Mom & Me Four Archive

...I took Modified Over The Counter (which means you have to ask for it and they check your id) cold medicine as speed-lite, yesterday. It helped. I was surprised. It also kept my mood up and since it was a "lite", though steady dose I had no hang-over. It also had ibuprofen in it which nipped any possible aches and pains in the bud. All day long. Very nice. I see why people become addicted to OTC cold medicine.
    So, let's see. Let me check my ticks to myself.

• Appointment happening quickly:
      I think we were at the office for about a half hour. We arrived about 15 minutes early and were called in seemingly seconds later. Her PCP and I were both well organized and in sync. Mom commented later that we both talked at the same time. We did, in a way. We modified and finished each other's sentences in an orderly but probably eclectic way. We both discussed everything and expressed our "feelings" adequately. We prepare well and work together well; we run at each other's speed. This was my response to Mom. I referenced her PCP on this as we left. He laughed and agreed.
      Yeah, we've both come a long way.
• An Insurance Glitch:
      I know I've mentioned this before: Her PCP just happens to have another Ancient One who shares my mother's name, down to the middle initial, approximate birth year and lived in Mesa when we did, just down the street and over. At his previous office they were all aware of this and asked a series of questions to make sure things were filed correctly.
      That woman transferred to her PCP's new practice, too. When the lab tech settled down to take Mom's blood he cited her insurance as "HealthNet", of which I'd never heard. I corrected him. He turned medically snotty. I looked over his shoulder at the documentation in her file. Sure enough, copies of her Medicare and TriCare IDs had been crossed out and a "HealthNet" blurb was attached, although the only identifying marker it held was the name with middle initial.
      I pertly informed the lab tech that I did my mother's business, had been doing this for some years and I would have known, I, in fact, would have been the authorization if such a change had occurred.
      The tech coolly informed me, several times that, "if there is a mistake it will be straightened out."
      I was not satified. At the front desk I questioned the administrative assistant (who is very competent, by the way). She remembered "the second My Mother" dilemma, did some advance research before calling the company accountant up, discovered that both "My Mothers" had migrated and straightened out the problem forthwith.
      The moral is, follow up, follow up, follow up if something seems fishy. Anything. Trust your instincts. What's the worst that can happen? You'll find out too much? I don't think so. And if the people with whom you are dealing are new at dealing with you and put off, push on, push on, push on.
      The Admin Asst made the necessary changes to Mom's file in front of me and confirmed that her computerized billing profile had not been changed. Yet. And, now, won't be.
• Substantial Motel Discount:
      La Quinta Inn, linked in the previous post, was super vigilant and knew a good thing when they saw one in Mom and me. When I was checking out the night clerk noticed that we'd been there for only 8 hours. "It's not even midnight," she said.
      "Yeah, I know," I said, "but this is so much quieter and more convenient than [name of competing but somewhat cheaper motel in a much more harried part of town]. I don't care how much it costs, we'll be doing this, right here, from now on when she has doctor's appointments."
      "Well," said the night clerk, "I'm only going to charge you half."
      It took about 10 minutes for her to "fix it" in the computer and tag my name for future reference. As it turned out, a much more pleasant stay was had at somewhat less than at [cheaper but much noiser and less convenient motel]. And, they gained customer loyalty. Very nice.
• No More Moving:
      That's right, folks. No more moving, unless we're evicted or our house is destroyed.
      Mom had a hard time with this last night. Traveling, even vacationing, stirs her blood, most of the time, anyway. It did this time. But, it is obvious The Phoenix Metro-plex is not healthy for her anymore. Period. I'm satisfied with our arrangements, I'm the one who does the business...
      "True," Mom conceded, which surprised me...
      ...so we're going to do what I find smartest financially and easiest business-wise.
      She used to be a smart business woman on her own behalf. She still carries the manners. She agreed.
      We did have an extended "Who's Dead" session. She and I again mentioned the practicality of designing a brochure that she can keep at her bed with all the information, including short, historic anecdotes and cause-of-death stories. I have been working on this in my mind. When I mentioned it offhand to one of the CSRs at the rental company this morning he, knowing Mom fairly well, congratulated her in absentia on being aware enough to come up with the idea.
      Thus, this reminded me that I still need to honor that one.
• Yep, buffalo meat...:
  Is even higher than beef in the most easily digested form of iron. MCF's brother-in-law has bagged one every year for the last couple of years. The meat is cured in a delicious mixture of spices and thoroughly tenderized, in the case of the steaks. It's great. Mom relishes it. We'll be getting some soon.
      MCF also gave me some gladiola bulbs, "miniatures, they only grow about a foot high but the blossoms unfold to about three inches". That'll be interesting.
      I think tomorrow is going to be Prepare the Ground for Wildflower Mix and Informal Walk-ways; and maybe get some of that done so that the next day sees the end of the beginning of Project Front and Back Domesticated Areas.
      It seems our one rose, the "Monet", a lavendar/violet rose, was not discouraged from being mowed to the ground in the fall. It's reestablishing itself. I'm pleased. No more roses for awhile, though.
      I might be able to get Mom out but it might still be too cold. We might aim for Friday.
      She has already announced that we're having pizza tomorrow night.

    She finally awoke for awhile at 1400. I did take stats. Somewhat surprising. I'll report on those later. She was back down for a nap at about 1600. She looked tired but satisfied. She mentioned several times how "enjoyable" yesterday was. Especially "the family get-together". I've been agreeing with her. Heartily.
    I'm letting her sleep as much as she wants today. I'm sure she'll sleep tonight. I'll probably give her another dose of Benefiber tonight, just to move things along.
    Oh. And I need to amend her medication chart. I'll do that now.
    There may be a few more mentions about Our Trip Day...
    ...later.