Can you believe this is the last day of April?  Where has this month gone?  Well, mine has been spent at UHC.  I will say that I was blessed with a beautiful view of the woods across from the back of UHC.  Each room has a gorgeous view.  Mom and I also could watch the planes come and go daily. 

 

This afternoon AllMed is delivering the hospital bed and lift.  Tomorrow Mom gets to come home.  I am both excited and scared to death but when I get 24 hours of her being home under my belt I will feel better. It is something new and as I have become older, those experiences seem to scare me more than excite me.  Getting old is the pits. lol  My new motto is that God never gives me more than I can handle. 

 

Mom's weekend was very verbal.  Since Friday, she talks constantly not saying much that is understandable.  They are having to give her the Ativan more often to calm her down.  Didn't eat any of their breakfast yesterday but did eat a donut and had her daily Starbucks.  We will miss those when we get home.  For lunch, she was so sleepy but like a child was fighting sleep.  I did get her to eat the mashed potatoes, jello and all the coconut cream cake and drink some coke.

 

Ada came to visit after church and stayed with me until she went back to church for Soup and Sing.  Wilma had a VFW meeting in Fairmont and then came after that.  Mom ate the fettuccine, spitting out the chicken pieces.  The broccoli was to crunchy for her to eat.  She did eat her butterscotch pudding. 

 

She doused herself with ice water at 3:30pm, so I immediately dried her off with towels and put a fresh gown on her (I found where they kept those), but she also got the ace bandage wet on her splint, along with her stuffed dog Chauncey.  I reported it immediately to the charge nurse who told me to wrap the arm in a towel and she would be RIGHT IN to change it.  When the aide came to take her temperature I also reported it to her and she said she would tell the nurse also.  Two hours later I went back to the same nurse who said she was entering orders in the computer and then would be right in.  At 7pm, I told the nurse that if I had to stay till midnight, I was not leaving until the ace bandage was changed and by now my mom said the arm was hurting and I'm sure it was, ice water on an arm that had been broken.  Finally, I saw this nice nurse go by the door and I yelled for her and told her the problem.  She said No one had told her about it and she immediately went to get pain pills, strawberry ice cream and an Ace bandage.  She gave Mom the pills and rewrapped the arm and within 15 minutes my Mom was sound asleep and Jack, Wilma and I left.  I bet the hospital will be glad to get rid of me and I think it is the proper time to bring her home.  Discounting this incident and a couple of other incidents, we have had an overall good experience at UHC.  I am trying to dwell on the positive and discard the negative.

 

Jack is meeting me at the house when the bed and lift are delivered and Wilma has offered to go sit with Mom while we are there.  I am going to have Ashley practice with me today how to put the lift pad under Mom.  That is my lesson for the day.

 

Pray for us as we start this new journey of our lives.  Thank you for reading my daily email.  I may have bored you to death at times but it has been very beneficial for me to journal.  vada

Happy Lord's Day everyone! I can't believe it was 3 weeks ago today that Mom fell.  Some ways it feels like less but more ways it feels like a very long time ago. 

 

Mom was asleep when I got there this yesterday about 9 a.m. and slept through until 5 till noon when she sat bolt up, so I knew they had given her something. Was told they gave her an Ativan at 3:15 a.m. Immediately she started yelling for Charlie. Come to find out when she used his last name together with Charlie, it was a guy that I dated in the late 70's and early 80's. Funny she would be calling for him. When I dated him back then she always said he was to much older than me and to "experienced". lol  Wonder what ever happened to him??? lol

 

Jack came by himself at 2pm and stayed until 4:30pm. He had to go home, shower and change and go to the VFW for dinner. He was so attentive to Mom.  She was in one of her yelling moods and he tried everything to try and quiet her.  Melissa, RN gave Mom another Ativan to calm her down at 3:30pm just before her shift was over.. Finally, after 5 pm, Mom went to sleep. I told them to hold her dinner until she woke up, as she is only eating mashed potatoes and jello anyway. She wouldn't even eat a donut for me today and I had stopped and got fresh ones. I came home at 6pm because I have laundry to do; out of clean shirts after tomorrow.   I had meant to stay awake to watch Katie's award show on livestream but my knees were killing me so I put Ben Gay on them and laid down with the dogs to wait for time for that to be on.  (Kate is in Chicago representing her high school and state in this national competition).  I must have immediately went to sleep because I didn't wake up to see it.  Got an email from Richard that they watched it for hours and did not see her category announced.  I guess we have to wait till Kate gets home to find out how it really went.

 

Thanks again to my wonderful great nephew Tommy for installing my new computer system when he was here Easter weekend.  Without him, I probably would not be boring you all with my daily updates.  He is such a "techy" and tries to keep his old aunt updated in this new tech world and also for showing me how to use my new smartphone.  Because of him, my many hours at the hospital have been so much better, I can text people, look up hospital supplies I need, receive phone calls and oh yes, even play games. Love my bejeweled and mahjongg games and helps to pass the time.   

 

Heading to the hospital.  Glad Mom is coming home on Tuesday.  This sitting is hard work, well it wears me out anyway.  Praying that my knees hold out a few more days of this until we get home and back into a routine.

 

Love to all, vada

Good morning everyone!

 

Hospital bed is being delivered Monday afternoon and plan is to discharge Mom from Rehab on Tuesday morning which probably means she will make it home in time for dinner.  lol

 

Amber, Dr. Waxman's PA was in and took the splint and sling off of mom's arm but she was having such pain that she put it back on and it will remain for another 2 weeks.  X-ray had been taken earlier in the morning and showed everything is in place.  She had terrible pain all day and was given pain medication for it.  This is the second day in a row that she is hollering constantly.  It got so bad at one point the nurse came and shut the door.  It makes me very nervous when she does this but I guess I will have to learn to cope. 

 

She really did not eat well yesterday, only eating pudding and mashed potatoes.  Chastity said she did get her to eat some of her eggs for breakfast and of course, she had her Starbucks.

 

Physical Therapy came in the afternoon and Mom refused to get out of bed no matter how hard they tried.  She did sit up on the side of her bed for a while, but no way was she putting her feet on the floor.

 

Ada, Jack and Wilma came in the evening. Jack did have Mom laughing teasing her with her stuffed dog.  I also got to meet the lady that gave her the dog yesterday.  She is the Activities Director of Rehab.  Nurses yesterday were Dana Short and Mary Jo Farrell, both friends and former employees at the VA. 

 

Happy Saturday for everyone.  vada

Well, I can't sleep so thought I would get my email out early.  This has been an emotional rollercoaster ride type of day.  Allmed called me early and we made plans for the bed and lift to be delivered Thursday afternoon.  Ten minutes later the office girl called me back and said they were switching out trucks and could not deliver till Friday morning so Mom could be discharged Friday afternoon.  Then Dr. Waxman's office told the head nurse that his nurse practitioner would be coming Friday morning to check Mom and I needed to be there for that (and believe me I want to be there), so the social worker called and switched the times for the hospital equipment delivery to Friday afternoon and then around 5:30pm Susan Savidge, social worker came and told me that they had cancelled Mom's discharge from Friday and since they do not do discharges on the weekend from this unit, she will not be discharged till Monday or Tuesday.

