Another rather uneventful week for Mom. However, she did have longer visits than usual.
Connie & Jean came to pay their respects on Wednesday. They had a wonderful chat, and Mother read a letter to them she had received (although they weren't quite sure how long ago - Mom keeps many at hand from last year, and places the newest ones in a stack that she goes through from time to time). There was no Scrabble just the RLC chit chat. After a little more than 3 hours, they parted and Mom made no move to leave with them.
This evening Mom was driven through Canby, Newberg, Sherwood, and then to my brother's for Easter dinner. She seemed mellow, but much of her old feistiness was also quite present.
She continues to begin making statements that segue into other remarks, such as:
"Those roses are quite beautiful but you know that some people get into terrible money trouble if they don't watch out!" Where the latter part of the statement came into being is beyond me.
She was quite confused in her speech but was able to take part in conversations - not anything lengthy but still she kept up for a few minutes.
She wondered if my brother and his wife (now married for nearly 40 years) had ever married. We assured her they had, but she had her doubts. I finally stated she could ask them tomorrow, as they will be taking her to lunch.
She was also confused about my brother's house - at first stating it was hers, then asking how long they planned on staying this evening - if they would leave with us or stay a while longer. Nothing truly penetrated her confusion on this.
I asked her if this were her home and she told me it wasn't. She said they lived in another for so long, but they moved into it quite slowly - in fact, I may not have been born yet, and Lawrence (the eldest) was still quite young when they first proceeded to move things in.
It was obvious she had gained a little more weight, but she was wearing cleaner clothes and different pants from before. I'm not sure about her bathing, yet. That's something that needs addressing this week.
She spoke on the way back to St. A's about how lovely the dinner was and how good Kathleen and Lawrence were. She truly enjoyed Megan and Anthony (Kathleen's daughter and son-in-law) who joined us for the repast.
When we made it to the first cottage (after hours we need to walk the length of the facility, then enter the first cottage and head down the hallway to the second where she lives) she must have been quite tired, as she told me she was going to her room - but then promptly did a turnabout as she didn't see it.
We went to her cottage and her room, she began slinging the pillows off her bed in preparation for sleep. She was done in. It was quite an adventure for her tonight, and she was out for over 5 hours! And she didn't argue about her pills, either.
I'm not sure about what this week will bring, but as her speech and her cognition decline it's good that everyone is quite understanding and willing to play along with her in a good-natured manner. It makes all the difference!
Connie & Jean came to pay their respects on Wednesday. They had a wonderful chat, and Mother read a letter to them she had received (although they weren't quite sure how long ago - Mom keeps many at hand from last year, and places the newest ones in a stack that she goes through from time to time). There was no Scrabble just the RLC chit chat. After a little more than 3 hours, they parted and Mom made no move to leave with them.
This evening Mom was driven through Canby, Newberg, Sherwood, and then to my brother's for Easter dinner. She seemed mellow, but much of her old feistiness was also quite present.
She continues to begin making statements that segue into other remarks, such as:
"Those roses are quite beautiful but you know that some people get into terrible money trouble if they don't watch out!" Where the latter part of the statement came into being is beyond me.
She was quite confused in her speech but was able to take part in conversations - not anything lengthy but still she kept up for a few minutes.
She wondered if my brother and his wife (now married for nearly 40 years) had ever married. We assured her they had, but she had her doubts. I finally stated she could ask them tomorrow, as they will be taking her to lunch.
She was also confused about my brother's house - at first stating it was hers, then asking how long they planned on staying this evening - if they would leave with us or stay a while longer. Nothing truly penetrated her confusion on this.
I asked her if this were her home and she told me it wasn't. She said they lived in another for so long, but they moved into it quite slowly - in fact, I may not have been born yet, and Lawrence (the eldest) was still quite young when they first proceeded to move things in.
It was obvious she had gained a little more weight, but she was wearing cleaner clothes and different pants from before. I'm not sure about her bathing, yet. That's something that needs addressing this week.
She spoke on the way back to St. A's about how lovely the dinner was and how good Kathleen and Lawrence were. She truly enjoyed Megan and Anthony (Kathleen's daughter and son-in-law) who joined us for the repast.
When we made it to the first cottage (after hours we need to walk the length of the facility, then enter the first cottage and head down the hallway to the second where she lives) she must have been quite tired, as she told me she was going to her room - but then promptly did a turnabout as she didn't see it.
We went to her cottage and her room, she began slinging the pillows off her bed in preparation for sleep. She was done in. It was quite an adventure for her tonight, and she was out for over 5 hours! And she didn't argue about her pills, either.
I'm not sure about what this week will bring, but as her speech and her cognition decline it's good that everyone is quite understanding and willing to play along with her in a good-natured manner. It makes all the difference!
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