and not allow it to drag her toes. Today I am feeling better about everything. Of course, it helps that I have spent the last two days at her house working in the yard and mowing. My brother got back this evening and he called a little while ago and said our potatoes are coming up. I have been so busy at her house that I didn't look at the garden...well, except for my tomatoes! I water them every day. Glad to have him back. He will start the tiller for me tomorrow so I can start tilling the garden. He already has it disked up, but now it must be tilled before the planting can begin. And yes, God, some rain would be good..ok!

Good day.

2011-03-19T15:31:00.002-05:00

Although Mom doesn't seem to be walking any better or even as well as she did a month ago, I have to assume she is making progress. I just can't see it. I didn't think she was having any therapy today, so I went at about 10 this morning to keep her from getting bored. She was in therapy...yay! When she finished I loaded her in my car and took her for a drive. We went to my house so she could see my daffodils in my yard. Then we went to her house so I could check on my tomatoes that I planted yesterday and water them. We even drove down through the pasture to the pond. I then went in her house and got some different clothes for her. I know she is tired of wearing the same old things over and over. Then we went to Sonic for a corn dog which she can eat easily with her left hand. When we got back, she lay down for a rest and I came home for a while. I'll be going back soon to spend the evening with her. As soon as my brother gets back, we have to get a ramp built for her house and get busy trying to get our garden started.

2011-03-18T14:12:00.000-05:00

Who cares?

2011-03-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

Haven't done any updates lately because I just don't seem to see progress. Some days are better than others and today was a bit frustrating. My brother is gone again so I have all the Mom duties which means I must be with her at noon and at dinner to help her with her meals. Leaves no time for me when I need to be getting my yard in shape and starting our garden. Today, my vacuum cleaner of about one year broke the wheels off the bottom, so I had to find a place to get it repaired..take it to Shreveport and get back between her lunch and about 4:30 when I go back to be with her. I guess I am just feeling the pressure a little more than usual. Today is the day I usually eat with my buds and solve all the world's problems, but, of course, that didn't happen today. I needed that outlet today! Ok..I'll stop whining. I'm just tired!

Exactly!

2011-03-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

Yet another reason these bulbs suck!

It's a big Louisiana deal!

2011-03-08T20:38:00.001-06:00

Finally!

2011-03-02T19:45:00.000-06:00

After a complete melt down for the last two days, Mom had an excellent day today. The last two days she just cried, didn't want to go get her hair done and couldn't do much in therapy. We have no idea what was wrong because she couldn't tell us. I spent all day with her yesterday. We sat outside and waited for an old high school friend of mine to come see her. Of course, I stay with her every night until she goes to bed. Today was a complete turn around. No crying and she was doing well. The aide told me tonight that Mom did the best she had ever done getting in the bed. The aide didn't have to help her much, but hold her hands on her back to make sure she didn't fall. She was even able to turn herself and get in the bed without much help and without hurting her arm or leg. When I told her tonight that the aide had really bragged on how well she did, Mom just beamed. She wants to get better so badly.

More progress!

2011-02-26T19:56:00.000-06:00

We took Mom out to eat tonight at our favorite catfish place. When we got to the place, I forgot to unhook her seat belt while my brother was getting the wheelchair from his car. She very clearly told me, "I can't get out". When the wait staff asked her if she wanted fish or shrimp, she very clearly said, "I think I want the shrimp"! We talked with someone there whose mother had a really bad stroke and after a year had started talking and doing all the same things again. Those kinds of stories give us hope.

Last night someone asked if she had supplemental insurance. Well, of course, she does and we completely forgot about it. We will be checking on Monday to see if it will help pay since she is in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Something new to learn every day. Our visit with the lawyer on Friday was helpful as well.

Good News!

2011-02-23T15:45:00.001-06:00

The administrator told us we could leave her in the same room until such time as they needed it and after that he would find a private room on another hall for her. It will cost us $4200 a month, so we told her she had to be ready to run a race within a month or so. The beautiful daffodils are courtesy of her niece!