 

I was told upon arrival to Mom's room that she had no slept at all during the night and that she yelled all night.  I have no idea why they did not give her an Ativan or maybe they did.  Anyway, she was yelling when I got there and was in pain with the arm.  Nurse immediately brought the pain meds when I asked.  She finally calmed down about 11 a.m.  She looked really out of it and everyone that came in the room said how tired she looked.  When Physical Therapy came, she was so out of it that they couldn't even get her to put her feet on the floor.  They finally gave up and put her back to bed.  She slept until about 3 p.m. and then woke up with a jolt and started yelling for relatives I never heard of, Uncle Martin, etc.  At that point, her nurse of the day, Dana Short that I used to work with at the VA, gave her an Ativan and she was mostly down for the count.  When Jack and Wilma came, she was calling out names again but her eyes were so sleepy I could hardly feed her.

She ate very little lunch, mashed potatoes and drank some of her coke.

She also ate her mashed potatoes for dinner but spit out her carrots and refused the meat.  She did drink some of her coffee and drank a little coke.  She ate a few bites of ice cream for me.

 

The lady from Allmed told me that twin sheets would not fit the hospital bed after I bought 2 sets from Walmart and washed and dried one set.

She told me I needed extra long twin.  I spent the afternoon calling everywhere and was told that they are an item only carried in the fall for college students.  I called Byard Pharmacy and they want $40 for one bottom fitted sheet.  I checked Amazon.com and found them for $14 and change.  In the meantime Polly Lasher called to check on mom and after hanging up from me, called a lady from her church to pray with her over Mom and mentioned that I needed hospital sheets and they lady told her that she had a set that her son had used and she would bring them to her Sunday at church and she is giving them to me.

God is really working in my life and I can clearly see it.  Here I was concerned how I was going to get those sheets here in time for Mom's

arrival home and they are being delivered to the door. 

 

Well, I think I shall head back to bed.  I hope you all have a very blessed Friday.  Thanks for all your prayers, calls and texts.  vada

Good morning!

 

Yesterday started out with an extra treat.  Starbucks messed up my order so I ended up with 3 cafe vanilla frappes that Mom and I shared with Chastity our favorite aide.  My mother loves her Starbucks.  She had that along with butterscotch pudding, all her scrambled eggs, a little potatoes, a little ham for breakfast.  She looked better this morning, had a better color to her face and acted happy.

 

Ashley from Physical Therapy came in and asked me if they had delivered the hospital bed yet.  I told her it would be hard to deliver it since it had never been ordered yet.  She wanted to know what I meant.  I told her I had never seen or heard from the social worker since the first day Mom was admitted to the unit.  I could tell she was upset and she said that the social worker had been in on the discharge planning and knew mom was to go home on Wednesday.  I informed her that today was Wednesday which surprised her.  Hey, I get my days mixed up also.  She said she would go track down the social worker.  This occurred about 10:30 a.m. and it took the social worker until after 1pm to find her way to Mom's room.  She gave me a list of companies to choose where we got the hospital bed and Hoyer lift from and I chose Byard Mercer Pharmacy.  She said she was immediately ordering the bed and they would contact me by cell phone and probably deliver the bed in the morning.  I happened to remember that I had forgotten to buy a "gait belt" for Mom (used in helping to hold on to her while walking, etc).  I know she isn't walking yet, so I waited an hour (2:30pm) and called and talked to Zandy(that is who the social worker told me she dealt with) and asked her to add a gait belt to my order and I would pay the driver for it.  She informed me that she had never been contacted by UHC for a order and in fact, they don't carry Hoyer lifts only the hospital beds.  I asked the head nurse to have the social worker contact me again.  Well, at 6:30 pm, Susan the social worker appears at the room and says Byard Mercer Pharmacy doesn't have a Hoyer lift RIGHT NOW so she has faxed the order to All-Med (out by the mall somewhere) and they should contact me and maybe the bed will be there by Thursday afternoon.  So I am waiting for the hospital bed and lift.  New sheets are washed and dried and waiting. 

 

I am both excited and scared with mom coming home but I know the Lord has his hands on us.  The plan is now for Mom to come home on Friday.  Social worker still has no idea what ortho doctor I follow up with.  When I asked how I could get her to an ortho appointment WHEN we get one, she suggested that I call the Harrison Co. Senior Center because they have a handicapped bus, but to call them early because they are in great demand.  I dread that day but I keep telling myself, "one day at a time".

 

Physical therapy did get Mom to cooperate yesterday so that we could put her on the STEDDE and get her from the bed to the chair.  Their Hoyer lift is still broken.  She sat in her chair and had her lunch.  After lunch she went back to bed.  Took 2 therapists and 2 aides to get her back to bed.  I had to ask for pain pills twice yesterday as her arm was hurting along with that left ankle.  The ankle looks better but is still a little swollen.

 

Mom loves the stuffed dog they gave her and talks to it constantly.  She has named it Chauncey.  That was how I got her on the STEDDE by putting Chauncey on the front bar and she got up to kiss him. 

 

Ada came in the afternoon to visit prior to going to church and Jack and Wilma came just prior to Mom's dinner. 

 

Well, I have to get ready, make a quick trip to get the gait belt, my morning trip to Starbucks and then to the hospital.

 

Everyone have a great day.  vada

Wow, can you believe that April is almost over?  I seemed to have lost this month completely except for the beautiful 80 degree weather and then the polar opposite of SNOW (that dirty word).  I will always remember that Mom fell on Easter Sunday but am trying to push that to the back of my mind and remember that my Jesus died and rose again.

 

Well Wednesday was really a kind of uneventful day for the Hickman girls.  Mom ate a pretty good breakfast but was in pain from both her arm and left ankle when I arrived and when I told Melissa RN (I really like her, she is so kind) she immediately got Mom a pain pill - I forget the name, something stronger than Tylenol.  Mom did not cooperate with PT and I think that was because she was hurting so much.  The Hoyer lift is broken so I could not work with it.  Sure hope the rental delivery man is a good trainer so I can learn with the one we get. Mom only ate 7 spoons of the broth off he soup and refused everything else at lunch. 

 

One of the aides told me she was sure glad that I was staying all day yesterday (geepers, I only left for 4 hours the day before to get hospital supplies for home), because my mother does so much better when I am there.  She said when I am not there she is afraid and yells.

I think we found out the mystery of where the stuff dog came from.  The social director (Cindy, the Bingo lady) gives such things out as Bingo prizes and the nurses said they thought she gave it to her to try to calm her.  She has named it Chauncey and is sleeping with it.  It looks so cute as she sleeps with it in her arms. 

 

Ashley and Meghan from PT came back in the afternoon.  She didn't want to get up in the chair as she is afraid of falling.  She did sit up on the side of the bed and is sitting up for longer periods of time.  I hope when we get her home that she will do better.

 

Jack brought Mom a beautiful peony from his garden the day before the snow and Mom was still talking about it yesterday.  A gorgeous deep purple so you know I love it.

