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...
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Teeth
OK. I am not sure I updated on the teeth but... since early January gma has had teeth!!!
There is only one drawback to the teeth. Along with them came a new habit that thankfully seems to be over for now. For about a month, everywhere we went, especially if we were eating but not necessarily only if we were eating, she would whip her teeth out... just the bottom ones and put them in a napkin, tissue (most of you know how much she loves tissues), or just a pocket. Finally, in fear of losing them and not being able to replace them I started carrying a plastic ziploc baggie around with me. Whatever magic that act had, it seems to have made the "whipping my teeth out wherever I am" phenomenon go away. She has only taken her teeth out once since I have been prepared with a baggie.
Some of the fun places I found her teeth: on the table at home, in the drawer of her bedside table, in the chair beside her in the living room, in the tooth cup in the bathroom wrapped in tissues, on the dash of my car, in an ice cream cup at Cold Stone and my personal favorite... in the drink holder of my car.
I think she just likes to keep me hopping!!
There is only one drawback to the teeth. Along with them came a new habit that thankfully seems to be over for now. For about a month, everywhere we went, especially if we were eating but not necessarily only if we were eating, she would whip her teeth out... just the bottom ones and put them in a napkin, tissue (most of you know how much she loves tissues), or just a pocket. Finally, in fear of losing them and not being able to replace them I started carrying a plastic ziploc baggie around with me. Whatever magic that act had, it seems to have made the "whipping my teeth out wherever I am" phenomenon go away. She has only taken her teeth out once since I have been prepared with a baggie.
Some of the fun places I found her teeth: on the table at home, in the drawer of her bedside table, in the chair beside her in the living room, in the tooth cup in the bathroom wrapped in tissues, on the dash of my car, in an ice cream cup at Cold Stone and my personal favorite... in the drink holder of my car.
I think she just likes to keep me hopping!!
Nothing new-- That makes me worried
I don't know what to think. Yesterday was uneventful. No teeth in the dog dish. No turkey in the microwave with foil on top. Glasses were not in a different room than my mother. I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Things just don't go this normally in my household.
Of course, Brenda did come home yesterday so the blow by blow... also known as the every nanosecond of the day report began to happen again. I was not even in the door before I started to hear about what happened in the house. Ty is still not doing anything much. Heather is good but is beginning to ask what Ty does in the afternoons. Apparently, Ty likes her IPad. Not all that surprising.
When the blow by blow report died down a bit I asked what she did all last week while she was gone. I will one day learn to re-phrase things like that because suddenly every nanosecond of her week was spilling out... "well, after I got there we went to lunch and to Walmart in Troy we were going to pick her son up but Pam had a bathroom problem and we had to go home... then we went back to pick her son up at work he doesn't drive..." Silly me, I said "Does her son work at Walmart in Troy?" "No he works at H&M (or S&M or whatever the initials are)..." the stories continued in minute detail until well into dinner.
I announced that I would not be home on Weds. for dinner because I have dinner plans. I stressed that Brenda is in charge of cooking the frozen Meals On Wheels dinners. We will see if that happens. Feeling the need for escape and since it wasn't time to go to Bible study I went out on the porch to dig in the dirt a bit and plant some of the flowers that are dying on my front porch. I had not been in my safe spot for 5 minutes when Brenda appears on the porch with her car keys in her hand. I glanced up and said "where are you going? " (Since we were going to the same Bible Study I thought we would ride together.) She said "are you going to Bible Study?" I said "Yes. but it isn't time yet." She said "I know but I didn't know if I would need my jacket." I was very nice... bit my tongue and didn't say "You are the one who sits in front of the TV all day and I am the one who heard them say it would still be 70 degrees at Midnight?!?"
So the saga of my life --running the Shawlers, Inc nursing home continues.
Of course, Brenda did come home yesterday so the blow by blow... also known as the every nanosecond of the day report began to happen again. I was not even in the door before I started to hear about what happened in the house. Ty is still not doing anything much. Heather is good but is beginning to ask what Ty does in the afternoons. Apparently, Ty likes her IPad. Not all that surprising.
