Today I started the day with mom. Yesterday her aide never came and dad and I were alone getting her ready for the day. It was great having the aide there today. We got mom ready and she was in a great mood and really sharp today. I bought mom a movement DVD. It has arm movements set to classical music. I put it on and mom, her aide and I moved to the music. I explained to her aide that she should do this every day to keep mom moving. I played a great game with her on her Ipad. She loved it. It was a combination crossword and hidden picture game (two of mom’s favorite things!). First you tapped on the crossword and a clue pops up. You have to figure out the clue and then find the picture of the item in the picture. She loved it. We played four games.
Dad and I had plans to go to BJ wholesale Club today and Terry would stay with mom. When her aide left I told dad that it was so nice out that we should take mom to BJ’s. So we did! We got her ready and put her in the car and took her with us. Mom was so happy to be out. We drove past my house and John came out to say hi. I brought my cat outside (Pacey) to see mom. He is the big mush cat and mom liked seeing him.
Next we drove past Aunt Carol’s house, but she was sick so she waved from the door. We pulled up to BJ’s and put mom in her wheel chair. When we got inside, mom cried. She was so happy to be out in a store. We walked around the store and mom was so happy.
On the way home we stopped at Nathan’s and bought some hot dogs and fries to take home for lunch. Mom called Kathy and told her where she went. She also told her that dad was in Nathans’ and that, “How much ya wanna make a bet her gets the wrong stuff!”
When we were just pulling up to the house, my mom’s friend Flo called and I was in a panic because Flo brings mom the Eucharist on Sunday and we never told her we were taking mom. She was worried and didn’t know where we were. As I was taking mom out of the car, I told mom that Flo was here and she said, “Oh shoot, now I have to share my French fries with her!” She was really on!
We went into the house and mom’s other friend came, Maureen. Maureen was talking about how she was going to now have hot dogs for dinner after smelling the Nathan’s. She a Flo were talking about going to Nathan’s and Maureen said, “Oh I left my debit card at home and I don’t have a lot of cash on me.” Mom said, “For goodness sake, make a contribution and give her a dollar!” We were all cracking up!
~Claud
In the early afternoon today, the phone rang. I answered and was surprised to hear mom's voice!! "Kathy? Guess where I am?!!" she said excitedly. "Where?" I asked. "I'm at BJs!! and I cried when I first went in," she said. Claudia and Dad decided to take mom for a ride today to do some shopping. They drove past Claudia and John's house and John came out with one of their cats to show mom. They also drove past Aunt Carol's house and waved from the door (Aunt Carol has a bad cold). Mom said, "Boy, I'm just sort of really nervous to drive with dad in the car." I laughed and told her we ALL are nervous driving with dad behind the wheel!! hahaha!! Mom then told me that they are going to Nathan's for lunch!! She loves Nathans and she and dad went there often. At one point, Mom lamented that she thinks she will never be able to drive again and began to cry....I found it amazing that she is now aware enough to remember that she once drove and also that she would have liked to continue to drive. Mom's brain injury in the frontal lobe of her brain...where executive functioning takes place. One of the areas of living that this part of the brain controls is the ability to "make plans" of any kind. Mom doesn't make plans since the stroke and aneurysm. And boy...she was definitely a big time "plan maker!!!!" She had lists and lists and lists of things to do surrounding her always. No more. She also doesn't have high blood pressure any more (since she was in her twenties her pressure has been high), so maybe there is something to be said about an inability to plan life compared to just existing in it?!! Mom sounded so normal on the phone. Low volume to her voice, but normal, lucid. I called mom the other day and she hurriedly told me, "Listen, Anthony is here now and we are trying to walk with the walker. I can't talk now." Her ability to be present and with us mentally is truly amazing. When I visited her the other day, she talked and talked and also practiced exercising with a tool that looks like 2 long, thick rubber bands with a black handle on each. Mom uses them to hold on with one hand while pulling and stretching with the other. Claudia bought these for mom. Claudia just texted me as I am writing and said that they are now at Nathans and dad just took their orders and went in to get the food. Mom turned to Claudia and said, "Wanna bet he gets the wrong thing?!!" and laughed. She'sssss bacccccckkkkkk!!!!
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
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