 

Jack and Wilma came just prior to dinner and Mom ate a very good dinner.  Mom made Jack hold "Chauncey" as she ate and made him kiss the dog.  She ate really well, manicotti, mashed potatoes (didn't touch the veggies) and ate some salad with ranch dressing.  She fed herself most of the time and then she made Wilma feed her the apple pie.  Wilma told her she was getting spoiled and she just laughed.  Around 7pm, she started yawning and I asked if we were boring her and she said yes.  I said, "do you want us to leave" and she said yes.

We know when to make an exit!  I pray that she had a good night's sleep and is willing to work with PT today. 

 

Everyone have a great day.  The Lord is giving us these chilly days so that we will appreciate the warmer days when they get here.  Hey, at least no snow or cold rain today.  God loves each of you and so do I.

vada

Good morning everyone!  God sure answered my prayers yesterday.  He knows how much I hate driving in the snow, even though I have a good snow car but all we got was slush and I am so grateful.  Got to the hospital really early yesterday.  Mom was still in pain and I have discovered another clue.  When she is in pain she calls out for her mom or dad.  I talked with the nurse and she said that Dr. Angotti had ordered an x-ray of the left foot at 6:30 a.m.  I asked them to give her a couple of Tylenol which they did and that took the edge off the pain.  The gentleman from UHC transport came up at 10:30 a.m. and took her in her bed to x-ray.  Praise God!  the x-ray was negative.  Now my guess is gout, so we shall wait to see what the "real doctor" says it is.  For some reason, UHC won't let me practice medicine or order drugs.

My drug of choice for gout is colchocine; we will see what Dr. Angotti orders. lol 

 

She ate some of her breakfast.  For lunch she had potato soup which she loves and peach pie, coffee and a can of coke.  She ate all the soup and maybe half of the peach pie.  When i came in I had given her a donut and her morning Starbucks frappacino which she finished that off in a hurry. 

 

Pastor Larry called yesterday morning and checked on us.  We love our church family.

 

Because her foot was giving her trouble Physical Therapy did not do morning therapy with her.  After she was cleared for therapy, I found out that Ashley her therapist was not there yesterday and the other therapist did not feel comfortable working with her.  Since PT was not doing anything with her and I didn't need to be there to work with her, I

discussed it with the nurse and when she took her nap, I sneaked out at 3 p.m.  I went to Walmart and got two sets of twin sheets and a twin blanket for the hospital bed they will be delivering, along with other necessities UHC staff told I would be needing.  I then went to Byard-Mercer Pharmacy to pick up the hospital gowns they ordered for me (to fit her casted arm), adult diapers and some plastic gloves I will be needing.  My old friend David Patsy (retired from being a Respiratory Therapist at the VA) is now their driver so he told me that all I have to do in the future is call them and he will deliver whatever supplies I need.

Byards has free delivery service.  That will be wonderful.  He even carried my packages out to the car.  I also got a few groceries, and stopped at CVS and got my insulin and Nexium so now I am set.  I then got home by 5 p.m.  Maci and Chauncey were so happy to see me and it was great spending time playing with them. 

 

I even took time last night to make myself dinner (have been eating grab it and go sandwiches for 2 wks).  I cooked the new gluten free noodles that the "Ohio Hickman's" brought me from Akron and they taste like the real thing.  I sauteed some plain frozen shrimp, Vidalia ohio and green pepper and mixed with the noodles and I tell you, I had a feast.  My blood sugar was 102 when I went to bed, best it has been in a long time. 

 

I had called Jack and Wilma before I left the hospital to ask if they could come visit Mom a little early so they could make sure she ate her dinner.  When they arrived, her room was empty and they found her across the hall in her bed propped up looking out the window.  She had a little stuff dog in bed with her that she told Jack was Chauncey.  We have no idea where it came from.  If someone on this group visited her yesterday and gave her "Chauncey", I thank you so much.  Jack said she ate a pretty good dinner and made Jack kiss "Chauncey".  Thanks to Jack and Wilma for giving me the night off.  I even got some laundry done last night.

 

Bev Kramer called last night after she returned from Medbrook.  She has a temperature of 102 with sinus infection.  Say a prayer for her.

 

Well, I have probably bored you all long enough.  Thanks everyone for the prayers, phone calls and texts.  Love you all, vada

Pleasant surprise so far.  The snow is not on the ground YET as predicted.  It is a very cold rain out there but they say the snow is coming.  I would be happy if it would just stay rain.  The Lord knows how scared of driving in the snow I get.  Neve liked driving in the snow and as I have gotten older, I am just plain scared BUT the Lord has taken care of me thus far and I am trusting in him.

 

Yesterday, was a mixed bag of tricks.  Mom didn't eat much breakfast and not much lunch.  I got to move her from the bed in the Hoyer lift to her chair.  I told her we were at the carnival and I got to operate the ride.  I tried not to swing her much.  There were 5 of us doing it in the afternoon, they let me snap her in.  I had a little trouble getting a couple of them but I think it was because I was nervous.  I did much better when we put her back to bed prior to her dinner. This time there were 2 aides there with me and I asked them to let me do all the work.  Also, had the girls let me work with them cleaning her up so I learned how to get the clean linen under the dirty linen when I roll her.

 

When I came in Mom said her foot hurt.  I noticed that the left ankle is swollen and warm to touch.  I reported this to the nurse and they had called Dr. Skidmore who was on call for Dr. Angotti but she had not returned their call when I left last night.  I requested (Dr. Hickman, here) an x-ray be taken to make sure it is not broken and am thinking that it is gout.  If so, will have to get that under control before she can actually stand on that foot. 

 

Ada came to visit after church and Mom was good at first but then she began to yell and carry on while Ada was there.  The nurse heard her and came in and said that if they gave her an Ativan now (2pm) she couldn't have another one till 2 a.m. and she needs it at bedtime.  I told her that we would weather it out.  I tried everything and finally after moving the over the bed table that was over her chair she quieted down.  Jack and Wilma came in the evening and Jack brought her a beautiful dark red peony (said that Chauncey sent it). 

 

Mom had lots of strawberry ice cream yesterday, as all the nurses are now using the "strawberry ice cream mixed with crushed pills trick".  No wonder she won't eat her nutritious food.  lol  She did have her daily tall

Starbucks frap after her breakfast.

 

Have added Pastor Larry to our little group to keep him in the know as to when Mom gets to come home.  We love you Pastor Larry and Florence Ann.

 

Well, wish me luck in my Hoyer lift experience today.  Everyone have a great day.  vada

Good morning on this Lord's Day which is quite chilly here.  They are actually calling for snow -- hey, it's spring, isn't it??

 

Well, yesterday Jack and his crew (youngest daughter Joni and Steve Junkins came and moved furniture around and out of the living room so that we now have room for a hospital bed and lift.  Couch was moved under the mantle so I can sleep in there to be near Mom at night.  Joni even ran the sweeper all through the house.  Tori and Zach, Joni's grandkids were here and even helped by going through my old VHS tapes and found some movies they wanted and I gave them the cabinet to keep them in.  I no longer had the player to play them.  I had gotten up at 6:30 a.m. yesterday and did laundry and moved books before the crew got here. So when I went to the hospital at 2pm, I was exhausted.

