What an odd week! We began with concerns of Mom spending too much time asleep in her bed - refusing to arise and join the rest of the world. The weekend nurse contacted her providers stating that empathic treatment would be best - that is in looking at a UTI. I had already made a doctor’s appointment, but then canceled it; I wasn’t aware of the situation. But then, I remade the appointment as this seemed to be a bridge that needed to be crossed immediately.
Mom was refusing to provide the staff with a urine sample - this is mostly because she believes it’s just gross and she sees no real rhyme or reason to do so; in other words, she has no comprehension and there’s nothing they can do that will make her comply (she’s a bit of a rebel, you know).
I warned the RLC that she may be still abed when they arrived and braced them for a non-visit. However, Mom was up and about.
Hi, Tony,
Connie and I checked in at St. Anthony's at 1:20 today. We knocked on Norma's door, then opened it; it was not locked. Norma was standing there, and I asked if we had awakened her.
She said graciously, "No, it was a pleasant jolt." What a nice way to express, "Yes, you did wake me."
She was wearing beige long shorts, a beige shirt with a few food stains (we do not mention those anymore) and a jacket. Her legs were quite swollen, including her feet. She was wearing her compression stockings and good-looking brown sandals.
I showed her the three oranges I had brought for us; none was in her frig, either. Only four Diet Pepsis were there. The rest, she said, were "on the shelf in my closet." Nope, nor atop her little frig; forgot to look under her sink. Someone must have taken them, of course.
As stealing her things seems to be real to Norma, I told her that a criminal check is done before anyone is hired there, as well as calling personal references to learn if each person is honest, with no suspicions of thievery, and if the applicant enjoys working with older people.
Norma read to us the first paragraph of today's Oregonian story about the Spruce Goose. Strong, clear reading; then we discussed that huge plane for a short time.
Seems there was some kind of a meeting in a very large room this morning.She did not go; the purpose for the meeting was vague. As Connie put it,"Sometimes Norma cannot connect the subject with the predicate." As you know, her sentences have promising phrases at the start, then the rest does not make sense, even though several phrases have meaning.
Lucile was busy today, working with a volunteer group, we think. She keeps busy, sometimes with Ruth.
Larry is alive, but nothing we could decipher about him. So we asked what kind of book he wrote about Japan. She looked surprised at that. I mentioned that Larry went to Japan to study, met Keiko, etc. Asked which order of priests he was in Norma didn’t know.
When Connie said that Christopher had been in the seminary at the old Holy Child place, Norma did not remember that; but she did not argue. Connie said it was a short time; do you know?
A picture on a note card from Nadya came today; was posted July 20. Norma read it to us--twice. Again, the strong reading voice.
Again we suggested a short walk in the garden. Norma said, "Okay," and took off her jacket, as we told her it was balmy outside. She handed me another note, printed in my handwriting. She asked me to read it, so I did. It was Sept 8, 2014. She said that was ten months ago. Something I said brought a hearty laugh; now I can't remember. I called Connie to ask her; maybe one of us will remember.
Josepha offered us powdered sugar donuts. The three women urged me to take one, but I was firm. Norma saved the little cardboard dishes. They may come in handy another time.
We took one turn around the North end of the garden, noting flowers, especially the various kinds of hostas. We were outside half an hour, then went inside to get ready to leave. There were none of the usual protestings, nor wanting to go with us. She might have been sleepy; I don't know.
A big change was noted when I stopped to say Hello to the McEntees. (Norma and Connie went outside ahead of me.) Josepha was with them.They were sitting close together, and I said Hello--loudly, so he could hear.
He leaned forward, "Who are you?"
"Jean Alice, I said loudly." Big smile, then said,"Of course! We went to St. Rose together, and you went to Marylhurst with Lucille (his wife)." He's not forgotten that.
But when I told Norma and Connie about it, Mom had no memory of who he is. "You know, the man who talks about himself all the time, drinks a lot of coffee, and is married to Little Lucille." Wow! That was a big sign of something.
On the way out, we chatted with Mike Manning. We said Norma seemed more agreeable in general. (Connie later wondered about the anti-anxiety med, if it caused more calm.) We always debrief on the ride home; it is helpful.
