I started the day with mom. Yesterday I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween and she said a witch. She said, “I have a witches hat at home can you bring it in?” So I brought her hat! She was sleeping when I arrived. I woke her up and fixed the room (raised the blinds, etc.) I had a CNA help me fix her in the bed. I gave her breakfast and made her oatmeal (fiber one and applesauce). I placed the hat on her head and she got a kick out of everyone’s face when they saw her. I put Regis on and she watched the Halloween show. I told her that Jo Ann was coming later. I set up her tray with her phone, remote, magazines and her notebook and pencil.
Jo Ann came and soon after they made her leave so they could get mom out of bed, cleaned and dressed. Shortly after she came back in the room OT took her for therapy. She came back from OT and lunch was there. She had a hot dog on a bun, (yes Debbie, she had hot dogs!) sauerkraut and beans. My friend Debbie and my mom have a long standing joke that every time Debbie was over for dinner as a kid we had hot dogs! (Angelo has the same joke with mom – must be some truth!) After lunch mom was taken to PT. Jo Ann did get a chance to call Madeline (Jo Ann’s mom) and Anthony. Dad came when lunch was being served. Jo Ann said mom was in good spirits and alert and funny as ever.
Dad stayed with mom until John came. John came before dinner was served. He loved her witch’s hat! John brought her healthy fruit snack for trick or treat. He had mom say trick or treat and he gave them to her. She got a kick out of it. They read the paper together. Dinner came and John cut up her food and gave her a hand. She had pizza, salad and peaches. After dinner he had mom write down,
Monday, October 31, 2011 Today is Halloween. I ate pizza, garden salad, and peaches for dinner. My handsome son-in-law brought me candy for trick or treat!
John took out the dominos and played dominos with mom. He said she almost expects it now. He said he wants to think of something else to do because it is becoming too predictable. Mom was put in bed and John came back in the room and sat with her. Mom kept telling him to go home, that it was late. John said a prayer with her and left.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Mom Update, October 30, 2011, Sunday
Mom’s update I started the day with mom and she said, “Oh, I am so happy
to see you!” and started to cry. Mom was already up and dressed but
breakfast wasn’t in her room yet. I set her up with her hearing aid and
then her breakfast came. I fixed up her oatmeal and got her ice water in
her pitcher. After breakfast we did some worksheets. We did calendar
sheets and mom did very well. She really worked hard. It’s weird, but
she can do the work yet doesn’t know where to put the answers. She
really has a difficult time with “executive functions” which are the
skills of organization and the HOW to plan to learn. Next we did a math
worksheet where she has to order the numbers form smallest to greatest.
She also did two worksheets that worked on negative phrases “Is a square
round?” She had to write a phrase related to that statement – “No, a
square is not round.” She caught on quick and was able to do it. Her
processing was a little slow and she needed some prompting, but did
better than I expected. The next worksheet had pictures of objects and
animals and had negative questions, “Which one doesn’t have ears?” She
did pretty well with it. She did process very slowly but was able to get
the answers. Anthony, Con, Anthony Michael and Sam came next. Anthony
was able to get her to stand three times. Two times were great, she
stood up straight and for a while. They brought her downstairs and took
her for a walk around the facility. They went down the therapy hallway.
Dad brought her soup that he made and he heated it up for her to eat.
~Claud
When I arrived to see mom today, she and dad were sitting side by side with the TV on sound asleep!! She had the local Sunday newspaper on the table in front of her; she had been reading it. When she woke, mom smiled and continued to read the paper. Dad woke shortly thereafter. When mom finished reading the paper, she read the Bulletin from mom and dad’s church. She enjoys keeping up on things there. She reads the whole thing cover to cover.
Mom and I wrote in her journal next. She couldn’t remember the date. She knew it was October but thought the day was the 29th (she had to look at the calendar to come up with the 29th). She remembered it was 2011 but she didn’t remember at all what day it was. When I gave her the hint that yesterday was Saturday, mom thought today was Friday. Mom wrote:
“Sinday Oct 30 2011
Claudia wokte me up (Mom thought Jean woke her today)
Jean brought me soup that he made egg drop soup dlitlcous (She didn’t remember this and dad reminded her)
Con Anthony Michael Samantha and all heir family came.
Ant stayed until I went to the (mom couldn’t remember where) downstairs. For lunch (Mom couldn’t remember what she had so dad told her to “just stop and calm down and think a little and it will come back to you”). We had lunch and Kathy and dad came back and we hab lunch. Kathy came back.
We did a page of math next. Addition and subtraction sentences that included pictures. Mom breezed through the computation in her head, but had difficulty with placing the numbers on the correct spot on the lines to make the number sentences. Her spatial awareness was off when it came to writing. For example, in the number sentence: 3 + 3 = ___? Mom would count the 3 objects above the line but then would write the first number 3 above the plus sign and the second number 3 above the equals sign and then put the number 6 on the answer line. She completed 8 number sentences all in the same manner.
I tried to have her complete a simple page of writing numbers next. All the math activities were done with a dry erase marker on the wipe off board. Mom could only make the numbers 1, 7, 9, and 10. It was strange because she has written all the numbers from 0-9 in other various activities but, for some reason, she couldn’t copy the numbers in isolation just for the sake of copying them without context. Mom tried to write all the numbers from 1-15 but she had a really hard time. She began to cry in frustration. I stopped the activity but mom wanted to continue. She kept saying, “I can’t do anything!!” over and over. I reassured her and switched activities. She was sleepy a bit too.
We tried a blank, large dry erase board next and tried to write the number 5. I gave her a direction to say, “Across, Down, Around.” She repeated the directions over and over but she couldn’t write the number 5. She would start out by drawing the first line in the wrong direction and that threw her off for the rest of the execution. I tried to have her make a 5 by starting at the upper right of the number and then draw a line across (to the left) then down then around to the right of the number. She was totally confused and her “wires crossed” and she thought she was writing words and not numbers anymore. Perhaps my shift from writing words to numbers confused her. That, coupled with her being tired. She persisted then on wanting to know how to write the word ‘across.’ Even when I changed activities, she got angry and said she wanted to finish learning how to copy the word ‘across.’ I finally wrote the word, ‘across’ and mom copied it successfully and pleasantly 4 times and then she let me change activities. I gave her a Fiber One bar and the church bulletin again and she was fine.
Dad stayed for the evening with mom and put her to bed.
“…yet I will rejoice in the LORD
to see you!” and started to cry. Mom was already up and dressed but
breakfast wasn’t in her room yet. I set her up with her hearing aid and
then her breakfast came. I fixed up her oatmeal and got her ice water in
her pitcher. After breakfast we did some worksheets. We did calendar
sheets and mom did very well. She really worked hard. It’s weird, but
she can do the work yet doesn’t know where to put the answers. She
really has a difficult time with “executive functions” which are the
skills of organization and the HOW to plan to learn. Next we did a math
worksheet where she has to order the numbers form smallest to greatest.
She also did two worksheets that worked on negative phrases “Is a square
round?” She had to write a phrase related to that statement – “No, a
square is not round.” She caught on quick and was able to do it. Her
processing was a little slow and she needed some prompting, but did
better than I expected. The next worksheet had pictures of objects and
animals and had negative questions, “Which one doesn’t have ears?” She
did pretty well with it. She did process very slowly but was able to get
the answers. Anthony, Con, Anthony Michael and Sam came next. Anthony
was able to get her to stand three times. Two times were great, she
stood up straight and for a while. They brought her downstairs and took
her for a walk around the facility. They went down the therapy hallway.
Dad brought her soup that he made and he heated it up for her to eat.
~Claud
When I arrived to see mom today, she and dad were sitting side by side with the TV on sound asleep!! She had the local Sunday newspaper on the table in front of her; she had been reading it. When she woke, mom smiled and continued to read the paper. Dad woke shortly thereafter. When mom finished reading the paper, she read the Bulletin from mom and dad’s church. She enjoys keeping up on things there. She reads the whole thing cover to cover.
Mom and I wrote in her journal next. She couldn’t remember the date. She knew it was October but thought the day was the 29th (she had to look at the calendar to come up with the 29th). She remembered it was 2011 but she didn’t remember at all what day it was. When I gave her the hint that yesterday was Saturday, mom thought today was Friday. Mom wrote:
“Sinday Oct 30 2011
Claudia wokte me up (Mom thought Jean woke her today)
Jean brought me soup that he made egg drop soup dlitlcous (She didn’t remember this and dad reminded her)
Con Anthony Michael Samantha and all heir family came.
Ant stayed until I went to the (mom couldn’t remember where) downstairs. For lunch (Mom couldn’t remember what she had so dad told her to “just stop and calm down and think a little and it will come back to you”). We had lunch and Kathy and dad came back and we hab lunch. Kathy came back.
We did a page of math next. Addition and subtraction sentences that included pictures. Mom breezed through the computation in her head, but had difficulty with placing the numbers on the correct spot on the lines to make the number sentences. Her spatial awareness was off when it came to writing. For example, in the number sentence: 3 + 3 = ___? Mom would count the 3 objects above the line but then would write the first number 3 above the plus sign and the second number 3 above the equals sign and then put the number 6 on the answer line. She completed 8 number sentences all in the same manner.
I tried to have her complete a simple page of writing numbers next. All the math activities were done with a dry erase marker on the wipe off board. Mom could only make the numbers 1, 7, 9, and 10. It was strange because she has written all the numbers from 0-9 in other various activities but, for some reason, she couldn’t copy the numbers in isolation just for the sake of copying them without context. Mom tried to write all the numbers from 1-15 but she had a really hard time. She began to cry in frustration. I stopped the activity but mom wanted to continue. She kept saying, “I can’t do anything!!” over and over. I reassured her and switched activities. She was sleepy a bit too.
We tried a blank, large dry erase board next and tried to write the number 5. I gave her a direction to say, “Across, Down, Around.” She repeated the directions over and over but she couldn’t write the number 5. She would start out by drawing the first line in the wrong direction and that threw her off for the rest of the execution. I tried to have her make a 5 by starting at the upper right of the number and then draw a line across (to the left) then down then around to the right of the number. She was totally confused and her “wires crossed” and she thought she was writing words and not numbers anymore. Perhaps my shift from writing words to numbers confused her. That, coupled with her being tired. She persisted then on wanting to know how to write the word ‘across.’ Even when I changed activities, she got angry and said she wanted to finish learning how to copy the word ‘across.’ I finally wrote the word, ‘across’ and mom copied it successfully and pleasantly 4 times and then she let me change activities. I gave her a Fiber One bar and the church bulletin again and she was fine.
Dad stayed for the evening with mom and put her to bed.
“…yet I will rejoice in the LORD
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Mom Update, October 29, 2011, Saturday
Mom’s update Saturday, October 29, 2011
Anthony and Con started the day with mom. She was surprised to see them. They fixed her up for the day. They put her hearing aids in and sat her up. She had scrambled eggs with oatmeal. They watched TV together.
I came next to see mom. Mom was watching the food network. We watched the recipes and commented on how much butter Paula Dean was using! Aunt Lucy called and told mom that it was snowing in New Jersey! Dad came with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and mom lit up! He put them in a vase by her window. Dad and I took mom downstairs to the computer room. We went on Facebook and looked at pictures. We looked at her niece, Maureen, and left her a message. We went back to the room just in time for lunch. Mom had a strange lunch! She had spinach with garlic and yellow rice, sounds good so far, right? WAIT! It came with cottage cheese and peaches! I took the cottage cheese off the plate and had her eat the spinach and rice first. I gave the cottage cheese and peaches after and she ended up liking her lunch. I cleaned up lunch and we played “Headbands.” We had fun! I wrote her clues on the wipe off board because she has a difficult time remembering what she asked and what the answers were.
Jo Ann, Terry and I (Kathy) came next to join Dad and Claudia. We all sat and laughed and talked all afternoon!!! We told silly, funny stories and jokes! I cut mom’s hair and then I cut her nails and polished them too. At one point, Mom said, “I spend all night going over the pictures and the names. I look at all of them and say, ‘Hmmm… how many men? How many women are there? How many children? How many names start with A…”
Mom called Angelo and Madeline and they talked and laughed. We talked a lot and joked with mom’s roommate; she is a cutie at times. Mom’s roommate told us the story of her life---how she met her husband in WWII. The roommate told us about what people did for Halloween in the 1930s! She said they dressed up and went to a party in someone’s house and dunked for apples. She and mom both lived in Brooklyn too! She joked a lot with us after a while too! Mom’s roommate said that she, too, (the roommate) gets fidgety like mom does. The roommate noticed mom is fidgety and asked about it. Dad said that Carmine thinks, as we do, that the fidgetiness could be due to mom’s wanting to get up and do things…more like restlessness. Mom was sitting up and back, rocking forward and back, and also fidgeting her head and shoulder too on the right side. She frequently moves her hands and arms at the elbows too—up and down.
We tried to get mom to stand today. Dad stood in the front of mom and I stood in the back. We counted to 3 and told mom to stand. She wouldn’t hold herself up at all. She leaned back on me the whole time. She kept trying to reach dad so she could give him a kiss! She reached him with a little assistance from all of us.
Mom showed us a letter and card that her cousin, Joan, sent to her. Mom was so excited! Mom wrote in her journal next. She wrote:
“Today Con and Anthony woke me up. Then Claudia came next. Dad, Claudia, Terry, Kathy and JoAnne came in the afternoon. We tried to get me to stand and it was hard.”
It was hard for mom to write well today. The letters were not formed as well as usual and she couldn’t stay on the lines…but she does not have her usual eyeglasses because the lens that got lost has never been found. She is wearing an old pair of glasses that I brought from her house yesterday. Though she said she can see OK, she doesn’t see as well with them.
Mom called Lenny and then Jo Ann and I left for dinner. Dad and Terry stayed with mom and put her to bed.
“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this
will laugh with me…” Genesis 21:6
Anthony and Con started the day with mom. She was surprised to see them. They fixed her up for the day. They put her hearing aids in and sat her up. She had scrambled eggs with oatmeal. They watched TV together.
I came next to see mom. Mom was watching the food network. We watched the recipes and commented on how much butter Paula Dean was using! Aunt Lucy called and told mom that it was snowing in New Jersey! Dad came with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and mom lit up! He put them in a vase by her window. Dad and I took mom downstairs to the computer room. We went on Facebook and looked at pictures. We looked at her niece, Maureen, and left her a message. We went back to the room just in time for lunch. Mom had a strange lunch! She had spinach with garlic and yellow rice, sounds good so far, right? WAIT! It came with cottage cheese and peaches! I took the cottage cheese off the plate and had her eat the spinach and rice first. I gave the cottage cheese and peaches after and she ended up liking her lunch. I cleaned up lunch and we played “Headbands.” We had fun! I wrote her clues on the wipe off board because she has a difficult time remembering what she asked and what the answers were.
Jo Ann, Terry and I (Kathy) came next to join Dad and Claudia. We all sat and laughed and talked all afternoon!!! We told silly, funny stories and jokes! I cut mom’s hair and then I cut her nails and polished them too. At one point, Mom said, “I spend all night going over the pictures and the names. I look at all of them and say, ‘Hmmm… how many men? How many women are there? How many children? How many names start with A…”
Mom called Angelo and Madeline and they talked and laughed. We talked a lot and joked with mom’s roommate; she is a cutie at times. Mom’s roommate told us the story of her life---how she met her husband in WWII. The roommate told us about what people did for Halloween in the 1930s! She said they dressed up and went to a party in someone’s house and dunked for apples. She and mom both lived in Brooklyn too! She joked a lot with us after a while too! Mom’s roommate said that she, too, (the roommate) gets fidgety like mom does. The roommate noticed mom is fidgety and asked about it. Dad said that Carmine thinks, as we do, that the fidgetiness could be due to mom’s wanting to get up and do things…more like restlessness. Mom was sitting up and back, rocking forward and back, and also fidgeting her head and shoulder too on the right side. She frequently moves her hands and arms at the elbows too—up and down.
We tried to get mom to stand today. Dad stood in the front of mom and I stood in the back. We counted to 3 and told mom to stand. She wouldn’t hold herself up at all. She leaned back on me the whole time. She kept trying to reach dad so she could give him a kiss! She reached him with a little assistance from all of us.
Mom showed us a letter and card that her cousin, Joan, sent to her. Mom was so excited! Mom wrote in her journal next. She wrote:
“Today Con and Anthony woke me up. Then Claudia came next. Dad, Claudia, Terry, Kathy and JoAnne came in the afternoon. We tried to get me to stand and it was hard.”
It was hard for mom to write well today. The letters were not formed as well as usual and she couldn’t stay on the lines…but she does not have her usual eyeglasses because the lens that got lost has never been found. She is wearing an old pair of glasses that I brought from her house yesterday. Though she said she can see OK, she doesn’t see as well with them.
Mom called Lenny and then Jo Ann and I left for dinner. Dad and Terry stayed with mom and put her to bed.
“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this
will laugh with me…” Genesis 21:6
Friday, October 28, 2011
Mom Update, October 27, 2011, Thursday
I started the day with mom. She was in a good mood this morning, no crying! I set her up for her breakfast and put her hearing aid in her ear. We are still waiting for her other hearing aid to be fixed. Of course she gave me a hard time drinking her prune juice! I got her fresh ice water in her pitcher and in her insulated cup and she drank it and always says the same thing, "this is the best water!" It has become part of our routine. I set her up for the day with a crossword puzzle, magazines, and a pumpkin craft. I always leave our numbers and the phone.
Dad and Anthony and Kathy came to see mom at different times, but they overlapped at some point. Dad and Anthony had mom stand up. It took longer for her to stand today than yesterday. KAthy thought that mom wasn't in a good mood. The past few days she has greeted her with a big smile and a phrase about being so happy to see her, but today she barely looked up from her newspaper. Dad thought she might be mad at him for coming late (I doubt it - dad is too hard on himself).
I got to mom late this evening and she didn't even have dinner yet. Dinner came very late. She had a turkey sandwich, cauliflower soup (she picked out the veggies) and salad. She ate well. We barely cleaned up from dinner and the CNA came in to put her to bed. I stayed in the room and noticed that they weren't putting the "bed pad" on the bed that they usually put. They folded a sheet and put it over the bolster staps. It was too short and the straps were exposed. I didn't want the straps to rub on mom's legs all night. When I asked about the pad I was told that they only had 11 pads and 20 beds (not MY problem!) so I said I would go downstairs to the nursing supervisor to see if she had any more. With that one of the CNA's said she might be able to find one and left the room and returned with a pad. I didn't want her to take it from someone else, but she said she didn't. She said she went to another unit to get one. Either way, someone is going to be without a pad. I spoke to the nursing supervisor when I left.
I sat with mom and watched TV. She was commenting on the program. We had a very quiet and peaceful visit. We held hands and watched TV. I stayed late tonight because we were watching chopped and they were cooking sea urchin! Mom kept saying how do you cook sea urchin? I had to stay to see who won!
I said a prayer and kissed mom on the head and left.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Dad and Anthony and Kathy came to see mom at different times, but they overlapped at some point. Dad and Anthony had mom stand up. It took longer for her to stand today than yesterday. KAthy thought that mom wasn't in a good mood. The past few days she has greeted her with a big smile and a phrase about being so happy to see her, but today she barely looked up from her newspaper. Dad thought she might be mad at him for coming late (I doubt it - dad is too hard on himself).
