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June 1st June 2nd June 3rd
June 4th June 5th I didn't mean to worry you guys. I have a family problem right now and must try to overcome the immense depression it has left me with. Mom is being wonderful, giving me loves, hugs and kisses, taking care of HER baby right now. I just need some time to cry it out, keyboards don't do well when they are wet. LOL. I wll be back Monday, ready to go. I love you all. June 7th June 8th June 9th June 10th
June 11th June 12th June 13th June 14th
June 15th June 16th June 17th June 18
June 19th June 20th June 21st June 22nd June 23rd Mom was in bed all day, awake off and on but she never did get up. She says she has a lot of rest to catch up on after all the years of working. I have tried everything short of yelling fire to get her up and no luck. She is excited about her doctor appointment Monday and assures me she will take a bath and get up then, like she isn't going to until then? My friend Hollie is leaving today for Columbus, he will be gone intil the 6th, lucky!! I sure hope the weather is nice for the 4th, maybe I can get mom to go to the lake for awhile. I haven't been able to watch the fireworks for 3 years now and I do miss it.
June 24th June 25th June 26th June 28th June 30th
Today was a good day. Mom got up at 3:00, in a good mood and very happy to see sunshine. She asked for pizza tonight for dinner so that is what we had, she hasn't requested anything in so long. She ate pretty good too, three slices, crazy bread and soda. We spent the evening visiting and watching t.v., she even wanted to go to bed after the news so she did. Tomorrow is suppose to be nice too, I am going to try to get mom up early and go to the park for awhile.
It is 10:20 p.m. and mom is just getting up. She swears that it is morning and we are having a lunar eclipse, I wish she could remember simple things instead of what a lunar eclipse is. I am in for a heck of a night, I have been up since 8:00 a.m. working my butt off inside and outside, now I'll be up until mom goes to bed, about 4 or 5. Geesh.
Mom went to bed at 4:00 am and didn't get back up until 5:00 this evening. I got dinner after which I took mom for a walk in her wheel chair(her leg hurts) around the yard and down the street a bit. We then went for a ride, picked up my grand-daughters, went to Winchell's for donuts and coffee, took the girls home and came home ourselves, this was at 9:30. Mom had a great time although she is presently sitting in her chair wondering when I am going to take her home so she can go to bed! I told her I had permission for her to spend the night here, she is ok with this. She is going to bed after the news is over. We'll see.
My daughter-in-law Crystal babysat mom today so I could help my other d-i-l, Melody with her move out. Mom woke up this morning had her breakfast but didn't get back up until 6:30 this evening. She did go to bed last night after the news but not tonight. She is falling asleep in her chair but as soon as I wake her to get her to bed she says she isn't ready for bed, she isn't tired. Okay. She is complaining of her right leg hurting her from the knee up and her stomach hurting in the lower right quadrant also. She hasn't fallen, there is no outward sign of injury, swelling, lumps or bruising. She is able to bear weight on it, move it in all directions.
Mom is fine, I am not. I will be offline for the weekend.
While I am still not myself I do feel better and can hold myself together now. I had a terrible falling out with my older son, I am no longer a part of his life, as he puts it. I am not exactly sure what has happened with us, but it hurts so bad. Mom was been wonderful. I tried so hard not to show anything in front of her but I failed. I was crying, no bawling so hard, she came over, asked what was wrong, I told her and she grabbed me and gave me a huge hug. She held me to her breast, stroked my hair and told me how much she loved me and reassured me that things would be o.k.
Today was a good day. Mom didn't get up until 7:00 p.m. but when she did we went out to Burger King for Whoppers and shopping at Walmart. She enjoyed getting out for awhile. I was finally able to find someone to insure my house so I got that done today also, what a relief.
Mom got to bed after the news last night but slept fitfuly, she got up at 5:00 p.m. for dinner. She was cranky until after she ate something now she is fine. We are watching t.v., getting ready for the news to come on and go to bed. I still haven't heard from my son.
What an experience, using Netscape and an editor without a MOUSE!! Mine is broken and I can't believe how used to it I am. Oh well. Anyway, mom didn't get up until 8:00 p.m. so I am in for another long night. She is in a fair mood, ate a good meal and is just watching t.v. again. I wish I could interest her in something else. I'm sure it gets boring just watching t.v. all the time but she doesn't want to do anything else. Her doctor appointment is Friday, maybe things will change then.
