On Saturday we were watching the Olympics Opening ceremony which had been DVR'd from Friday night.
The Mr. Bean comedy segment came on and they used the Chariots of Fire theme song. Adam says "wait". Then he hops up from the couch and goes to the basement where his piano is. I am certain he hasn't heard this song more than once or twice. Next thing I know he is playing it on the piano. He has such a musical talent!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
OK now I did it
I think I ticked off the lump in my living room last night. (A.K.A. Brenda). I left her in charge of dinner on Thursday for herself and my mother. Her blood sugar has been out of control and since Gma is also a diabetic I had two easy and healthy things available for her to prepare. When I came home that night there were two Donato's sub boxes in the trash. I was ticked. They didn't need all that bread and whatever else is unhealthy in those subs... with a blood sugar of 439 are you kidding me???
So, last night at dinner the subject came up and I said "So Brenda, are you allergic to cooking???" Of course her answer was no so I went on to ask, "why do you order in every time I am not home?" Not that I really expected a great answer but she mumbled something and I let the subject drop.
I then went on to say that she needs to do something different about car insurance because she can't stay on mine as I am going to change companies. She mumbled something about needing to make some phone calls.
I guess she was still ticked at bedtime because she barely mustared a "Good-night" on her way to bed. It made me feel bad but at the same time, I don't think I'm wrong. I guess my biggest mistake was that I haven't been more firm before. Oh well, live and learn.
So, last night at dinner the subject came up and I said "So Brenda, are you allergic to cooking???" Of course her answer was no so I went on to ask, "why do you order in every time I am not home?" Not that I really expected a great answer but she mumbled something and I let the subject drop.
I then went on to say that she needs to do something different about car insurance because she can't stay on mine as I am going to change companies. She mumbled something about needing to make some phone calls.
I guess she was still ticked at bedtime because she barely mustared a "Good-night" on her way to bed. It made me feel bad but at the same time, I don't think I'm wrong. I guess my biggest mistake was that I haven't been more firm before. Oh well, live and learn.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Not too exciting this week
At least it hasn't been too exciting from the Gma standpoint. Just the usual "please change your shirt, you have been wearing that one for 3 days"-- Me... "I have????? why didn't you tell me???"-- Gma... "I did. The last 2 days"-- Me "I don't think so!!" -- Gma "Of course you don't"--Me
However, in the middle of the night Sunday, Gma wakes me up and says "Brenda is calling you." Sure enough before I can get it together and get out of bed, I hear "AAAANita... I need you..." I open her bedroom door to see her sitting straight legged on the floor in the middle of her bedroom. She explains that she got up to go to the bathroom and the next thing she knew she was on the floor. I ask if I need to call the squad. She says no. I said I can't pick her up so what does she need from me. She says I just need you to watch me get up. I watch what looks like a fish trying to flop itself back into the water for a few minutes. Finally, I have to say If you don't bend your legs you are not going to get up. She attempts to bend her legs which apparently have not been bent in some decades. Finally, she rolls onto one side, gets to her knees and stands up. I ask what was your blood sugar before bed. She says she doesn't know because she kept getting an error on her meter. I said, you need to check your blood sugar before you go back to bed because if it is too high or too low, that may have caused you to fall. I went back to bed.
About 9 a.m. when she emerged from her room I said what was your blood sugar when you checked it. She says she doesn't know. She didn't check. I explained... not very nicely that anytime something out of the ordinary like that happens checking her blood sugar should be her FIRST thought. Finally at 10:00 a.m. she checked it. It was 439. She had not had breakfast yet. I told her she needs to check it for the next few days at least twice a day. With much prompting she is finally doing that. She was very excited yesterday that it was only 3hundred and something. I said while that is progress she needs to keep it moving in that direction.
I swear I have a house full of 10 year olds.