I got to mom late this evening and she didn't even have dinner yet. Dinner came very late. She had a turkey sandwich, cauliflower soup (she picked out the veggies) and salad. She ate well. We barely cleaned up from dinner and the CNA came in to put her to bed. I stayed in the room and noticed that they weren't putting the "bed pad" on the bed that they usually put. They folded a sheet and put it over the bolster staps. It was too short and the straps were exposed. I didn't want the straps to rub on mom's legs all night. When I asked about the pad I was told that they only had 11 pads and 20 beds (not MY problem!) so I said I would go downstairs to the nursing supervisor to see if she had any more. With that one of the CNA's said she might be able to find one and left the room and returned with a pad. I didn't want her to take it from someone else, but she said she didn't. She said she went to another unit to get one. Either way, someone is going to be without a pad. I spoke to the nursing supervisor when I left.
I sat with mom and watched TV. She was commenting on the program. We had a very quiet and peaceful visit. We held hands and watched TV. I stayed late tonight because we were watching chopped and they were cooking sea urchin! Mom kept saying how do you cook sea urchin? I had to stay to see who won!
I said a prayer and kissed mom on the head and left.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Mom Update, October 26, 2011, Wednesday
Mom’s update, Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I started the day with mom. She was sad again. She really wants to come home, but she can be distracted. I set her up for her day and gave her breakfast. She wasn’t very hungry this morning and didn’t finish her eggs or her cereal. I put Good Morning America on for her. She kept saying, “You’re going? You can’t stay?” I felt terrible, but I had to go to work. I left her a crossword puzzle, some magazines, our phone numbers and the phone and remote. She was OK when I left.
Mom went downstairs to the dentist today. She had her teeth cleaned.
Dad and Anthony came and had her standing. Dad said they even had her take a few steps. John had bought her a plastic sun catcher because mom loves stained glass. He thought it would be a good fine motor activity for her. Anthony and dad painted it with her! John was so happy to see it was painted and hung up when he went to mom’s tonight. Mom’s friend Maureen came to visit mom.
John came in the evening and played dominos with her. Mom loved it. He gave her 5 dominos that he knew could be connected and had her make a chain. He then gave her three at a time that he knew could connect to the original chain. He said before he knew it, mom had 25 dominos in a chain. She played this for a long time. John also played Mad Libs with mom. He said she was thinking of some silly words! John had her write down what she ate for dinner and at the bottom he made her write that her “good looking son-in-law was here.” Mom was put in bed and John stayed with her until she was sleepy. Mom kept saying, “I’m sorry you have to stay here” and “you should go home.” When I am with mom she says that I better go home because John probably doesn’t know where I am!
John said a prayer and gave her a kiss goodnight.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom. She was sad again. She really wants to come home, but she can be distracted. I set her up for her day and gave her breakfast. She wasn’t very hungry this morning and didn’t finish her eggs or her cereal. I put Good Morning America on for her. She kept saying, “You’re going? You can’t stay?” I felt terrible, but I had to go to work. I left her a crossword puzzle, some magazines, our phone numbers and the phone and remote. She was OK when I left.
Mom went downstairs to the dentist today. She had her teeth cleaned.
Dad and Anthony came and had her standing. Dad said they even had her take a few steps. John had bought her a plastic sun catcher because mom loves stained glass. He thought it would be a good fine motor activity for her. Anthony and dad painted it with her! John was so happy to see it was painted and hung up when he went to mom’s tonight. Mom’s friend Maureen came to visit mom.
John came in the evening and played dominos with her. Mom loved it. He gave her 5 dominos that he knew could be connected and had her make a chain. He then gave her three at a time that he knew could connect to the original chain. He said before he knew it, mom had 25 dominos in a chain. She played this for a long time. John also played Mad Libs with mom. He said she was thinking of some silly words! John had her write down what she ate for dinner and at the bottom he made her write that her “good looking son-in-law was here.” Mom was put in bed and John stayed with her until she was sleepy. Mom kept saying, “I’m sorry you have to stay here” and “you should go home.” When I am with mom she says that I better go home because John probably doesn’t know where I am!
John said a prayer and gave her a kiss goodnight.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Mom Update, October 25, 2011, Tuesday
Mom’s update Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I started the day with mom. She was in bed sitting up crying when I arrived. She did not have breakfast yet. I set her up by pulling up the blinds and putting her hearing aids in. I brought my Ipod and I was going to play “Good Morning Starshine” from Hair. I played it and sang. I also played morning has broken. Mom was still down. Her breakfast came and I made her oatmeal (we put unsweetened apple sauce, cinnamon and fiber one in it). She had scrambled eggs and sausage. Mom ate but was still melancholy. I put on Spamolot “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and I had to change the words in the middle (for those of you who know the words!) I sang and danced with the cover to her breakfast dish as a top hat! One of the nurses walked by and did a double take! Another CNA came in and sang and danced with me! Mom was cracking up and singing along. We also sang songs from Godspell. It was getting late and I had to get to work (mission accomplished!). I turned on the TV and turned mom attention to what was on. I removed her breakfast tray and set her up for the day.
~Claudia
When I (Kathy) arrived to see mom this afternoon, she smiled and was surprised and began to cry, saying, "I'm soooo happy to see you!! I missed you so much!! I haven’t seen you in so long!!” She forgot that I saw her Friday, Sunday, and yesterday. When I told her I just saw her yesterday, she told me, “No you didn’t. I haven’t seen you in a long time.” We sat and hugged and talked. She held me tightly.
Dad and I talked (in code) about how to ready the house and dad for mom’s return home. Dad doesn’t feel we need to move the bedroom to the living room or dining room. He wants to keep the house the same and keep mom close to the bathroom which is in the back of the house across from the bedroom. His rationale is that, if we want mom to use the bathroom eventually, she needs to be closer to it. I tried to explain that using the bathroom at home will probably be a long time coming but dad is hopeful. Dad thinks that the portable, travel wheelchair we used for Grammy (mom’s mom) will work in the narrow opening between the kitchen and the hallway. He said we could just move mom around the house in the wheelchair and then transport her to another chair in the house once she gets to the desired room. Dad would like to just rearrange the bedroom so that the bed is close to the bedroom door, which is closer to the bathroom (both doors are across from each other). I told dad that we can try his methods first and then, if need be, once mom is home, we could make any necessary adjustments. I also explained that a Social Worker from the Dept. of Social Services would most likely be making a home visit to assess things there before mom comes home as well (and most likely, recommendations will need to be followed).
We planned a Team Meeting for next Thursday, next week to discuss mom’s discharge and when that can be. Pray for guidance in this process please.
Dad and I worked with mom to try to get her to stand up for us. Dad said that this is something mom won’t do for him. I explained that it’s important that she does all she is able to do for him if she is coming home soon. I told him to practice with mom at the facility first. This is something I plan to bring up next week at the meeting…the process of teaching dad how to help mom and getting them both to work together. This is a big piece of the process in getting mom home. We need to also get mom to generalize the skills and abilities she has in every area, situation, place she is. Currently, mom still has problems doing this.
Back to getting mom to stand for us. As soon as I moved the table away from the front of her, she began to cry. When I asked why she was crying, she said she didn’t know and supposed that it was because she was afraid she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do it at all. We placed the walker in front of her, told her to grab it, then said, “On the count of 3, stand.” Mom tried but not whole heartedly. She was obviously afraid to do it. She is very secure with standing whenever Anthony is there and that is wonderful. We just need her to feel that secure with us all. She sort of lifted off the seat of the wheelchair about 3-4 inches but never stood up at all. And, in her lifting up, she was totally supported from behind by me. Dad stands in front of the walker and holds it in place while I stand behind the wheelchair and hold it in place. No luck at all.
Next, mom and I did a Math work sheet. The directions said to, “Write the numbers in order starting with the smallest number.” There were four rows of numbers such as: 48 57 54 8, or 51 46 54 19. Mom did this in a flash! But…I had to isolate one row at a time for her to look at. Left as a whole page for her to view at once, she tended to lose her place on the page and mingle the numbers from one row with another. The next half of the page did the opposite, asking that the numbers be written in order starting with the largest number. Mom was able to do this but needed me to remind her halfway through that the object was to move from largest to smallest this time. Mom tended to revert back to smallest to largest.
I had mom write in her journal next. She appeared to get very anxious about what she should be writing and that she couldn’t remember much. As dad and I talked to her and verbally cued her: “Well, who was here when you woke up this morning” and “Who came next?” etc. she began to become focused on what she wanted to write. Here is what she wrote:
“I woke up this morning and Claudia was here. Anthony took me outside and then I had lunche Dad came and we sat outside for a while me, Anthony, dady. Then we came in for lunch.”
I forgot to mention both yesterday and today that mom writes in all upper case letters in the journal.
Mom talked on the phone with Sammy and Gina next. Sam called her to tell her that Gina sprained her ankle at school! Mom was upset that this happened and asked how it happened and what Gina had to do now that her ankle was sprained. Mom still has a hard time hearing due to the wax build up in her ear and the lack of 1 hearing aid (it won’t be ready for another 5-10 days---it was broken).
When I had to say good-bye and leave for work, mom cried. She said she didn’t want me to leave and that she missed me so much.
In light of the conversation with the nuerologist about the fidgeting that mom does, he is sending her for an EEG on November 10th.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
~Kathy
Dad came to see mom. He and Anthony sat with mom outside. Mom has a journal that SHE writes in now. Kathy has been having her write what she does each day in the journal so I read that they sat outside with her today. When I arrived this evening I saw a math worksheet on the bed and asked dad if he did it with her and he said yes (Go dad!) Mom had a tea magazine on her tray and we read recipes together. I brought my dinner and when mom’s dinner came we ate together. After dinner she wrote what she ate in the memory book. I went to a conference this week and I got a great idea about the memory book. I want to take pictures of what we do with her each day and print them out to show her when people have visited and what they did. I am tired (and so is mom) of writing what she ate. I feel like it is too much attention of food and meals. (the speech therapist meant well, but she needs to remember people and activities) We did a worksheet on money and also took out the little box of fake bills (money) and we counted money. She did well. I showed mom the pictures my cousin Laura sent me this weekend of her two boys in their football uniforms. They both won their games and are in the playoffs and the mighty bowl!!! Mom loved it so we called Laura. Mom asked her if she knew who it was and Laura guessed right! Mom told her she was happy about her boys (the football games). Just then a CNA came in the room and mom told Laura they were coming to take her to the bathroom and she had to go. Mom was put in bed and we sat holding hands and watching TV. We said a prayer and I left.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom. She was in bed sitting up crying when I arrived. She did not have breakfast yet. I set her up by pulling up the blinds and putting her hearing aids in. I brought my Ipod and I was going to play “Good Morning Starshine” from Hair. I played it and sang. I also played morning has broken. Mom was still down. Her breakfast came and I made her oatmeal (we put unsweetened apple sauce, cinnamon and fiber one in it). She had scrambled eggs and sausage. Mom ate but was still melancholy. I put on Spamolot “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and I had to change the words in the middle (for those of you who know the words!) I sang and danced with the cover to her breakfast dish as a top hat! One of the nurses walked by and did a double take! Another CNA came in and sang and danced with me! Mom was cracking up and singing along. We also sang songs from Godspell. It was getting late and I had to get to work (mission accomplished!). I turned on the TV and turned mom attention to what was on. I removed her breakfast tray and set her up for the day.
~Claudia
When I (Kathy) arrived to see mom this afternoon, she smiled and was surprised and began to cry, saying, "I'm soooo happy to see you!! I missed you so much!! I haven’t seen you in so long!!” She forgot that I saw her Friday, Sunday, and yesterday. When I told her I just saw her yesterday, she told me, “No you didn’t. I haven’t seen you in a long time.” We sat and hugged and talked. She held me tightly.
Dad and I talked (in code) about how to ready the house and dad for mom’s return home. Dad doesn’t feel we need to move the bedroom to the living room or dining room. He wants to keep the house the same and keep mom close to the bathroom which is in the back of the house across from the bedroom. His rationale is that, if we want mom to use the bathroom eventually, she needs to be closer to it. I tried to explain that using the bathroom at home will probably be a long time coming but dad is hopeful. Dad thinks that the portable, travel wheelchair we used for Grammy (mom’s mom) will work in the narrow opening between the kitchen and the hallway. He said we could just move mom around the house in the wheelchair and then transport her to another chair in the house once she gets to the desired room. Dad would like to just rearrange the bedroom so that the bed is close to the bedroom door, which is closer to the bathroom (both doors are across from each other). I told dad that we can try his methods first and then, if need be, once mom is home, we could make any necessary adjustments. I also explained that a Social Worker from the Dept. of Social Services would most likely be making a home visit to assess things there before mom comes home as well (and most likely, recommendations will need to be followed).
We planned a Team Meeting for next Thursday, next week to discuss mom’s discharge and when that can be. Pray for guidance in this process please.
Dad and I worked with mom to try to get her to stand up for us. Dad said that this is something mom won’t do for him. I explained that it’s important that she does all she is able to do for him if she is coming home soon. I told him to practice with mom at the facility first. This is something I plan to bring up next week at the meeting…the process of teaching dad how to help mom and getting them both to work together. This is a big piece of the process in getting mom home. We need to also get mom to generalize the skills and abilities she has in every area, situation, place she is. Currently, mom still has problems doing this.
Back to getting mom to stand for us. As soon as I moved the table away from the front of her, she began to cry. When I asked why she was crying, she said she didn’t know and supposed that it was because she was afraid she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do it at all. We placed the walker in front of her, told her to grab it, then said, “On the count of 3, stand.” Mom tried but not whole heartedly. She was obviously afraid to do it. She is very secure with standing whenever Anthony is there and that is wonderful. We just need her to feel that secure with us all. She sort of lifted off the seat of the wheelchair about 3-4 inches but never stood up at all. And, in her lifting up, she was totally supported from behind by me. Dad stands in front of the walker and holds it in place while I stand behind the wheelchair and hold it in place. No luck at all.
Next, mom and I did a Math work sheet. The directions said to, “Write the numbers in order starting with the smallest number.” There were four rows of numbers such as: 48 57 54 8, or 51 46 54 19. Mom did this in a flash! But…I had to isolate one row at a time for her to look at. Left as a whole page for her to view at once, she tended to lose her place on the page and mingle the numbers from one row with another. The next half of the page did the opposite, asking that the numbers be written in order starting with the largest number. Mom was able to do this but needed me to remind her halfway through that the object was to move from largest to smallest this time. Mom tended to revert back to smallest to largest.
I had mom write in her journal next. She appeared to get very anxious about what she should be writing and that she couldn’t remember much. As dad and I talked to her and verbally cued her: “Well, who was here when you woke up this morning” and “Who came next?” etc. she began to become focused on what she wanted to write. Here is what she wrote:
“I woke up this morning and Claudia was here. Anthony took me outside and then I had lunche Dad came and we sat outside for a while me, Anthony, dady. Then we came in for lunch.”
I forgot to mention both yesterday and today that mom writes in all upper case letters in the journal.
Mom talked on the phone with Sammy and Gina next. Sam called her to tell her that Gina sprained her ankle at school! Mom was upset that this happened and asked how it happened and what Gina had to do now that her ankle was sprained. Mom still has a hard time hearing due to the wax build up in her ear and the lack of 1 hearing aid (it won’t be ready for another 5-10 days---it was broken).
When I had to say good-bye and leave for work, mom cried. She said she didn’t want me to leave and that she missed me so much.
In light of the conversation with the nuerologist about the fidgeting that mom does, he is sending her for an EEG on November 10th.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
~Kathy
Dad came to see mom. He and Anthony sat with mom outside. Mom has a journal that SHE writes in now. Kathy has been having her write what she does each day in the journal so I read that they sat outside with her today. When I arrived this evening I saw a math worksheet on the bed and asked dad if he did it with her and he said yes (Go dad!) Mom had a tea magazine on her tray and we read recipes together. I brought my dinner and when mom’s dinner came we ate together. After dinner she wrote what she ate in the memory book. I went to a conference this week and I got a great idea about the memory book. I want to take pictures of what we do with her each day and print them out to show her when people have visited and what they did. I am tired (and so is mom) of writing what she ate. I feel like it is too much attention of food and meals. (the speech therapist meant well, but she needs to remember people and activities) We did a worksheet on money and also took out the little box of fake bills (money) and we counted money. She did well. I showed mom the pictures my cousin Laura sent me this weekend of her two boys in their football uniforms. They both won their games and are in the playoffs and the mighty bowl!!! Mom loved it so we called Laura. Mom asked her if she knew who it was and Laura guessed right! Mom told her she was happy about her boys (the football games). Just then a CNA came in the room and mom told Laura they were coming to take her to the bathroom and she had to go. Mom was put in bed and we sat holding hands and watching TV. We said a prayer and I left.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Monday, October 24, 2011
Mom Update, October 24, 2011, Monday, Addendum
Today, Claudia and I had the chance to reconnect with a woman who we heard speak at the Geneva Autism Symposium in Toronto last year. The woman is a reknowned educational specialist who advocates for inclusive practices for children on the Autism Spectrum. While we were at her last speaking engagement in Toronto, she made the comment, “Don’t quit 5 minutes before the miracle happens.” You all know the rest of that story. Those words became our family mantra…our life support…following the setback mom had last December 22nd. Those words have been shared with literall
hundreds of people around us both on T-Shirts we had made, as well as on wristbands and in our blog. Today, when we met this magnificent educator/consultant again, we had the chance to share our story with her—and to give her one of the wristbands. Each time we get up to face a new day, share the best of yourself with the people around you each day. We never know how our lives may touch someone else’s. today was a special day for “the sisters” as she referred to us (as an aside---great minds think alike I guess---Claudia and I met at the conference wearing almost the exact same outfit!!! Hahhahaha! An actual “E-True Story” Red Carpet Disaster!! Hahahah!).
One day last week or the week before, when John was with mom, John asked mom if she wanted to write a letter. He gave her some paper and a pencil and she wrote what follows. John hung it in her room. For some reason, we keep forgetting to put it in the blog. So, on that note, here is mom’s letter:
“Dear Family,
Thank you for all you do for me. I am so lucky to have a loving family. I love you all so much. I can’t wait to come home. I hope it is real soon. Love Dotty, Mummy, Nonny, Mom”
When I arrived to see mom this afternoon, she was sitting beside dad reading the newspaper. She was engrossed in it. I showed her pictures I took of an eagle I saw when I went upstate yesterday to deliver supplies to the villages who suffered damage during Hurricane Irene in August. I also showed her pictures of some of the damage to areas I hadn’t seen before yesterday as well. she commented and looked at them all with interest. Mom told me to submit the eagle pictures to a wildlife magazine.
I asked mom if she wrote in her journal today and she said no and asked for it. She set about recording what she could remember about the events of the day. Mom wrote: “Kathy and Claudia returnted from upstate and we sawe the divastation that was left after the hurricane in august. Claudia and Kathy came back and we saw the devastation after we had our hurricane in august.” I then verbally prompted her by asking, “Who came to wake you up this morning?” Mom remembered!!!! She said, “Who woke me up this morning? Jean.” She couldn’t remember who else came so dad asked, “Who took you outside?” Then mom said, “Umm…who took me outside? Maybe Jean. No. Anthony.” Mom wrote: “Jean woke me up this morning. Anthony came after Jean left. He took me for a walk around the building.” I asked mom, “Who came after Anthony?” “Nobody,” was Mom’s reply. Dad said, “OK, I’m nobody? Then I’m going to go home” and we laughed. Mom wrote: “Jean came then.” I asked mom if she went to physical therapy and she looked at dad to ask him for the answer. I told her not to look at dad, to look at me and just think about it. She yelled at me, “I can look at dad if I want to!!!” Mom wrote: “I weit to pyisical therapy. I stood up.” I asked her what she did there today and she said, “Oh the usual.” Mom wrote: “I read the newspaper. And I read all about”
Mom said to tell all of you: “I can’t believe all the time you all spent with me. Especially, Kathy, Claudia, Terry, Anthony, John, Con and all the kids. I can’t believe the time they all took to be with me, Anthony, Lenny, the girls, Jean (dad) and just everybody. It meant a lot to me. Everybody took time in the morning at breakfast, and they come to breakfast (Claudia, Kathy, Jean). Even though all the kids are busy in school, they still come to see me. I never had one day when my husband or children or grandchildren didn’t come see me. I am truly blessed to have all of my family in my life and all they do for me” (she then told me to name each one of us for her in the blog!).