WOW! I got mom in the shower at 11:00 p.m. after trying all day to get it done. She said she wasn't taking one and I said fine, if she wants to be dirty when the doctor sees her okay by me. I went in and took one which mad mom mad because I wasn't in the living room with her so she decided to take one. Gosh, nothing like an 83 year old having a temper tantrum. Of course I had to crank up the heat to a mere 90 degrees first! Talk about humid. I am anxious to see this doctor, maybe she can tell me why mom is sleeping 18 - 20 hours a day, I know it isn't because of the meds. She isn't taking enough to make her that sleepy.
8:00 a.m. got mom up, dressed and fed and headed to the doctor. We went into the room, the nurse did her BP which was 128/60 (good), her weight 151 lbs (WOW), the new doctor came in with chart in hand and asked me what medications she was taking, I asked if it wasn't in her chart, she says oh yeah, probably. She then proceeds to tell me that I need help with mom in bathing, I told her she had a bath last night thank you very much, well then I must need help with laundry, I said her clothes are clean, thank you, she says well somehting isn't right, I smell BO very strongly in here, I said that's me, thank you very much for noticing all the work I have already done this morning. I got up at 6:30 a.m. and mowed half an acre before getting mom up at 8:00 because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it later with mom being up. Of course then I had to dress mom, make pancakes, feed the dogs, change my clothes and slap on some deodorant since I didn't have time to shower first and since my personal hygiene was not the issue could we get on with the exam, she says her nose must just be overly sensitive, my thought was at least some part of her was sensitive! Now that it wasn't mom that smelled she proceeded to listen to her lungs (clear) and her arteries in her neck (strong), period. I then ask her about mom getting on Aricept, nope this is for early stage AD not advanced, I tell her I do not believe she has AD and want a new evaluation, tell what I have always thought (mulit-infarct dementia). She then asks mom what high school she went to, mom tells her, she says well AD people remember things from years ago, I ask mom what did you have for breakfast, she tells me, what is the date, she tells me, where are we, she tells me, I explain to the doctor that these are not memories from years ago. Mom proceeds to tell the doctor, look this is the first time I have seen you so bear with me and tells her about her headaches and the damn AD getting hold of her at times. I point out to the doctor that most AD people can't remember who is who let alone that it is the first time they have seen them. The doctor finally concedes that perhaps a re-evaluation is in order and is scheduling an appt. with a neurologist for a complete exam, she also notes mom 'gait' on the right side is strange, I told her about the pain mom has, but she feels it is neurological also. She is then ready for us to go when I ask her about doing the blood work and UA on her as she has chronic UTI's (also in her chart) and perhaps this is why she is sleeping so much, she goes ahead and gets the nurse to do them. We leave, go for lunch and come home. At 3:00 the nurse calls with UA results, mom has a UTI, Rx for antibiotics was ordered. GOD I REALLY CAN"T STAND MOST DOCTORS!!! Oh, by the way, I finally took a shower, shaved my pits and used deodorant again. No more stinky smell, until tomorrow at least.ROFLMAO. With all this babbling I'll have to do a continutation page on June for sure. SMILE.
Today was a very pleasant day with mom. She didn't get up until this afternoon but she was in a very good mood. We had dinner and talked, she asked me if I had heard from the doctor about her other appt. yet, I told her not until sometime next week. She is very excited about it. Honestly, I was amazed at her recall of the visit, like it had just happened. She said she felt better now with the antibiotics and hoped she would stop getting infections there. She also recalled the comment about the odor and told me not to let it bother me, she said 'What does she want you to smell like a French whore on Saturday night? Damn good thing I didn't fart.'(Mom's words) Then she just laughed. I know it is just my imagination but she seems different somehow, relieved perhaps?
Gosh, mom never wanted to get out of bed until 11:15 p.m. I tried all day to get her up but she refused. She did eat and have her meds., in bed though. I get so tired of her staying bed in all the time and really for no reason, she isn't sick. She got mad at me because I told her there was no reason for her to get up since it was now bed time, huh, she got up anyway, stayed up until 3:30 a.m. being very grouchy, so was I though. I was tired, I had been up since 8:00 and working in the yard at 9:00.