Our next thing to tackle is all her assets. If she had another stroke tomorrow and required a nursing home, it would take all her money and then they said any land would have to be sold and used as payment until it ran out. I already have an appointment with our attorney on Friday. We have been told that it had to be out of her name for 5 years, but we are trying to figure a way to get around that. Right now, it's all in her name except property that Dad inherited. We told her today that we were going to try to get her name off everything except the house and the car. She is allowed to own a house and a car and that is it before Medicaid would kick in. She just said, "OK". She would hate more than anything to use up all the funds and lose the land. That would kill her.

Working on it!

2011-02-22T14:33:00.000-06:00

My brother and I met with the CEO of the Meadowview facility where Mom is today. We told him that we are willing to private pay for a couple of extra months as long as she can continue to get all three rehab disciplines and a private room. He told us the rate was $130 per day plus $300 extra a month for the private room. That's different from what we were told yesterday. He is checking to see what he has available and will talk with again tomorrow. We have already checked and we know there are 5 empty rooms in the rehab hall. This facility is having a Grand Re-Opening event tomorrow at 5P.M. Since the CEO is the King of my krewe this year, he has asked krewe members to be there with their flashy, gaudy Mardi Gras jackets on. I told him I would be there with mine on!!! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!!

Today is National Margarita Day!

Mixed emotions!

2011-02-21T19:54:00.000-06:00

Mom had a great birthday with balloons and cake, but we had our meeting that kind of killed the spirit for me. They all said she was doing wonderfully and all the therapists want to keep seeing her, but Medicare is done after 100 days. Part B will pay for more therapy, but we will have to pay for room and board and medicines. When you work hard all your life, save your money, have a house and land and investments, then you get punished when it comes to long term care. The therapists( and we) think that she could benefit from a few more months of 5 day a week therapy. Our cost would be about $5000 per month and they said semi-private room. My brother and I both bristled at that and said absolutely not. We are going to try to see the CEO tomorrow and negotiate a deal. The night nurse told us deals could be made. We don't mind paying, but not for a semi-private room. Even if Mom passed all her assets to us now, that still wouldn't help because they have to be out of her hands for 5 years. I believe they will make every effort to get her a private room because they want our business. If not, then I guess I will live with her and learn how to do things for her....and get some sitters for home. It wouldn't cost anymore than the nursing home, but Home Health only allows for therapy a couple of times a week. My back hurts, my brain hurts and I'm tired!

Big day tomorrow!

2011-02-20T22:10:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Mom's 86th birthday and my brother and I have a meeting with all the therapists and the social worker to discuss what's next after her 100 days of therapy are up on March 5th.

Today after they put her down for her nap, I was telling her that my brother would not be back this afternoon because he had to go made his cake for the men's cake auction at his church. She looked at me and said so that I knew exactly what she said, "I always enjoyed going to that"......then she started to cry. Oh, no. I can't take that, so I told her that I would take her if she wanted to go. She did! I went back to get her this evening and my brother met us at the church. She got to attend the evening worship and see all her church friends and go to the cake sale. Those people were so very happy to see her and I was so very happy that I took her. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of some of the cakes , but it was a great fund raiser. .

crap

2011-02-17T23:51:00.001-06:00

I wrote a whole blog entry using google docs, which I always use, but when I went to publish, the "post to blog" option was gone....gone...gone...whole post....gone and I don't feel like doing ti again.

Stop the insane spending!

2011-02-16T23:01:00.004-06:00

WooHoo!

2011-02-16T22:52:00.000-06:00

Brother is back from vacation a day early. I get to go to lunch with my pals tomorrow like we do every Thursday. It's an outlet that I desperately need. Now that he is back, we have to get in gear and figure out our next step. He will be calling a group of church men soon who have a service of building ramps for people who need them. Potatoes were actually supposed to be planted on Monday....that is not happening anytime soon. Maybe not at all if we don't get going on the garden. I suspect Brother will be on the tractor tomorrow breaking up the garden. Time to get to work!