I have thought about the use of writing as a tool to possibly help mom recover some of her short term memory. Mom seems to sometimes fall into a pattern of: “WRITE. READ. EMOTE/FEEL.” She thinks about what she wants to say, writes it, pauses to read what she wrote, and then she emotes---feels all the emotion behind what she has written. Then she repeats the process again and again---often by rereading the same line or two over and over…reading and emoting and calming down…reading, emoting, calming down. As mom rereads what she has written, she seems to relive the moment she is writing about and to feel exactly what she felt as when she was originally writing it. There is such power in the written word and in putting something down in writing, especially in reference to a personal level. When we write about our feelings to another person, there is often confusion in the message because the 2 people (sender and receiver) are bringing all their own emotions to the message. The writer’s intended message is often misconstrued by the reader’s interpretation. However, on a personal level, there is so much power in our written emotions. Writing becomes a cathartic (healing) experience for the writer. Hopefully, mom’s journaling will serve as a place for her to restore her short term memory as well as to feel all her emotions in a healing kind of way.
"Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder..." Exodus 17:4
hundreds of people around us both on T-Shirts we had made, as well as on wristbands and in our blog. Today, when we met this magnificent educator/consultant again, we had the chance to share our story with her—and to give her one of the wristbands. Each time we get up to face a new day, share the best of yourself with the people around you each day. We never know how our lives may touch someone else’s. today was a special day for “the sisters” as she referred to us (as an aside---great minds think alike I guess---Claudia and I met at the conference wearing almost the exact same outfit!!! Hahhahaha! An actual “E-True Story” Red Carpet Disaster!! Hahahah!).
One day last week or the week before, when John was with mom, John asked mom if she wanted to write a letter. He gave her some paper and a pencil and she wrote what follows. John hung it in her room. For some reason, we keep forgetting to put it in the blog. So, on that note, here is mom’s letter:
“Dear Family,
Thank you for all you do for me. I am so lucky to have a loving family. I love you all so much. I can’t wait to come home. I hope it is real soon. Love Dotty, Mummy, Nonny, Mom”
When I arrived to see mom this afternoon, she was sitting beside dad reading the newspaper. She was engrossed in it. I showed her pictures I took of an eagle I saw when I went upstate yesterday to deliver supplies to the villages who suffered damage during Hurricane Irene in August. I also showed her pictures of some of the damage to areas I hadn’t seen before yesterday as well. she commented and looked at them all with interest. Mom told me to submit the eagle pictures to a wildlife magazine.
I asked mom if she wrote in her journal today and she said no and asked for it. She set about recording what she could remember about the events of the day. Mom wrote: “Kathy and Claudia returnted from upstate and we sawe the divastation that was left after the hurricane in august. Claudia and Kathy came back and we saw the devastation after we had our hurricane in august.” I then verbally prompted her by asking, “Who came to wake you up this morning?” Mom remembered!!!! She said, “Who woke me up this morning? Jean.” She couldn’t remember who else came so dad asked, “Who took you outside?” Then mom said, “Umm…who took me outside? Maybe Jean. No. Anthony.” Mom wrote: “Jean woke me up this morning. Anthony came after Jean left. He took me for a walk around the building.” I asked mom, “Who came after Anthony?” “Nobody,” was Mom’s reply. Dad said, “OK, I’m nobody? Then I’m going to go home” and we laughed. Mom wrote: “Jean came then.” I asked mom if she went to physical therapy and she looked at dad to ask him for the answer. I told her not to look at dad, to look at me and just think about it. She yelled at me, “I can look at dad if I want to!!!” Mom wrote: “I weit to pyisical therapy. I stood up.” I asked her what she did there today and she said, “Oh the usual.” Mom wrote: “I read the newspaper. And I read all about”
Mom said to tell all of you: “I can’t believe all the time you all spent with me. Especially, Kathy, Claudia, Terry, Anthony, John, Con and all the kids. I can’t believe the time they all took to be with me, Anthony, Lenny, the girls, Jean (dad) and just everybody. It meant a lot to me. Everybody took time in the morning at breakfast, and they come to breakfast (Claudia, Kathy, Jean). Even though all the kids are busy in school, they still come to see me. I never had one day when my husband or children or grandchildren didn’t come see me. I am truly blessed to have all of my family in my life and all they do for me” (she then told me to name each one of us for her in the blog!).
I have thought about the use of writing as a tool to possibly help mom recover some of her short term memory. Mom seems to sometimes fall into a pattern of: “WRITE. READ. EMOTE/FEEL.” She thinks about what she wants to say, writes it, pauses to read what she wrote, and then she emotes---feels all the emotion behind what she has written. Then she repeats the process again and again---often by rereading the same line or two over and over…reading and emoting and calming down…reading, emoting, calming down. As mom rereads what she has written, she seems to relive the moment she is writing about and to feel exactly what she felt as when she was originally writing it. There is such power in the written word and in putting something down in writing, especially in reference to a personal level. When we write about our feelings to another person, there is often confusion in the message because the 2 people (sender and receiver) are bringing all their own emotions to the message. The writer’s intended message is often misconstrued by the reader’s interpretation. However, on a personal level, there is so much power in our written emotions. Writing becomes a cathartic (healing) experience for the writer. Hopefully, mom’s journaling will serve as a place for her to restore her short term memory as well as to feel all her emotions in a healing kind of way.
"Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder..." Exodus 17:4
Mom Update, October 24, 2011, Monday
Mom’s update Monday, October 24, 2011
Jean started the day with mom. She had started eating when he arrived. He set her up for the day by putting her hearing aids in and lifting the blinds. After breakfast they watched Good Morning America and then Regis. Matthew Broderick was on Regis and Jean comment to mom that he was in a few Broadway shows and mom remembered that Jean was in Brighton Beach Memoires. They talked about the different shows they were in and the actors that were in those shows. Jean didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her because she was taken to the bathroom and Jean had to leave the room and then later she was taken out of bed and dressed (he had to leave again). He expressed disappointment about not being able to do much with her this morning. Jean stayed until Anthony came.
Dad went to see mom and he said she had a god day. Mom went to therapy. Anthony came today and took mom outside for a walk. I wasn’t able to get in touch with him, but I am sure he did physical work with her.
Con, Sam and Anthony Michael came to see mom in the evening. They said she was in a good mood. Dad was there when they arrived and left shortly after they got there. Mom cried when dad left. They watched TV and hung out. Mom ate quiche, veggies and a piece of corn bread. She refused to eat her veggies but ate her fruit cup. She wrote down what she ate in the memory book. After dinner they watched TV and talked. They laughed a lot. Mom was put to bed and they stayed with her for a while.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Jean started the day with mom. She had started eating when he arrived. He set her up for the day by putting her hearing aids in and lifting the blinds. After breakfast they watched Good Morning America and then Regis. Matthew Broderick was on Regis and Jean comment to mom that he was in a few Broadway shows and mom remembered that Jean was in Brighton Beach Memoires. They talked about the different shows they were in and the actors that were in those shows. Jean didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her because she was taken to the bathroom and Jean had to leave the room and then later she was taken out of bed and dressed (he had to leave again). He expressed disappointment about not being able to do much with her this morning. Jean stayed until Anthony came.
Dad went to see mom and he said she had a god day. Mom went to therapy. Anthony came today and took mom outside for a walk. I wasn’t able to get in touch with him, but I am sure he did physical work with her.
Con, Sam and Anthony Michael came to see mom in the evening. They said she was in a good mood. Dad was there when they arrived and left shortly after they got there. Mom cried when dad left. They watched TV and hung out. Mom ate quiche, veggies and a piece of corn bread. She refused to eat her veggies but ate her fruit cup. She wrote down what she ate in the memory book. After dinner they watched TV and talked. They laughed a lot. Mom was put to bed and they stayed with her for a while.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Mom Update, October 23, 2011, Sunday Addendum
Dad called me back and told me that he brought his electronic picture frame with the pictures that he took when they went cross country to Wyoming. He showed her a picture of the Indian place that a famous actor made with big brass statues and he forgot the name of the actor. Dad asked mom and she said, "Kevin Costner." Dad couldn't believe how much she remembered about the trip. He is going to bring more photos from home to show mom in the future.
~Claud
~Claud
Mom Update, October 23, 2011, Sunday
When Kathy went to mom she was asleep and she turned on the light and she said, "Oh I am so happy to see you I missed you I missed you." Kathy had on a comfy old shirt and mom told her she looked so nice. Mom's old CNA from downstairs was placed on the floor and when mom saw her mom said, "Oh my God, where did you find her?" Kathy saw some of the nurses from downstairs that use to take care of mom and they asked how mom was. Kathy showed her the card she bought for Madeline and mom laughed. Mom put her name and Madeline's name under the pictures of the women on the card. Mom signed the card.
I started the day with mom and when I walked in to the room the light was on. As I rounded the curtain I saw Kathy sitting next to mom! Mom was happy to see me and then started to cry and said she missed having everyone with her together. She said, "Oh my God, I have both my girls with me" and she cried. I gues she is use to seeing us in shifts and not all together. The last time we were all together was Labor Day Weekend.
The CNA came in to bring breakfast and mom was crying and she said I know you want to go home but I would miss you if you left. Then the CNA said to mom, "Who is coming to see you later?" mom didn't know what she meant. She said, "Who is always with you?" Mom said, "God." (Good answer!) The CNA said, "Yes, God is always with you ,but who else? When I rub your back you always say you wish it were him rubbing your back?" I prompted mom and started to say Jean. Mom smiled. She ate her breakfast. Kathy left to go upstate for the day to fix something on her trailer.
I tried to have mom use my Itouch which is much smaller than her Ipad but she had a difficult time. I took out her Ipad and put the ABA program where she has to identify objects by their function (What do you sweep with, etc.) She liked this game and played for a while. I then put on her favorite word jumble game. This is her favorite because she understands it and knows how to play independently. She started to get sad again so I hooked up a MASH episode on my laptop and put the headphones on for her to watch. Before that I had asked mom if she wanted to go downstairs in the little cafe to have a cup of coffee and she brightened up and said yes. She then said, "Get my pocketbook and I will treat you to a bag of chips." Mom doesn't have any money in her bag but I wanted to give her her dignity and slip some money in the bag so she could feel like she was doing something for me. I told her I would get her bag in a minute but that I had to go to the bathroom and would be right back. I put the DVD in for her to watch and went to my car to get some singles and change. I put the money in a little black pouch in her pocketbook and then gave it to her. I told her I thought she had money in a little pouch and continued to show her where it was. She was happy to hold her bag as we wheeled downstairs. We went into the cafe and she told me what she wanted. She opened her bag and took out the money and we bought a bag of chips and split it. While we were eating I saw Sam sign in at the front desk and called her name. Sam, Anthony, Con and Anthony Michael came over to see mom .She was so happy to see them. We decided to take her upstairs at the end of one of the halls where she can look out the window. Anthony told us a story from the other day when he was sitting there with mom and how he said, "Look a big garbage truck!" and mom said, "What, you never saw a garbage truck before?" We all sat and laughed and talked until it was time for lunch. Dad came as I was leaving. He brought her the Sunday paper. I left and they wheeled mom back to her room to eat lunch. We also discussed starting to stretch her left hand and fingers again like we did when she first had the stroke. Mom told Anthony last week that she has to remember to stretch her fingers herself.
Sam said she cried a lot after I left. They sat outside. She stood up once while they put her jacket on. They bought her chips after lunch. (Ugh! more chips - Oh well it's Sunday! Must be chip day!) Sam took Nonny for a walk around the building. They brought mom back to her room and then they left. Terry came in the evening and stayed with mom. Mom read her newspaper. Dad and Terry tried to get her to stand and she tried but couldn't do it. Dad stayed with mom until she fell asleep. Dad said she was very tired (must be the fresh air...Oh yeah...and the chips! haha)
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom and when I walked in to the room the light was on. As I rounded the curtain I saw Kathy sitting next to mom! Mom was happy to see me and then started to cry and said she missed having everyone with her together. She said, "Oh my God, I have both my girls with me" and she cried. I gues she is use to seeing us in shifts and not all together. The last time we were all together was Labor Day Weekend.
The CNA came in to bring breakfast and mom was crying and she said I know you want to go home but I would miss you if you left. Then the CNA said to mom, "Who is coming to see you later?" mom didn't know what she meant. She said, "Who is always with you?" Mom said, "God." (Good answer!) The CNA said, "Yes, God is always with you ,but who else? When I rub your back you always say you wish it were him rubbing your back?" I prompted mom and started to say Jean. Mom smiled. She ate her breakfast. Kathy left to go upstate for the day to fix something on her trailer.
I tried to have mom use my Itouch which is much smaller than her Ipad but she had a difficult time. I took out her Ipad and put the ABA program where she has to identify objects by their function (What do you sweep with, etc.) She liked this game and played for a while. I then put on her favorite word jumble game. This is her favorite because she understands it and knows how to play independently. She started to get sad again so I hooked up a MASH episode on my laptop and put the headphones on for her to watch. Before that I had asked mom if she wanted to go downstairs in the little cafe to have a cup of coffee and she brightened up and said yes. She then said, "Get my pocketbook and I will treat you to a bag of chips." Mom doesn't have any money in her bag but I wanted to give her her dignity and slip some money in the bag so she could feel like she was doing something for me. I told her I would get her bag in a minute but that I had to go to the bathroom and would be right back. I put the DVD in for her to watch and went to my car to get some singles and change. I put the money in a little black pouch in her pocketbook and then gave it to her. I told her I thought she had money in a little pouch and continued to show her where it was. She was happy to hold her bag as we wheeled downstairs. We went into the cafe and she told me what she wanted. She opened her bag and took out the money and we bought a bag of chips and split it. While we were eating I saw Sam sign in at the front desk and called her name. Sam, Anthony, Con and Anthony Michael came over to see mom .She was so happy to see them. We decided to take her upstairs at the end of one of the halls where she can look out the window. Anthony told us a story from the other day when he was sitting there with mom and how he said, "Look a big garbage truck!" and mom said, "What, you never saw a garbage truck before?" We all sat and laughed and talked until it was time for lunch. Dad came as I was leaving. He brought her the Sunday paper. I left and they wheeled mom back to her room to eat lunch. We also discussed starting to stretch her left hand and fingers again like we did when she first had the stroke. Mom told Anthony last week that she has to remember to stretch her fingers herself.
Sam said she cried a lot after I left. They sat outside. She stood up once while they put her jacket on. They bought her chips after lunch. (Ugh! more chips - Oh well it's Sunday! Must be chip day!) Sam took Nonny for a walk around the building. They brought mom back to her room and then they left. Terry came in the evening and stayed with mom. Mom read her newspaper. Dad and Terry tried to get her to stand and she tried but couldn't do it. Dad stayed with mom until she fell asleep. Dad said she was very tired (must be the fresh air...Oh yeah...and the chips! haha)
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Mom Update, October 23, 2011, Sunday
When Kathy went to mom she was asleep and she turned on the light and she said, "Oh I am so happy to see you I missed you I missed you." Kathy had on a comfy old shirt and mom told her she looked so nice. Mom's old CNA from downstairs was placed on the floor and when mom saw her mom said, "Oh my God, where did you find her?" Kathy saw some of the nurses from downstairs that use to take care of mom and they asked how mom was. Kathy showed her the card she bought for Madeline and mom laughed. Mom put her name and Madeline's name under the pictures of the women on the card. Mom signed the card.
I started the day with mom and when I walked in to the room the light was on. As I rounded the curtain I saw Kathy sitting next to mom! Mom was happy to see me and then started to cry and said she missed having everyone with her together. She said, "Oh my God, I have both my girls with me" and she cried. I gues she is use to seeing us in shifts and not all together. The last time we were all together was Labor Day Weekend.
The CNA came in to bring breakfast and mom was crying and she said I know you want to go home but I would miss you if you left. Then the CNA said to mom, "Who is coming to see you later?" mom didn't know what she meant. She said, "Who is always with you?" Mom said, "God." (Good answer!) The CNA said, "Yes, God is always with you ,but who else? When I rub your back you always say you wish it were him rubbing your back?" I prompted mom and started to say Jean. Mom smiled. She ate her breakfast. Kathy left to go upstate for the day to fix something on her trailer.
I tried to have mom use my Itouch which is much smaller than her Ipad but she had a difficult time. I took out her Ipad and put the ABA program where she has to identify objects by their function (What do you sweep with, etc.) She liked this game and played for a while. I then put on her favorite word jumble game. This is her favorite because she understands it and knows how to play independently. She started to get sad again so I hooked up a MASH episode on my laptop and put the headphones on for her to watch. Before that I had asked mom if she wanted to go downstairs in the little cafe to have a cup of coffee and she brightened up and said yes. She then said, "Get my pocketbook and I will treat you to a bag of chips." Mom doesn't have any money in her bag but I wanted to give her her dignity and slip some money in the bag so she could feel like she was doing something for me. I told her I would get her bag in a minute but that I had to go to the bathroom and would be right back. I put the DVD in for her to watch and went to my car to get some singles and change. I put the money in a little black pouch in her pocketbook and then gave it to her. I told her I thought she had money in a little pouch and continued to show her where it was. She was happy to hold her bag as we wheeled downstairs. We went into the cafe and she told me what she wanted. She opened her bag and took out the money and we bought a bag of chips and split it. While we were eating I saw Sam sign in at the front desk and called her name. Sam, Anthony, Con and Anthony Michael came over to see mom .She was so happy to see them. We decided to take her upstairs at the end of one of the halls where she can look out the window. Anthony told us a story from the other day when he was sitting there with mom and how he said, "Look a big garbage truck!" and mom said, "What, you never saw a garbage truck before?" We all sat and laughed and talked until it was time for lunch. Dad came as I was leaving. He brought her the Sunday paper. I left and they wheeled mom back to her room to eat lunch. We also discussed starting to stretch her left hand and fingers again like we did when she first had the stroke. Mom told Anthony last week that she has to remember to stretch her fingers herself.
Sam said she cried a lot after I left. They sat outside. She stood up once while they put her jacket on. They bought her chips after lunch. (Ugh! more chips - Oh well it's Sunday! Must be chip day!) Sam took Nonny for a walk around the building. They brought mom back to her room and then they left. Terry came in the evening and stayed with mom. Mom read her newspaper. Dad and Terry tried to get her to stand and she tried but couldn't do it. Dad stayed with mom until she fell asleep. Dad said she was very tired (must be the fresh air...Oh yeah...and the chips! haha)
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom and when I walked in to the room the light was on. As I rounded the curtain I saw Kathy sitting next to mom! Mom was happy to see me and then started to cry and said she missed having everyone with her together. She said, "Oh my God, I have both my girls with me" and she cried. I gues she is use to seeing us in shifts and not all together. The last time we were all together was Labor Day Weekend.
