Saturday, September 30, 2006
I've been reporting...
...in the The Dailies over the last two days about Mom's right knee problems. Although there is the possibility that the vigorous movement Sunday and Wednesday were contributing factors, a severe pressure bruise on one side of her knee Thursday when she arose told me that quite a bit of it has to do with the position in which she's been sleeping, lately. Minor problems with her "iffy" right knee are not uncommon but these last two days have been more than that. A couple of times her knee has hurt so bad that she has been afraid to put any weight on it at all, including weight required to use the cane, so I've offered myself as her living mobility assistance device and she's accepted. As well, on both days I've administered minor doses of ibuprofen, which she's gladly accepted. This is unusual for her, so it's also an indication of how "iffy" her knee has been.
Thus, movement has been cut back. We haven't yet gotten to the yard work. I was planning on "just doing it", but she used to be a yard work junkie and still likes the idea of supervising, so she exacted a promise from me on Thursday that I would wait until she feels up to supervising. I have no problem with this, since Yard Trash Pick-up is scheduled to begin mid-October. Otherwise, although she's been particularly sedentary and I've granted her extra night sleep over the last few days (including today...I just went in and roused her and she asked, again, for another "few minutes", so I'll let her go until 1230 or 1300, depending on her further responses). She's taking this time off her daily naps of her own accord. Since, when sitting, she forgets about her knee until she tries to arise, we've had a few minor faulty moves, for the most part things are going well. Last night they seemed to go particularly well. We'll see how her knee is doing today once she awakens.
I've been experiencing some minor "I've gotta get out of this place" fits, but my usual Abandoning Fantasies have been helping and I'm not feeling nearly as overwrought today. In case any of my readers wonder why I always mention these episodes, even though what I have to say is pretty much the same from occurrence to occurrence, it is because one of the purposes of this journal is to keep tabs, in case I want to go back and check frequency and/or surrounding circumstances of occurrence of anything, including but not limited to episodes of feeling overwrought. This is why I freely indulge in much repetition in these journals. It's a part of my "Observe and Ye Shall Understand" attitude.
The weather has been warm, sunny and dry, although it appears that we're in for a ten degree temperature drop within the next 24 hours. One weather caster has, indeed, predicted a cool, wet El Niño, this year. I'm counting on his prediction. I've been kidding Mom about this over the last few days.
"Haven't we had enough weather [meaning precipitation] for you this year?" She asks.
Never enough for me. "I'm counting on a Day after Tomorrow scenario," I respond.
She has vague memories of this movie, mostly because, every time she happens to notice that it's playing on the cable movie channels, she indicates her interest, I click into the description, and she insists on watching whatever of the movie is left to see. Although it's one of the few disaster movies that holds her attention (I have to admit, it holds mine, as well, I love watching weather, even fictional weather), it's not one we'll be collecting because it's a cable movie staple; thus, it's rerun almost constantly.
Time to check, again, on The Mom.
Later.
Thus, movement has been cut back. We haven't yet gotten to the yard work. I was planning on "just doing it", but she used to be a yard work junkie and still likes the idea of supervising, so she exacted a promise from me on Thursday that I would wait until she feels up to supervising. I have no problem with this, since Yard Trash Pick-up is scheduled to begin mid-October. Otherwise, although she's been particularly sedentary and I've granted her extra night sleep over the last few days (including today...I just went in and roused her and she asked, again, for another "few minutes", so I'll let her go until 1230 or 1300, depending on her further responses). She's taking this time off her daily naps of her own accord. Since, when sitting, she forgets about her knee until she tries to arise, we've had a few minor faulty moves, for the most part things are going well. Last night they seemed to go particularly well. We'll see how her knee is doing today once she awakens.