 

My great-nephew Tommy was on a busload of kids from Akron University yesterday morning going to Pittsburgh to the Mattress Factory to some kind of art show.  He said the kids were a bunch of duds that were all sound asleep except him, so we texted back and forth.  I just love that man.  He gave up sleep to text his old aunt.  Really made my day!!

 

Oh yeah, on the "family front news".  My great niece, Katie, Tommy's sister,  had a wonderful piano piece on Facebook.  Hope you all could see it.  My great niece Julia from CA, won 2nd place in the Toastmaster's speech for the district with her speech on Julia Morgan, the first female architect. Tori, great niece (Jack's great granddaughter) won 2nd place in National Championships at Columbus, OH for her cheerleading competition with her group from Clarksburg.  My family is so multi-talented, what happened to me????

 

When I arrived to find the coffee shop closed on weekends (darn), I found that Mom was asleep in her bed, so I quietly sat down in the chair and actually had a 35 minute nap before she woke up.  She did not know me yesterday and was really very quiet.  Chastity said that she ate almost all her breakfast but very little lunch.  She made up for that at dinner, eating part of an egg roll, most of her veggie rice and some of her beef teriyaki which they had ground up and some of he salad which they had chopped and drank some of her coke.  She seemed very sleepy so at 7pm, I asked nurse Janelle to give her the nightly pills in ice cream and Jack, Wilma and I left.  By this time I guess I had really relaxed because I could hardly walk to make it to my car. It was also raining (which it did most of yesterday) but now was getting very cold.  I stopped at Chick FiLay and got grilled chicken for the dogs and me and a side salad, came home, took 2 Aleave and

ate my chicken salad and went to bed.  I am feeling much better this morning.

 

Well, I'm off to the hospital after I grab a shower.  Everyone have a great day.  vada

Wow, the time is flying by.  Today is moving day at the Hickman household.  Jack and Joni are coming to help move furniture in the living room so that we can make room for the hospital bed and Howyer lift.

I notified the nurses I would not be to the hospital until afternoon and Chastity is working so I know Mom is in good hands.

 

When I got to the hospital yesterday and came through the double doors up the hall from her room I could hear her yelling for "Charlie".  If anyone knows who Charlie is, please send him to see her.  We have no idea who Charlie is.  When I got in her room, she had the remote control to the TV as loud as it would go and had it up to her ear, so angry that Charlie would not talk to her.  I explained it was the remote control and not a telephone.  Melissa, RN said she thought about giving her an Ativan but knew that would knock her out for PT and knew I was always here by this time.  Well, I got behind a big wreck on the interstate (involving an 18 wheeler filled with lumber, a PT cruiser and what looked like a silver Chevy Cavalier which looked like it hit the truck and then ran head first into the concrete abutment. So, therefore, I was late getting to the hospital.  Mom immediately settled down but I told the aide I had no idea why she thought the remote was a telephone.  About an hour later, Melissa came in and said, "mystery solved".  Around 7 am your Mom was carrying on so much that Dr. Angotti came into the room, turned the TV volume up loud and put the remote up to her ear and said, "here, now talk to Charlie".  He thought it would shut her up.  Didn't work, Dr. Angotti!  (as his ears probably told him because my mom still has a set of lungs on her).

 

Mom did not eat as well yesterday but she is feeding herself.  We could not get her to take any steps yesterday so Ashley and Megan (PT) taught me how to use the Howyer lift with pad under her.  She was afraid at first because it swings a little bit but it worked.  I also helped the girls clean her up twice yesterday.  We decided to decrease her Colace so she won't poop so much (I only give her 1 a day at home).  Mom's arm was really hurting yesterday and she had to have pain meds twice.  Ashley (PT) told me yesterday that Mom will not be going home before Wednesday and it may be either Thursday or Friday.

 

I spent the afternoon on the phone calling different pharmacies trying to locate gowns with snaps and adult diapers.  Byard-Mercer came up the winner.  Bethany from there was so sweet and helpful, unlike another place which shall remained unnamed, who were very curt.  Bethany ordered 2 gowns for me and they will be in Monday.  They also carry the adult diapers all the time and have free delivery service.  Richard was on the same wave length as me and this morning I found several emails of gowns and tee-shirts with snaps and velcro.  Think I shall order her a shirt to wear back to the doctor for cast removal day.  Ohio Hickman's even offered to whip up a couple.  Mom and I are very fortunate to have such great family.

 

Jack, Wilma and Ada were all there in the evening and as long as we were all looking directly at Mom and talking with her she was fine, but if we started talking among ourselves, she would yell "HEY" and pound on her table.  My Mom likes to be the center of attention.

 

Everyone have a great Saturday!  vada

Mom is eating better.  She actually ate 90% of her breakfast, eating everything but the bacon which she had trouble chewing, so Chastity suggested we start grinding up the meat so she can chew it.  She is also back to feeding herself.  At lunch I was so proud of her because she had chopped up porkchop with gravy, mashed potatoes, spinach souffle', jello.  She was eating pork chop (so I thought) and ate all the mashed potatoes and a little souffle' and all her corn muffin.  When I went to move the plate, I found she had been getting all the gravy off the pork chop and hiding the pork chop under her plate.  I told her that she was "smarter than the average bear". 

 

She is not cooperating with Physical Therapy and Medicare law dictates that they have to be showing steady improvement which she is not so the plan is to discharge her to home on Wednesday.  Today they are going to teach me how to get her out of bed and into a chair with a lift and will be providing me with a crank turn lift at home along with the hospital bed.  Ashley (PT) suggested that Jack and I move the furniture over the weekend, as they will probably deliver the hospital bed on Monday or Tuesday.  I have to sign paperwork today for this service, as what I signed when she was on 5 South is void upon discharge from that floor and now must sign again from Rehab.  Isn't beauracrcy wonderful???  Mom was exhausted yesterday and I think it was because that girl made her stay up so long. 

 

I met Kay Cottrill, administrator of the UTCC yesterday.  She came to Mom's room and asked if I would come to her office with her and shut the door.  She said she heard there was an incident with my mother on Wednesday that we needed to discuss.  I asked who told her (as I had only discussed it with Ashley, PT yesterday so far and had not decided how to proceed, as I didn't know whether to report it yet or would the girl take it out on Mom when I'm not there).  Kay said it was not important how she got the word but was very important that SHE GOT

the word.  I told her what had happened and she told me that there is no such thing as a "stick figure count on how many times a patient tries to get out of bed" and there was no meeting of the nurses yesterday on how long my mother was to stay up.  Kay said that she had the same girl in her office day before yesterday on another complaint with another patient.  She told me that had found out this girl lies and lucky for them she is still on her 90 day probation period so she won't be hard to dismiss.  I told her that I hated for anyone to lose their job and she said, "this is not the kind of person I would want taking care of my mom and I won't have her taking care of your Mom like this.  She apologized on behalf of the hospital. 

