Oh ....Sigh....The Week Ending 11/16/2014

This week was a bit of a mixed bag.

But then, Mom and her cognition are pretty mixed.

A relatively quiet week, despite the storms, windy and icy.

Nothing much to report before Wednesday.

Wednesday, the RLC came to visit.  Mom instructed them to a concert in the main building where Ron Ruiz sang and played guitar.  Jean was "itching to play Scrabble" and so it happened once the concert was over.

There were hopes that Mom was participating in more than what was provided only in her cottage.  This was good news!

The ladies played their games, and Mom did pretty well with her words - but scoring seemed to escape her.  Odd.  I've noticed, too, that her math skills have been a little shakier than normal.

The ladies left a bit after 4 pm, which means they had a very good, enjoyable, afternoon.

Thursday, Alli, Mom's massage therapist came on the off-chance that Mom had changed her mind about massage.  She hadn't.  She told Alli she wouldn't be requiring her services any longer.  Alli said Mom was polite in firing her, and she'd love to work with her again, if the occasion arose.  I did tell her that Mom was showing more signs of skin sensitivity, which seemed to go along with the disease, and this might be one reason.

Later, Mom would tell me that she saw no need for a massage.  "It's just pointless," she stated flatly.

Sunday, Mom was chauffeured by my brother, Lawrence, to his abode, and they had a cheery conversation.  Later, Mom was reminiscing about her grandparents, which was interesting, but quite confusing as we were never sure which relative we were referring in the midst of it all.

There was a cute moment where we were speaking of a celebrity and her plastic surgery.  Mom thought it was awful and gossipy.  She became a little indignant, even though she'd made a few comments which I thought were very off - "Well, you would think there wouldn't be any wrinkles with the fat."  This was about a celeb that is practically a stick - not much fat.  Well, Mom was under the impression we were speaking of someone else, and it wasn't until later when she blurted out the name.  We laughed a bit, but had to explain the differences in the names (Mom still didn't quite get it).

She recited her poetry (the same one as usual), and did keep asking questions repeatedly, but mostly there was a change in delivery.

On the way home she kept telling me how exhausted she was and how good it would be to get home (St. A's) and get into bed - but a nice cup of coffee would be very nice, first.

I delivered her all happy and hale, and also brought her a 12-pack of Diet Pepsi.  She was very happy.  I left via the Med-Aid, and let her know that Mom hadn't had her dinner medications, as they weren't given my brother when he picked her up - ooops!  communication break down.  I suppose I should have called earlier Friday.  But, no harm.  Mom would be given her pills at 8, and all would be well.

As I hope it is with all of you.

Thank you for reading. 

9 oz, Unbury the Baby!, and The Week Ending 11/2/2014

Not exactly a fun-packed week for Mum, but it was somewhat fulfilling....

 Mom is tired already, and it's not even lunch time! 

Aside from the typical week at St. Anthony's, Mom has found a new nemesis - the new resident!  According to Mom (and some staff), this lady has quite a salty mouth on her!  Yes!  As I entered this morning, Mom was telling her, "You need your mouth washed out with soap!"  Later she told me some of the things the newbie said, which I won't repeat.  You can ask Mom, yourself!

So, the RLC wasn't able to make it this week, due to scheduling and family difficulties (<sigh>)...

However, my brother and his wife, freshly invigorated from some jaunty travels, hied themselves down from Seattle way for a visit.

They took Mumsy to the Broadway Cafe near Lloyd Center, which they enjoy - but the music this time, was different, and it made the environment a little too much for Mom...but she was able to settle in.

At lunch, she ordered wine - the 9 oz size.  Apparently, even at St. Anthony's, this has been the call - 9 oz of wine, and she will eyeball the glass to ensure she gets it.  Somehow, though,  she demanded this at lunch which confused the waiter.  My brother tried to explain it to Mom, and somehow the problem was resolved...but at St. Anthony's she demands a large glass (one that will hold 9 oz) and will refuse anything smaller.  Where she installed this idea is beyond me!

At St. A's, they told me she demanded the 9 oz glass, as well, and if they tried to substitute a smaller glass she would pelt them with verbage they would rather not hear; so, they give her the large glass to ensure she has her 9 oz.