The CNA came in to bring breakfast and mom was crying and she said I know you want to go home but I would miss you if you left. Then the CNA said to mom, "Who is coming to see you later?" mom didn't know what she meant. She said, "Who is always with you?" Mom said, "God." (Good answer!) The CNA said, "Yes, God is always with you ,but who else? When I rub your back you always say you wish it were him rubbing your back?" I prompted mom and started to say Jean. Mom smiled. She ate her breakfast. Kathy left to go upstate for the day to fix something on her trailer.
I tried to have mom use my Itouch which is much smaller than her Ipad but she had a difficult time. I took out her Ipad and put the ABA program where she has to identify objects by their function (What do you sweep with, etc.) She liked this game and played for a while. I then put on her favorite word jumble game. This is her favorite because she understands it and knows how to play independently. She started to get sad again so I hooked up a MASH episode on my laptop and put the headphones on for her to watch. Before that I had asked mom if she wanted to go downstairs in the little cafe to have a cup of coffee and she brightened up and said yes. She then said, "Get my pocketbook and I will treat you to a bag of chips." Mom doesn't have any money in her bag but I wanted to give her her dignity and slip some money in the bag so she could feel like she was doing something for me. I told her I would get her bag in a minute but that I had to go to the bathroom and would be right back. I put the DVD in for her to watch and went to my car to get some singles and change. I put the money in a little black pouch in her pocketbook and then gave it to her. I told her I thought she had money in a little pouch and continued to show her where it was. She was happy to hold her bag as we wheeled downstairs. We went into the cafe and she told me what she wanted. She opened her bag and took out the money and we bought a bag of chips and split it. While we were eating I saw Sam sign in at the front desk and called her name. Sam, Anthony, Con and Anthony Michael came over to see mom .She was so happy to see them. We decided to take her upstairs at the end of one of the halls where she can look out the window. Anthony told us a story from the other day when he was sitting there with mom and how he said, "Look a big garbage truck!" and mom said, "What, you never saw a garbage truck before?" We all sat and laughed and talked until it was time for lunch. Dad came as I was leaving. He brought her the Sunday paper. I left and they wheeled mom back to her room to eat lunch. We also discussed starting to stretch her left hand and fingers again like we did when she first had the stroke. Mom told Anthony last week that she has to remember to stretch her fingers herself.
Sam said she cried a lot after I left. They sat outside. She stood up once while they put her jacket on. They bought her chips after lunch. (Ugh! more chips - Oh well it's Sunday! Must be chip day!) Sam took Nonny for a walk around the building. They brought mom back to her room and then they left. Terry came in the evening and stayed with mom. Mom read her newspaper. Dad and Terry tried to get her to stand and she tried but couldn't do it. Dad stayed with mom until she fell asleep. Dad said she was very tired (must be the fresh air...Oh yeah...and the chips! haha)
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Mom UPdate, October 22, 2011, Saturday
I started the day with mom. She was sleeping when I arrived. I opened the blinds and set up the room and she woke up and looked at me. I told her "Morning, morning glory" as always. She was happy to see my. I put her hearing aid in (one is broken - dad has it). I fixed her in the bed and told her I brought her a special breakfast! I gave her breakfast (ham and cheese omelet and hash browns). She ate it all. I tried to get her to drink her prune juice and she gave me a hard time. I told her that the nurse is going to ask me if she drank it and she was very confused and said, "What nurse?" I told her that the nurse that is here will ask and she said, "Why is there a nurse in this house?" I became very concerned. I asked her where she thought she was? She said, "A house on (and she named a street near home)." I was a little nervous because she wasn't making any sense. I asked her if she had a dream about being on that street and she said no. She started crying and kept saying, "I am still here? I thought I left this place!" We called dad but this didn't seem to calm her. Dad made a suggestion to distract her with something funny. I put MASH on my laptop and put headphones on her so she would be very connected to the show and it worked. She watched the three episodes and laughed!
She then was taken out of the bed and put in her chair. I brought a new activity where she had to match two sentence phrases with a picture to make a short story. She did great with this. Next, we played the Logic Links game. Aunt Lucy called while we were playing and mom spoke to her. Mom likes the logic game but is very inconsistent with it. I had to cut the card in half because there are two logic problems per card and she kept mixing up questions. At one point I went downstairs to the PT room and asked if they would take mom today for PT. I figured it was the least they could do for the article. (OK so you say you are doing wonderful things???? Now do them!) Anthony and Con brought her to PT and said she didn't stay long at all. I think they brought mom outside for a little while.
Anthony, Con, Anthony Michael and Sam came. Sam brought her friend Emily. They all hung out with mom and mentioned bringing her outside. Mom was so happy to see them. I spoke to Sam later int he day and she said mom was in a good mood. I am sure Anthony did some physical activities with mom.
Dad and Terry came in the evening and Terry put mom to bed tonight.
Peace and Love,
~Claud
She then was taken out of the bed and put in her chair. I brought a new activity where she had to match two sentence phrases with a picture to make a short story. She did great with this. Next, we played the Logic Links game. Aunt Lucy called while we were playing and mom spoke to her. Mom likes the logic game but is very inconsistent with it. I had to cut the card in half because there are two logic problems per card and she kept mixing up questions. At one point I went downstairs to the PT room and asked if they would take mom today for PT. I figured it was the least they could do for the article. (OK so you say you are doing wonderful things???? Now do them!) Anthony and Con brought her to PT and said she didn't stay long at all. I think they brought mom outside for a little while.
Anthony, Con, Anthony Michael and Sam came. Sam brought her friend Emily. They all hung out with mom and mentioned bringing her outside. Mom was so happy to see them. I spoke to Sam later int he day and she said mom was in a good mood. I am sure Anthony did some physical activities with mom.
Dad and Terry came in the evening and Terry put mom to bed tonight.
Peace and Love,
~Claud
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Mom Update, October 21, 2011, Friday
Mom’s update Friday, October 21, 2011
Jean and Ava started the day with mom. When they got there she was eating already. She was upset that there was no toast! (Go figure – she never has toast) Mom asked Ava what her boyfriend’s name was and when Ava told her she kept spelling his last name over and over (It is not an easy name to spell). They talked and watched TV (Good morning America and Regis). They left when mom went to the shower.
When I (Kathy) saw mom today, she was sitting with dad and crying. She had been trying to read the article in the local newspaper and couldn't get past the first paragraph without crying. She kept saying, "I just can't believe what all you kids did for me...I am so blessed" over and over again. She kept trying to read the article but would only get so far before she would begin to cry again. I told her I would read it to her because she kept rereading the same piece over and over and crying. We both laughed and she said, "Yeah, good idea." She asked me if she was allowed to show other people and said she wanted to show her nurse, CNAs and the PT, OT and other therapists. I told her it is hers to show to whomever she wished to.
As soon as she sees me, she asks me to put on her make up! We did that next and joked and kidded with each other the whole time. She said I shouldn't make her look like a clown. She did the calendar with dad and I and the pencil needed to be sharpened. Dad grabbed the battery operated sharpener and I asked if we ever bought the batteries for it. To this, mom held up her unsharpened, broken pointed pencil and said, "Evidently not!!" and laughed!! Next, we went over her menu for next week. I told her I'd read it and write in the appropriate boxes and mom said she would do the writing. She had some trouble so I said I would do it but then she began to kid with me and play-fought over the pencil!! She pinched me and grabbed the call button and said she would call the nurse on me!!!! She was laughing so hard and so was I!! Mom told me she wanted cold cereal for breakfast instead of oatmeal but I told her the oatmeal is healthier for her and "heart smart." To which, mom said, "Oh pooh! So what? So I eat cold cereal and die!!" and laughed. I told her she'd die from eating cold cereal over our dead bodies after we all went through so much to get her back again!! We laughed again.
She wanted to make phone calls next. We called Con and she left her a message. Mom had been looking at all the pictures on the wall and said she missed Con and the "kids" and Lenny. We called Aunt Carol next and mom joked at how Aunt Carol lets the answering machine answer before picking up. Mom yelled into the machine saying, "OHHH for Pete's sake!! Pick up the darn phone Carol!!" and laughed. She told Aunt Carol that I was annoying her when Aunt Carol asked what mom was doing!! Mom calls me "The Pest." Mom also called her cousin, Joan. Mom and Joan grew up together. Their mothers (my grandma) were very close. They reminisced and talked and mom cried tears of happiness over being able to talk to Joan. Mom called Madeline to wish her a happy birthday and even joked and sang "Happy Birthday" to her!!! Mom also called JoAnn too.
"Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
Dad came to see mom and stayed with her all day. I (Claudia) came to see mom after work today. I was working in the neighborhood so I wanted to drop by. She was very happy to see me. She said, “My baby!” We sat and talked about my day. I was exhausted from talking for 6 hours straight (I had a presentation today). She is having a difficult time hearing. She took out her hearing aid so dad cleaned it and changed the battery but it still didn’t work. He took it with him to get fixed. It has been a long time since we had to get it fixed. I told mom I couldn’t stay long and that Dad was putting her to sleep tonight and she said, “I know” and smiled. I asked her if Jean and Ava came this morning and she said that only Jean came (Ava was there but she didn’t remember). We watched the food network and mom commented on the recipes. I put the captions on the TV since she is having a hard time hearing. At one point she unbuttoned the top buttons on her sweatshirt. She did a pretty god job! I was really tired so I went home and dad stayed with her.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Jean and Ava started the day with mom. When they got there she was eating already. She was upset that there was no toast! (Go figure – she never has toast) Mom asked Ava what her boyfriend’s name was and when Ava told her she kept spelling his last name over and over (It is not an easy name to spell). They talked and watched TV (Good morning America and Regis). They left when mom went to the shower.
When I (Kathy) saw mom today, she was sitting with dad and crying. She had been trying to read the article in the local newspaper and couldn't get past the first paragraph without crying. She kept saying, "I just can't believe what all you kids did for me...I am so blessed" over and over again. She kept trying to read the article but would only get so far before she would begin to cry again. I told her I would read it to her because she kept rereading the same piece over and over and crying. We both laughed and she said, "Yeah, good idea." She asked me if she was allowed to show other people and said she wanted to show her nurse, CNAs and the PT, OT and other therapists. I told her it is hers to show to whomever she wished to.
As soon as she sees me, she asks me to put on her make up! We did that next and joked and kidded with each other the whole time. She said I shouldn't make her look like a clown. She did the calendar with dad and I and the pencil needed to be sharpened. Dad grabbed the battery operated sharpener and I asked if we ever bought the batteries for it. To this, mom held up her unsharpened, broken pointed pencil and said, "Evidently not!!" and laughed!! Next, we went over her menu for next week. I told her I'd read it and write in the appropriate boxes and mom said she would do the writing. She had some trouble so I said I would do it but then she began to kid with me and play-fought over the pencil!! She pinched me and grabbed the call button and said she would call the nurse on me!!!! She was laughing so hard and so was I!! Mom told me she wanted cold cereal for breakfast instead of oatmeal but I told her the oatmeal is healthier for her and "heart smart." To which, mom said, "Oh pooh! So what? So I eat cold cereal and die!!" and laughed. I told her she'd die from eating cold cereal over our dead bodies after we all went through so much to get her back again!! We laughed again.
She wanted to make phone calls next. We called Con and she left her a message. Mom had been looking at all the pictures on the wall and said she missed Con and the "kids" and Lenny. We called Aunt Carol next and mom joked at how Aunt Carol lets the answering machine answer before picking up. Mom yelled into the machine saying, "OHHH for Pete's sake!! Pick up the darn phone Carol!!" and laughed. She told Aunt Carol that I was annoying her when Aunt Carol asked what mom was doing!! Mom calls me "The Pest." Mom also called her cousin, Joan. Mom and Joan grew up together. Their mothers (my grandma) were very close. They reminisced and talked and mom cried tears of happiness over being able to talk to Joan. Mom called Madeline to wish her a happy birthday and even joked and sang "Happy Birthday" to her!!! Mom also called JoAnn too.
"Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
Dad came to see mom and stayed with her all day. I (Claudia) came to see mom after work today. I was working in the neighborhood so I wanted to drop by. She was very happy to see me. She said, “My baby!” We sat and talked about my day. I was exhausted from talking for 6 hours straight (I had a presentation today). She is having a difficult time hearing. She took out her hearing aid so dad cleaned it and changed the battery but it still didn’t work. He took it with him to get fixed. It has been a long time since we had to get it fixed. I told mom I couldn’t stay long and that Dad was putting her to sleep tonight and she said, “I know” and smiled. I asked her if Jean and Ava came this morning and she said that only Jean came (Ava was there but she didn’t remember). We watched the food network and mom commented on the recipes. I put the captions on the TV since she is having a hard time hearing. At one point she unbuttoned the top buttons on her sweatshirt. She did a pretty god job! I was really tired so I went home and dad stayed with her.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claud
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Mom Update, October 20, 2011, Thursday
Mom’s update Thursday, October 20, 2011
Dad started the day with mom. He stayed with mom all day until I came to put mom to bed. Mom was sad when dad left.
I brought some Halloween crafts for mom and I to do. We made 3D foam pumpkin with a witch’s hat. I made a mark on the pumpkin with a sharpie to show her where to put the face pieces. She did well with the small pieces. We also made a spider out of pom poms and pipe cleaners. Mom squeezed the glue bottle for the spider legs. We also made two foam jack-o-lanterns. Mom looked at the picture on the package and made the exact same pumpkin following the corresponding colors.
I also brought Mad Libs. She did very well and understood a noun, verb, and adjective. The only thing is that she kept repeating the same noun over and over (she did the same with the adjective. It is as if she could name one but then couldn’t get it out of her head. Dinner came (salami sandwich, green bean salad, and ice cream). We wrote down what she had for dinner in her memory book. She wrote ALAMI sandwich, TRING bean salad. She left off the first letter “S” on salami and string. It was weird. I notice that if she spelled a word aloud first then she writes it perfectly, but if she just starts writing she makes mistakes.
After dinner she said, “You have something called Logic Links?” At first I didn’t understand her. She said it again. I told her yes and asked if she wanted to play it? She said, “OK.” This is the first time that I know of that she requested to do a specific activity! She probably read the box on the shelf, but she showed interest.
Mom was put in bed. I turned down the lights and took out her hearing aids. She settled in and even closed her eyes for a while. We watched TV and talked. I said a prayer with her and kissed her goodnight.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claudia
Well.....the "article" on mom came out in the local newspaper today and guess what? It was actually an ADVERTISEMENT for the facility!!!! I had the feeling they would do this but always hope for the best. The entire experience was done in such a sneaky, underhanded way too. That's what gets us the most. The 2 people who took the picture and took the information for the article came from the parking lot that day (they actually work for the facility)!! They NEVER told us anything other than, mom's story was miraculous and they wanted to have someone come to write an article for the local newspaper. They even took the picture of our family and put it in a 1/4 page AD in the newspaper!!! AND they quoted me as saying things I never said. They misconstrued my words to their advantage. The article is small on the opposite page from the ad and really says that the facility is responsible for mom's recovery, but we, as a family, just followed their lead!! Phoey!! Oh well. I called both the respiratory person who initiated all this, as well as the "reporter" and only was able to speak to the reporter. I let the reporter know how disillusioned we were and how bamboozled as well!! I said we never gave consent to use our family photo in an ad publicizing the facility. Unbelievable. Oh well....wait til the book comes out!!! Hahahaha!!!
~Kathy
Dad started the day with mom. He stayed with mom all day until I came to put mom to bed. Mom was sad when dad left.
I brought some Halloween crafts for mom and I to do. We made 3D foam pumpkin with a witch’s hat. I made a mark on the pumpkin with a sharpie to show her where to put the face pieces. She did well with the small pieces. We also made a spider out of pom poms and pipe cleaners. Mom squeezed the glue bottle for the spider legs. We also made two foam jack-o-lanterns. Mom looked at the picture on the package and made the exact same pumpkin following the corresponding colors.
I also brought Mad Libs. She did very well and understood a noun, verb, and adjective. The only thing is that she kept repeating the same noun over and over (she did the same with the adjective. It is as if she could name one but then couldn’t get it out of her head. Dinner came (salami sandwich, green bean salad, and ice cream). We wrote down what she had for dinner in her memory book. She wrote ALAMI sandwich, TRING bean salad. She left off the first letter “S” on salami and string. It was weird. I notice that if she spelled a word aloud first then she writes it perfectly, but if she just starts writing she makes mistakes.
After dinner she said, “You have something called Logic Links?” At first I didn’t understand her. She said it again. I told her yes and asked if she wanted to play it? She said, “OK.” This is the first time that I know of that she requested to do a specific activity! She probably read the box on the shelf, but she showed interest.
Mom was put in bed. I turned down the lights and took out her hearing aids. She settled in and even closed her eyes for a while. We watched TV and talked. I said a prayer with her and kissed her goodnight.
Peace and Be Well,
~Claudia
Well.....the "article" on mom came out in the local newspaper today and guess what? It was actually an ADVERTISEMENT for the facility!!!! I had the feeling they would do this but always hope for the best. The entire experience was done in such a sneaky, underhanded way too. That's what gets us the most. The 2 people who took the picture and took the information for the article came from the parking lot that day (they actually work for the facility)!! They NEVER told us anything other than, mom's story was miraculous and they wanted to have someone come to write an article for the local newspaper. They even took the picture of our family and put it in a 1/4 page AD in the newspaper!!! AND they quoted me as saying things I never said. They misconstrued my words to their advantage. The article is small on the opposite page from the ad and really says that the facility is responsible for mom's recovery, but we, as a family, just followed their lead!! Phoey!! Oh well. I called both the respiratory person who initiated all this, as well as the "reporter" and only was able to speak to the reporter. I let the reporter know how disillusioned we were and how bamboozled as well!! I said we never gave consent to use our family photo in an ad publicizing the facility. Unbelievable. Oh well....wait til the book comes out!!! Hahahaha!!!
~Kathy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Mom Update, October 19, 2011, Wednesday
Mom’s update Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Jean started the day with mom. He said she was in a good mood. He set her up with breakfast. They called John to wish him a happy birthday.
John’s cousin came to see mom just before Jean left. He did an activity where he showed her jumbled sentences and she had to unscramble them. I had been working on this with her and she did every sentence.
Anthony came to see mom after John’s cousin left and he had mom stand with the help of dad. She didn’t stand straight up, she was bent over too much. She did that twice and then dad suggested they move her feet back more. They did and she stood straight up and stayed standing for 20 seconds. Anthony asked her to do it again and she said no. He tried to coax her but she refused. Anthony then told her if she stood up again he would buy her potato chips and she shut up out of the wheel chair in a flash! (ABA and reinforcement is rubbing off!). I told Anthony that tomorrow make her stand for one chip at a time!
Anthony left and dad stayed with mom until John came. Dad said that the PA looked at mom’s ears and said she had hard wax in them. This is why she is having trouble hearing. He prescribed a drop to loosen the wax. John came to spend his birthday with mom. He brought her and dad coffee ice cream so they could celebrate! Mom gave him the card she signed for him. She gave him a kiss. Dad left and John looked at the newspaper with mom. Mom wanted to watch Everybody Loves Raymond. It was the episode with the bull and she laughed a lot. Mom told John everything that John’s cousin did with her. She ate dinner – sloppy Joe, peas and fruit. John wanted to cut the sloppy Joe in half but she wouldn’t let him. She also told John that Ava called today. She fell asleep at one point and then woke up. After dinner there was a commercial on TV for hot dogs and mom told John she could go for a hot dog! The CNA’s put her in bed. John set her up for bed. He said a prayer and left.