Mom walking

2011-02-15T15:14:00.000-06:00

What next?

2011-02-11T20:41:00.000-06:00

My brother was with Mom at noon today so I could go have lunch with our Mardi Gras krewe's Queen and see the decorations for the ball. It is tonight and the first one I have missed since moving to Louisiana 5 years ago. The ball room was just beautiful and I got a little teary eyed thinking about not getting to go this year. While my brother was there, the social worker told him that Mom's 100 days will be up on March 5th and she wanted to know what our plans are. Now I am getting panicky wondering how we are going to do this. We will take her to her home and I plan to stay with her as much as possible. I guess I will just take it one day at a time and do what I have to do.

Hope all my fellow Mardi Gras pals are having fun out there tonight!

Sorry..I couldn't help it!

2011-02-11T14:47:00.000-06:00

Ooops!

2011-02-09T15:33:00.000-06:00

I just deleted the last post and I really didn't mean to. It's my record of my mom's stroke.

We are now 15 weeks post stroke and still making some progress. My brother is going to be gone next week, so I will have it all by myself.

Superman brother!

2011-01-25T10:47:00.000-06:00

I spent several hours at the hospital yesterday waiting during my brother's back surgery because his wife had to go back home to take care of the dogs.( They train retrievers) As she was on the way back to the hospital and I was on my way home, she called and said he was coming home! What! Yep.....came home after back surgery. He waited until I got to Mom's room and he called so she could hear his voice. Made her grin from ear to ear!!!

Yesterday seemed to be good for her. She would not lie down for her afternoon rest until I got back and gave her a report on her baby boy. When I walked in, she really lit up and was thrilled when I told her he was coming home. He is not able to go visit her yet, but I doubt that will last past tomorrow. He cannot stand to not see her.

Good day

2011-01-23T21:11:00.000-06:00

I took Mom to my brother's for lunch today. An aide got her in the car, but when I got her to my brother's, he was not there yet. I was able to get her out and into her wheelchair by myself. She helped a lot. She had some physical therapy today and walked with a different kind of walker. The therapist said she did real well, but was real nervous about it. She doesn't have confidence in herself and is scared a lot. Tonight after I spent the evening with her, the aids came to put her to bed. She was just fine until I told her I was going to the hospital early in the morning to be with my brother for his surgery. Then.....she started crying! Then....I started crying. I just can't help it. I can't stand to see her cry and not be able to tell me why she is crying. She has never been one to cry. I cry watching TV!

Strange brain!

2011-01-23T11:05:00.000-06:00

This week while Mom was napping in the afternoon, the aides heard her yelling out, "Get her away from me" several times. They rushed in to see what was wrong and she was asleep. They woke her and told her she was dreaming, but they told me she said that very clearly as if nothing had ever happened to her brain! The brain is a strange organ!

Oops X 2!

2011-01-22T22:49:00.000-06:00

Ooops #1...I took a video with my iphone of Mom trying to talk today, but it is too big to upload to blogger and I don't know how to make it smaller.

Ooops #2...As I was leaving the rehab facility tonight down the same path I take several times a day and every night, I fell and busted my butt, but I didn't drop my iphone. I know what's important!! !Forget the busted knee and elbow....the phone is saved!

And....I missed my first parade today. Won't be participating in any of my krewe's activities this year and I am really sorry because I really like our captain this year. Don't really care about missing the ball as I am not much of a dress up kind of gal anymore, but I did enjoy riding the float in the parades.

Negative!

2011-01-19T20:00:00.000-06:00

I just got back from seeing Mom for the first time tonight. My brother was with her at noon and I stayed home and was lazy. He just called me and said she was not acting right. I told him that she was not acting right tonight either. Just doing some strange stuff....not normal...and not understanding much of anything. She was tired, so I got them in there to put her to bed and I was home by 7. Highly unusual! Don't know what is going on with her.

Every night I stay with Mom until the...