I've been experiencing some minor "I've gotta get out of this place" fits, but my usual Abandoning Fantasies have been helping and I'm not feeling nearly as overwrought today. In case any of my readers wonder why I always mention these episodes, even though what I have to say is pretty much the same from occurrence to occurrence, it is because one of the purposes of this journal is to keep tabs, in case I want to go back and check frequency and/or surrounding circumstances of occurrence of anything, including but not limited to episodes of feeling overwrought. This is why I freely indulge in much repetition in these journals. It's a part of my "Observe and Ye Shall Understand" attitude.
The weather has been warm, sunny and dry, although it appears that we're in for a ten degree temperature drop within the next 24 hours. One weather caster has, indeed, predicted a cool, wet El Niño, this year. I'm counting on his prediction. I've been kidding Mom about this over the last few days.
"Haven't we had enough weather [meaning precipitation] for you this year?" She asks.
Never enough for me. "I'm counting on a Day after Tomorrow scenario," I respond.
She has vague memories of this movie, mostly because, every time she happens to notice that it's playing on the cable movie channels, she indicates her interest, I click into the description, and she insists on watching whatever of the movie is left to see. Although it's one of the few disaster movies that holds her attention (I have to admit, it holds mine, as well, I love watching weather, even fictional weather), it's not one we'll be collecting because it's a cable movie staple; thus, it's rerun almost constantly.
Time to check, again, on The Mom.
Later.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
How time flies.
We finally made it to Bashford Court today, specifically to the Christmas store, but to the other two gift shops as well. I'd forgotten that the back entrance isn't made for people using mobility assistance devices but there were no parking spaces in front and walking around from back to front would have been such a climb (Prescott is unusually hilly downtown) and effort for Mom that the actual visit wouldn't have been much fun. So, we braved a four step staircase and a small curb step and everything seemed to go fine. People coming in and out around us gave us plenty of leeway. One man even helped Mom in exactly the way I normally help her up steps.
Unfortunately, even the Christmas store wasn't displaying for Christmas, yet, except their usual frontage Christmas trees with odd ornaments. These are the ones I like best, but my mother prefers the really Christmassy things. She wasn't disappointed, though. All the stores were full of Halloween stuff and, having a daughter who was born on Halloween (me), she absolutely loves these displays, so we had a lot of fun, got some good exercise, and even picked up some special cards and some beautiful cloisonne bird ornaments for our small, fiber optic tree. Mom got a lot of exercise, too, without complaint and without needing a nap longer than usual. Although Sunday tired her out so much that she spent most of yesterday sleeping, it seems that her muscles used yesterday to incorporate all the work and today she was in tip-top form. Tomorrow we're going to mow the yard, trim back some of our wild brush and plant bulbs for spring. She'll supervise, although I'm going to encourage her to do some walkering in the yard by pointing out some of the surprises our yard has produced since the prodigious monsoon rain, once I get the grass cut to the place where she can see them.
I've spent the last few days' free time reading through Monday's with Mother: An Alzheimer's Story. I don't know if you noticed, but I added it to my outgoing links section over there to the right some days ago when I mentioned it as a part of talking about the Goldman Mature Market Report and the comment I left on the article about Anne's website. As you know, I don't add links unless I've read through the entire journal, so that I can write a credible blurb. It took me awhile to get through it, not because of it's length, but because of the busy days Mom and I have had and the call of other activities. I recommend this journal because it is written by a spiritual professional, which is different, and because it begins with, and is about, her mother moving to an assisted living facility. The facility itself sounds like an excellent one; not an Eden Alternative or Green House Project facility, but only a few minor steps below such facilities and well above the norm. It doesn't even sound like there is the typical "400% per year staff turnover rate". I can't remember where I read that, but I will never forget that statistic. Aside from being impressed by the author's honesty about her feelings and observations, one of the things I enjoy about this journal is its description of the residents of her mother's community, how they get along, the relationships among the community members and the doings at the facility. I can imagine that Anne's journal can go a long way toward familiarizing families who are considering facility placement for their loved ones with what really goes on and allaying some of the initial fright and grief over such a placement, especially if they are able to secure placement in a facility at least as well managed and planned as this one. It gives an interesting perspective on what people actually do in a facility (a really good one, anyway) once they are placed there, and how staff responds to community members. I know that quite a few of you who read me are probably already regular readers of Anne's journal. If you're not, though, and you are considering facility care for a loved one who has been diagnosed with progressive Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia that is rendering home care impossible for you, take a look at what Anne's journal describes. As seems to be usual in the caregiver journaling community, this journal is also highly literate and deeply thoughtful.