When the blow by blow report died down a bit I asked what she did all last week while she was gone. I will one day learn to re-phrase things like that because suddenly every nanosecond of her week was spilling out... "well, after I got there we went to lunch and to Walmart in Troy we were going to pick her son up but Pam had a bathroom problem and we had to go home... then we went back to pick her son up at work he doesn't drive..." Silly me, I said "Does her son work at Walmart in Troy?" "No he works at H&M (or S&M or whatever the initials are)..." the stories continued in minute detail until well into dinner.
I announced that I would not be home on Weds. for dinner because I have dinner plans. I stressed that Brenda is in charge of cooking the frozen Meals On Wheels dinners. We will see if that happens. Feeling the need for escape and since it wasn't time to go to Bible study I went out on the porch to dig in the dirt a bit and plant some of the flowers that are dying on my front porch. I had not been in my safe spot for 5 minutes when Brenda appears on the porch with her car keys in her hand. I glanced up and said "where are you going? " (Since we were going to the same Bible Study I thought we would ride together.) She said "are you going to Bible Study?" I said "Yes. but it isn't time yet." She said "I know but I didn't know if I would need my jacket." I was very nice... bit my tongue and didn't say "You are the one who sits in front of the TV all day and I am the one who heard them say it would still be 70 degrees at Midnight?!?"
So the saga of my life --running the Shawlers, Inc nursing home continues.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
OK. I am not sure I updated on the teeth but since early January gma has had teeth!!!
There is only one drawback to the teeth. Along with them came a new habit that thankfully seems to be over for now. For about a month, everywhere we went, especially if we were eating but not necessarily only if we were eating, she would whip her teeth out... just the bottom ones and put them in a napkin, tissue (most of you know how much she loves tissues), or just a pocket. Finally, in fear of losing them and not being able to replace them I started carrying a plastic ziploc baggie around with me. Whatever magic that act had, it seems to have made the whipping my teeth out wherever I am phenomenon go away. She has only taken her teeth out once since I have been prepared with a baggie.
Some of the fun places I found her teeth: on the table at home, in the drawer of her bedside table, in the chair beside her in the living room, in the tooth cup in the bathroom wrapped in tissues, on the dash of my car, in an ice cream cup at Cold Stone and my personal favorite... in the drink holder of my car.
I think she just likes to keep me hopping!!
There is only one drawback to the teeth. Along with them came a new habit that thankfully seems to be over for now. For about a month, everywhere we went, especially if we were eating but not necessarily only if we were eating, she would whip her teeth out... just the bottom ones and put them in a napkin, tissue (most of you know how much she loves tissues), or just a pocket. Finally, in fear of losing them and not being able to replace them I started carrying a plastic ziploc baggie around with me. Whatever magic that act had, it seems to have made the whipping my teeth out wherever I am phenomenon go away. She has only taken her teeth out once since I have been prepared with a baggie.
Some of the fun places I found her teeth: on the table at home, in the drawer of her bedside table, in the chair beside her in the living room, in the tooth cup in the bathroom wrapped in tissues, on the dash of my car, in an ice cream cup at Cold Stone and my personal favorite... in the drink holder of my car.
I think she just likes to keep me hopping!!
More Adventures in Caregiving
Last night was an adventure...
I arrive home to smell something (can't quite identify it) cooking. Remembering that I had a piece of turkey breast marinating in the fridge when I left yesterday morning I could only think "Oh no, what is my turkey breast swimming in?!?"
Well, it was neatly in the glass dish that I had left it in. I had covered the dish with foil hoping it may not be discovered in the fridge. Much to my horror, when I arrived in the kitchen, I found the dish spinning in the microwave.. WITH THE FOIL still on top!!! The Microwave was set on the highest setting. Let me tell you, suddenly I forgot that my hips and knee had been killing me all day. I RAN to the microwave, turned it off and promptly removed the dish with its foil not yet on fire. Major house fire averted... this time...
When my heart began to beat again, I asked my mother what she was thinking that foil in the microwave was a prescription for burning down the house. She said she didn't want to eat at Midnight so she started dinner. It didn't matter that we have NEVER eaten dinner at Midnight or that it was only 5:15 p.m. She was sure she had done the right thing by starting dinner. Then the guilt started "I was only trying to help". I told her I appreciated her help but that was the kind of help we could all do without. I asked her what she was going to do if the house burned down.
