Mom’s update Tuesday, October 4, 2011
I started the day with mom and I was early today and mom was already sitting up in bed eating. Mom said, “I have to hurry because I am going to the doctor today.” I asked the nurse and she was correct. I helped her with breakfast and then she went into the shower. The speech therapist came in an showed me a “memory book” she made for mom. It had a calendar in it and a form that asked what day and month and year it is. Then a journal page for mom to write what she ate at each meal and who visited that day. It also has a section for any special events that happened that day. We are to ask her questions about her day and if she can’t answer them then we are to direct her to her memory book to act as an outside source of memory.
I left when she came out of the shower and I met dad in the hallway. There was a bad accident on Sunrise Hwy and it took dad an hour to get to mom this morning. Dad stayed with mom and went with her to the doctor. There was a mix up with the transport and they didn’t leave until an hour later than scheduled. Then they were told they were taking another person and they had to drop her off first! Mom and dad went for a nice ride. Thank goodness the doctor is so nice and understands that transportation is out of our hands. He saw mom. Mom had the first of two Botox shots for her hand. She should see some results in 3-4days. It was very painful. She has to do exercise. The doctor also prescribed a different hand brace that would keep her fingers straight. We have to make sure that the hand brace is on whenever she isn’t working with it and at night. When dad got back to the facility he gave the prescription to the therapy department and after therapy mom had a brace on with her fingers curved drastically. Dad explained again what the prescription said about keeping her fingers straight.
Anthony came with dad to the doctor. He met them there. Kathy came to see mom between classes.
I came back to see mom and I brought us two canolies for dessert. I also brought more calendars and following directions worksheets. I made a lot of October 2012 calendars. The reason I did that was because the worksheets that ask questions using a calendar have random months and years (for example – April 2006). This was very confusing to mom. She actually did two of them with no problem and then this morning when we were waiting for dad she became very confused about the month and year and kept telling me it was wrong because it is October 2011 (How can I argue with logic!). I then took the worksheets and copied all of the information on an October 2011 calendar. I then gave her one and she answered all of the questions. The calendar had to do with someone who has a horse. There were appointments on the calendar like horseback riding lessons and buying food for Tina and going to the stable. One question was, “Who is Tina?” mom wrote – Tina is a horse. The next question was, “What happens two days after he buys food for Tina?” Mom wrote – “the horse has a bowel movement.” I don’t mean to be crude, but it is exactly what she wrote! I think we are spending a little too much time worrying about mom’s bowels so it is on her mind!
At first I thought she was making a joke, but she said no after the horse eats he has to go! (again…I can’t argue with logic!) She cracks me up. I took out her IPad and she played the word jumble game independently.
Then the CNA’s came in and put mom to bed. I was happy because I was very tired for some reason. Mom said she was very tired too and then I remembered that she went to the doctor and that usually knocks her out.
I came back into the room, sat by the bed side and talked and watched TV. We said a prayer and I kissed her goodnight and left.
Peace and be well,
~Claud
No comments:
Post a Comment