Yes, I still have a list of backed up posts and, no, I'm not going to do anything about that list tonight. Just wanted to report in and say that things are going well. I hope to be back sooner than...
...later.
Unfortunately, even the Christmas store wasn't displaying for Christmas, yet, except their usual frontage Christmas trees with odd ornaments. These are the ones I like best, but my mother prefers the really Christmassy things. She wasn't disappointed, though. All the stores were full of Halloween stuff and, having a daughter who was born on Halloween (me), she absolutely loves these displays, so we had a lot of fun, got some good exercise, and even picked up some special cards and some beautiful cloisonne bird ornaments for our small, fiber optic tree. Mom got a lot of exercise, too, without complaint and without needing a nap longer than usual. Although Sunday tired her out so much that she spent most of yesterday sleeping, it seems that her muscles used yesterday to incorporate all the work and today she was in tip-top form. Tomorrow we're going to mow the yard, trim back some of our wild brush and plant bulbs for spring. She'll supervise, although I'm going to encourage her to do some walkering in the yard by pointing out some of the surprises our yard has produced since the prodigious monsoon rain, once I get the grass cut to the place where she can see them.
I've spent the last few days' free time reading through Monday's with Mother: An Alzheimer's Story. I don't know if you noticed, but I added it to my outgoing links section over there to the right some days ago when I mentioned it as a part of talking about the Goldman Mature Market Report and the comment I left on the article about Anne's website. As you know, I don't add links unless I've read through the entire journal, so that I can write a credible blurb. It took me awhile to get through it, not because of it's length, but because of the busy days Mom and I have had and the call of other activities. I recommend this journal because it is written by a spiritual professional, which is different, and because it begins with, and is about, her mother moving to an assisted living facility. The facility itself sounds like an excellent one; not an Eden Alternative or Green House Project facility, but only a few minor steps below such facilities and well above the norm. It doesn't even sound like there is the typical "400% per year staff turnover rate". I can't remember where I read that, but I will never forget that statistic. Aside from being impressed by the author's honesty about her feelings and observations, one of the things I enjoy about this journal is its description of the residents of her mother's community, how they get along, the relationships among the community members and the doings at the facility. I can imagine that Anne's journal can go a long way toward familiarizing families who are considering facility placement for their loved ones with what really goes on and allaying some of the initial fright and grief over such a placement, especially if they are able to secure placement in a facility at least as well managed and planned as this one. It gives an interesting perspective on what people actually do in a facility (a really good one, anyway) once they are placed there, and how staff responds to community members. I know that quite a few of you who read me are probably already regular readers of Anne's journal. If you're not, though, and you are considering facility care for a loved one who has been diagnosed with progressive Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia that is rendering home care impossible for you, take a look at what Anne's journal describes. As seems to be usual in the caregiver journaling community, this journal is also highly literate and deeply thoughtful.
Yes, I still have a list of backed up posts and, no, I'm not going to do anything about that list tonight. Just wanted to report in and say that things are going well. I hope to be back sooner than...
...later.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
"Impossible is Nothing" [thank you addidas]
It took three hours, but Mom and I were both innoculated this year: Mom for flu and pneumonia, me for flu. Tetnus shots weren't being offered and the innoculators had no information as to when and where they'd be offered, although they had the forms with them. They just didn't have the shots.