No answer for that one except the answer she learned from Adam-- "I didn't mean to do it".
Explanation of this phrase: I didn't mean to do it applies for anything from breaking the 4th washer to leaving the dogs out in the heat for hours to using a dish towel for a mop rag on the kitchen floor. It is a VERY popular phrase in the world where I live.
I arrive home to smell something (can't quite identify it) cooking. Remembering that I had a piece of turkey breast marinating in the fridge when I left yesterday morning I could only think "Oh no, what is my turkey breast swimming in?!?"
Well, it was neatly in the glass dish that I had left it in. I had covered the dish with foil hoping it may not be discovered in the fridge. Much to my horror, when I arrived in the kitchen, I found the dish spinning in the microwave.. WITH THE FOIL still on top!!! The Microwave was set on the highest setting. Let me tell you, suddenly I forgot that my hips and knee had been killing me all day. I RAN to the microwave, turned it off and promptly removed the dish with its foil not yet on fire. Major house fire averted... this time...
When my heart began to beat again, I asked my mother what she was thinking that foil in the microwave was a prescription for burning down the house. She said she didn't want to eat at Midnight so she started dinner. It didn't matter that we have NEVER eaten dinner at Midnight or that it was only 5:15 p.m. She was sure she had done the right thing by starting dinner. Then the guilt started "I was only trying to help". I told her I appreciated her help but that was the kind of help we could all do without. I asked her what she was going to do if the house burned down.
No answer for that one except the answer she learned from Adam-- "I didn't mean to do it".
Explanation of this phrase: I didn't mean to do it applies for anything from breaking the 4th washer to leaving the dogs out in the heat for hours to using a dish towel for a mop rag on the kitchen floor. It is a VERY popular phrase in the world where I live.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Caregivers
I'm going to put this in writing mostly so I can go back to make sure I am not being too picky in the future.
We have had quite the parade of caregivers since Melody left. We liked Melody and wish she would return to us... She was with us for a couple of years and really got to know the routines of the house and understood how to take care of my mother as well as help me out. At times she knew the routine of the house so well that she almost tried to run it. While I thought that was a bit annoying, I have to say it wasn't as annoying as the steady parade that has been there since that time.
First there was Tammy. I was assured that Tammy would get a car within a few weeks of working for us but for now she would be arriving by bus. Well, apparently Tammy planned to buy her car with the proceeds from selling my Vicodin. Only her plan didn't work out too well because I figured out pretty quickly that they were disappearing. Then, there was the cigarette money and bus fare she was borrowing from me and my household...
Next came a couple of other people whose names I didn't bother to learn because they were just substitutes. They pretty much did nothing.
Then came Traci. She was there for three days before she brought her "sister" to work with her one day. At the end of that shift, my home had been stripped of the small amounts of cash that we had on hand for emergencies. I wonder what type of emergency she and sis used that cash for... maybe she bought my Vicodin from number one caregiver?!? Then it wasn't enough that she tried to pull the wool over our eyes about the missing cash... she blamed it on Adam by saying that Brenda told her we have "problems with Adam taking things". My "mom ire" reared its ugly head that day!! It was bound to happen.
Next in the line of caregivers was/is Ty. Ty is fine although not overly into the house work. Tammy was incredible with the housework. My house was cleaner than it has been for decades. I was told Ty would cover both morning and afternoon shifts. However, it turns out that was not the case. She can cover most of the shifts. There are a few mornings a week that she can't be there-- three to be exact at this moment although that started out as one or two.
Over the years, I have had problems with caregivers who were afraid of my dogs. I can see where someone would be afraid of Iris. She talks a lot. Ty is not afraid of my dogs. She is, however, afraid of our cat. I was told she came into the house the first day and asked if the cat was going to stay on the chair where he was currently laying. Uh, NO, Sunny is still pretty much a kitten although a year old. He lays on the chair during rest breaks from running through the house chasing Iris... or chasing his own shadow... or chasing the phone cord or anything else that moves. He has never quite caught on to the "attack kitty" persona though.