At dinner, which was really a great time out for me, Tom & Peg told me her demeanor was blank (tick off the box for the symptoms), and that she just sat in her room gazing out the window with all the lights off.  Mom does enjoy talking about books and going about reading them, but when the book is in her hands it closes (if it even opens) and is shifted to her dresser or a countertop pile, where it remains until a weekly archeologist brings it out.  <sigh>

They did report she was sparky and rather lucid-seeming, though.  She had energy!  This was good news.

Friday she had her massage, perhaps her last, in the afternoon.

Today, I went to pick her up for Mass.  I was a bit early, wondering if she'd even be up.  With the time change, though, she was up and had already eaten when I arrived.  We determined we were going to Mass, and then she went in her room to talk, first.

She explained she wanted to move back to her house in Portland where her family was, and that I was the only one who could make that happen.  I stated we were already in Portland, but she nixed that by telling me we were in something that was Portland-y, but it wasn't really Portland.  Okay.

She wanted to be near family and to take care of her mother.  Then she demanded to know where her mother was; knowing that the truth was simple, but not the right venue, I told her she was galavanting around the country visiting people and relatives.  She thought this rather odd, and that she couldn't be visiting my Aunt Keiko in Boulder as Mom believed she had moved to Hokkaido, Japan, after my uncle's death.  <sigh>

Well, finally we saw the clock, and it was not in our favor.  So, she shoo'ed me out so she could put on some different clothes.

At long last, she allowed me back in the room and she had on her Mexican dress top and white pants.  We needed, still, to put on her stockings, which we did.  However, as I was finishing one of the stockings, she called out, "Unbury the Baby!  Unbury the Baby!"  I looked up in bewilderment.  She said it again, "Unbury the Baby!  Unbury the Baby!"
      "What on God's Green Earth are you talking about?"  thinking she'd gone off her rocker in a split second and there may be no returning to any normalcy.
      "You have my baby toe covered by the sock! (they're open toed) Uncover it!  It needs to breathe!"
      "Whew!  You had me there for a second, Woman!"
So, I pulled the stocking back a little and uncovered the little toe.
   I thought about keeping her other little toe covered as I put on the other sock, but realized it wouldn't be as much fun.
    Mom really hates having her feet tickled.....but she squirms really well.
We went to Mass and afterward she was relieved to go home, as she wasn't feeling too well.
This was good, because she was going to have dinner with the other brother this evening, and this gave her time to eat lunch and take a nap (even though she dozed quite a bit at Mass!).

Well, she was still a bit tired at dinner.  She allowed wine in regular wine glasses and there was no sniping about stinginess of the pour.

She went from topic to topic, sometimes we were the fill to continue the discussion and other times - well, she does have continuity and reality issues to put it mildly.

It was a wonderful evening and aside from her telling both my brother, Larry, and myself, that we were ABC's (Arguments for Birth Control), it was quite peaceful and genteel.  Wonderful food, which she relished, as did I.  She remarked, as we were driving back to St. A's, that they were such a good match, and Kathleen was really a marvel (this is quite the turnaround from just two years ago!).  She was quite content, but very tired.

 We left shortly after the meal, as she was quite weary after having such a good day.  I'm also sure she's not sleeping that well at night, as the disease causes RBD (REM Sleep Behavior Disorder) which causes her to waken frequently at night, although she's completely unaware.

I bid her a goodly night and she to me and then I left.  But, before doing so, she requested I open the windows to her room as she felt the room to be too stuffy.  After I did, I turned to leave and she walked to the windows and said, "Who opened the windows?  Someone's been in here!"

I reminded her of her request not 3 minutes prior.  She denied the event.  I took a good healthy breath, told her I loved her, and left.  A very good day.

Another Doctor's Visit - the Week Ending 10/12/2014

This appeared to be a pretty good week for Mom.  She seemed very upbeat, and she even laughed a bit when I saw her on Tuesday.

We hopped in the car, after her lunch, and drove to see her doctor at Providence Family Medical Clinic.  We were actually right on time!  Hallelujah!

We were taken through the halls, and Mom was weighed in (don't ask - I've no idea, and that is how she wants it!) and then we went to our "room".

Mom is quite sensitive to the blood pressure sleeve, and Victor, the nurse, was unable to procure the numbers as Mom cried out from the tightness.  So, through the technological advances of texting, I was able to obtain the information from the morning and gave it to them.  It looked pretty swell!  Even her heart rate.