Peace and Be Well! (tomorrow the article comes out in the paper).
~Claud
Many people are inquiring about how mom is doing or are commenting on the fascinating progress she is making. All that has been achieved with mom is nothing short of a miracle. We thank the Lord for that. Here is where we are in the process of bringing mom home. The therapists all feel that mom is still progressing and has not ceiled out or stopped progressing or plateaued…this is great! The therapists all feel that mom is totally able to, and will, make more progress. Terrific!!
However, on the other hand, we have mom, who is feeling really lonely and wants to come home. Considerations toward this end include:
-Mom is unable to get up and walk to a toilet or commode
-We can get up to 8 hours of help per day for mom (days?)
-Who is available to help mom move and stand…when the aide is gone for the day?
Mom gets only 1 ½ - 2 hours a day (mostly 1 ½ hours a day of therapies). Is it worth it to have mom where she is and let her be upset and lonely and wanting to come home so desperately for a mere 1 ½ hours of therapy a day? Possibly, since, at this point, mom is not yet able to perform the tasks she can in a variety of settings. For example, she can walk with the walker down in the PT wing, but forgets how to do it upstairs in her room. She hasn’t generalized the skills she has enough to be able to perform them ALL the time. SOOO…it could be possible that the stability and consistency in the routine that she has now is worth her staying where she is and making progress.
On the other hand, maybe mom could come home and receive both in home AND outpatient therapies??? If this is the case, she may get more therapy at home…so home may be a good place now. BUT…we have the above bathrooming concerns to consider for now. We also don’t know how easy it will be for mom to get in and out of a car either. She isn’t good at pivoting her feet yet which is a requirement for this task and using a toilet.
Our plan is to explore both options. We are planning a TEAM Meeting some time next week to do so.
“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
~Kathy
Jean started the day with mom. He said she was in a good mood. He set her up with breakfast. They called John to wish him a happy birthday.
John’s cousin came to see mom just before Jean left. He did an activity where he showed her jumbled sentences and she had to unscramble them. I had been working on this with her and she did every sentence.
Anthony came to see mom after John’s cousin left and he had mom stand with the help of dad. She didn’t stand straight up, she was bent over too much. She did that twice and then dad suggested they move her feet back more. They did and she stood straight up and stayed standing for 20 seconds. Anthony asked her to do it again and she said no. He tried to coax her but she refused. Anthony then told her if she stood up again he would buy her potato chips and she shut up out of the wheel chair in a flash! (ABA and reinforcement is rubbing off!). I told Anthony that tomorrow make her stand for one chip at a time!
Anthony left and dad stayed with mom until John came. Dad said that the PA looked at mom’s ears and said she had hard wax in them. This is why she is having trouble hearing. He prescribed a drop to loosen the wax. John came to spend his birthday with mom. He brought her and dad coffee ice cream so they could celebrate! Mom gave him the card she signed for him. She gave him a kiss. Dad left and John looked at the newspaper with mom. Mom wanted to watch Everybody Loves Raymond. It was the episode with the bull and she laughed a lot. Mom told John everything that John’s cousin did with her. She ate dinner – sloppy Joe, peas and fruit. John wanted to cut the sloppy Joe in half but she wouldn’t let him. She also told John that Ava called today. She fell asleep at one point and then woke up. After dinner there was a commercial on TV for hot dogs and mom told John she could go for a hot dog! The CNA’s put her in bed. John set her up for bed. He said a prayer and left.
Peace and Be Well! (tomorrow the article comes out in the paper).
~Claud
Many people are inquiring about how mom is doing or are commenting on the fascinating progress she is making. All that has been achieved with mom is nothing short of a miracle. We thank the Lord for that. Here is where we are in the process of bringing mom home. The therapists all feel that mom is still progressing and has not ceiled out or stopped progressing or plateaued…this is great! The therapists all feel that mom is totally able to, and will, make more progress. Terrific!!
However, on the other hand, we have mom, who is feeling really lonely and wants to come home. Considerations toward this end include:
-Mom is unable to get up and walk to a toilet or commode
-We can get up to 8 hours of help per day for mom (days?)
-Who is available to help mom move and stand…when the aide is gone for the day?
Mom gets only 1 ½ - 2 hours a day (mostly 1 ½ hours a day of therapies). Is it worth it to have mom where she is and let her be upset and lonely and wanting to come home so desperately for a mere 1 ½ hours of therapy a day? Possibly, since, at this point, mom is not yet able to perform the tasks she can in a variety of settings. For example, she can walk with the walker down in the PT wing, but forgets how to do it upstairs in her room. She hasn’t generalized the skills she has enough to be able to perform them ALL the time. SOOO…it could be possible that the stability and consistency in the routine that she has now is worth her staying where she is and making progress.
On the other hand, maybe mom could come home and receive both in home AND outpatient therapies??? If this is the case, she may get more therapy at home…so home may be a good place now. BUT…we have the above bathrooming concerns to consider for now. We also don’t know how easy it will be for mom to get in and out of a car either. She isn’t good at pivoting her feet yet which is a requirement for this task and using a toilet.
Our plan is to explore both options. We are planning a TEAM Meeting some time next week to do so.
“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
~Kathy
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mom Update, October 18, 2011, Tuesday
Mom’s update, Tuesday, October 18, 2011
I started the day with mom and she was crying when I arrived. She really wants to go home. One of the CNA’s was with her trying to calm her. I told her that she would be coming home soon and that she is making progress. I put in her hearing aids and set her up for breakfast. She ate all of her breakfast. We called my friend Debbie. When I told her we were going to call her she said, “In Virginia?” She remembered that she moved to Virginia. She spoke to Debbie and asked her how she was doing and how her girls were. She told Debbie that I was trying to shove prune juice up her nose!!! She told Debbie to have a nice day and we hung up. She kept trying to blow her nose but was having difficulty and getting frustrated. I told her I would cover her stoma and she blew her nose with more success.
After breakfast I set her up. She asked for everyone’s phone numbers and I found a paper that John wrote all the numbers on, but she got upset when she saw dad’s number and said, “That’s the house number! I know that number.” She wanted his cell number. I wrote it on the paper and she was happy. I gave her the snap board. It is a board with cloth over it that simulates the front of a shirt with snaps on it. I told her to practice snapping. She looked confused and repeated snapping and then put her fingers to her head and said, “Remember when I would make snaps?” She would put her fingers in our hair and click her fingernails together to make “snaps” when we were tired. It put us to sleep. It is amazing how good her long-term memory is and how impaired her short term memory is. She will ask me over and over again what the name of her cereal she is that she is eating (even while she is eating it).
I gave her the Ukrainian cookbook and her Garrison Keillor book. I also put a paper on her tray that I bought a long time ago. It is a white piece of paper and when you rub a pencil over the page, a picture appears. At the bottom of the picture are small shapes and figures that you have to find within the picture. I left and went to work.
Anthony came and spent the morning with mom.
Dad came to be with mom. He stayed until I came back in the evening. He told me he spoke to the PT and that they are working on her pivoting from a standing position to a seat (toilet). She is making slow but steady progress. I spoke to the PT in the morning and he said except for one day last week she is doing well. One day last week she told him that she forgot how to walk. She had a very difficult time remembering what to do.
Kathy came in the middle of the day. They were watching TV and Kathy was eating her lunch. There was a commercial on TV with a family eating and mom said I really miss all of you at my house eating breakfast together. She told Kathy she looked good and her lunch looked good. She said I really miss the children. I can’t sit here anymore. I just can’t sit her like this anymore. She started to cry. She made a list in her book of all the visitors that came today. She kept forgetting the date (#) and forgot how to find it on the calendar. Dad told Kathy that she stood up twice with dad and Anthony. The first time she stood for 20 seconds and 26 seconds the second time.
She signed Con and Anthony’s anniversary card and John’s birthday card. When she signed Anthony and Con’s card she signed it “Love mom and dad” with a curved line under with two slashes (this is how she always signed her name – with the curved line underneath ~). Kathy sat and talked and then left to go to work.
I came back in the evening. Dad was there. I saw the paper on her tray that had the hidden picture that you uncover with a pencil. It had been all completed. Dad thought that Kathy might have helped her. I went over the date with her (I had no idea that Kathy said she had a hard time with the date). Her dinner came and she had a corned beef sandwich and green beans. Nice combo! She ate all of her dinner and most of her fruit.
After dinner I played “Headbands” with her. It is a game where you wear a headband on your head and place a card in the headband so you can’t see it. I wore the headband with the card and I asked mom questions to try to guess what the card was. She did a great job answering my questions. She was very accurate. After I guessed my card, I put a card on her head. She did a good job guessing and asking questions. A few times she asked the same question over and over, but for the most part she did well. We played that game for a while. At one point I made the suggestion to stop and do something else, but she said not to. Her CNA came in her room and asked if she wanted to go to bed. They put her in bed and once she was in bed she started to cry. She said she felt like she was trapped in an old age home and she wanted to go home but couldn’t. She kept saying she wanted to be with dad. We sat and held hands.
She started to cry again and I lowered the lights and just sat with her. I placed Frankensense on her temples to calm and soothe her.
I said a prayer and left once she was settled and calm.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom and she was crying when I arrived. She really wants to go home. One of the CNA’s was with her trying to calm her. I told her that she would be coming home soon and that she is making progress. I put in her hearing aids and set her up for breakfast. She ate all of her breakfast. We called my friend Debbie. When I told her we were going to call her she said, “In Virginia?” She remembered that she moved to Virginia. She spoke to Debbie and asked her how she was doing and how her girls were. She told Debbie that I was trying to shove prune juice up her nose!!! She told Debbie to have a nice day and we hung up. She kept trying to blow her nose but was having difficulty and getting frustrated. I told her I would cover her stoma and she blew her nose with more success.
After breakfast I set her up. She asked for everyone’s phone numbers and I found a paper that John wrote all the numbers on, but she got upset when she saw dad’s number and said, “That’s the house number! I know that number.” She wanted his cell number. I wrote it on the paper and she was happy. I gave her the snap board. It is a board with cloth over it that simulates the front of a shirt with snaps on it. I told her to practice snapping. She looked confused and repeated snapping and then put her fingers to her head and said, “Remember when I would make snaps?” She would put her fingers in our hair and click her fingernails together to make “snaps” when we were tired. It put us to sleep. It is amazing how good her long-term memory is and how impaired her short term memory is. She will ask me over and over again what the name of her cereal she is that she is eating (even while she is eating it).
I gave her the Ukrainian cookbook and her Garrison Keillor book. I also put a paper on her tray that I bought a long time ago. It is a white piece of paper and when you rub a pencil over the page, a picture appears. At the bottom of the picture are small shapes and figures that you have to find within the picture. I left and went to work.
Anthony came and spent the morning with mom.
Dad came to be with mom. He stayed until I came back in the evening. He told me he spoke to the PT and that they are working on her pivoting from a standing position to a seat (toilet). She is making slow but steady progress. I spoke to the PT in the morning and he said except for one day last week she is doing well. One day last week she told him that she forgot how to walk. She had a very difficult time remembering what to do.
Kathy came in the middle of the day. They were watching TV and Kathy was eating her lunch. There was a commercial on TV with a family eating and mom said I really miss all of you at my house eating breakfast together. She told Kathy she looked good and her lunch looked good. She said I really miss the children. I can’t sit here anymore. I just can’t sit her like this anymore. She started to cry. She made a list in her book of all the visitors that came today. She kept forgetting the date (#) and forgot how to find it on the calendar. Dad told Kathy that she stood up twice with dad and Anthony. The first time she stood for 20 seconds and 26 seconds the second time.
She signed Con and Anthony’s anniversary card and John’s birthday card. When she signed Anthony and Con’s card she signed it “Love mom and dad” with a curved line under with two slashes (this is how she always signed her name – with the curved line underneath ~). Kathy sat and talked and then left to go to work.
I came back in the evening. Dad was there. I saw the paper on her tray that had the hidden picture that you uncover with a pencil. It had been all completed. Dad thought that Kathy might have helped her. I went over the date with her (I had no idea that Kathy said she had a hard time with the date). Her dinner came and she had a corned beef sandwich and green beans. Nice combo! She ate all of her dinner and most of her fruit.
After dinner I played “Headbands” with her. It is a game where you wear a headband on your head and place a card in the headband so you can’t see it. I wore the headband with the card and I asked mom questions to try to guess what the card was. She did a great job answering my questions. She was very accurate. After I guessed my card, I put a card on her head. She did a good job guessing and asking questions. A few times she asked the same question over and over, but for the most part she did well. We played that game for a while. At one point I made the suggestion to stop and do something else, but she said not to. Her CNA came in her room and asked if she wanted to go to bed. They put her in bed and once she was in bed she started to cry. She said she felt like she was trapped in an old age home and she wanted to go home but couldn’t. She kept saying she wanted to be with dad. We sat and held hands.
She started to cry again and I lowered the lights and just sat with her. I placed Frankensense on her temples to calm and soothe her.
I said a prayer and left once she was settled and calm.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
Monday, October 17, 2011
Mom Update, October 17, 2011, Monday
Mom’s update, Monday, October 17, 2011
I started the day with mom. She was sleeping when I arrived and I noticed there were Nursing supervisors on the floor. I thought they might be short handed and after a few questions, I was correct. I started to open the blinds and take out mom’s hearing aids and she woke up. She woke up in a good mood. I put her hearing aids in and she complained she still couldn’t hear. I checked them again and they were fine so I cleaned mom’s ear a second time and placed them in again. She ended up complaining all day that she couldn’t make out what other people were saying. Brain recovery is so weird! One day things are great and all of a sudden one of her senses is all messed up. I set up her breakfast and filled her pitcher with ice water as well as her insulated cup. She loves ice water. I had to prompt her to drink her prune juice. They actually brought her the wrong breakfast so I had to get protein. When it finally came it was three hard boiled eggs! Feast or famine! No in between. Obviously I didn’t give her all three. She did shell the egg by herself.
After breakfast we did the calendar and then wrote down what we ate for breakfast. Dad called and mom spoke to him. Mom’s CNA from downstairs came to visit mom. Mom was so happy to see her. They talked and kidded around and then she gave her a kiss and told her she loved her. Her CNA came in and pretended to be jealous so mom gave her a kiss and told her, “You’re my best girl!” She started crying. She wants to go home so bad. I set up her tray with things for her to do. I noticed that if you give her two of the same sort of thing (worksheet and crossword – both papers that she has to read and answer) she starts to combine the two. She will read the crossword and then pick up the worksheet and try to record the answer on that paper. I left her the tissues, phone and a magazine. I told her I would see her tomorrow and she started to cry. I stayed a little longer and then had to go.
Dad came next and went to PT with mom. He said that she walked 15 steps with the walker with the PT and one other person beside her. They don’t touch her or help her they are there for support. Dad also said she didn’t stand up straight. She is making progress. I had a chance to take a quarter of a day and go back to see mom. I was hoping to see PT but they took her early. I did see the head of therapy and asked how mom was doing. He said she is being told she is making progress – walking longer, less support on each side, etc. He said, “You waited so long for this moment, let’s not rush her. Right now she is at a 50%. Let’s get her to a 20 – 10% before she goes home. At a 20-10% her family can pick up the slack.”
When I came back her two CNA’s from downstairs came to see mom. Mom remembered one of the girls (she always thinks they are sisters because they look alike). They laughed and talked and then mom started to get upset and said she wanted to go home! She shook her fists and rocked in the chair. They told her she is so close. She did finally calm down.
Dad and I sat with mom. I brought a logic game with me. It has colored chips and you need to follow the cues in order to put the chips in the correct order. Ex: The purple chip is not on an end. The white chip is directly to the right of the purple. So the line would be – yellow, purple, white. We did the first two together and then I had her repeat the first two by herself. She did the third one by herself and told dad an I, “Hey, I’m finished!” She was correct! I then took out her Ipad and reminded dad that he had the combination to the safe on his phone and I showed him where. I told him to sit with mom and play.
John came to put mom to bed. The Ipad was away when he arrived. They played with the logic chips. John liked them and mom was able to do them with prompting although, she wouldn’t put the chips in the hole on the sheet. She just lined them up on the tray. John made a good observation. When mom was doing the logic puzzle she doesn’t do it as a whole. She sets up one part and then takes apart what she did and then does the next piece. She still gets the right answer but goes about it in a weird way. They get progressively harder as you go along. John said she was very unsettled. She was very uncomfortable. John had mom write what she had for dinner and she wrote all the food and then John said what else? John said, “The company of you favorite son-in-law!” She laughed and wrote it down. Once mom was in bed she started to cry very badly. John had her call dad and talk to him and this worked for only a few moments. He then called me and I reminded mom of when I had my adenoids out and how I called her form the hospital crying and she said, “I was just thinking about then when John said he was calling you!” How cool that she remembered so far back! Maybe her hearing is not clear today, but other things are sharp. John stayed with her and calmed her down. He said a prayer with her tonight and kissed her and left.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
I started the day with mom. She was sleeping when I arrived and I noticed there were Nursing supervisors on the floor. I thought they might be short handed and after a few questions, I was correct. I started to open the blinds and take out mom’s hearing aids and she woke up. She woke up in a good mood. I put her hearing aids in and she complained she still couldn’t hear. I checked them again and they were fine so I cleaned mom’s ear a second time and placed them in again. She ended up complaining all day that she couldn’t make out what other people were saying. Brain recovery is so weird! One day things are great and all of a sudden one of her senses is all messed up. I set up her breakfast and filled her pitcher with ice water as well as her insulated cup. She loves ice water. I had to prompt her to drink her prune juice. They actually brought her the wrong breakfast so I had to get protein. When it finally came it was three hard boiled eggs! Feast or famine! No in between. Obviously I didn’t give her all three. She did shell the egg by herself.
After breakfast we did the calendar and then wrote down what we ate for breakfast. Dad called and mom spoke to him. Mom’s CNA from downstairs came to visit mom. Mom was so happy to see her. They talked and kidded around and then she gave her a kiss and told her she loved her. Her CNA came in and pretended to be jealous so mom gave her a kiss and told her, “You’re my best girl!” She started crying. She wants to go home so bad. I set up her tray with things for her to do. I noticed that if you give her two of the same sort of thing (worksheet and crossword – both papers that she has to read and answer) she starts to combine the two. She will read the crossword and then pick up the worksheet and try to record the answer on that paper. I left her the tissues, phone and a magazine. I told her I would see her tomorrow and she started to cry. I stayed a little longer and then had to go.
Dad came next and went to PT with mom. He said that she walked 15 steps with the walker with the PT and one other person beside her. They don’t touch her or help her they are there for support. Dad also said she didn’t stand up straight. She is making progress. I had a chance to take a quarter of a day and go back to see mom. I was hoping to see PT but they took her early. I did see the head of therapy and asked how mom was doing. He said she is being told she is making progress – walking longer, less support on each side, etc. He said, “You waited so long for this moment, let’s not rush her. Right now she is at a 50%. Let’s get her to a 20 – 10% before she goes home. At a 20-10% her family can pick up the slack.”
When I came back her two CNA’s from downstairs came to see mom. Mom remembered one of the girls (she always thinks they are sisters because they look alike). They laughed and talked and then mom started to get upset and said she wanted to go home! She shook her fists and rocked in the chair. They told her she is so close. She did finally calm down.