 

While in Kay's office, I asked if there was any type of program that rewards good employees, as Chastity is so great with my mother.  She gave me the form to fill out and I am going to attach a letter to it.  She said that this would place $50 in Chastity's paycheck.  She certainly

deserves it.

 

When I first met Kay, she said, "I know I have heard your name many times".  I graduated from high school with her sister Barbara who is married to Richard Iaquinta who is a retired school teacher from RCB and is one of our House of Delegates for several years now.

 

Yesterday afternoon Mom was very confused and started yelling, "fire, fire".  I had a terrible time getting her to quit. I was afraid she would scare those other elderly people.  She insisted that the swing on our porch was on fire and thought the fireman were there putting it out.

 

When Jack and Wilma came she was insisting that her over the bed table be cleared off of everything (water pitcher, cup, etc).  Wilma told her that as soon as the truck came to clear everything off she would.

 

Mary Jo (nurse) gave me her evening pills and a container of ice cream to see if i could get her to take them and she took them right down and ate all but one bite of ice cream before we left.  I pray that she slept well last night and will cooperate with PT today.  Wish us luck and say a little prayer for me that Mom cooperates with me learning the lift today.  This is something I will definitely have to know when we get home.

 

Everyone have a great day!  vada

Happy Foggy Thursday everyone!  Wow, when I let the dogs out could hardly see out there.

 

Well, Wednesday was definitely a mixed bag of tricks.  Began the morning walking in to find that Mom's upper denture was missing.  Chastity (aide) said they were not in the cup when she went to put them in for her to eat breakfast.  The bed looked so crisp I thought that they had already changed the linen.  I felt around quickly on top of the covers and even crawled under the bed on my belly (thank heavens I had dark clothes on) looking for the dentures.  Now don't you wish you had a picture of that???  I immediately reported them missing to the nurses and asked her little aide to please call the galley tray people and laundry immediately.  Anyway, when Chastity came in to check on Mom and I asked if she had changed the linen this morning and she said no as she was just coming to bath her now. So she and I immediately checked the bed and BINGO, found the denture between the mattress and the bedrail.  Praise God!

 

Ashley, Physical Therapy and aide came to work with Mom.  She would not cooperate and they finally put her in her chair and said they would try again in the afternoon.  She ate very little breakfast or lunch, mostly the sweets were her food of choice for the day.  I asked the aide in the afternoon to put her back to bed and she told me that my mom had tried to get out of bed 15 times after I left last night within 1 hr and that she left at 8pm.  I didn't leave that night till 7:10 to 7:15, so that would mean she was Houdini in 45 minutes.  She told me that the nurses were having a meeting now to decide how they were going to handle her and that she could not put her to bed until they told her.  Dumb me, I bought this hook, line and sinker. 

 

My high school chum, Nila Means May came to spend the evening with us bring mom a beautiful piece of cake and me a wonderful smoothie from the coffee bar.  Nila was so great with my Mom, she fed her cake and they conversed the whole evening.  She had Mom laughing and it was a great evening.  Thank you Nila so much!  We both love you.  Jack and Wilma came to see Mom and, as always Jack became the center of Mom's attention but he ended up having to share the limelight with Nila.  I happened to see Mary Jo Farrell and old friend and nurse that used to work at the VA go by the room and went out to the desk and found out that she works 3 nights a week on the unit.  I asked her if they had decided when Mom could go to bed and she told me whenever my Mom wanted and I then told her what the aide had said.She said this was not true and wanted to know which girl told me that.  She said the girl is a wannabe nurse who is an aide and Mary Jo immediately dispatched the aides to put her to bed.  Mom had no problem going to bed on the other side of the hospital but every night in UTCC, it seems to be a major chore.  They tried using the Steady (I'm probably spelling that wrong.  Mom is so afraid of falling again that she fights them and it took 3 off them "Jones ing her" which I found out is just bodily picking her up and putting her to bed while she is fighting, screaming and yes, even cursing them.  She was so upset.  Bless Nila's heart, she had prayer with Mom and she settled down.  I asked Mary Jo if they could not give her the Lexapro and Lorazapam after dinner so that she is more mellow when she goes to bed.  She checked and found they had not given her any meds all day except the appetite pill.  I knew they had given her pills but did not realize what they were, so I guess I will have to start questioning more.  Poor Mom was just worn out from being up all day in that chair.  She was asleep with Nila, Jack, Wilma and I left at 8pm.  I got home and Mary Jo, RN called me at 8:45 telling me that Mom refused to take her pills and what did I want her to do.  I told her my trick of crushing the pills and putting them in strawberry ice cream.  I asked her if I needed to come back out and she said she would try the ice cream trick and if it didn't work she would call me back.  I was so exhausted because I had been at the hospital since 8:30 a.m. because I had a 9 am meeting with the Social worker about Medicare payment, etc.  I called back at 9:30pm and Mary Jo said she took the pills for her in the ice cream and was now quiet.  Thank God, as I immediately went to bed.

 

Yesterday afternoon, I had my first appointment with Dr. Dev, Pulmonologist and Sleep Study doc in Bridgeport.  His wife works at the VA.  He is scheduled me May 30 for a sleep study and showed me the little machine that is supposed to be the miracle worker.  He looked in my mouth and told me that he is positive I'm going to need it because I still have my tonsils and he was amazed how large they will are considering my age (ah yes, old again rears its ugly head again).  He also said that my mouth is built extremely small which I have been told by 2 dentists previously.  He explained the whole sleep process to me and explained why i am always so tired when I wake up.  I was very, very impressed with him and signed paperwork to have my pulmonary

follow up appointments with him instead of having to travel all the way to Morgantown (WVU).

 

Well, I hope I haven't bored you much.  vada

Well, we started our next phase of the journey to home yesterday.  Mom was transferred from her room 5329 to UTCC (Rehab) Room 5129.  Again she is right across from the nurses station (which is a good thing).  The room is exactly like the room she was in previously so that should cut down on the confusion that a dementia patient goes through when changing their surroundings. 

 

I got to see first hand the germ-eating machine that UHC had the article in the newspaper when they first opened.  They had placed it in the room prior to our arrival and was removing it just as we arrived.  It left a temporary smell of burning clothes from an ironing board which quickly disappeared and Mom did not even notice.  First person we met was Tom who was dusting/cleaning Mom's room and she immediately fell in love with him.  Everyone here is new to us except for the physical therapist, Ashley (maiden name Wilson when we met her 4 years ago).

Mom was on the divorce subject when Ashley arrived, as she had already asked me if I was divorced and I said  Yes.  She said how long have you been divorced and I said "since 1997" and Mom said, "gee that's a long time, can't you find a man?"  So when Ashley walked in the room, Mom asked her if she was divorced and Ashley told her that no, she has been married 2 years and they are trying to have a baby.  So all the rest of the day, all Mom talked about was babies, she called the wheelchair, baby buggy, etc.

 

For breakfast Mom had a Starbucks frapp, a little bit of pancakes.

For lunch the served beautiful mac and cheese (which she took one bite and spit out at me, ate all her tomato soup and all her ice cream.  They served her a piece of cake but it had huge nuts so she refused to eat that.  She did eat the mini-marshmallows off her her fruit jello but does not eat fruit now.  They gave her a coke and she did drink that.