One the purposes of the meeting was a check-up, but also to evaluate the medications, and to finish the POLST (End-of-Life plan determinations).    I had Mom's orders from before she was admitted, originally, and the doctor and I were able to get those, as well, from St. A's, where I had them put in place soon after Mom's admittance.   So, now, there's more co-ordination.

Dr. S. engaged Mom in conversation, and it was delightful, as she put it.  Mom spoke of moving back to Port Angeles, getting a new home, and making sure her mother had a place, there, as well, for when she drove up to visit.  I questioned the idea of her (now dead, but we don't say that) 109 year old mother having to go so far.

     "Well, she's sturdy.  She has strong legs," replied Mom.
     "So you expect her to walk those 250 miles to visit you?  Don't you think she's a bit too old?"
     "You're full of prunes! She'll drive.  She's a very good driver," she responded.
     Doctor S sat there marvelling.  Then she and Mom spoke on other topics normal for polite conversation.
     After all was said and done, the doc stated that Mom get a flu shot at a pharmacy (older folks need a stronger dose than we mere mortals, and they don't have that there), and put her vicodin on an "as needed".  The rest was all well.

So, Mom and I left, talking about going to a pharmacy, when we passed one not a block away.  So, we stopped and went in.  Shot done!  No charge with her insurance!  Whoo Hoo!

When we returned to St. A's Mom requested I return for dinner and then to spend the evening with her, but that wasn't going to be.   I reminded her she had Bingo that afternoon, and that seemed to keep the spark in her eyes.

The next day, the RLC (Connie and Jean) came to play Scrabble.  They engaged in wonderful conversation and had a delightful time, as is typical of that little group.

This morning I came in to take Mom to Mass a little later than I'd have liked - around 940.  She was moving about in the kitchen, but pleased I had brought oranges and some candy bars for her.  I unloaded those in her room fridge, then joined her.  She had just arisen, I discovered, but showered.  WE got some coffee, and then the aides brought her breakfast.  We had a nice chat as we did the crossword - you know, she's really not half bad at it, and I corrected only 3 of her clues that were wrong!

Getting up late and grabbing a cup o' joe in the kitchen  before being served breakfast!

By the time she'd finished, it was well after 1030 (Mass began at 10), and she went in to have her stockings put on by the med-aide.  Next, she wanted to chat some more.  Her friend Sharon had written her about the book group, and Mom wanted to call her to see if she could drop by (now, Sharon lives in Sequim or Port Angeles, so this was not going to work!).  She also wanted to discuss the book list.

Then, she explained how the Pope had her great grandfather migrate from Italy to France, then to the US, where he travelled to the West Coast (Washington) to find his wife and children to import them back to Canada.  I questioned this, but Mom stated it was quite natural for people to do this at the wish of the Pope (NB:  Never happened this way!).

Mom is quite comfortable chatting away rather than readying herself for an actual outing!

I tried to get her to brush her teeth, but she stated that her teeth were just fine and didn't need brushing (she brushed them later, though).  Finally, around 11:10 she decided she needed to change for us to leave and have lunch at Jean's house.  WE were able to leave around 11:30.  Whew! 

ON the way there, though, Mom stated that she smelled smoke.  This was a first.  She'd never commented on a smell in months!  The air was thick, though, from the old Toyota Tercel in front of us with bad exhaust.

We had a very pleasant lunch and then Mom needed a nap.  So, Jean took her out and gave her a nice spot to catch a few.  After her nap, though, Mom decided to be a little snippy.  Jean's son, Terry, and her granddaughter, Jada, came by for a visit, as well.  This was very nice.  Jada, a freshman in high school, loves her iPhone!  She couldn't put it down.

Generations certainly view humor differently - and no, I only took the pic - I had nothing to do with their expressions!

When the time came to leave, Mom wasn't at all ready to go.  Trying to motivate her was like removing a tooth attached to a bungee cord with no slack!  Finally, I threatened to throw her over my shoulders (we'd been there 3 hours or more, so it was polite for us to leave).  Her Royal Highness, with the attitude of Dame Wendy Hiller was quite indignant, indeed.

Mom shares her opinion

So, after a very long day I dropped her back off to her room where she could arrange the beautiful dahlias Jean had picked for her....

She was in a great space today...full of spit and vinegar, but some sweetness in there, as well...so all is normal.