On Thursday, I picked Mother up and we scooted out the door to make our appointment. Traffic had been bad on my way over so we were running a tad under the wire. We arrived at the doctor’s office on the dot (thanks to the free valet parking service at the clinic!).
I had asked Mom about Connie and Jean’s visit earlier in the week, but she stated that they were going to be coming after we returned. She stated she really enjoys their visits.
They took her weight and blood pressure - all good. Then I brought up the sleepiness and the doctor stated that we may be seeing a great deal more of this, as it could be the progression of the disease. However, she was eager to treat for a UTI empathically (meaning giving her antibiotics for a few days to determine if this was causing the excessive drowsiness).
She also called for a blood test to determine renal function in Mom as well.
Mom’s veins aren’t really great. The poor nurse kept trying to get the needle into a vein, but Mom kept screaming about the pain. Her skin appeared rather translucent. He did make it into the vein, once, but no blood came. I told Mom she was bloodless and, therefore, unappealing to vampires.
“Don’t say that! You’re going to give me nightmares!” she exclaimed.
“You shouldn’t be frightened, though, they won’t want you!”
“You know how easily frightened I am!”
We all laughed.
An expert blood tech was called in and she rubbed Mom’s arms with a warm water-filled glove. This did the trick. Mom was soon pumping blood out into the vial.
The doctor did mention that the Quetiapine (Seroquel) may be also to blame for the excessive sleepiness, so she was going to have a conference with Mom’s neurologist, who she stated was one of the best (this truly encouraged me that I had put together a great team!).
We left the clinic, and on the way Mom demanded lunch. “Where are you going to take me?”
“I’m going to take you where they have lunch all ready for you, as they’re expecting you,” I remarked.
We arrived back at St. Anthony’s and Mom asked, “What type of place is this?”
I was startled, to say the least. She didn’t recognize the buildings or the parking lot.
“I’m not doing any stairs or going up in another elevator!”
We walked in and Mike Manning was there to open the doors for us. I gave him the doctor’s orders for medications and live-culture yogurt.
Mom walked down the hallway and was surprised at discovering her room. She walked in to see what was there. She was pleasantly surprised!
I left and shopped for her biotene, her eye drops, and the yogurt. When I returned she was happily eating at the table with some of the other residents.
Sunday -
Mom was up and at ‘em at a regular hour. When I went to see her she was finishing the paper and drinking her coffee. Her speech was a bit confused, but she understood what she was saying - even if I didn’t. It didn’t take much to get her up and out to the car.
On our way to Jean’s house she kept chatting away about this, that and everything else, but none of it made sense. She was lucid then delusional then more delusions, then focused on trees, then discussing something about someone then a tree came in sight. Seriously, it was interesting to listen to, but exhausting to attempt to track.
We arrived at Jean’s house in good time and sat with our coffees. Jean is such a gracious hostess. She and Mom discussed a few things and Mom was able to carry on the conversation - although not everything she said tracked. I began making our lunch of lasagne and salad with asparagus.
After a good meal and the ladies having had a long and wonderful chat, it was time for us to go. We had been there over 2 hours, but for once Mom seemed in no rush.
She didn’t take dessert today, but she did have some fresh cherries before lunch.
Finally, I was able to get her out the door and into the car. She always marvels at Jean’s garden whether coming or going, and Jean loves to discuss the plants with her.
When we finally arrived back at St. A’s, Mom sighed heavily and asked what we were doing there. I told her we were there to get her purse. This made her move a little faster. She still seemed a little clueless as to where we were, though, as we entered and went down the hallway.
I left her in her room ready to take a nap in her recliner.
So, all told, a very good and busy week. She’ll have forgotten it all by the time you read this, but I like to think there’s a little park in her brain, with a basket full of the things that happen each week. It’s no bother that all those who have left this life come along to share them with her - in fact, the more the merrier.
She’s slowing down, and her movements are stiffer and more tenuous (balance-wise) than before, but she’s in awfully good spirits. And it is the spirit that overcomes obstacles that may be put in the way.