 

When Ashley from PT came she brought a quad cane which she left in Mom's room and tried to get her to use it when she gets up from bed/chair.  She did learn on it and stood up straight for a long time but would only take 2 steps to the right and refused to wake more than one step forward, as she is still so afraid of falling.  Ashley told her that she was very proud of her for how long she stood yesterday and we would work on walking on Wednesday.  It still takes 3 people to put her to bed or chair. 

 

Jack and Wilma came prior to dinner which didn't arrive until after 6pm

and had mannicoti which I got her to eat the cheese from inside and a little of the pasta.  She ate some of the lettuce salad with ranch dressing with her fingers but hey that is improvement.  She also ate some of the mixed veggies, a few carrots and a couple of green beans by hand. They brought her diet coke and I told them she would not drink that so they changed it for a regular coke.  She also ate some of her vanilla ice cream.  No one from dietetics ever came during the day to see what she wanted for Wednesday's meals, so Lord knows what she gets today.  I asked the nurse about it and she said she would send the tech to the room but never saw her. 

 

My main focus for the day was keeping my mom safe.  I told everyone that came in the room (which weren't many- different world at UTCC) that my mother MUST have a wander guard on her bed.  Day shift came and left and still no Wander Guard.  Finally, I went to the nurse on Evening Shift and told her that I usually leave after my mother has dinner but I WAS NOT leaving till they put a wander guard on my mom and that I had already checked and the doctor DID NOT have to order it, although Dr. Angotti (who had been in earlier) told me that he would put a reminder on her chart she needed one.  Well, the first one they brought in was broke but there was finally one put on after 7pm.  The

girls on the other wing had told me that Mom had tried to get out of bed after we left the night before, so now I had that concern.  Also, Mom had been out of bed since noon and into her chair since noon and she was complaining of being tired (and she never complains) so I asked if they would put her back to bed.  The nurse told me they had to pick up the trays and then they would get to her.  I explained I was not leaving until they put her back to bed.  I am sure that I am now officially labeled

THE BITCH!  I understand they have a routine they have to do so now I must work around it.  So today I will make sure they put Mom back to bed before dinner and they pass out trays.  It is just a matter that we all have to get used to each other and I have to learn how things work over there. 

 

Progress:  Mom did feed herself her dinner by me putting the food on the fork or spoon and she would then take the utensil from my hand and put the food in her mouth.  So far, she hasn't figured out she can put the food on the utensil.  Today is another day and we shall see if maybe we can accomplish that today.

 

I have a doctor's appointment with Dr. Dev (sleep apnea doc) today at 2:30pm, so I have worked it out with Ashley that I will be gone for a while this afternoon and will return to the hospital after my appointment.

 

After I arrived home last night the social worker called me (Susan Savidge) and said she was NOW (after 8pm) doing Mom's admission. This girl works long hours.  Asked me questions, concerning DNR (do not resusitate) which has been on the chart all along and what funeral home I wanted (said this was asked to everyone). Found that rather strange.  Anyway, said she would meet with me Wed between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to discuss discharge plans and have me sign her in. 

 

Well, I hope I haven't bored you to much.  If so, I hope you hit delete earlier in my email.  I am also keeping a copy of these emails, as part of my journalling process.  Well, it is a new day so must go upward and onward.  Keep the faith my peeps.  Love to you all, vada

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!!

 

Today is "D" day  !!!  Mom will be moved to the rehab unit of the hospital at 10 a.m.  Praying this will be a journey on getting her stronger and able to help me get her in and out of bed, etc.  In other words I am going back to school today, except there is no homework.

 

Yesterday, she was not cooperative with the physical therapist and refused to walk, but the lady came so early in the morning that I think that is part of the trouble.  My mother, like me, really doesn't get going until around noon.  She also did not eat as well yesterday, she ate the tomato soup and crackers and pudding for lunch.  Refused her coffee, chicken salad and 3 bean salad (don't blame her, it looked like a few beans pulled out of a can and put on a plate).  She also refused to take her pills, so I pulled my trick, gave her a spoonful of strawberry ice cream first, crushed pills in applesauce, followed by the rest of the ice cream. 

 

Jonna Bragg came to visit yesterday morning.  It was so good to see her and bless her heart, she brought me a present - the book that Sherry Slaughter had suggested I get, "Jesus Is Calling".  I love that little book already, and I read yesterday's devotion to Mom in the afternoon.  That was so sweet of Jonna to think of me.  I have always loved that girl.  John picked a good wife.  Ada also visited, along with Jack and Wilma.  Jack brought Mom a vase of purple wisteria from his

yard and oh the room smells so good.  Ruth Lover (my friend from work) also visited and brought Mom two pieces of Italian Wedding cake, which Mom immediately ate one piece.  Hey, maybe that's why Mom refused the pasta and tomato sauce at dinner, green beans.  She did eat her pudding and I ordered her a coke instead of coffee, as she is refusing their coffee.  Oh yeah, I did bring her a Star bucks frappicino when I first got there in the morning, so you can see she is eating/drinking junk but not nutritional stuff.  Sounds like me, doesn't it?

Hey, I actually ate mac and cheese last night.  First thing that hasn't been a sandwich in a week.  Richard, I will make those noodles, just have been to tired to cook.  Polly Lasher also made me a meatloaf and I am putting that in the freezer till Mom gets home. 

 

Well, I better get a move on and get myself to the hospital.  Say a little prayer that the move goes well.  Sometimes a change in rooms will confuse a patient with dementia more, but I'm hoping that since all the rooms (I'm told) are basically the same in the hospital, she won't notice the difference. 

 

Love to you all, vada

Happy Monday everyone!

 

Mom was in much better mood yesterday.  For breakfast ate coffee cake and a little coffee.  For lunch, she ate practically everything, she ate the stuffing out of the stuffed chicken but didn't want the chicken but ate all the stuffing and all the mashed potatoes, the cranberry jello salad, and drank a little coffee. For dinner, she ate all the fettuccini and the soft pieces of chicken I could smash up.  The broccoli was to hard for her to chew.  She ate the angel food cake and had a little coffee and immediately went to sleep after eating. Guess the pill to increase her appetite is kicking in. 

 

Jack and Wilma were there twice yesterday, as they do everyday, and Ada came also after church.  Our neighbor Rosemary Toryak came to visit her and brought her a bottle of lavendar body lotion and lavendar spray which I used on her.  Hey, maybe that is what made her so sleepy after dinner. I can only hope.  There was no physical therapy on the weekend so today we will begin again.  She knew me some of yesterday and loves to watch out her window at the cars on I 79.  Also is a real fan of Fox News channel because she reads me the crawl on the bottom to keep me updated on news.  She can read but does not understand what she is reading but it has been that way for a long time now.  The team assigned to her yesterday were so good to her and gave her lots of attention.