I am so angry, today is my grand-daughter Jaides last day of school and final program (at 9:15) and of course mom WILL NOT get up so I don't get to go!! I can't afford a babysitter, can't leave her alone and can't get her up. AHHH. Mom didn't get up until 1:00 p.m. but when she did we left to do bill paying and groceries. We had lunch at McDonalds again which she always likes, went to Safeway and came home. She picked out dinner tonight, fish filets, rice, peas, peaches and jello with cranberry juice and coffee for her milk for me, not a bad choice. She ate everything on her plate too. I had my youngest grand-daughter for awhile today, I invited my son and family up for dinner Friday night and they accepted, maybe it will break the ice and we can be like a family again. I sure hope so, I really miss him/them.
I finally got mom up at 7:30 p.m. I had tried all day and no luck. I had to get rude with her just to get her up at all. She was being nasty, I asked her when she was going to get up and she says maybe to tomorrow if I feel like it. She then proceeds to bang on the wall every 5 minutes for no reason, just to be nasty. She then tells me she is hungry, I told her if she wanted to eat she would have to get up and come to the table, I wasn't her maid. She got so mad, but she got her butt up and dressed and at the table without help. She even cut her own meat! Everything was fine then, we had a good meal together, talked and read the paper at the table. I just got her to bed because hse asked to if she could. Hope tomorrow is different.
Mom was just miserable today. I was beginning to worry that she was going to be in the bed again like she was in April until this afternoon that is. I went in to try to get her up again, she was saying things like, I can stay in bed as long as I want, What are you going to do about it except wait on me, I'll just bang on the wall all day if I have to, You're not going to lie to me like you did yesterday just to get me up, I know exactly how long I have been in bed - since you put me to bed last night- so what. She was being MOM, my old mom that is. She knew just what she was saying and doing, no dementia influenced statements or actions, just plain old meanness. I finally went back in at 7:00 and asked her if she was coming to the table for dinner, she says "Oh, I don't think so. It is just too comfortable in this bed, bring it to me!" and she was sarcastic when she said it. I brought her plate in to her and then blew it. I told her I didn't care if she ever got out of the bed again or not, she could just stay there for all I cared. She says, "Well, maybe I will maybe I won't. I just may get up at midnight just to make you madder." AHHH, she makes me so mad sometimes. I know she is just doing this, this time. There is nothing wrong with her, she is not confused at all, not ill just being onery.
Mom did it again today, stayed in bed. I didn't even try to get her up. I took her meals to her, her meds. and just left her in the room. She wouldn't let me change her until tonight, she wasn't wet from pee, "It is sweat". Whatever mom. I have looked for signs of depression but don't find any in talking with her, so, I guess she just wants to stay in bed. Tomorrow however she is getting up, in the morning at that. I have more bills to pay and she is going with me. I am not looking forward to the fuss but perhaps she will stay up once we go out for awhile.
I got mom up and to the livingroom at 2:00 this afternoon. She didn't put up a fuss or anything. We talked awhile, did dinner etc..I was looking forward to a pleasant evening with her when she suddenly decided she was going to bed, at 8:00. So, here I am waiting to give her meds. at 11:30 and go to bed myself. I got the lab results back today, her potassium level is low and they want me to increase her banana's. This is what makes me so damn mad at doctors: Since June 1995 she had one doctor, he retires in January this year, since we first started seeing the first one he was always watching her potassium levels because they alwyas ran HIGH, I could only give her the KlorCon (potassium) when she got her Lasix and had to watch that she didn't eat more than 6 bananas per day and limited potatoes. Now this doctor, without checking her previous results tells me to increase her potassium intake, never once questioning WHY her levels have fallen after a history of high levels. I called the office and spoke with her nurse and voiced my concerns, once again, she noted the differences in the chart records and would point them out to the doctor..GREAT..I have more faith in their assistants.
Today was a good day. Mom got up and came outside with me, sitting under the shade, she ate her dinner outside and MY SON and his family came for dinner to. I think everything is good with us again. Mom didn't even complain about being cold today. It was 83 here and 89 for tomorrow. She just went to bed, midnight, with just her top on and no heater. She said I could get her wet tomorrow unless I can get her a pool before then.
I fixed my lawn mower today then proceeded to mow everything again. It was a beautiful day, hot and clear and peaceful. Mom got up at 2:00 this afternoon. She came outside later in the day and sat under the shade tree again. Robert and Crystal had dinner with us tonight. They are in the process of moving into an apartment again. The house they had went on the market Monday, so. I now am the 'Foster mom' to their two, yes two Rottie puppies. They are my dog Koko's babies. They can't have pets in the apartment, let alone two Rotties so I get them back. I now have five dogs!
