Mom Update, September 4, 2011, Sunday

Mom’s update Sunday, September 4, 2011

I started the day with mom and I brought her breakfast. We sat together and had our breakfasts together. I wrote mom a social story about using the Sarita lift and how it may be uncomfortable but it uses muscles in her arms and legs and this will help her walk. I also made a sign for her room that has the phrase “I can’t” with a universal NO symbol over it and the phrase, “It is hard but I am trying.” I had them laminated and showed them to mom. We read the social story together. I had work to do on my computer so I set mom up with the Ipad. She was able to do a program where there are scrambled letters and she needs to unscramble them and create words. She was able to play the game by herself resetting the game for a new word. I notice that if she is doing something for too long she starts to get confused. She is able to understand what is being asked but the longer she does something she get befuddled. I made her do one more (with help) and then transitioned to a new game. I had her play the memory game (matching animals). She was able to do this game independently for the first time. I just had to prompt her now and then. Anthony, Con, Sam and Anthony Michael came and we all tried to get mom to stand. Mom said, “I don’t think I am ever going home.” Anthony told her she is and mom started to cry. Anthony hugged her and then she thought of something funny and the next thing you know we were all laughing. She wasn’t able to today. Anthony had her fix herself in the wheel chair by herself using her hands to pull herself up and lift her bottom off the wheel chair. Anthony does a lot of the physical work with mom. They took mom outside and dad came. Dad stayed outside with mom for awhile. We all decided to go to mom this evening and bring snacks and play games. This is something we usually do in my backyard but I packed up my back yard for the hurricane so we went to mom.

John, Ava, Jean, and I came and set up the lounge with Con, Anthony, Anthony Michael, Sam, Rie, Phil, Gina and Michael. Terry was there and Kathy as well. We all sat around a table with mom and laughed and had fun. We weren’t thinking when we chose snacks to bring, popcorn and chocolate, neither of which she could have. She kept trying to get the food. We went down to the snack bar and got her something she could have. At one point mom said she was leaving if we didn’t give her a snack! Phil played the guitar and we all sat around having a great evening.

Everyone went home and dad and Kathy and I brought mom back to her room. Kathy put her to bed. She shut the lights, put the TV on and said their prayers.

Peace and be well,

~Claud