 

Well, it is Monday!  Onward and upward!!  Thanks for all the phone calls, texts and especially the prayers.  vada

Mom was out of it yesterday and did not want to cooperate with anything. Everytime I tried to feed her,she gave me that look like "I hate your guts" and I tried explaining that she had to eat to walk. Dr. Kesler (new doc yesterday) said her lab work was very good so she is not dehydrated. I did get her to eat a donut and a little coffee in the morning, mashed potatoes, a few green beans, strawberry milkshake and 1/2 of a sugar cookie for lunch. Dinner she ate the noodles with butter that I fixed using the butter for her bread. They served her pepper steak with the noodles and I knew she would not eat the pepper steak but thought she might eat the noodles. She ate a few bites and spit the rest at me. Did eat all the vanilla custard when I badgered her. Drank water. They gave her jello with that I knew she wouldn't eat and she didn't. She has been in pain today and her fingers are swelling on bad arm. I couldn't get her to keep it elevated on the pillow. I had the nurse check the pulses in the arm and she said they are fine so she is getting proper blood flow in that arm. They had given her 3 doses of pain meds while I was there and I think the last dose they gave her at 5:20 p.m. finally kicked in just prior to me leaving as she was getting sleepy. I left at 6:45 pm last night, after having been there since a little after 9 a.m.  Jack and Wilma came in the evening and Jack tried but he couldn't get her to eat either.  I think she was just tired and didn't want to be bothered.  They don't do physical therapy on weekends at the hospital and i can see that the crew is cut way back.  The only action that goes on is whatever comes up.  No planned activity that I can see.

 

My good friend Sherry Slaughter from CA called yesterday after I had accidentally "butt dialed" her on my cell.  We had a nice visit and she always makes me feel good.  She suggested that I get a devotional book called "Jesus is Calling".  Going to try to find that on Amazon.com

today. 

 

I got to Skype with Katie last evening and that was great.  I didn't think I would like Skype but I love it.  Also, got to talk with her Mom and Dad

and Christie and Tommy are going to help me set up a blog.  I want it to be about the caretakers view of the journey with a patient with dementia.  Need a title - any suggestions?  Would kind of like it to be catchy.  You all know how I love to write and TALK! 

 

Maci, Chauncey and I had another good night's sleep.  I actually went to bed around 9 last night.  What is it about sitting at a hospital that makes you so tired.

 

Talked with Bev, Ada  and Polly Lasher by phone yesterday and got to text with Richard and Toni.  Technology is marvelous.  Thanks to Tommy who set up my smartphone, I also got to play Bejewelled on my cell phone when I got bored at the hospital. 

 

Praying for all those people involved in the tornadoes yesterday.  Remember that today is the Lord's Day and let all of us be happy.  Love each other.  I love each of you.  vada

Wow, is it Saturday already?  What a difference a week makes.  Last week, Mom and I were all excited because the Ohio Hickman's were in visiting and Mom was at the top of her game, interacting with everyone especially Tommy and Katie.  We had a marvelous weekend not knowing what Easter Sunday would bring (the big fall!).I'm so glad that we all got to go to Cracker Barrel (Mom's favorite place) together.

 

Well, yesterday i rode the "roller coaster ride" of emotions.  As I was feeding Mom her breakfast, physical therapy came in and "dropped the bombshell", saying, "well since UTCC (rehab unit) has disapproved her admission, we need to teach you about getting your Mom from bed to wheelchair and back so she can go home".  I was shocked because it takes 2 and sometimes 3 people to get her transferred now and they are expecting me to do this myself.  Drama Queen me immediately burst in tears and ran out of the room so Mom didn't see me cry.  The therapist said, "didn't you know they had denied her?"  which no one had told me.  Then I asked well is there not some other rehab facility she could go till she is a little stronger and I know how to get her in and out of bed?  They then suggested a couple of other free-standing rehabs which I requested they pursue.  They said they would contact them but the paperwork has to go to Charleston, WV for approval and this would take longer.   They showed me how to get her up and it was all the 2 of these experienced people could do to put her in the cardiac chair and they left.  I was feeling so helpless because as I usually do, I put all my eggs in one basket (UTCC) and they got scrambled.  I prayed to God that I knew when he closes one door, he opens another one and I would accept wherever she needed to go or to give me the strength to take her home immediately.  I was sitting quietly with tears running down my face when the Nurse Manager who comes in early every morning asked me why I was upset and I told her.  She said, "wait a minute, I just came out of a meeting where they were going to ask UTCC to reconsider their request because she had actually walked 15 feet the day before with assistance (once they got her out of bed and in the chair).  She told me not to get my hopes up but that she would let me know the outcome before the day was over.  It wasn't 15 minutes and in walked Tina, the social worker and said that UTCC had reconsidered and would accept Mom to their rehab either Tuesday or Wedneday when bed is available.  PRAISE GOD!!  You could scrape me off the walls, I was so greatful.  All I am asking is that Mom be given a chance to get over her fear of falling and to gain some strength back and let me learn how to help her.  I always got her up by putting my arm under her left arm and now I can't do that any more so I have to be retrained.  God is so good and we are on our way!

 

Still having a problem getting Mom to eat and drink.  Doctor put her on a medicine to make her eat and drink and I think it is beginning to work as yesterday - would have very little breakfast but for lunch ate a little bit but did drink her coca cola (she seems to love that now) and for dinner she ate some mashed potatoes and a few peas, refused their version of chicken parmesean but ate all her banana pudding and actually drank a little coffee (hasn't even been drinking that).  So I can see improvement. 

 

I have been going out and feeding her all 3 meals.  At home she fed herself but since this admission to the hospital refuses to hold the silverware and wants me to feed her.  I keep trying to get her to do it herself but not successful YET. 

 

After I fed her dinner I left and came home and finished up my taxes which I will take to the post office on my way to the hospital this morning.  Also, got her some new donuts and Easter peeps that I'm hoping I can tempt her with today.

 

Jack and Wilma came and spent the afternoon with us and Jack and mom had a party.  He can seem to get her to eat when i can't.  They were eating cookies and Easter peeps yesterday afternoon together. She will eat as long as he eats with her. 

 

After I left last evening, Jack and Wilma came back out to visit her.  They said she was very tired and sleepy.  I had kept her up in the cardiac chair from 10:30 a.m. till 4:30pm, so that may have been a little long, but I had her feet up like she was in her recliner at home, but she only took a little catnap.  She loves watching the cars in the parking lot

(employee lot) and thinks that she and I own that car lot and yesterday "sold several cars including a beautiful red one".  She said we had to sell them because we need the money". 

 

Well, that is the update for today.  If I am boring you and you want removed from this group, just let me know.  I don't know any easier way to get the news out to everyone and thought this would work.

 

Love and prayers, vada

Is it Friday?  Wow, what a week! Oh I just realized as I typed the date - it is Friday the 13th.  Well, I already had my bad luck for the week and don't need any today.  The Lord will keep me safe!

 

Yesterday, when I arrived at the hospital they had already given Mom her breakfast tray and I found scrambled eggs all over the floor and wall and here she was putting them in her mouth and then spitting them  and throwing them at the wastebasket.  I told him I would get her a tryout with Bob Huggins (WVU basketball coach for you out of staters).

