Lenny began the day with mom this morning. He said she ate French Toast for breakfast and predominantly fed herself. When Lenny and the CNA asked mom how the French Toast tasted, she mouthed, “DELICIOUS!!!” Mom also kept telling Lenny she needed to “go to the bathroom” and when he told her it’s ok to go, she mouthed, “I can’t.” He thought, after a while, that perhaps she was constipated so he asked the nurse to check mom out. The nurse said she seemed to be fine but that they’d keep an eye on her. Lenny said that mom was talking a lot today but he couldn’t make everything out that she was mouthing because she was speaking too quickly and so much. Mom also tried to tell Lenny that her hearing aids were not working and even said something about the battery. He said that, at one point, she put her hand on his mouth and then on her ear and shook her head, ‘no.’ Lenny checked them out and they were fine.
I forgot to mention that, yesterday, dad brought mom some kielbasa from the Ukrainian Market and some peorogies too (4). Mom ate all the food eagerly!!! She loved it!
Terry saw mom next and spent the day with her (she has the week off from work). Terry said mom ate lunch in bed today so they must have been short staffed again. Mom had a turkey sandwich, peaches, and beets salad for lunch. She kept trying to feed herself but the CNA was in a hurry so the CNA mostly fed mom. After lunch, mom was moved to the wheelchair. Terry massaged her hands and opened her fingers and stretched them a few times. Mom and Terry did the MEGA BLOCKS and mom tried to connect them alone but couldn’t. Terry modeled the activity for her. They watched TV and then Terry had mom do the large, plastic buttons and the container. Donna and Aunt Peggy came next and Donna worked with the buttons and the container with mom. Mom put one or 2 buttons into the container but Donna had to move the slot to the container close to mom in order for mom to complete the task. Mom was able to pick up the buttons by sliding them off the table and then sort of catching them. Donna said that mom talked ALOT but she couldn’t make out much of what mom mouthed to her. Donna also did the wooden vegetable pieces and the skewers with mom. Donna moved the skewer close to mom’s hand holding the wooden vegetable piece and then mom placed the veggie piece onto the skewer. Donna and Aunt Peggy talked to mom a lot and she to them. They looked at the visual dictionary with mom and she read the words and looked at the pictures. Mom fiddled with the pages using both hands and she also turned the pages as well. Terry did the table squeeze manipulatives on the table with mom too. Terry also showed mom some books and an animal information book on her NOOK. Mom watched and looked intently. Claudia stretched mom’s arms. As Claudia stretched mom’s arms, mom mouthed, “Owwww” because it hurt so much but then on the second round, mom lifted her own arm herself. Mom also gave her arm to Claudia and mouthed, “PULL” because she wanted Claudia to work on her and do more therapy. Claudia did something silly or fresh and Donna told mom to stick her tongue out at her and mom did it!! Donna said mom was very alert and present and appropriate. Mom fell asleep just shortly after I arrived. She did smile at me when I said hello.
Dad had to bring MORE paperwork to the Medicaid person. The Medicaid people want STILL MORE paperwork!! Heaven help us! Mom woke up just as dad arrived around 4 p.m. We did some crossword clues next, mom and I:
“Richard Nixon’s Vice President. Spiro….” Mom mouthed, “Agnew”
“Little children. Starts with a T…” Mom mouthed, “Tot”
“Where do you put a bouquet of flowers? In a V…. Starts with a V….” Mom: “Vase”
I asked mom how to spell suede and she mouthed, “S-W-A….”
She didn’t seem much like she wanted to do any more so we stopped. It was late in the day any way. Dinner came and mom had chicken ceasar salad with dressing and mashed potatoes and broccoli. Though I had my trepidations, she did really well with the salad. The evening CNA knows the Jackson family really well; they are our dear friends for years and years. This CNA takes such great care of mom. This CNA is so tender and caring---mom could be this person’s mother. I left to have dinner with Lenny and dad stayed with mom.
Claudia said that mom was amazing tonight. She said to mom, “Hey Mom, you look great!! Are you OK?” and mom said, “No” and took Claudia’s hand and touched her ear so Claudia investigated and saw that mom’s hearing aid came out of her ear. Claudia fixed the hearing aid and asked if mom was OK now and mom mouthed, “Yes.” Claudia came after class tonight to be with mom. Claudia said that mom was exploring one of her long, tubular stuffed dogs and mom took the dog out of her left hand with her right and fixed the ear of the dog with her left hand. A lot of switching back and forth between hands. She said that mom mouthed the entire Our Father with Claudia as they prayed together tonight. Claudia asked mom, “Do you know how much I love you?” and mom mouthed, “How much?” At one point, mom was feeling Claudia’s face so Claudia tried to make it a teaching moment by telling mom, “Touch my mouth” but mom wouldn’t do it and ignored her. So Claudia said, “Touch my nose” and mom ignored her again. Claudia said, “What’s the matter? Am I insulting you? Is that too easy?” and mom mouthed, “YES!” in a disgusted manner so Claudia, being Claudia (we love her!!) said to mom, “OK then, touch my clavicle” and mom burst out laughing!!They watched the movie, “Once on This Island” which is a play that Jean and Ava acted in. They watched the kids sing and Claudia asked mom, “Who is that?” and mom mouthed, “Jean and Ava.” They watched Dancing with the Stars and Claudia alternated between watching the show at points where Claudia wanted to watch it and singing to songs on the IPOD with mom.
Ava found a new issue of US News and World Report that is all about the brain and strokes…. She bought it for Claudia and Claudia began to read it and found that much of what we are doing with mom is correct and important and making a difference in her recovery. This is comforting to know.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4:8
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