I am devising a plan to get one of them moved to her own place. It is the last one who moved in if that gives you a hint :)
However, in the middle of the night Sunday, Gma wakes me up and says "Brenda is calling you." Sure enough before I can get it together and get out of bed, I hear "AAAANita... I need you..." I open her bedroom door to see her sitting straight legged on the floor in the middle of her bedroom. She explains that she got up to go to the bathroom and the next thing she knew she was on the floor. I ask if I need to call the squad. She says no. I said I can't pick her up so what does she need from me. She says I just need you to watch me get up. I watch what looks like a fish trying to flop itself back into the water for a few minutes. Finally, I have to say If you don't bend your legs you are not going to get up. She attempts to bend her legs which apparently have not been bent in some decades. Finally, she rolls onto one side, gets to her knees and stands up. I ask what was your blood sugar before bed. She says she doesn't know because she kept getting an error on her meter. I said, you need to check your blood sugar before you go back to bed because if it is too high or too low, that may have caused you to fall. I went back to bed.
About 9 a.m. when she emerged from her room I said what was your blood sugar when you checked it. She says she doesn't know. She didn't check. I explained... not very nicely that anytime something out of the ordinary like that happens checking her blood sugar should be her FIRST thought. Finally at 10:00 a.m. she checked it. It was 439. She had not had breakfast yet. I told her she needs to check it for the next few days at least twice a day. With much prompting she is finally doing that. She was very excited yesterday that it was only 3hundred and something. I said while that is progress she needs to keep it moving in that direction.
I swear I have a house full of 10 year olds.
I am devising a plan to get one of them moved to her own place. It is the last one who moved in if that gives you a hint :)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
I can't believe I almost forgot to post this one
Over the weekend we took Adam to Niagara Falls for his birthday. We also wanted Molly and Iris to meet so they would be friends when Molly came to stay.
Anyway, we are all sleeping on Sunday night and gma always sleeps in a folding chair that has its own foot stool so she can put her feet up. She wakes up about 5:30 on Monday morning and I hear her rustling around. I try to encourage her to go back to sleep as I fear she will wake up the rest of the room and Iris never wakes up quietly. She says she will go back to sleep but she is trying to figure out why her feet are on the kitchen table. I explained that they were not on the table but she was in her cozy chair with the foot rest. She says "NO they are on the kitchen table. What are they doing on the kitchen table?!?" I again explained that they were on the foot rest of her chair. She seemed to be settling down so I drifted back to sleep. About 15 minutes later "What are my feet doing on the kitchen table?" And Iris was up!!...
Anyway, we are all sleeping on Sunday night and gma always sleeps in a folding chair that has its own foot stool so she can put her feet up. She wakes up about 5:30 on Monday morning and I hear her rustling around. I try to encourage her to go back to sleep as I fear she will wake up the rest of the room and Iris never wakes up quietly. She says she will go back to sleep but she is trying to figure out why her feet are on the kitchen table. I explained that they were not on the table but she was in her cozy chair with the foot rest. She says "NO they are on the kitchen table. What are they doing on the kitchen table?!?" I again explained that they were on the foot rest of her chair. She seemed to be settling down so I drifted back to sleep. About 15 minutes later "What are my feet doing on the kitchen table?" And Iris was up!!...
Friday, June 8, 2012
At least my life is never boring...
Yesterday was my half day off and the day before that was my full day off. Although I was very productive, I was hoping to rest up a little on Monday and Tuesday from our weekend adventures. I love that we get to have weekend adventures and I hope we can continue to enjoy time with our family for a very long time.
Saturday we went to Heath to spend time with the family. Mark's son Collin is now a proud graduate from Heath High School... and Veledictorian at that! It was a pleasant surprise to run into other cousins and have a chance to catch up a bit with life. Sometimes it seems like we only see each other at funerals so it was nice to be able to catch up during a happy and relaxed occasion.
Then on Sunday we went the other direction (northwest) and saw Andy and family. I believe Drewman is part fish. He was in the pool for well over 4 hours and not ready to get out when everyone else said "time". It is good that those boys are not slugs at least.
Monday I spent time helping Donna go through the stuff that lives in her apartment so she can get ready to move. She has a LOT to do!! She is wading through it all though.
In between I did laundry, wrestled the mother into the shower and passed out meds.