Ty's counterpart(s) have been many. Filling in (or should I say Understudying) in the mornings has been Kim (she pretty much did nothing), Ashley (who came to the house as a sub without my knowing there was going to be one), Terry (who was there over the weekend and wrote up a nice list of what she did but I didn't see that she had done any of it) and this morning Antoinette who we discovered was allergic to our cat-- that the agency says they were not aware we had. Antoinette only stayed a half hour before she had swollen eyes and had to leave.
Tomorrow will bring another adventure. Ty SHOULD be there for both shifts. We will see who is filling in on Friday. More to follow in the adventures in caregivers.
We have had quite the parade of caregivers since Melody left. We liked Melody and wish she would return to us... She was with us for a couple of years and really got to know the routines of the house and understood how to take care of my mother as well as help me out. At times she knew the routine of the house so well that she almost tried to run it. While I thought that was a bit annoying, I have to say it wasn't as annoying as the steady parade that has been there since that time.
First there was Tammy. I was assured that Tammy would get a car within a few weeks of working for us but for now she would be arriving by bus. Well, apparently Tammy planned to buy her car with the proceeds from selling my Vicodin. Only her plan didn't work out too well because I figured out pretty quickly that they were disappearing. Then, there was the cigarette money and bus fare she was borrowing from me and my household...
Next came a couple of other people whose names I didn't bother to learn because they were just substitutes. They pretty much did nothing.
Then came Traci. She was there for three days before she brought her "sister" to work with her one day. At the end of that shift, my home had been stripped of the small amounts of cash that we had on hand for emergencies. I wonder what type of emergency she and sis used that cash for... maybe she bought my Vicodin from number one caregiver?!? Then it wasn't enough that she tried to pull the wool over our eyes about the missing cash... she blamed it on Adam by saying that Brenda told her we have "problems with Adam taking things". My "mom ire" reared its ugly head that day!! It was bound to happen.
Next in the line of caregivers was/is Ty. Ty is fine although not overly into the house work. Tammy was incredible with the housework. My house was cleaner than it has been for decades. I was told Ty would cover both morning and afternoon shifts. However, it turns out that was not the case. She can cover most of the shifts. There are a few mornings a week that she can't be there-- three to be exact at this moment although that started out as one or two.
Over the years, I have had problems with caregivers who were afraid of my dogs. I can see where someone would be afraid of Iris. She talks a lot. Ty is not afraid of my dogs. She is, however, afraid of our cat. I was told she came into the house the first day and asked if the cat was going to stay on the chair where he was currently laying. Uh, NO, Sunny is still pretty much a kitten although a year old. He lays on the chair during rest breaks from running through the house chasing Iris... or chasing his own shadow... or chasing the phone cord or anything else that moves. He has never quite caught on to the "attack kitty" persona though.
Ty's counterpart(s) have been many. Filling in (or should I say Understudying) in the mornings has been Kim (she pretty much did nothing), Ashley (who came to the house as a sub without my knowing there was going to be one), Terry (who was there over the weekend and wrote up a nice list of what she did but I didn't see that she had done any of it) and this morning Antoinette who we discovered was allergic to our cat-- that the agency says they were not aware we had. Antoinette only stayed a half hour before she had swollen eyes and had to leave.
Tomorrow will bring another adventure. Ty SHOULD be there for both shifts. We will see who is filling in on Friday. More to follow in the adventures in caregivers.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
How can it be?
I will write more later about the parade of caregivers in and out of our house but today I have one burning question... How can they be so confused by day and dream with the lucidity of a 15 year old??? (15 year olds do know everything you know?!?)
Here is why I ask the above question.
My mother can hold a whole conversation in her sleep. She can yell at my father, get dinner on the table and pack up to "go home" with no thought about how to do any of those things.
On two occasions lately, she has had the most vivid dreams about everyday things. Once she was letting my father know that he could not write that check because there was no money in the account to cover it.