Dad and I sat with mom. I brought a logic game with me. It has colored chips and you need to follow the cues in order to put the chips in the correct order. Ex: The purple chip is not on an end. The white chip is directly to the right of the purple. So the line would be – yellow, purple, white. We did the first two together and then I had her repeat the first two by herself. She did the third one by herself and told dad an I, “Hey, I’m finished!” She was correct! I then took out her Ipad and reminded dad that he had the combination to the safe on his phone and I showed him where. I told him to sit with mom and play.
John came to put mom to bed. The Ipad was away when he arrived. They played with the logic chips. John liked them and mom was able to do them with prompting although, she wouldn’t put the chips in the hole on the sheet. She just lined them up on the tray. John made a good observation. When mom was doing the logic puzzle she doesn’t do it as a whole. She sets up one part and then takes apart what she did and then does the next piece. She still gets the right answer but goes about it in a weird way. They get progressively harder as you go along. John said she was very unsettled. She was very uncomfortable. John had mom write what she had for dinner and she wrote all the food and then John said what else? John said, “The company of you favorite son-in-law!” She laughed and wrote it down. Once mom was in bed she started to cry very badly. John had her call dad and talk to him and this worked for only a few moments. He then called me and I reminded mom of when I had my adenoids out and how I called her form the hospital crying and she said, “I was just thinking about then when John said he was calling you!” How cool that she remembered so far back! Maybe her hearing is not clear today, but other things are sharp. John stayed with her and calmed her down. He said a prayer with her tonight and kissed her and left.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Mom Update, October 16, 2011, Sunday
Mom’s update, Sunday, October 16, 2011
John and I started the day with mom. I wore a mask just to be safe. I still don’t have a voice. I missed her sooooo much, not being able to see her last week. She was up and we fixed her in the bed and then raised the bed to get her ready to eat breakfast. I put her hearing aids in. She had a cheese omelet and salsa. She ate it all up. I fixed her oatmeal with applesauce and fiber one. She ate the whole bowl. I filled her pitcher and her cup with ice water. She loves ice water. I also brought her a decaf hazelnut coffee from Dunkin Donuts. She drank a half of a cup of coffee.
The head of therapy came in to talk to the woman in the next bed. He had to say hello to mom! John and I talked to him for a while. I asked if she could get therapy on a Saturday and he said he would try to put her on the rotation for every other Saturday to start. They are getting new staff next week. John and I worked with mom doing a calendar worksheet and a math worksheet. She did great. She was in a good mood and made a lot of jokes.
Anthony Con and the kids came and brought mom a pumpkin spice coffee. . They went outside just as they got outside, Dad came. They went for a walk around the perimeter. They talked and laughed. Dad made a pork roast. And she ate the whole thing and then for lunch the facility gave her PBJ, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. She had the PBJ. Weird combo. She was in a great mood laughing. Dad went to Dunkin Donuts to get some lunch and then when he came back Anth and Coon and the kids left.
Dad stayed with mom. They watched movies and held hands. Mom misses him so much when he leaves. Dad has told me that he is working on time with mom and will take out the foam clock we have and help her to understand time. He bought her a digital clock with large numbers but she wants to learn the other way (Analog).
Dad kissed mom goodnight and left.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
John and I started the day with mom. I wore a mask just to be safe. I still don’t have a voice. I missed her sooooo much, not being able to see her last week. She was up and we fixed her in the bed and then raised the bed to get her ready to eat breakfast. I put her hearing aids in. She had a cheese omelet and salsa. She ate it all up. I fixed her oatmeal with applesauce and fiber one. She ate the whole bowl. I filled her pitcher and her cup with ice water. She loves ice water. I also brought her a decaf hazelnut coffee from Dunkin Donuts. She drank a half of a cup of coffee.
The head of therapy came in to talk to the woman in the next bed. He had to say hello to mom! John and I talked to him for a while. I asked if she could get therapy on a Saturday and he said he would try to put her on the rotation for every other Saturday to start. They are getting new staff next week. John and I worked with mom doing a calendar worksheet and a math worksheet. She did great. She was in a good mood and made a lot of jokes.
Anthony Con and the kids came and brought mom a pumpkin spice coffee. . They went outside just as they got outside, Dad came. They went for a walk around the perimeter. They talked and laughed. Dad made a pork roast. And she ate the whole thing and then for lunch the facility gave her PBJ, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. She had the PBJ. Weird combo. She was in a great mood laughing. Dad went to Dunkin Donuts to get some lunch and then when he came back Anth and Coon and the kids left.
Dad stayed with mom. They watched movies and held hands. Mom misses him so much when he leaves. Dad has told me that he is working on time with mom and will take out the foam clock we have and help her to understand time. He bought her a digital clock with large numbers but she wants to learn the other way (Analog).
Dad kissed mom goodnight and left.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mom Update, October 15, 2011, Saturday
I began the day with mom this morning. One of the aides in the hallway greeted me and said,, “Oh mom wants to know where her family is today!!!!” I entered her room (15 minutes later than usual) and she was sitting up in bed and had eaten all her scrambled eggs and she was crying and angry. She was livid!! She was so angry with her condition. She was yelling and crying and telling me that she can’t stand being like she is, “I CAN’T MOVE OR DO ANYTHING!!! I HATE BEING LIKE THIS!!! I HATE IT!!!” She was sobbing. No matter what I said, she got more angry and cried harder. I figured a good cry is cathartic and restorative so I held her and let her cry. One of the aides came in and then another and the nurse---the 3 of them surrounded mom’s bed and encouraged her as they, too, cried with her. They are the best people ever. Mom cried and yelled and cried and yelled. She blew her nose and asked where the garbage was. I tried to take the tissue and she yelled at me and said, “Don’t touch my dirty tissue” (so much like the old mom!!!) and then she’d say, “I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF!!!” The nurse kept telling mom how good it is that she is able to have emotions like this and that it shows how far she has come. The aides eventually made mom laugh and smile and mom kidded with them pretending to be angry still. The aides fought over who is mom’s favorite and who is her “adopted daughter.”
She did something today that she hasn’t done in well over a year---as she was eating, mom took a tissue from the box, placed it on the tray table and rested her spoon on it. Mom and I don’t like to put our utensils on the table—we place them on a napkin usually (germs on the table!! OCD!!! Hahahaha!!!!).When we were little, we used to go to a huge family reunion. It would be held in a park and all the families would picnic together. We kids would be covered in dirt (it would be hot and the ground dry and dusty) and mom would sit us on the picnic tables and take out one of the wet wash clothes from a plastic baggie that she brought from home (there were no baby wipes back in the old days) and she would wash us up squeaky clean! Mom brought about 5 such wash clothes and repeated this ritual that many times a day at the picnic. Mom kept complaining this morning that I should touch her dirty tissues so I teased her and donned a face mask and rubber gloves. The other day, I left to fill mom’s pitcher with water and she accused me, “Did you just get me water from the bathroom sink!!!!????”
Mom asked for Claudia again so we called her. Mom sobbed into the phone. Then dad called mom and she sobbed again. She finally sobbed herself out and then ate breakfast with me (I brought my breakfast from home). She loves the concoction Claudia makes for her----oatmeal, Fiber One cereal, applesauce, and cinnamon. She calls the Fiber One “rabbit pellets!!!” They do look like rabbit food!!
Mom suddenly asked how Lenny is and she called him. Then she said “I wonder how Ava’s doing?” So we called her next. The 2 college kids are taking tests last week and this week. When mom finished eating, she asked me to put her spoon “in the sink” but self-corrected and said, “Wait, what do I do with this?” She looked at the calendar next and tried to figure out the date. She was a day off on the day and number but knew the month and year. I turned from the bed and mom threw the little theraball at me and laughed!!
Mom asked me suddenly, “How does my house look lately?” Claudia and I are going to try to skype mom’s house with the computers. Next, mom said, “Hey, where’s my book? I need to write in it.” We got her memory book and mom set about filling in her daily information. She wrote what the date was, the time, and what she ate for breakfast. She kept forgetting all the information though and had to use the digital clock, the wall calendar, and the mini-menu from breakfast to remember the right information.
Mom called Anthony, Con and the kids next and asked them to bring her some more FiberOne cereal and double A batteries (I had written it on a piece of paper like a list for mom and she read the list to them but I wrote AA Batteries and mom said, “Double A”!!!). She asked Anthony to buy the items and told him, “I’ll give you the money for it all when I get home.”
Mom asked to practice telling time next because, “I can’t tell time yet so help me with that.” I gave her a work sheet Claudia brought that had many clock faces on it and varying times. We also looked at a telling time game I bought her that has a clock and many square cards with both digital and analogue clock faces showing various times. Mom looked at the work sheet first and said, “Oh wait, I know some of these!” When I asked her to tell me the times (all were on the hour), mom said, “I’m bad. I don’t know any.” We worked through each time on the hour for each clock on the page. Interestingly, though mom couldn’t tell me the time by looking at the clocks, she could write the time in digital format (6:00, 8:00…) once we said it out loud verbally. For 10:00, for example, mom would say it is, “10 after 12.” She couldn’t remember the pattern of the page either (that all the clocks were on the hour).
Mom’s CNA told me today how much the CNA loves mom and all of us and that the CNA wishes her little girl had teachers like all of us. I don’t say this to brag but to be encouraged. The CNA asked me to ask Claudia to make some of the materials we have for mom for the CNA’s daughter! Claudia did this for one of the CNAs downstairs.
Mom has been complaining about being fidgety today. She is jumpy on and off. She also was moving her shoulder to her ear on the right side on and off. Mom was also rocking back and forth hitting her back into the bed on and off too. We had her heart rate checked (John thought of that!) but it was good. She also isn’t on any medications or new ones or any new food. The nurse said that it could all just be part of mom’s recovery. Mom could be wanting to get up more now that she feels good. Also, Claudia recalled long ago last year when mom used to wiggle and shake at times as her brain sent signals to her various body parts as she got better.
After mom got dressed and washed, she talked on the phone to Aunt Carol, Angelo and Madeline. She had such normal typical conversations. Dad, Florence and Maureen came to see mom next. Dad said they had a normal, fun visit. He said they talked and laughed and joked and teased. Terry came to see mom next. Terry and dad worked on mom’s legs and arms and fingers and hands---stretching and exercising them. They read magazines and the newspaper and, at one point, mom told dad she wanted to talk to me and told me that there would be a TV show on tonight that she thought I would like. I couldn’t hear all that she was saying unfortunately because she doesn’t always remember to cover the hole in her throat and dad doesn’t always remember to tell her to do it or do it for her. I did hear that the show is a true story about a person with a disability who invented something…but I’m not sure.
Dad said that mom cried when he left and Terry stayed to put mom to sleep.
"This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears.” Lamentations 1:16
She did something today that she hasn’t done in well over a year---as she was eating, mom took a tissue from the box, placed it on the tray table and rested her spoon on it. Mom and I don’t like to put our utensils on the table—we place them on a napkin usually (germs on the table!! OCD!!! Hahahaha!!!!).When we were little, we used to go to a huge family reunion. It would be held in a park and all the families would picnic together. We kids would be covered in dirt (it would be hot and the ground dry and dusty) and mom would sit us on the picnic tables and take out one of the wet wash clothes from a plastic baggie that she brought from home (there were no baby wipes back in the old days) and she would wash us up squeaky clean! Mom brought about 5 such wash clothes and repeated this ritual that many times a day at the picnic. Mom kept complaining this morning that I should touch her dirty tissues so I teased her and donned a face mask and rubber gloves. The other day, I left to fill mom’s pitcher with water and she accused me, “Did you just get me water from the bathroom sink!!!!????”
Mom asked for Claudia again so we called her. Mom sobbed into the phone. Then dad called mom and she sobbed again. She finally sobbed herself out and then ate breakfast with me (I brought my breakfast from home). She loves the concoction Claudia makes for her----oatmeal, Fiber One cereal, applesauce, and cinnamon. She calls the Fiber One “rabbit pellets!!!” They do look like rabbit food!!
Mom suddenly asked how Lenny is and she called him. Then she said “I wonder how Ava’s doing?” So we called her next. The 2 college kids are taking tests last week and this week. When mom finished eating, she asked me to put her spoon “in the sink” but self-corrected and said, “Wait, what do I do with this?” She looked at the calendar next and tried to figure out the date. She was a day off on the day and number but knew the month and year. I turned from the bed and mom threw the little theraball at me and laughed!!
Mom asked me suddenly, “How does my house look lately?” Claudia and I are going to try to skype mom’s house with the computers. Next, mom said, “Hey, where’s my book? I need to write in it.” We got her memory book and mom set about filling in her daily information. She wrote what the date was, the time, and what she ate for breakfast. She kept forgetting all the information though and had to use the digital clock, the wall calendar, and the mini-menu from breakfast to remember the right information.
Mom called Anthony, Con and the kids next and asked them to bring her some more FiberOne cereal and double A batteries (I had written it on a piece of paper like a list for mom and she read the list to them but I wrote AA Batteries and mom said, “Double A”!!!). She asked Anthony to buy the items and told him, “I’ll give you the money for it all when I get home.”
Mom asked to practice telling time next because, “I can’t tell time yet so help me with that.” I gave her a work sheet Claudia brought that had many clock faces on it and varying times. We also looked at a telling time game I bought her that has a clock and many square cards with both digital and analogue clock faces showing various times. Mom looked at the work sheet first and said, “Oh wait, I know some of these!” When I asked her to tell me the times (all were on the hour), mom said, “I’m bad. I don’t know any.” We worked through each time on the hour for each clock on the page. Interestingly, though mom couldn’t tell me the time by looking at the clocks, she could write the time in digital format (6:00, 8:00…) once we said it out loud verbally. For 10:00, for example, mom would say it is, “10 after 12.” She couldn’t remember the pattern of the page either (that all the clocks were on the hour).
Mom’s CNA told me today how much the CNA loves mom and all of us and that the CNA wishes her little girl had teachers like all of us. I don’t say this to brag but to be encouraged. The CNA asked me to ask Claudia to make some of the materials we have for mom for the CNA’s daughter! Claudia did this for one of the CNAs downstairs.
Mom has been complaining about being fidgety today. She is jumpy on and off. She also was moving her shoulder to her ear on the right side on and off. Mom was also rocking back and forth hitting her back into the bed on and off too. We had her heart rate checked (John thought of that!) but it was good. She also isn’t on any medications or new ones or any new food. The nurse said that it could all just be part of mom’s recovery. Mom could be wanting to get up more now that she feels good. Also, Claudia recalled long ago last year when mom used to wiggle and shake at times as her brain sent signals to her various body parts as she got better.
After mom got dressed and washed, she talked on the phone to Aunt Carol, Angelo and Madeline. She had such normal typical conversations. Dad, Florence and Maureen came to see mom next. Dad said they had a normal, fun visit. He said they talked and laughed and joked and teased. Terry came to see mom next. Terry and dad worked on mom’s legs and arms and fingers and hands---stretching and exercising them. They read magazines and the newspaper and, at one point, mom told dad she wanted to talk to me and told me that there would be a TV show on tonight that she thought I would like. I couldn’t hear all that she was saying unfortunately because she doesn’t always remember to cover the hole in her throat and dad doesn’t always remember to tell her to do it or do it for her. I did hear that the show is a true story about a person with a disability who invented something…but I’m not sure.
Dad said that mom cried when he left and Terry stayed to put mom to sleep.
"This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears.” Lamentations 1:16
Mom Update, October 14, 2011, Friday
Mom’s update, Friday October 14, 2011
Jean started the day with mom. He had a great time with her. She was in a playful mood! She was happy to see Jean. He put in her hearing aids. She was already sitting up eating breakfast. Mom started to say to Jean, “Where’s my daddy?” and Jean was confused. He told her he never met her daddy. Mom repeated it again and said, “Where’s my daddy?” and Jean told her again he never met him (he was avoiding saying, you dad is not here – he is dead). Mom then said, “No! My sugar daddy!” and Jean cracked up! A few minutes later the phone rang and mom asked who it was and Jean said, “Poppy.” Mom took the phone and then said to Jean, “It’s my sugar daddy!” She’s a riot! Jean said they had a great time together. He also did some math with her. At one point, she didn’t like what Jean was telling her and she told him to shut up! Jean said that the Sarita lift broke and they had to call in the PT to have him show them how to transfer from the wheel chair to the toilet. This is a good thing, because now while it is broken they have to get her to practice transferring from the chair to the walker to the toilet.
Anthony and dad came to work with mom. Mom still had a difficult time standing. Dad stayed with mom and put her to bed.
Peace and be well,
Claudia
Jean started the day with mom. He had a great time with her. She was in a playful mood! She was happy to see Jean. He put in her hearing aids. She was already sitting up eating breakfast. Mom started to say to Jean, “Where’s my daddy?” and Jean was confused. He told her he never met her daddy. Mom repeated it again and said, “Where’s my daddy?” and Jean told her again he never met him (he was avoiding saying, you dad is not here – he is dead). Mom then said, “No! My sugar daddy!” and Jean cracked up! A few minutes later the phone rang and mom asked who it was and Jean said, “Poppy.” Mom took the phone and then said to Jean, “It’s my sugar daddy!” She’s a riot! Jean said they had a great time together. He also did some math with her. At one point, she didn’t like what Jean was telling her and she told him to shut up! Jean said that the Sarita lift broke and they had to call in the PT to have him show them how to transfer from the wheel chair to the toilet. This is a good thing, because now while it is broken they have to get her to practice transferring from the chair to the walker to the toilet.
Anthony and dad came to work with mom. Mom still had a difficult time standing. Dad stayed with mom and put her to bed.
Peace and be well,
Claudia
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Mom Update, October 13, 2011, Thursday
I began the day with mom this morning. She was awake and had just begun to eat her breakfast. Again she asked, “Where’s Claudia?” as I greeted her! Mom looked over at the door to her closet and began studying the pictures on the door. We have headshots of each of our family members along with the person’s name under it. Mom said that she likes to look at our pictures and that she plays games with them---she guesses everyone’s middle names, or counts how many girls there are or how many boys there are… Then she asked for Claudia again and asked where she is. I told her Claudia has bronchitis and she said, “T-I-S. TIS” I guess I didn’t pronounce it correctly!! Hahaha!! (I did!!)
We did the calendar next. Mom knew the month but confused the day, date, and said it was 20-01 instead of 20-11. She has been saying that a lot the last few weeks—20-01. She did all this as she ate breakfast. She would no sooner say the date and take a spoonful of cereal and then she’d ask again, “What’s today’s date?” and do it all over again.
She complained about having to drink prune juice. I told her she had to drink it and she mimicked me again and then said, “NO I don’t have to!!” Then she seemed out of breath and when I asked why she said, “Because you aggravate me!! You keep making me drink things I don’t want to drink.” She asked for Claudia again!!!
When I told mom I was leaving for work, she began to sob and say, “Oh no!! No one’s going to be here with me? Where’s dad?” I would calm her and then she’d cry again and say, “Leave me alone. I just need to cry!” We prayed together and she kissed my hand and seemed calmer, but then she became excited and said, “Wait! I need my make up on if I’m going to the doctor today!” So I stayed and put her make up on for her. Then I left.
Mom went to the neurologist today. While we waited in the waiting room (a lengthy wait today), mom asked about what dad and I were talking about. I told her we were discussing her ability to pay attention. Mom replied, “Oh I pay attention!! Maybe I just can’t hear people sometimes!!” She was annoyed. What we have noticed is that, when mom is nervous or there is a lot of background noise, she can’t hear well. Or better yet, she can’t filter the noises into categories. The background noise becomes the foreground and the talking to her or close to her (which is the foreground noise) is hard for her to discriminate. It sometimes appears that mom can’t pick out voices and talking from among other sounds in the environment. It sort of reminds me a lot of children with sensory disorders. To mom, all she hears is noise; not voices or speech.