Interesting day. Because of yesterday's amazing bowel movement (aided with a laxative), I was not worried about having yet another bowel incident like we had a couple of years ago when serum was short and lines were long, so, as we approached the innoculation "center" in a local grocery (our usual grocery, as it turned out) and noticed the unusual and obviously slow line set-up, I decided I wasn't going to try a different day when there may not be as many shot hopefuls and take the chance that serum would suddenly become short again, as it did last year. I came prepared with plenty of oxygen, our usual ER bag and Mom's walker doubles as a seat so we were set. I figured if the wait was a long one I could peruse the store for something for her to eat. There was also a coffee shop in the store, a bathroom and a water fountain. I figured, Mom could just as easily sit here as at home and, anyway, at least here she'd manage to pack some movement under her belt.
Mom and I are good at entertaining ourselves in lines and this talent proved very welcome today. We ended up making friends with our immediate line mates: Paul the Gallant, who showed me, by example, how easy it is to push a walker with breaks along on a tile floor when Mom was obviously getting tired of standing up and sitting down; Linda Gayle, a sparkling, sweet and sour woman with a wry sense of humor to whom Mom took because her first and middle names were the same as two of Mom's daughters; Always Up For A Laugh Sally who made me and everyone else feel incredibly funny, as she has the ability to appreciate and laugh about the off-track in everything. These were our main mates. A few others who were close joined in the fun, as well. Around 1400, realizing that Mom needed something to eat, especially something that would raise her BG but not by too much, I took off to produce and bought enough black plums to feed everyone in our vicinity; we even went home with three. This solicited stories from yet another couple down the line who raved about their back yard plum tree.
Conversation was varied and interesting:
Although quite a bit of the outing involved sitting for Mom, she peformed a bit more than a fair amount of walkering into and out of the store, to the bathroom (which, of course, was on the opposite side of the store), then, after her shots, the nurse cautioned that it might be a good idea to walker Mom around for about 15 minutes before having her sit down again, in order to get the serum pumping throughout her body. I spent the entire time on my feet with Paul the Gallant. Both of us were the youngest people in line; he six years older than me. Although chairs were provided, there were barely enough, so he and I stood by preference. I think I enjoyed the outing more standing up than sitting down, as it allowed me to schmooze and help people out.
Toward the end of our outing, as I was leading a very tired but determinedly spirited Mom out the door of the grocery toward our car, we passed a man coming the other way wearing an adidas "Impossible is Nothing" t-shirt. I had to smile. Over the last couple of years, since the disastrous BM flu shot shuffle, I've considered just this sort of flu shot scenario impossible and have gone out of my way to avoid it. Which is why, finally, today, even when we saw into what we were heading, I decided, what the hell. It's not going to get any better. Surely we can endure this in the name of protecting Mom. So, we surrendered, took advantage of the laid back atmosphere, partied down and did better than endurance, we had a great time. It was, literally, nothing. And everything. In case you don't want to perform two clicks into the full "Impossible is Nothing" advertising wordage, here it is:
Interesting day. Because of yesterday's amazing bowel movement (aided with a laxative), I was not worried about having yet another bowel incident like we had a couple of years ago when serum was short and lines were long, so, as we approached the innoculation "center" in a local grocery (our usual grocery, as it turned out) and noticed the unusual and obviously slow line set-up, I decided I wasn't going to try a different day when there may not be as many shot hopefuls and take the chance that serum would suddenly become short again, as it did last year. I came prepared with plenty of oxygen, our usual ER bag and Mom's walker doubles as a seat so we were set. I figured if the wait was a long one I could peruse the store for something for her to eat. There was also a coffee shop in the store, a bathroom and a water fountain. I figured, Mom could just as easily sit here as at home and, anyway, at least here she'd manage to pack some movement under her belt.
