Mom’s update Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I started the day with mom I brought her egg whites and turkey, which was a good thing because the dietician came in today. Mom has been there for 15 months and today was the first time I saw a dietician. Anyway, she asked mom if there were any foods she didn’t like and mom said lima beans. I don’t blame her. I also hate lime beans. She left and mom ate all of her breakfast. She gets plain oatmeal or farina every morning. I bought unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon and I put it in the oatmeal. She likes it that way and will eat at least half of it if it is doctored with the applesauce.
After breakfast I gave mom the paperclips with the corresponding colored cards. Mom was able to sort the paperclips and place them on the correct card. Before we started the activity I asked mom what each color was. She was able to label all the colors. Mom said, “I would be pretty stupid if I couldn’t tell the colors.” I then explain to her that she couldn’t SEE colors at one point. She couldn’t believe it. She was able to do the activity with 100% accuracy.
Next I gave her pegs to do. She filled the entire pegboard with pegs. I scattered the pegs on all sides of the board so she had to reach for them. We then put buttons in the container. I put the container in her right hand (unaffected hand) and had her pick up the buttons with her left (affected hand). She also had to reach up high since the container is very tall. We are working on fluency of motion (how quick she performs the tasks) and refining the motions (how well – accurate).
The CNA’s came in and washed and dressed her. I then took her downstairs to the snack bar so I could get a cup of coffee. She was very observant today and commented on how nice the building was. She liked the snack bar and wanted me to buy her chips I told her she would be eating lunch soon and she was OK with that. She has lost so much weight I don’t want to start any bad habits. We went outside to sit in the sun. My mom always loved to sit outside in the sun. We only stayed outside for a few minutes and it was getting too hot.
I took mom inside to the computer room and we looked at the videos of the upstate towns that were effected by the hurricane. The towns in the Catskills that were hit the worse are all by mom and dad’s property (Margaretville, Prattsville and Windham). Mom was shocked at the floods. She commented that she couldn’t remember what it looked like before the destruction. Every once in awhile I saw a landmark that I thought mom would recognize, so I stopped the video and then she remembered. I also went on www.starfall.com and went over the calendar with her. She liked the calendar program. I then went to a clock and telling time game. Mom was getting frustrated so I found a different website. This had words and sentences that explained how to tell time and mom read the information over and over. It gave me an idea of how to make a “social story” about telling time. (In my spare time! Haha). I then switched to a money game. Mom did pretty well with the game telling me which coins to use to make a specific amount.
I took mom upstairs and dad came. I put the wooden puzzle with three rods and various pieces that fit on specific rods. I put a tissue between her right lens and her eye so she could only see out of her left eye. It was difficult, but she was able to do the puzzle. It took much longer, but she did it. I also kept her right eye blocked while she did pegs. Again the task took longer but she did it. I put three activities on mom’s bed and explained to dad how to do them. I told him he had homework! I said no hugging and kissing and watching TV all day! Mom laughed! Lunch came and dad helped her eat. I left and dad stayed with her.
After lunch mom went to therapy and dad stepped out to get a few things at Target. I forgot to mention that I spoke with the supervisor for therapies and he explained that although mom is “walking” and talking steps, it is taking three therapists to assist her. It still is a great improvement, although she is still not standing straight up.
Dad came back and the Doctor came in to talk to him. The doctor called Kathy first to see where dad was because he wasn't answering his cell phone, but wouldn’t tell her what he was talking to dad about. Kathy asked if she could get the feeding tube out and he said that she is still getting Speech for feeding. Kathy said no she reached and mastered all of her feeding goals. He said no. They went back and forth a few times and then he said he would talk to dad and if Kathy wanted to know anything she should ask dad. (UGH!) He basically told dad that he has to talk to the therapists regarding her progress (no really?). He also said that she needed the feeding tube because what if… and then gave crazy scenarios! (my cousin Jo said we should tell him – what if my aunt had male parts? She’d be my uncle!!! – I cleaned it up!) We have a team meeting tomorrow and we will get a better idea of what they are all thinking.
Con, Anthony Michael and Sammy came in the evening. Mom was watching TV and reading the newspaper. Dinner came and she had chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and peaches. She ate everything but the peaches. After dinner they took her outside. They went back upstairs and she went into bed. Sam noticed that they didn’t put one of the bumpers on!!! Go SAMMY!!! Con got the nurse and they put it on the bed. Mom was very quiet this evening; Sam said she wasn’t sad but just quiet. They put her mitts on and said prayers and left. Mom has been telling me that she is sleeping well at night. (She also has had no roommate for about a week now)
Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Peace and be well,
~Claud
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