The neurologist was thrilled to see mom, especially given the progress she has made. He set to work assessing her immediately after he greeted us all. He checked her vision for tracking and peripheral vision (mom seems to have lost some peripheral vision---which is the ability to see out the sides of your eyes even though you are looking straight ahead). He also said quickly, “Take your right hand and touch your left ear and close your eyes.” Mom DID IT!!! No problem. But --- when he asked her what month it is, mom said, “September” (even though she consistently says October---nerves I think). She knew the year, she could lift her arms and legs on command and could exert a great deal of pressure against the doctor’s hands on request.
The neurologist said that mom’s EEG showed no signs of seizures and her carotid artery scan showed no signs of abnormal narrowing. Her blood pressure was 130/76. He checked her reflexes and they were great. The facility never scheduled a CAT Scan for mom (routine) so she still needs to get one. The doctor’s from North Shore didn’t send the results of the latest angiogram yet either. I need to get that to the neurologist. The doctor wants her to continue with OT, PT and the botox shots for her hand. She has to return for a check up in 3 months.
I spoke to the neurologist about possible attention medication. The doctor was ADAMANT that he didn’t believe in that for mom because such medication would constrict her veins in her head and cause another stroke or bleed. In the words of the neurologist, “These drugs are all stimulants and are not good for her brain. We just got her back with us after so long we waited. There’s no way I will approve such a thing.” I agreed.
I spoke with the facility social worker about the next steps toward getting mom home. The social worker told me that mom is eligible for 1 of 2 types of care. Medicaid and Medicare pay for both types. Type 1 is called “Home Health Aide Care.” This means that mom would get an aide 20 hours a week several times a day at random times (2 hour visits throughout the day). Mom would have 3-6 weeks of in home PT and OT but then it would end. Maybe she could get out patient OT and PT then??
Type 2 is called “Lombardi Health Care” and this one would last as long as mom needs it (until death if necessary). An aide would be in the house with mom for 7-8 hours a day straight. Mom would get PT and OT intensively and then a few times a week as long as she makes progress and needs it (same Medicaid guidelines…no progress, no service).
Regardless of the care type, the PT tells the Social Worker when mom is ready to return home. Then the Social Worker begins the paperwork/form process of contacting the NYS Dept. of Social Services who sends a representative to assess mom at the facility. If eligible to return home by the representative of NYS Dept of Social Services, then more paperwork goes out to local facilities who offer this service. Once a response to pick mom up for the care comes in, then a representative from the local agency comes to assess mom. This could take up to 4 weeks (1 month) to happen. Then mom comes home.
Our plan is to approach the PT and find out an estimate of when mom can be ready to come home.
Claudia wrote: John went to see mom and put her to bed. When he got there, dad left.
The first thing he did was play cards. Mom was very tired. She went to
the doctor and we notice on days that she goes to the doctor she is very
tired. It takes a lot out of her. They put cards in order by suit again.
Mom likes to organize things and she enjoys doing this activity with
John. John didn’t have her write down what she ate because she was too
tired. She had turkey on a roll. John wanted to cut it in half and she
got mad at John and told him no. John took the soup away because it is
full of salt. There was a pie crust with pudding and John cut it up to
make it easier for her to eat. She didn’t eat her veggies. John worked
with her with a ball with bumps on it. He told mom that it is for
her hand. She pointed to her effected hand. She told John, “I have to do
this with it.” She took the ball and put it under her frozen finger and
opened up her left hand to wrap around the ball. John was very
impressed. Then she put the ball in her effected hand and rolled the
ball with her left hand on her tray. The CNA came in and put mom in bed.
He takes the dirty clothes and drops them off to dad each time he goes.
She kept telling John to leave and go home. She told him that she was
worried that Claudia would be mad because he came to visit her. When
John went to put her to bed, mom only had one hearing aid. He told
mom and mom said she definitely had them. John checked the bed and the
floor. He went out to the nurse and told her and looked for the CNA. He
went back into the room and asked mom to lift her head and mom lifted
her head and the hearing aid was under her head. Mom was very nervous
and kept asking John if he found them over and over. John showed her the
case with the two hearing aids in the case but mom was still worried.
John kissed her goodnight and left.
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:9
We did the calendar next. Mom knew the month but confused the day, date, and said it was 20-01 instead of 20-11. She has been saying that a lot the last few weeks—20-01. She did all this as she ate breakfast. She would no sooner say the date and take a spoonful of cereal and then she’d ask again, “What’s today’s date?” and do it all over again.
She complained about having to drink prune juice. I told her she had to drink it and she mimicked me again and then said, “NO I don’t have to!!” Then she seemed out of breath and when I asked why she said, “Because you aggravate me!! You keep making me drink things I don’t want to drink.” She asked for Claudia again!!!
When I told mom I was leaving for work, she began to sob and say, “Oh no!! No one’s going to be here with me? Where’s dad?” I would calm her and then she’d cry again and say, “Leave me alone. I just need to cry!” We prayed together and she kissed my hand and seemed calmer, but then she became excited and said, “Wait! I need my make up on if I’m going to the doctor today!” So I stayed and put her make up on for her. Then I left.
Mom went to the neurologist today. While we waited in the waiting room (a lengthy wait today), mom asked about what dad and I were talking about. I told her we were discussing her ability to pay attention. Mom replied, “Oh I pay attention!! Maybe I just can’t hear people sometimes!!” She was annoyed. What we have noticed is that, when mom is nervous or there is a lot of background noise, she can’t hear well. Or better yet, she can’t filter the noises into categories. The background noise becomes the foreground and the talking to her or close to her (which is the foreground noise) is hard for her to discriminate. It sometimes appears that mom can’t pick out voices and talking from among other sounds in the environment. It sort of reminds me a lot of children with sensory disorders. To mom, all she hears is noise; not voices or speech.
The neurologist was thrilled to see mom, especially given the progress she has made. He set to work assessing her immediately after he greeted us all. He checked her vision for tracking and peripheral vision (mom seems to have lost some peripheral vision---which is the ability to see out the sides of your eyes even though you are looking straight ahead). He also said quickly, “Take your right hand and touch your left ear and close your eyes.” Mom DID IT!!! No problem. But --- when he asked her what month it is, mom said, “September” (even though she consistently says October---nerves I think). She knew the year, she could lift her arms and legs on command and could exert a great deal of pressure against the doctor’s hands on request.
The neurologist said that mom’s EEG showed no signs of seizures and her carotid artery scan showed no signs of abnormal narrowing. Her blood pressure was 130/76. He checked her reflexes and they were great. The facility never scheduled a CAT Scan for mom (routine) so she still needs to get one. The doctor’s from North Shore didn’t send the results of the latest angiogram yet either. I need to get that to the neurologist. The doctor wants her to continue with OT, PT and the botox shots for her hand. She has to return for a check up in 3 months.
I spoke to the neurologist about possible attention medication. The doctor was ADAMANT that he didn’t believe in that for mom because such medication would constrict her veins in her head and cause another stroke or bleed. In the words of the neurologist, “These drugs are all stimulants and are not good for her brain. We just got her back with us after so long we waited. There’s no way I will approve such a thing.” I agreed.
I spoke with the facility social worker about the next steps toward getting mom home. The social worker told me that mom is eligible for 1 of 2 types of care. Medicaid and Medicare pay for both types. Type 1 is called “Home Health Aide Care.” This means that mom would get an aide 20 hours a week several times a day at random times (2 hour visits throughout the day). Mom would have 3-6 weeks of in home PT and OT but then it would end. Maybe she could get out patient OT and PT then??
Type 2 is called “Lombardi Health Care” and this one would last as long as mom needs it (until death if necessary). An aide would be in the house with mom for 7-8 hours a day straight. Mom would get PT and OT intensively and then a few times a week as long as she makes progress and needs it (same Medicaid guidelines…no progress, no service).
Regardless of the care type, the PT tells the Social Worker when mom is ready to return home. Then the Social Worker begins the paperwork/form process of contacting the NYS Dept. of Social Services who sends a representative to assess mom at the facility. If eligible to return home by the representative of NYS Dept of Social Services, then more paperwork goes out to local facilities who offer this service. Once a response to pick mom up for the care comes in, then a representative from the local agency comes to assess mom. This could take up to 4 weeks (1 month) to happen. Then mom comes home.
Our plan is to approach the PT and find out an estimate of when mom can be ready to come home.
Claudia wrote: John went to see mom and put her to bed. When he got there, dad left.
The first thing he did was play cards. Mom was very tired. She went to
the doctor and we notice on days that she goes to the doctor she is very
tired. It takes a lot out of her. They put cards in order by suit again.
Mom likes to organize things and she enjoys doing this activity with
John. John didn’t have her write down what she ate because she was too
tired. She had turkey on a roll. John wanted to cut it in half and she
got mad at John and told him no. John took the soup away because it is
full of salt. There was a pie crust with pudding and John cut it up to
make it easier for her to eat. She didn’t eat her veggies. John worked
with her with a ball with bumps on it. He told mom that it is for
her hand. She pointed to her effected hand. She told John, “I have to do
this with it.” She took the ball and put it under her frozen finger and
opened up her left hand to wrap around the ball. John was very
impressed. Then she put the ball in her effected hand and rolled the
ball with her left hand on her tray. The CNA came in and put mom in bed.
He takes the dirty clothes and drops them off to dad each time he goes.
She kept telling John to leave and go home. She told him that she was
worried that Claudia would be mad because he came to visit her. When
John went to put her to bed, mom only had one hearing aid. He told
mom and mom said she definitely had them. John checked the bed and the
floor. He went out to the nurse and told her and looked for the CNA. He
went back into the room and asked mom to lift her head and mom lifted
her head and the hearing aid was under her head. Mom was very nervous
and kept asking John if he found them over and over. John showed her the
case with the two hearing aids in the case but mom was still worried.
John kissed her goodnight and left.
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:9
Mom Update, October 12, 2011, Wednesday
Hi,
Sorry I didn't get this out last night.
Dad startedt eh day with mom since I was told I can't see mom for 5-6 days. I have bronchitis. Anthony came next and worked with mom to stand. He said she was doing a calendar worksheet when he came in and the answers were all correct. He was very discouraged about the fact that mom had a difficult time standing. He said it was as if she had forgotten what to do. She was able to pull herself up but not stand straight and could only stand for 3 or 4 seconds. One thing we have noticed is that she has peaks and valleys. She still goes through very clear times and very foggy times. The one good thing about it is that she usually rebounds back better than before. I just hope she isn't coming down with something. Her roommate was moved because they suspect she has an infection. She is in a room by herself. We have a new elderly erson in the room with mom.
John came to be with mom at night and put her to bed. He played cards with her. He had her place all the cards in the deck in suit and number order. when she finished he put them away and mom said, "That's it?" I guess she wanted to play a game! While John was there a young girl came in to see her grandmother and they started to talk. The girl told John that she just came from school and John asked where she goes to school. It turns out that the girl goes to the school where Kathy and I work---and she is in my class!!!
It's a small world!
Peace and Be well,
Claudia
Sorry I didn't get this out last night.
Dad startedt eh day with mom since I was told I can't see mom for 5-6 days. I have bronchitis. Anthony came next and worked with mom to stand. He said she was doing a calendar worksheet when he came in and the answers were all correct. He was very discouraged about the fact that mom had a difficult time standing. He said it was as if she had forgotten what to do. She was able to pull herself up but not stand straight and could only stand for 3 or 4 seconds. One thing we have noticed is that she has peaks and valleys. She still goes through very clear times and very foggy times. The one good thing about it is that she usually rebounds back better than before. I just hope she isn't coming down with something. Her roommate was moved because they suspect she has an infection. She is in a room by herself. We have a new elderly erson in the room with mom.
John came to be with mom at night and put her to bed. He played cards with her. He had her place all the cards in the deck in suit and number order. when she finished he put them away and mom said, "That's it?" I guess she wanted to play a game! While John was there a young girl came in to see her grandmother and they started to talk. The girl told John that she just came from school and John asked where she goes to school. It turns out that the girl goes to the school where Kathy and I work---and she is in my class!!!
It's a small world!
Peace and Be well,
Claudia
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Mom Update, October 11, 2011, Tuesday
I began the morning with mom. She was awake and had begun to eat breakfast. She had scrambled eggs, OJ, prune juice, oatmeal, apple/berry sauce and Fiber One cereal. She was happy to see me and commented on my outfit (she always used to do that---tell me how beautiful my outfit is!). Mom and I talked as she ate breakfast. We did the calendar and wrote in her “Memory Book” (this is a book that has a page a day for the date, day, menu, activities, visitors…mom writes in the book as the day progresses and then uses the book as a reference to help her remember what happened today). After mom ate, I set her up with the remote and phone and some activities and left for work.
Mom is getting better and better each day—memory included. Donna made the observation recently that mom had to first relearn everything and now that she has indeed relearned everything, she now has to concentrate on remembering. Mom goes back for a check up at the neurologist on Thursday, the results of the carotid artery scan showed no stenosis (clogs), which is good.
When Anthony came to see mom, he said she was crying a lot that she wants to go home. He tried to work with mom but she gets distracted by her roommate’s TV. She stood a few times but couldn’t straighten up. When Anthony had to leave mom, she was upset that he was leaving. Dad came to see mom next. Dad said that mom did well in her therapies but the physical therapist told him that mom is not yet ready to get rid of the “serita” lift (the machine that helps pull her to a standing position) because she still needs to work a little more on pivoting her feet to turn. The PT said that it would be soon though that mom will be ready to give up the serita lift and just transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet using the bar on the bathroom wall.
Lenny came tonight to put mom to sleep. He said that mom ate dinner and they talked. Then they looked at and read his “Children’s Literature” textbook and made notes in the chapter together. They talked and laughed and watched TV and then he prayed with mom and put her to bed.
Claudia has bronchitis, so please say a prayer for her. She can’t see mom for at least 4-5 days. Mom misses her and asked for her this morning (I am just chopped liver I guess!! Hahaha!!).
“I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you” Ezekiel 36:26
Mom is getting better and better each day—memory included. Donna made the observation recently that mom had to first relearn everything and now that she has indeed relearned everything, she now has to concentrate on remembering. Mom goes back for a check up at the neurologist on Thursday, the results of the carotid artery scan showed no stenosis (clogs), which is good.
When Anthony came to see mom, he said she was crying a lot that she wants to go home. He tried to work with mom but she gets distracted by her roommate’s TV. She stood a few times but couldn’t straighten up. When Anthony had to leave mom, she was upset that he was leaving. Dad came to see mom next. Dad said that mom did well in her therapies but the physical therapist told him that mom is not yet ready to get rid of the “serita” lift (the machine that helps pull her to a standing position) because she still needs to work a little more on pivoting her feet to turn. The PT said that it would be soon though that mom will be ready to give up the serita lift and just transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet using the bar on the bathroom wall.
Lenny came tonight to put mom to sleep. He said that mom ate dinner and they talked. Then they looked at and read his “Children’s Literature” textbook and made notes in the chapter together. They talked and laughed and watched TV and then he prayed with mom and put her to bed.
Claudia has bronchitis, so please say a prayer for her. She can’t see mom for at least 4-5 days. Mom misses her and asked for her this morning (I am just chopped liver I guess!! Hahaha!!).
“I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you” Ezekiel 36:26
Monday, October 10, 2011
Mom Update, October 10, 2011, Monday
Dad began the morning with mom. Mom was up and dressed already and had breakfast already. Pop brought her a donut and she loved it. Dad and mom worked on clocks on the table before her. Dad drew on the large foam clock and made a line down the middle and wrote “before” and “after” on each side. Mom wants to be able to tell time on an analogue clock. She does well with the digital clock, but this doesn’t satisfy mom. Dad told her to forget about the analogue clock and mom said, “But I want to be able to do it BOTH ways!” She has some drive and determination!! Thank God!! They worked on telling time all morning.
Anthony and Samantha came to see mom next. They and dad took mom for a walk around the grounds of the facility. Anthony made pasta and homemade pesto for mom---it looked like a pound--- and mom ate it all!!! She loved it!! I came to see mom and the person at the front desk told me that mom went for a walk with Anthony, Sam and Dad!! Everyone at the facility knows mom and us!! We all sat outside and talked and I put mom’s make up on. John and Claudia joined us all next.
Today, the local newspaper reporters came to do an interview with mom and write about her story. They spent well over an hour with us. We told them all about mom’s story from start to finish. They were amazed with mom and her story. Mom’s friends, Sister Suzanne and Rita, came to see mom during the interview. Mom began to cry when she saw them both. She was so happy and surprised to see them. Terry joined the gang next. We all went upstairs to show the reporters mom’s room next. We showed them all mom’s materials and games and devices…that we made and bought and use to work with mom. They took pictures of mom and all of us for the article. The article will be in the local paper the week of October 20.
Mom had lunch—Anthony’s pesto---after the reporters left. She visited with Rita and Suzanne while she ate. After lunch, she went down to therapy next.Dad and I left and Terry stayed with mom until Con and the kids came back tonight to put mom to bed.
"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it was received with thanksgiving" 1 Timothy 4:4
Anthony and Samantha came to see mom next. They and dad took mom for a walk around the grounds of the facility. Anthony made pasta and homemade pesto for mom---it looked like a pound--- and mom ate it all!!! She loved it!! I came to see mom and the person at the front desk told me that mom went for a walk with Anthony, Sam and Dad!! Everyone at the facility knows mom and us!! We all sat outside and talked and I put mom’s make up on. John and Claudia joined us all next.
Today, the local newspaper reporters came to do an interview with mom and write about her story. They spent well over an hour with us. We told them all about mom’s story from start to finish. They were amazed with mom and her story. Mom’s friends, Sister Suzanne and Rita, came to see mom during the interview. Mom began to cry when she saw them both. She was so happy and surprised to see them. Terry joined the gang next. We all went upstairs to show the reporters mom’s room next. We showed them all mom’s materials and games and devices…that we made and bought and use to work with mom. They took pictures of mom and all of us for the article. The article will be in the local paper the week of October 20.
Mom had lunch—Anthony’s pesto---after the reporters left. She visited with Rita and Suzanne while she ate. After lunch, she went down to therapy next.Dad and I left and Terry stayed with mom until Con and the kids came back tonight to put mom to bed.
"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it was received with thanksgiving" 1 Timothy 4:4
Mom Update, October 9, 2011, Sunday
Mom’s update Sunday, October 9, 2011
Last night Terry sat with mom and watched TV. Mom read a magazine. Last night mom had to go to the bathroom and the CNA asked the PT who was in the hall to help her and he came in and showed her how mom can transfer to the toilet from the wheel chair. He wheeled the chair into the bathroom and mom held onto the bar on the wall and stood up and swung around to sit on the toilet! Woohoo! One step closer to coming home!
John and I started the day with mom. She was in bed crying when I arrived. She was complaining that she wanted to go home and that she hates being in the rehab. I held her hand and calmed her down. We were actually very early this morning because we brought her a special Sunday breakfast. We brought her a ham, egg and cheese omelet with home fries. Mom loved it and ate the whole thing. She also had prune juice on her tray to help with bowel issues and she was not happy about drinking it. I told her the nurse would come in to see if she drank it and she said, “What am I three years old?” About 5 minutes later the nurse came in and asked if she drank her prune juice! HA!!! It was pretty funny.
After breakfast I did the calendar with her. I showed John the calendar worksheets that we do and mom did it but needed a lot of prompting with regard to where to put the answers. Next we did a math sheet with ordering two digit numbers form least to greatest and again she had a hard time figuring out where to put the answers. She knew the answer but couldn’t put them on the sheet.