I did get her to eat a couple of bites of pancake and drink some orange juice.  Lunch time she drank the mighty shake with is full of good stuff but refused the biggest part of her tray.  I would say she ate about 5% of it.  I did get her to eat half a Krispie Kream donut with her coffee. Jason and Kelly Weisenberger came to visit her (her gr-grandson).  Jack and Wilma in the afternoon. With all the activity could not get her to take a nap.  Physical Therapy took her to the hallway and had her hold on to the wooden railing and walk with assistance for a short walk.  She leaned on the railing quite a bit but hey she was upright the first time in 5 days. Tired her out and she was glad to get back to her cardiac chair. The nurse made her a strawberry milk shake and I spoon fed her all of that; she refused to suck through straw.  Ada (daughter in law) in the late afternoon/evening.  I was getting so tired and didn't realize it at the time but my sugar was dropping.  I stayed and TRIED to feed Mom her dinner.  She did eat all her mashed potatoes, spit her carrots at me and handed me her piece of meatloaf back after she rolled it around in her mouth.  Did drink a little coffee.  Then she started this stuff of trying to get out of bed and we got into it and I just had to leave (didn't realize that my sugar drop was making me mean at the time, just felt I had to get out of there.  Thank God Ada was there and she told me to go ahead and leave, as I had been there since 8 a.m.

 

Came home, ate my grilled chicken salad and felt fine.  Will have to watch that sugar low.  Yesterday was my gr-niece Katie's 15th birthday and she got a new PINK laptop with webcam so I got to Skype with her and the family.  I love Skype.  Thank you Tommy for setting my new computer up with Skype and thanks to Toni and family for my webcam.

I was in bed by 10 p.m. and slept well last night.

 

Well, it is another day and I am off to the hospital.  Have a great day everyone!  I love each and everyone of you.   vada

Well, the word for yesterday was "NO".  That was her favorite word and she used it and over used it.  Refused to take her medicine, eat, drink. She was not a good patient.  She did know me yesterday and I'm sure the whole floor of people knew I was there as she yelled, "Vada" frequently and quite loudly and sometimes it was "No Vada", as I tried and tried to get her to take her morning medication.  Jack and Wilma came after their doctor's appointments and Jack or "Golden Boy" as I refer to him because he usually can talk Mom into doing stuff FINALLY got her to take her morning meds in the afternoon.  She refused her breakfast, lunch and only thing I could get her to eat for dinner was a few bites of potato and a small container of strawberry ice cream.  I had brought Krispie Kreme donuts with me yesterday morning but she would have no part of them and they are her favorites.  I did get her to eat a couple Sugar Wafer cookies in the afternoon and drink some orange juice, a little Sprite.  She is even refusing coffee which she also loves.  She was just being a stubborn little devil.

 

Dr. Angotti was in and ordered a pill to improve her appetite.  The IV that they had started the day previous was not hooked up yesterday and the nurse said she kept trying to take it out so they disconnected it but if her levels were not good and she refused to drink again they would hook it back up but did not while I was there.  I was there from 9 a.m. until 7:15 p.m. He also said that we needed to get he eating or drinking before moving her. 

 

Physical Therapy came in and worked with us.  Since she was more alert due to no more Morphine, she was able to get out of bed and take a couple of steps to the potty chair and then to the cardiac chair where she sat for a couple of hours and ate her lunch in the chair.  After lunch she wanted back to bed, so we put her back to bed.  Oh yeah, I forgot early in the morning the nursing assistant came in and told me that I could give her her bath.  I don't know if they thought I needed the practice or she was not in the mood to do it herself. (lol).  Only problem was they didn't give me any wash cloths, towels or a fresh gown so I had to go hunt up all that stuff.  Any way, mission was accomplished.

 

Physical Therapy told me that they were short on Social Workers and that was why I hadn't seen one to make plans for her move to rehab but in the afternoon, a real nice lady by the name of Jill (Social Worker) came to visit us and said that she was working on the paperwork to get her moved to Rehab right there in the hospital and wanted to make sure that was my first choice for rehab (which it is).

 

Oh yeah for those who inquired, yes I am eating and taking my meds.  I pack me a lunch and take with me everyday.  It is to far to walk to the cafeteria and I don't want to get put in jail.  You see the first day I was there I got lost coming back from the cafeteria and got in an "UNauthorized part of the hospital  - main computer area.  I got in because this lady was coming from the other side of the double doors and used her badge (which I didn't notice at the time) to open the doors so I just walked through from the other side.  Got stuck in there and this nice student doctor ran into me so I asked how to get to the 5th floor and he said, "go over to the bank of elevators and use your badge to open them".  I said, "well they didn't give me a badge".  He said, "don't you work here"  I said NO.  He started laughing and said "how did you get in here?"  I explained and he said he wondered if he and I were on some type of security tape as we were in the main computer area.  He finally got me out of there.  Leave it to me to get somewhere I shouldn't.  It was my laugh for the day.  I told Mom, I would probably get kicked out before she did.

 

This is my report for the day.  Getting ready to go back out for more

excitement.  Oh, I did make Dr. Angotti smile yesterday which I thought was quite a feat in itself.  He doesn't seem to have much personality.

Also, there is some little short man that is confused like Mom and keeps ending up in her room before they shoo him out.  I told Mom that she was just a "Babe Magnet".

 

Love you all, vada

Well I am starting my daily MOM UPDATE to try and keep everyone informed.  I am to the point I can't remember who I told what so I thought I would do an email daily and will continue to text the family with updates from the hospital as things happen.

 

Thank you all for your love and prayers for mom and me during this time.  We love you all dearly.

 

Well, they kept giving her morphine on midnight shift which just made her do nothing but sleep during the day. Physical therapy came in yesterday morning but she was so out of it they could not get her to do anything. Dr. Angotti d/c the Morphine and because she refused to eat or drink yesterday has now started an IV and putting non-narcotic pain meds in the IV. She became more alert in the afternoon but is still refusing to eat or drink, even refused ice cream which is her favorite. Because of the non-eating/drinking, they will be keeping her longer and the plan is upon discharge she goes to a rehab where they will teach me how to get her out of the hospital bed which is to be delivered here and to a wheelchair or potty. She will not be able to walk with walker any more. I guess this means it will be a downhill course. Physical Therapy is telling me that her elbow never properly healed before but I don't think that was the case, I wonder if it didn't re-break when she fell. I don't know, just guessing, but she could use that arm, just not bear weight on it prior to this fall. Doesn't make a difference now anyway.

I am heading to the hospital so I will be there to work with Physical Therapy and be there when Dr. Angotti makes rounds. Everyone has treated us wonderful, and they make sure that I have an emergency coke there in case my sugar drops. Sugar is running low, as I never did eat well when she was in the hospital. I had a whole bag of M&Ms there yesterday but believe it or not never touched them. lol. I pack me a sandwich because it is way to far to walk to the cafeteria. The employees don't even go to the cafeteria because they said their lunch time is over by the time they walk there. Remind me later to tell you of my journey the first day the nurse made me leave Mom's room while she bathed her and told me I needed a walk and got into an unauthorized part of the hospital (main computer area).

Will keep you updated. vada