On the other occasion she had was on her feet (BiPAP on mind you) packing her (imaginary) suitcase and saying "well we have had a nice time but we better be getting home". I am assuming that we were going home from my grandparents. When I turned on the light, she was quite suprised that she was at home. It actually took a few minutes to convince her that she didn't need to go home because she was already home and she needed to crawl back into her bed.
On another occasion she was in the hallway, cooking dinner for the family. I woke her that time and she was so hungry (at 3 am) that she wouldn't go back to sleep until I got her some cheese and crackers.
It is a little like getting to play house every night in the middle of the night. However, as I think about these indcidents, I realize that they are all things that would have happened in our lives when I was younger. She was very rational about what she was dreaming. How can it be that once awake from that dreamstate she is once again as confused as when she went to sleep?
Dementia, you are certainly a strange one!!!
Here is why I ask the above question.
My mother can hold a whole conversation in her sleep. She can yell at my father, get dinner on the table and pack up to "go home" with no thought about how to do any of those things.
On two occasions lately, she has had the most vivid dreams about everyday things. Once she was letting my father know that he could not write that check because there was no money in the account to cover it.
On the other occasion she had was on her feet (BiPAP on mind you) packing her (imaginary) suitcase and saying "well we have had a nice time but we better be getting home". I am assuming that we were going home from my grandparents. When I turned on the light, she was quite suprised that she was at home. It actually took a few minutes to convince her that she didn't need to go home because she was already home and she needed to crawl back into her bed.
On another occasion she was in the hallway, cooking dinner for the family. I woke her that time and she was so hungry (at 3 am) that she wouldn't go back to sleep until I got her some cheese and crackers.
It is a little like getting to play house every night in the middle of the night. However, as I think about these indcidents, I realize that they are all things that would have happened in our lives when I was younger. She was very rational about what she was dreaming. How can it be that once awake from that dreamstate she is once again as confused as when she went to sleep?
Dementia, you are certainly a strange one!!!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Always prepared
Apparently while she was staying there for the last couple of weeks, Gma had many reminders to always carry the new cordless phone around the apartment with her when Don was not there. I guess it stuck because Don told the following story :)
About halfway through the drive to Columbus from Chicago Gma starts looking between the seats of the car like she is searching for a lost fortune. When Don says "what are you looking for". She says "the phone". He says "there is no phone in here". She says "yes there is..." and promptly produces the receiver from the cordless phone.
I believe it is safe to say that she was adequately prepared and the message that she should always have the phone with her was received :)
About halfway through the drive to Columbus from Chicago Gma starts looking between the seats of the car like she is searching for a lost fortune. When Don says "what are you looking for". She says "the phone". He says "there is no phone in here". She says "yes there is..." and promptly produces the receiver from the cordless phone.
I believe it is safe to say that she was adequately prepared and the message that she should always have the phone with her was received :)
Monday, January 9, 2012
What a packed first weekend in the year :)
January 7-8, 2012 proved to have a full docket for Shawlers, Inc.
First there was pictures on Saturday morning with the three young men. They all love the camera and the camera seems to love them just as much!!
Pictures were chosen with a bit of difficulty since there was not really a bad one in the bunch.
Then we were all off to BG for the women's basketball game. We really should all be able to enjoy ourselves as much as Drew at these games! He loves to dance and cheer on his favorite women't team. Aidan is almost as much of a fan although at age 2 the attention span needs a little more development. Max had his first basketball game experience. He enjoyed a bit of everything from the dancing and cheering with Drew to a snack and then off to run with Aidan.
After some much needed and well earned napping it was off to our hotel to go for a dip... in the pool that is :) Mostly that consisted of playing in the not so hot hot tub and a little running back and forth between the pool and hot tub.
Dinner was ready by the time we made it home to Andy and Holliday's house. Once dinner was over, Max was ready for the highlight of his trip so far... some time on the Wii. Max you are quite the Mario Kart addict :) You seem to win every time even when you come in 12th!
Sunday found us off to church to worship together and then to get a bite to eat. Lunch was a hit with Drew making his own pizza and the other boys having a good time eating and playing with the family. Grandma and the girls and Max hit the road to Chicago right after lunch. Grandma was oh so thrilled to be going-- OK-- not really but she will be fine in Uncle Don's care for a couple of weeks while the rest of us cruise.
