Lenny started the day with mom early this morning but she had already eaten breakfast and was just getting out of the shower. As he did her physical therapy/range of motion, she was counting with him. It was inconsistent on some of the rounds and other times, she counted 1-10 and other times, she counted alone from 1-10. They talked and hung out and then Lenny left to go study for a Psychology test he had to take later in the day.
Anthony said that mom was wide awake and alert and looked like "mom" when he arrived today. He was really glad about this. He stood in the doorway of mom's room and called, "Hi mom" from the door and mom turned all the way to her left to look at him (this is big stuff, she usually appears not to hear you) and then mom said "Hi" to Anthony. Then lunch came and the CNA cut mom's food and handed mom her fork and mom ate like a typical, healthy person and ate the whole, entire lunch. She scooped a lot and then tried to pierce—she had brussel sprouts and pierced them at times and sometimes pierced the pork she had too. They talked and laughed. She ate cake for dessert---answered when Anthony asked if she was done. Anthony asked if they could work on her legs and mom said ok. He likes to check on how she feels when he does this and mom mouthed, "This feels fine." While Anthony worked on her legs, she tapped him on the shoulder and then pointed to the closet----he didn’t know what she wanted. She pushed with her left leg definitely and on command. And the right leg she pushed really hard. When he asked her to lift her legs she began to tap him on the shoulder and he thought maybe it was avoidance. When dad came Ant said "Hey, look who’s here" and she turned again and looked at dad. On Monday, Ant talked to mom and she seemed like she wouldn’t respond to him---then, she reached up and grabbed her hearing aid and took it out of her ear and gave it to him and sure enough it wasn’t working. She also made sense with the answers or responses she gave him today too. The Occupational Therapist said she is dropping mom's therapy because she is eating so well. The therapist asked what our goals are for mom and Ant said they were to rehabilitate her and bring her home. The OT said to "keep on" respiratory because that's all that is holding her back.
Dad came and mom started to fade then. They held hands and watched TV together. I think mom does this with dad because she knows she can just "be" with him. No demands. Dad said mom was awake and alert mostly and that he had a great afternoon with her.
I came late in the afternoon between work. Mom had just fallen asleep. Shortly after I arrived, her dinner came. She was already in bed. Mom had some sort of orzo-type pasta and chunks of chicken breast and peaches and vanilla milk. She ate the entire meal alone!!! She needed verbal coaxing and sometimes I gave her a spoonful of food (maybe 4 total) but she scooped with the spoon and ate it all alone. She sometimes misses her mouth on the first try...she hits her chin but she adjusts. Mom also knows how to push her food to the center of the plate in a pile for easy scooping and tonight, she even stood her bowl of peaches on its side practically when the bowl was almost empty so that she could scoop easier!! She also held the plate and bowl with her left hand in order to anchor them so she could scoop with her right hand.
Claudia came to be with mom and dad tonight. Mom was asleep when she got there but woke up quickly. She said that she did all kinds of mazes with mom (coloring book mazes, books of mazes...) using hand over hand assistance and the colored pencils, markers, crayons....and mom also drew a bit as well. She seemed to be trying to make certain shapes but couldn't make anything recognizable or legible. She was very intent and concentrated as she used the writing tools. It was obvious that she was trying to make something; it wasn't just scribbling. Claudia tried to do the puzzles but mom didn't want to so Claudia tried to get her to put the pieces away back into the plastic bag. Claudia made her drink too. Claudia read to mom and looked through some of the books too.
"This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24
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