Mom and I are good at entertaining ourselves in lines and this talent proved very welcome today. We ended up making friends with our immediate line mates: Paul the Gallant, who showed me, by example, how easy it is to push a walker with breaks along on a tile floor when Mom was obviously getting tired of standing up and sitting down; Linda Gayle, a sparkling, sweet and sour woman with a wry sense of humor to whom Mom took because her first and middle names were the same as two of Mom's daughters; Always Up For A Laugh Sally who made me and everyone else feel incredibly funny, as she has the ability to appreciate and laugh about the off-track in everything. These were our main mates. A few others who were close joined in the fun, as well. Around 1400, realizing that Mom needed something to eat, especially something that would raise her BG but not by too much, I took off to produce and bought enough black plums to feed everyone in our vicinity; we even went home with three. This solicited stories from yet another couple down the line who raved about their back yard plum tree.
Conversation was varied and interesting:
- Unusual, anecdotal traveloques about Italy, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Argentina and Honolulu, HI (including the best online discount sources to use for international reservations);
- why import taxes are so incredibly high on U.S. cars in Italy (the streets are too narrow for most of our cars, so the government tries to discourage their import by taxing the shit out of them);
- how to find a cheap efficiency apartment in Prescott;
- the ins and outs of various virus and spyware programs for PCs and the relative merits of PCs vs. Macs;
- how to encourage sweet, succulent plums from a plum tree (compost, compost, compost and about half the fertilizer one is directed to use);
- whether or not to care for a mother who is insufferable (one of our line mates has such a mother and, as she took meticulous, vocal notice of my relationship with and caregiving for my mother, talked about how awful she imagined it would be to take care of her own mother, if the need arose);
- the last days of a woman who was taken care of in home by her daughter and son-in-law (both of whom were in their mid to late 70's during the caregiving) and died at the age of 99, deaf, blind, and mini-stroking on a daily basis;
- which triggered another conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of hospice care (which was approved so late for the 99 year old, who was obviously dying but for whom none of her doctors could offer an acceptable terminal diagnosis, that it provided less than a week of relief for the caregiving couple);
- how to buy titanium jewelry in Bermuda;
- how to determine if the jewelry is really titanium (which involves a simple chemical test that you have to be prepared to perform on the sly);
- What WWII military service was like for women (my mother was one of two women in our immediate area who had served in the military during WWII; the other woman was five years younger than Mom and served overseas as a nurse; she, by the way, also uses oxygen, which I found interesting; I figured she probably also picked up smoking in the military).
Although quite a bit of the outing involved sitting for Mom, she peformed a bit more than a fair amount of walkering into and out of the store, to the bathroom (which, of course, was on the opposite side of the store), then, after her shots, the nurse cautioned that it might be a good idea to walker Mom around for about 15 minutes before having her sit down again, in order to get the serum pumping throughout her body. I spent the entire time on my feet with Paul the Gallant. Both of us were the youngest people in line; he six years older than me. Although chairs were provided, there were barely enough, so he and I stood by preference. I think I enjoyed the outing more standing up than sitting down, as it allowed me to schmooze and help people out.
Toward the end of our outing, as I was leading a very tired but determinedly spirited Mom out the door of the grocery toward our car, we passed a man coming the other way wearing an adidas "Impossible is Nothing" t-shirt. I had to smile. Over the last couple of years, since the disastrous BM flu shot shuffle, I've considered just this sort of flu shot scenario impossible and have gone out of my way to avoid it. Which is why, finally, today, even when we saw into what we were heading, I decided, what the hell. It's not going to get any better. Surely we can endure this in the name of protecting Mom. So, we surrendered, took advantage of the laid back atmosphere, partied down and did better than endurance, we had a great time. It was, literally, nothing. And everything. In case you don't want to perform two clicks into the full "Impossible is Nothing" advertising wordage, here it is:
IMPOSSIBLE IS JUST A BIG WORD THROWN AROUND BY SMALL MEN WHO FIND IT EASIER TO LIVE IN THE WORLD THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN THAN TO EXPLORE THE POWER THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT.Later.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A FACT. IT'S AN OPINION.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A DECLARATION. IT'S A DARE.