2011-01-17T22:15:00.001-06:00

Every night I stay with Mom until they put her to bed and I know she is comfortable. Last night, her gown was bunched up under her, so I got the aids back in the room that put her to bed to straighten it out. She still was not happy and none of us could figure out what was wrong. She ended up crying and I ended up crying because I couldn't understand her and didn't know what was wrong. I finally left, but didn't sleep well last night because I was worried that something was wrong with her. Today, she doesn't remember why she was unhappy and crying. I told her I didn't sleep because I was worried about her. She very clearly said to me, " I'm sorry"! She was happy tonight when I left her, so I think I will sleep tonight...Oh, wait, I slept this afternoon. My brother called and told me he was with Mom at 4 and there was no need for me to come then, so I waited an extra hour to go there. An extra hour at home is very helpful to me.

Sorry

2011-01-12T21:10:00.001-06:00

I just realized that I have been quite remiss in updating on Mom. It's just because there is nothing earth shaking to report. She continues to make tiny improvements, but continues to do some mentally really strange things...like blow her nose in her hand!!! WTH! We have tissues right in front of her, but she can't grasp the concept all the time. Her mind is just not quite right. That part is really hard for me because she has always been so smart!

My brother saw his neurosurgeon today and has surgery scheduled for the 24th for his spinal stenosis. Doc said maybe a couple of days in the hospital and light duty for a couple of weeks. This will be his second stenosis surgery and the last one, he stayed in the hospital less that 24 hours. He thinks he's indestructible! Superman!

Check it out!

2011-01-07T14:20:00.001-06:00

Mom is moving her right foot on her own now! WooHoo! The therapists wanted me to see her walk today, so they came back and got her after lunch and brought her back to therapy so I could see how well she is doing. I am thrilled! My brother had ultrasound on his kidney today and got the all clear! Nothing wrong there! Wednesday he sees the neurosurgeon about his back.

Well, duh!

2011-01-06T09:58:00.002-06:00

Family friends brought their 3 month old twins to see Mom today. What was I thinking when I didn't take a picture of Mom holding one of the babies! We had to keep a hand under the babies, but she was so cute talking to those babies and we knew what she was saying. The word spread quickly and all the rehab staff was in her room to see those babies.

My brother told me that she walked 70 feet yesterday with a therapist on both sides and someone following behind with a wheel chair. Woo Hoo! Of course, someone is still having to move that right leg at the right time trying to retrain the brain to make it work on its own.

Tomorrow my brother goes to see about the spot on his kidney and next Wednesday, he goes to see the neurosurgeon about his back. Surgery is probably in his immediate future. We need him well and feeling good.

Time to take care of me!

2011-01-01T22:17:00.001-06:00

I used my Map my Walk iphone app today determined to get more exercise in my life. Love that app so much. It has a GPS which pinpoints where I am when I start and traces my walk the whole way while telling me how far I have gone and how long it took. Today I chose to go away from my home to get started, so I parked at the hospital in downtown Minden, got the app going and the ipod feature cranked up and took off. As I was walking down Main Street, I passed Milly Rose's antique shop. Sitting out in front of her shop was an item that I believe to have been crafted by my father. He used to do a lot of wood working and these garbage cans were one of his items. I still use mine. I showed the picture to my mom and my brother and they both thought it was Dad's creation.

My brother called this morning to see if we could manage to get Mom to his house for cabbage and black eyed peas. WE DID! I went to get her and the staff helped get her in the car. My brother got her out at his house and he said it wasn't nearly as hard as it was just last Saturday when we brought her to my house.

Strike 4! I'm out!

2010-12-31T20:28:00.001-06:00

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!

Strike 3!

2010-12-30T21:01:00.002-06:00

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!

Christmas Day!

2010-12-28T14:25:00.001-06:00

We brought Mom to my house for Christmas dinner. She enjoyed it and so did we.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:03:00.001-06:00

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! :)

Rough day!

2010-12-21T22:05:00.001-06:00

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!