Today was very long. I wasn't feeling well so I just laid around all day, thank God mom did too. She didn't get up until this evening for dinner and went to bed after the news. I am on my way to bed also, I am just pooped out. I have spent too many hours in the yard, too many staying up all night with mom and too many not taking care of myself. It is going to feel so good to lay down.
If you have E-mailed me recently and want a reply, please re-E-mail me. My Eudora Program was inadvertently DELETED and all of my mail went with it. Thank you
Well Hollie left this morning until the 6th. I hope he has a great time. He will be going to the civic center to watch the fireworks and is bringing me back pictures from Watershed Park. Mom got up today, this morning actually. She has been in a great mood all day, ate all her meals and helped me dust. Robert and Crystal are all packed up, they will be out of the house this weekend. I sure will miss them being so close.
Today was a quiet day. Mom didn't get up until 7:30 tonight and went back to bed at midnight, she was sleepy. She is complaining about her leg ans stomach alot. Her hernia is located in the right side area however, and I believe it is causing her a lot of discomfort. I mentioned it to her, she recalled having surgery on it in '83. I told her the doctor didn't want to do surgery again because of her age and the possible trouble with the anesthesia, she said she would rather die from surgery than go on with this pain. I know it hurts her because she is ALWAYS complaining about it and ALWAYS in the same area. I will ask this doctor about it, maybe she will call me back this time. I still haven't heard back from them about the potassium level.
Mom was up bright and early this morning, ready to go. I feel sure now that there is a definate correlation between her B-12 injections and her sleep pattern. I gave her injection on Wednesday the 24th and now she has more pep an energy, she also got it on April 24th (every two months) and she got better. I think she needs them more frequently, perhaps monthly. I also called her doctors nurse today and got her a Rx for Prilosec 20mg to help with her abdominal pain. She was feeling so good that we went garage saleing, out to lunch and on errands. She took a short nap this afternoon, then stayed up until 12:30 in order to watch DAVE. It was a really good day for us.
I wasn't able to update yesterday because of being sick so I will include it today. Mom was in bed most of the day which turned out to be a good thing because I was feeling terrible, some sort a bug. I had promised to watch my grand-daughters Saturday night and they got here in the evening just as mom was getting up and the oldest one, Jaide, stayed all night. She was a great help to me by getting Granny stuff. (TODAY)I felt better this morning and finished putting up my chain link fencing because of Roberts dogs coming here. It took all day to do but I'm glad it is done, now IF I can only get the female to stop getting out! Mom is excited about her appt. tomorrow, she remembered it. She made sure to tell me to get her up in time to shower and eat. She said she is going to try to get this guy to look at her stomach even though he is a different type doctor, maybe he can tell what is wrong with it.
As usual Geocities has been for two days.
What a difference this doctor made. He was very friendly, interested, attentive and questioning. He spent 45 minutes examining mom and talking with us both, he showed me her '95 CTScan and explained it all to me. He tested mom with the usual questions, she answered all but three correctly. She missed 1) Where are you right now? In your office of course 2) Remember these three words; dog, rose and watch..She forgot them when asked what they were 3) What city are you in right now? L.A. or Hollywood. The doctor said Nope, we are in Longview, Washington. She said we couldn't be, it is too hot for Longview. Oh well.He has scehduled her for an EEG on the 8th and a CTScan next Friday. He feels that she may have MID, TIA's, or be having seizures but, he does not think it is Alzheimer's! He also says a part of her walking/shuffling trouble may be Parkinsonin type movements from an adverse affect from the Haldol now. He has me cutting her dose from 1mg per day to .5mg then to none within the next month. I am too keep records of her actions, attitude, and behavior as she is coming off it. I have complained about mom's general practitioner so now let me praise this guy. We had to wait in the waiting room for awhile because we were early, his interaction with the other patients was great too. He really was excellent with mom, joking with her and making her feel comfortable. He wasn't rushed to get to the "next one", took time to answer and ask questions. He didn't feel threatened when I asked him questions about MID or TIA's, he answered them. And he didn't make me feel stupid when I questioned her AD diagnosis and voiced my concerns. He was actually impressed that I had taken the time and had enough concern for my mother to find out as much as I have and to come to the appointment well prepared.
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