Like I said... NEVER BORING!
Saturday we went to Heath to spend time with the family. Mark's son Collin is now a proud graduate from Heath High School... and Veledictorian at that! It was a pleasant surprise to run into other cousins and have a chance to catch up a bit with life. Sometimes it seems like we only see each other at funerals so it was nice to be able to catch up during a happy and relaxed occasion.
Then on Sunday we went the other direction (northwest) and saw Andy and family. I believe Drewman is part fish. He was in the pool for well over 4 hours and not ready to get out when everyone else said "time". It is good that those boys are not slugs at least.
Monday I spent time helping Donna go through the stuff that lives in her apartment so she can get ready to move. She has a LOT to do!! She is wading through it all though.
In between I did laundry, wrestled the mother into the shower and passed out meds.
Like I said... NEVER BORING!
Friday, June 1, 2012
It is true
What is true you might ask. It is true that we get to be a 4 year old twice in this lifetime. You have probably heard the saying that we get to be "twice a child... once an adult". In my dementia education (and by education I mean baptism by fire) I have learned that 4 is a favorite age in our brains it seems.
My mother doesn't hesitate to throw a fit when she is tired, argue over the last piece of cake and piddle where she is when it is too much trouble to go to the bathroom. She refuses to eat anything that doesn't look very good to her. She won't change clothes unless it is her idea and if they don't match "you'll just have to deal with it" she says.
Yet sometimes she also gets to be the mom or at least try to. Last night when I took the Manny to the bus, she was determined that she would be going with me at almost 11 O'Clock at night. When I said no she insisted that I didn't need to go downtown alone at that hour. Uhhhhh... excatly what was she going to do for me if someone did try to get me... she was being a mom.
Dementia is a cruel disease that robs people of their dignity at a time when dignity is most important because life is robbing us of many other things we have always enjoyed. We try to live in the moment and enjoy the rare moments of clarity or enjoyment that Gma has these days.
My mother doesn't hesitate to throw a fit when she is tired, argue over the last piece of cake and piddle where she is when it is too much trouble to go to the bathroom. She refuses to eat anything that doesn't look very good to her. She won't change clothes unless it is her idea and if they don't match "you'll just have to deal with it" she says.
Yet sometimes she also gets to be the mom or at least try to. Last night when I took the Manny to the bus, she was determined that she would be going with me at almost 11 O'Clock at night. When I said no she insisted that I didn't need to go downtown alone at that hour. Uhhhhh... excatly what was she going to do for me if someone did try to get me... she was being a mom.
Dementia is a cruel disease that robs people of their dignity at a time when dignity is most important because life is robbing us of many other things we have always enjoyed. We try to live in the moment and enjoy the rare moments of clarity or enjoyment that Gma has these days.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Is it really that difficult?!?!
UHHHH...I just don't know what to say...We were so upfront and honest with this new homecare company about communication being one of our top priorities. However, they just don't seem to get it. This company assured me that they would send a monthly calendar every month... it happened once. They assured me their HHA's were reliable, trustworthy and had a history of longevity. We have had approximately 5 morning caregivers and at least three afternoon people. Do they call me when there is going to be a change of some kind? NO. Yesterday I just happened to be at home for the day. The afternoon caregiver was at least 45 minutes late and no one received a call or notification. She offered no excuse when she finally arrived at almost 4 p.m. The morning caregiver kept asking me if there was anything else to do since I had laundry in the washer. I asked her twice if the dishes were done. I sent her one time to fix my mother's lunch even though my mother said she wasn't hungry. She did fix the lunch but when I went into the kitchen after she left, the morning's cereal bowls were stacked on the sink counter -- not washed and the pans, cutting boards and various other dishes were NOT done. Is it a tough question?!? Are the dishes done??? Maybe I should say Did YOU do the dishes???
I am well aware that dishes are not ever a popular task but they are on the list of things a homemaker can help with so.... maybe we could just do our jobs...
I am well aware that dishes are not ever a popular task but they are on the list of things a homemaker can help with so.... maybe we could just do our jobs...
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