John, mom and I played bananagrams. We each took 16 tiles and tried to make our own crosswords. The person that had the fewest tiles left over won the round. Mom needed help but had fun. If we started a word she could finish it. A few times she made a word by herself. I then took out her IPad and we played tangrams. Mom was able to match shape to shape and reach to put them where they belong. The tasks may seem easy but she has to grab the shape (eye hand – sometimes an issue) and them reach with her arm to place it where it belongs. She then played solitaire and did great. She needed a little help. Con, Anthony, Anthony Michael and Samantha came. John and I stayed a little while longer and then left.
Mom had lunch. She ate Meatloaf, carrots and potatoes. We are having mom write what she has for each meal in a “memory book” as per her speech therapist. This way we can ask her what she had and she can look in the book to answer questions. We also write down who came to visit and any special activities. Again, this way she can answer questions. After lunch Con, Anthony, Anthony Michael and Sam all played cards with mom. Aunt Lucy called and mom spoke to her for a little while. Next, they went outside for a walk and then sat out front to visit for and enjoy the beautiful day. Terry came while they were outside.
Dad was upstate this weekend to close everything up for the winter. Mom knew where dad was and told me she felt bad because she wished she could have gone upstate too. Dad came straight to see mom from upstate. He brought her the bulletin from church upstate. Mom read the entire bulletin. Dad stayed a little while and went home. He was tired from driving all day.
Terry stayed with mom tonight. I didn’t hear from her to see how mom was tonight. I will let you know tomorrow.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
Last night Terry sat with mom and watched TV. Mom read a magazine. Last night mom had to go to the bathroom and the CNA asked the PT who was in the hall to help her and he came in and showed her how mom can transfer to the toilet from the wheel chair. He wheeled the chair into the bathroom and mom held onto the bar on the wall and stood up and swung around to sit on the toilet! Woohoo! One step closer to coming home!
John and I started the day with mom. She was in bed crying when I arrived. She was complaining that she wanted to go home and that she hates being in the rehab. I held her hand and calmed her down. We were actually very early this morning because we brought her a special Sunday breakfast. We brought her a ham, egg and cheese omelet with home fries. Mom loved it and ate the whole thing. She also had prune juice on her tray to help with bowel issues and she was not happy about drinking it. I told her the nurse would come in to see if she drank it and she said, “What am I three years old?” About 5 minutes later the nurse came in and asked if she drank her prune juice! HA!!! It was pretty funny.
After breakfast I did the calendar with her. I showed John the calendar worksheets that we do and mom did it but needed a lot of prompting with regard to where to put the answers. Next we did a math sheet with ordering two digit numbers form least to greatest and again she had a hard time figuring out where to put the answers. She knew the answer but couldn’t put them on the sheet.
John, mom and I played bananagrams. We each took 16 tiles and tried to make our own crosswords. The person that had the fewest tiles left over won the round. Mom needed help but had fun. If we started a word she could finish it. A few times she made a word by herself. I then took out her IPad and we played tangrams. Mom was able to match shape to shape and reach to put them where they belong. The tasks may seem easy but she has to grab the shape (eye hand – sometimes an issue) and them reach with her arm to place it where it belongs. She then played solitaire and did great. She needed a little help. Con, Anthony, Anthony Michael and Samantha came. John and I stayed a little while longer and then left.
Mom had lunch. She ate Meatloaf, carrots and potatoes. We are having mom write what she has for each meal in a “memory book” as per her speech therapist. This way we can ask her what she had and she can look in the book to answer questions. We also write down who came to visit and any special activities. Again, this way she can answer questions. After lunch Con, Anthony, Anthony Michael and Sam all played cards with mom. Aunt Lucy called and mom spoke to her for a little while. Next, they went outside for a walk and then sat out front to visit for and enjoy the beautiful day. Terry came while they were outside.
Dad was upstate this weekend to close everything up for the winter. Mom knew where dad was and told me she felt bad because she wished she could have gone upstate too. Dad came straight to see mom from upstate. He brought her the bulletin from church upstate. Mom read the entire bulletin. Dad stayed a little while and went home. He was tired from driving all day.
Terry stayed with mom tonight. I didn’t hear from her to see how mom was tonight. I will let you know tomorrow.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
Mom Update, October 8, 2011, Saturday
Mom’s update Saturday, October 8, 2011
I started the day with mom. She was awake when I came in the room. She asked me to fix her in the bed. I pulled her up in the bed and raised the bed to a sitting position. I cleaned her hearing aids and put them in and fixed her breakfast. After breakfast the CNA came in the room and washed her up and got her dressed for the day. I gave mom a calendar worksheet to do. She needed some prompting. I showed her the back cover of the NY Post. It said “Three Stooges” in big letters and had a picture of Moe, Larry and Curly (all Yankees – A-Rod, Texeira, and Swisher!). She laughed! I hung it on John’s picture (the big one on the back of the door. We filled out her memory book with the date and what she ate for breakfast. I also had her write down that there is no PT today because she keeps asking when PT is coming to take her. She was a little confused today. I brought her an insulated cup with flowers on it for her water. She was asking for water and I directed her toward tha new cup. She said, “I can’t drink from that. What is that?” I told her it was a cup that I bought her and she said I don’t drink from that (meanwhile she already drank from it many times that morning). I told her I would take a picture of her drinking form it to show her. I did. I showed her drinking from it and she looked at the picture. I told her she had been drinking from it all morning. She said OK and never brought it up again.
I took out the Ipad and we did the speech and language apps from a speech catalog that I downloaded for her. One was a category app. She loves doing this activity and she did very well. She always says something funny when we do this app. She also did the “Pragmatics” app. It ahs various questions about specific scenerios. One picture was that of a mother and child in a car. The child looked sick. The question was, “The child is sick, where is the mother taking him?” Mom said to school, he isn’t really sick! Then she laughed! (inside joke – I use to fake being sick so I didn’t have to go to school! I use to give my parents a very hard time going to school – I know, I know…so I became a teacher, right!) I switched activitied and mom said, “Let’s go back to the other game.” We then played hangman. Mom wasn’t really interested.
Mom then watched a little TV with her roommate. She and her husband were watching an old western. Mom was really interested in the movie. Mom and I had lunch together. Mom had a corned beef sandwich, potato salad and fruit. Mom ate all of her lunch. I gave mom an English grammar booklet that I had and she was fascinated. She couldn’t put it down. I set up her tray and left. Terry came shortly after.
I didn’t get a chance to talk to Terry about their evening so I will include what happened in tomorrows email.
Peace and Love,
~Claud
I started the day with mom. She was awake when I came in the room. She asked me to fix her in the bed. I pulled her up in the bed and raised the bed to a sitting position. I cleaned her hearing aids and put them in and fixed her breakfast. After breakfast the CNA came in the room and washed her up and got her dressed for the day. I gave mom a calendar worksheet to do. She needed some prompting. I showed her the back cover of the NY Post. It said “Three Stooges” in big letters and had a picture of Moe, Larry and Curly (all Yankees – A-Rod, Texeira, and Swisher!). She laughed! I hung it on John’s picture (the big one on the back of the door. We filled out her memory book with the date and what she ate for breakfast. I also had her write down that there is no PT today because she keeps asking when PT is coming to take her. She was a little confused today. I brought her an insulated cup with flowers on it for her water. She was asking for water and I directed her toward tha new cup. She said, “I can’t drink from that. What is that?” I told her it was a cup that I bought her and she said I don’t drink from that (meanwhile she already drank from it many times that morning). I told her I would take a picture of her drinking form it to show her. I did. I showed her drinking from it and she looked at the picture. I told her she had been drinking from it all morning. She said OK and never brought it up again.
I took out the Ipad and we did the speech and language apps from a speech catalog that I downloaded for her. One was a category app. She loves doing this activity and she did very well. She always says something funny when we do this app. She also did the “Pragmatics” app. It ahs various questions about specific scenerios. One picture was that of a mother and child in a car. The child looked sick. The question was, “The child is sick, where is the mother taking him?” Mom said to school, he isn’t really sick! Then she laughed! (inside joke – I use to fake being sick so I didn’t have to go to school! I use to give my parents a very hard time going to school – I know, I know…so I became a teacher, right!) I switched activitied and mom said, “Let’s go back to the other game.” We then played hangman. Mom wasn’t really interested.
Mom then watched a little TV with her roommate. She and her husband were watching an old western. Mom was really interested in the movie. Mom and I had lunch together. Mom had a corned beef sandwich, potato salad and fruit. Mom ate all of her lunch. I gave mom an English grammar booklet that I had and she was fascinated. She couldn’t put it down. I set up her tray and left. Terry came shortly after.
I didn’t get a chance to talk to Terry about their evening so I will include what happened in tomorrows email.
Peace and Love,
~Claud
Mom Update, October 7, 2011, Friday
Mom’s update Friday, October 7, 2011
Kathy wrote: When I arrived to see mom this morning, I found her in bed crying…sobbing actually. Her breakfast was before her and she had eaten some of it, but she was sobbing. I asked what was wrong and she said, “I can’t do anything.” I pointed out to her that she could do lots of things and I gave her a tissue. She sobbed that she wants to go home. I told her it would be soon but she said, “Everyone keeps saying that but I don’t believe you!” She wanted to call dad. She kept saying she wants to go home to be with dad. We called dad and they talked and cried together. Dad said that mom’s new roommate cries a lot and he thinks that is why mom is crying. After I hung up with dad, I told her mom we needed to pray. I calmed her down and focused her back on breakfast. A nurse came in to give mom a heparin shot. She gets them in her stomach. I asked the nurse if these shots were discontinued and the nurse went to check and said, “Not yet.” Mom’s main nurse came in next and assured us that a call to the doctor regarding discontinuing the shots would take place this morning. The OT came in to see mom this morning. The OT explained that the correct splint for mom’s hand was not available so they ordered the splint for mom. In the meantime they gave mom a different splint that is not quite right but, it serves to keep the fingers of mom’s left hand open though slightly curled to keep the fingers spread apart. It is called a hand roll. Mom’s fingers (and just some of them) on the left hand are the only true physical damage to her body after the stroke, amazing. The OT also said something very encouraging. The OT explained that there are two main things to work on with mom with regard to using the toilet. One thing involves using the toilet. To use the toilet, mom needs to be able to move from a sitting to a standing position. Then she needs to twist her body to the side at the hips while pivoting her feet (moving one foot to the side, then turning the foot and bringing the other foot next to it) so she can sit down on the toilet. This is a much more complicated skill. The other easier skill involves transferring form a wheel chair to a commode. In this case, mom needs to move form a sitting position to a standing position (which she can do with a lot of consistency) and hold the standing position for a few seconds then, while she is standing, someone quickly skooches the wheelchair away and puts the commode behind her and mom sits. This is so much easier to do! BUT right now it is a two person job since mom can’t totally hold herself up for too long. Someone has to spot mom (watch that see doesn’t fall) while the other person moves the chair and places a commode under mom. BUT…it can happen soon. Today I showed mom the calendar and she picked out the day and date for yesterday. She answered that today is the same day as yesterday, “Thursday, October 6th, 2011.” When I told her that was yesterday and asked what today is she quickly said, “Oh, right, then today is Friday, October 7, 2011.” This is such a huge improvement in just a short matter of weeks. She couldn’t make heads or tails out of the calendar a few weeks back. We just kept working on it anyway. Mom said, “Gee, sometimes I just forget, like how I forgot to tell time.” Mom commented about how ‘These women are all very spiritual.” She was referring to the CNA’s One of the CNA’s came into mom’s room to help out. The CNA said that from the first day mom was at the facility in the respiratory unit there was a strong presence of God surrounding mom. The CNA’s said that the scripture verses on the walls of mom’s room was so inspiring and comforting. We read mom’s scripture verses, “Oh sleeper…arise and call upon your God” Jonah 1:6. We talked about how blessed mom is to have had so many spiritual people around her. The CNA said that a friend from church was in need last night and the CNA told the friend about mom and used mom’s story as a testimony of encouragement and faith. Then the CNA gave the friend the wristband we gave to all the CNA’s that says, “Don’t quit 5 mins B4 the miracle happens.” Mom and her story were again a source of inspiration to someone in need. Again God takes the lemons that life hands out and makes lemonade. This CNA told mom that mom was in the CNA’s spirit last night so the CNA prayed for mom all night. The CNA had the feeling that mom is going to be walking by the end of next week. Mom tried to remember what everyone’s middle name is asking, “What’s Terry’s middle name?” I said, “Therese…” and mom said, “Marie” which is correct. Then we went through everyone’s name and middle name. Mom got everyone’s middle name correct! Mom’s CNA showed mom a picture of the CNA’s daughter from her birthday party. Then mom and I read the speech I made at work last night. Mom wanted to know who I spoke in front of then, asked if I memorized the speech! When I told her I hadn’t memorized it, she asked, “Oh! Why not? You should have!” Mom made some phone calls then. She spoke to Anthony first. Then she called John and told him it is too bad the Yankees lost last night. She did the same with Jean. She called Ava next to see how she was. We didn’t do too many structured activities this morning because much of the morning was consumed with breakfast, toileting and her shower. Mom’s new roommate is very weepy. She is upset to be with the other residents for meals or socialization purposes. The roommate complained about everyone and everything. She seems to be sad about her situation (understandably so). Mom hears her roommate cry and joins right in. I told mom she has to be inspiration to her roommate and not join in.
After mom’s shower she brushed her teeth. She did so well. She even grabbed paper towels and wiped up the sink. She asked me to do her hair and makeup so we did that. Then mom began to cry (her roommate had already been crying). Mom cried about the fact that when she comes home Grammy won’t be there. Then dad came and we went for walk down to her old unit. Everyone was very happy to see her. The old pulmonologist said, “Mom is a testimony that we are all at God’s mercy and that she is a living miracle and one of the biggest reason’s that they keep going.” Next we went to the computer room and watched Jean and Ava on Youtube. Mom loved it! She said that she is jealous that Jean and Ava went and did something with their talent and that she is never did (as a young person). She said she is very proud of them. I went home and dad and mom ate lunch.
Dad spent the rest of the day with mom and put her to bed.
Kathy wrote: When I arrived to see mom this morning, I found her in bed crying…sobbing actually. Her breakfast was before her and she had eaten some of it, but she was sobbing. I asked what was wrong and she said, “I can’t do anything.” I pointed out to her that she could do lots of things and I gave her a tissue. She sobbed that she wants to go home. I told her it would be soon but she said, “Everyone keeps saying that but I don’t believe you!” She wanted to call dad. She kept saying she wants to go home to be with dad. We called dad and they talked and cried together. Dad said that mom’s new roommate cries a lot and he thinks that is why mom is crying. After I hung up with dad, I told her mom we needed to pray. I calmed her down and focused her back on breakfast. A nurse came in to give mom a heparin shot. She gets them in her stomach. I asked the nurse if these shots were discontinued and the nurse went to check and said, “Not yet.” Mom’s main nurse came in next and assured us that a call to the doctor regarding discontinuing the shots would take place this morning. The OT came in to see mom this morning. The OT explained that the correct splint for mom’s hand was not available so they ordered the splint for mom. In the meantime they gave mom a different splint that is not quite right but, it serves to keep the fingers of mom’s left hand open though slightly curled to keep the fingers spread apart. It is called a hand roll. Mom’s fingers (and just some of them) on the left hand are the only true physical damage to her body after the stroke, amazing. The OT also said something very encouraging. The OT explained that there are two main things to work on with mom with regard to using the toilet. One thing involves using the toilet. To use the toilet, mom needs to be able to move from a sitting to a standing position. Then she needs to twist her body to the side at the hips while pivoting her feet (moving one foot to the side, then turning the foot and bringing the other foot next to it) so she can sit down on the toilet. This is a much more complicated skill. The other easier skill involves transferring form a wheel chair to a commode. In this case, mom needs to move form a sitting position to a standing position (which she can do with a lot of consistency) and hold the standing position for a few seconds then, while she is standing, someone quickly skooches the wheelchair away and puts the commode behind her and mom sits. This is so much easier to do! BUT right now it is a two person job since mom can’t totally hold herself up for too long. Someone has to spot mom (watch that see doesn’t fall) while the other person moves the chair and places a commode under mom. BUT…it can happen soon. Today I showed mom the calendar and she picked out the day and date for yesterday. She answered that today is the same day as yesterday, “Thursday, October 6th, 2011.” When I told her that was yesterday and asked what today is she quickly said, “Oh, right, then today is Friday, October 7, 2011.” This is such a huge improvement in just a short matter of weeks. She couldn’t make heads or tails out of the calendar a few weeks back. We just kept working on it anyway. Mom said, “Gee, sometimes I just forget, like how I forgot to tell time.” Mom commented about how ‘These women are all very spiritual.” She was referring to the CNA’s One of the CNA’s came into mom’s room to help out. The CNA said that from the first day mom was at the facility in the respiratory unit there was a strong presence of God surrounding mom. The CNA’s said that the scripture verses on the walls of mom’s room was so inspiring and comforting. We read mom’s scripture verses, “Oh sleeper…arise and call upon your God” Jonah 1:6. We talked about how blessed mom is to have had so many spiritual people around her. The CNA said that a friend from church was in need last night and the CNA told the friend about mom and used mom’s story as a testimony of encouragement and faith. Then the CNA gave the friend the wristband we gave to all the CNA’s that says, “Don’t quit 5 mins B4 the miracle happens.” Mom and her story were again a source of inspiration to someone in need. Again God takes the lemons that life hands out and makes lemonade. This CNA told mom that mom was in the CNA’s spirit last night so the CNA prayed for mom all night. The CNA had the feeling that mom is going to be walking by the end of next week. Mom tried to remember what everyone’s middle name is asking, “What’s Terry’s middle name?” I said, “Therese…” and mom said, “Marie” which is correct. Then we went through everyone’s name and middle name. Mom got everyone’s middle name correct! Mom’s CNA showed mom a picture of the CNA’s daughter from her birthday party. Then mom and I read the speech I made at work last night. Mom wanted to know who I spoke in front of then, asked if I memorized the speech! When I told her I hadn’t memorized it, she asked, “Oh! Why not? You should have!” Mom made some phone calls then. She spoke to Anthony first. Then she called John and told him it is too bad the Yankees lost last night. She did the same with Jean. She called Ava next to see how she was. We didn’t do too many structured activities this morning because much of the morning was consumed with breakfast, toileting and her shower. Mom’s new roommate is very weepy. She is upset to be with the other residents for meals or socialization purposes. The roommate complained about everyone and everything. She seems to be sad about her situation (understandably so). Mom hears her roommate cry and joins right in. I told mom she has to be inspiration to her roommate and not join in.
After mom’s shower she brushed her teeth. She did so well. She even grabbed paper towels and wiped up the sink. She asked me to do her hair and makeup so we did that. Then mom began to cry (her roommate had already been crying). Mom cried about the fact that when she comes home Grammy won’t be there. Then dad came and we went for walk down to her old unit. Everyone was very happy to see her. The old pulmonologist said, “Mom is a testimony that we are all at God’s mercy and that she is a living miracle and one of the biggest reason’s that they keep going.” Next we went to the computer room and watched Jean and Ava on Youtube. Mom loved it! She said that she is jealous that Jean and Ava went and did something with their talent and that she is never did (as a young person). She said she is very proud of them. I went home and dad and mom ate lunch.
Dad spent the rest of the day with mom and put her to bed.
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