IMPOSSIBLE IS POTENTIAL.
IMPOSSIBLE IS TEMPORARY.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING.
Today is flu/pnuemonia and/or tetnus shot day...
...flu only for me, the whole shebang for Mom. We'll probably have to take her back for one of the three shots as, generally, they only allow two at a time per customer; they've got some medical reason which I don't remember. I tried to get us shot up yesterday at her pharmacy. Luckily, I thought to call ahead. It seems they cancelled yesterday because "only one woman showed up", meaning only one innoculator; thus, they cancelled today, as well. Our usual grocery, though, is holding a flu etal shot clinic today. Since we need a few items, we'll go anyway; hoping that more than "one woman" shows.
Movement begets movement; thus, since we got some moving in yesterday, although not outside, and Mom is "excited" about getting out and getting her shots, as well as simply walkering around the grocery, she awoke just as I was preparing to shower. I performed some minimal maintenance so she could stay up and read her gossip tabloids or watch TV, but, when I told her I'd be in the shower for about 20 minutes, then we'd be sitting around waiting for the hot water heater to replenish itself for her bath, she decided to go back to bed. The hot water tank has settled down (I can hear that it's done with it's reheat cycle), my hair is dry and fixed, so, in a minute or so I'll be getting her up and we'll hit the shot trail.
I'm feeling much, much better, thank you. Yesterday was a bit of a trial but I decided I didn't need to laze around anymore, since Mom was showing signs of needing to move (the chief sign being that she wasn't interested in any kind of movement), so I upped the ante, for both herself and me. It seems to have worked. I'm still showing minor symptoms but I don't feel below minimum, anymore, and, anyway, it was energizing to get Mom moving, again.
I've got a short list of posts to do. Depending on how today goes, I'll probably be attempting to get those out of the way today during Mom's nap time and after she retires. As well, we did a survey of movies up this weekend on TCM and my mother expressed interest in a couple which are of minimal interest to me, so I imagine I'll have some writing time then, as well.
Time to rearouse the Mom. Oh, just so I don't forget, I need to look for another melon at the grocery for breakfast when we return home. She so enjoyed the last, doesn't seem to mind melon subsituting for O.J. and melon seems to settle well with her blood glucose.
Later.
Movement begets movement; thus, since we got some moving in yesterday, although not outside, and Mom is "excited" about getting out and getting her shots, as well as simply walkering around the grocery, she awoke just as I was preparing to shower. I performed some minimal maintenance so she could stay up and read her gossip tabloids or watch TV, but, when I told her I'd be in the shower for about 20 minutes, then we'd be sitting around waiting for the hot water heater to replenish itself for her bath, she decided to go back to bed. The hot water tank has settled down (I can hear that it's done with it's reheat cycle), my hair is dry and fixed, so, in a minute or so I'll be getting her up and we'll hit the shot trail.
I'm feeling much, much better, thank you. Yesterday was a bit of a trial but I decided I didn't need to laze around anymore, since Mom was showing signs of needing to move (the chief sign being that she wasn't interested in any kind of movement), so I upped the ante, for both herself and me. It seems to have worked. I'm still showing minor symptoms but I don't feel below minimum, anymore, and, anyway, it was energizing to get Mom moving, again.
I've got a short list of posts to do. Depending on how today goes, I'll probably be attempting to get those out of the way today during Mom's nap time and after she retires. As well, we did a survey of movies up this weekend on TCM and my mother expressed interest in a couple which are of minimal interest to me, so I imagine I'll have some writing time then, as well.
Time to rearouse the Mom. Oh, just so I don't forget, I need to look for another melon at the grocery for breakfast when we return home. She so enjoyed the last, doesn't seem to mind melon subsituting for O.J. and melon seems to settle well with her blood glucose.
Later.