Speaking of the cruise, this is pretty much my favorite time with the thought of vacation closing in and anticipation of spending quality time with family and old friends. Once things are underway it seems like the time flies way too fast so I prefer to enjoy the anticipation as much as the cruise itself :)
I'm working hard this year to learn to enjoy life in the moment as my three favorite little guys do: As I write I am looking at a picture on the computer of them eating breakfast and looking like it is their favorite activity in life! AND of course it is until they are on to the next adventure which may be as simple as kissing everyone good-bye or as complicated as taking part in a Wii competition!
Enjoy life more... that is my 2012 motto.
First there was pictures on Saturday morning with the three young men. They all love the camera and the camera seems to love them just as much!!
Pictures were chosen with a bit of difficulty since there was not really a bad one in the bunch.
Then we were all off to BG for the women's basketball game. We really should all be able to enjoy ourselves as much as Drew at these games! He loves to dance and cheer on his favorite women't team. Aidan is almost as much of a fan although at age 2 the attention span needs a little more development. Max had his first basketball game experience. He enjoyed a bit of everything from the dancing and cheering with Drew to a snack and then off to run with Aidan.
After some much needed and well earned napping it was off to our hotel to go for a dip... in the pool that is :) Mostly that consisted of playing in the not so hot hot tub and a little running back and forth between the pool and hot tub.
Dinner was ready by the time we made it home to Andy and Holliday's house. Once dinner was over, Max was ready for the highlight of his trip so far... some time on the Wii. Max you are quite the Mario Kart addict :) You seem to win every time even when you come in 12th!
Sunday found us off to church to worship together and then to get a bite to eat. Lunch was a hit with Drew making his own pizza and the other boys having a good time eating and playing with the family. Grandma and the girls and Max hit the road to Chicago right after lunch. Grandma was oh so thrilled to be going-- OK-- not really but she will be fine in Uncle Don's care for a couple of weeks while the rest of us cruise.
Speaking of the cruise, this is pretty much my favorite time with the thought of vacation closing in and anticipation of spending quality time with family and old friends. Once things are underway it seems like the time flies way too fast so I prefer to enjoy the anticipation as much as the cruise itself :)
I'm working hard this year to learn to enjoy life in the moment as my three favorite little guys do: As I write I am looking at a picture on the computer of them eating breakfast and looking like it is their favorite activity in life! AND of course it is until they are on to the next adventure which may be as simple as kissing everyone good-bye or as complicated as taking part in a Wii competition!
Enjoy life more... that is my 2012 motto.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy 2012
Wow. How did it get to be 2012 already?!?
It isn't supposed to go this fast. When I was younger, I remember my mother and grandmother telling me that time goes faster as you get older and I thought they were ridiculous. I am older now and I completely understand!!
2011 was a full year. It began with a trip to Portland, OR to attend the wedding of Adam and Andy's brother Bobby to a very sweet young lady. The boys were in the wedding except for Aidan and Max. Aidan was too young and no one knew if Max would actually get there or not from Germany with his mom. They did come in the night before the wedding.
Soon after the wedding, 2011 was in full swing with lots to do and plans for a Summer vacation to warm us during the LONG Winter.
It was during the long Winter that the Shawler's, Inc. household made another change. We aquired Brenda who was first injured and then in the hospital with an illness and then decided to stay on in Columbus. Almost a year later at age 67, she is looking forward to beginning her own life for the first time ever. She has applied to move into senior housing and is currently on the waiting list. Until then, she is at home in our home and helping a lot with her cousin who we all know as "Gma".
Gma had some adventures in health this year between falls and getting teeth removed and being in the hospital with we still don't know what, she has kept things interesting. In the last 4 months we have seen 5 specialists and that doesn't include the oral surgeon who finally took out the infamous teeth. We still don't have the new teeth. Hopefully, that is happening sooner rather than later in 2012. With 2 dentists dealing with Medicaid, hopefully someone will come up with approval for new choppers.
2011 was not just about the choppers and Medicaid adventures. We had a couple of fun family adventures. In June, we took the boys on their first cruise. I can tell you for sure it won't be their last.
They had a blast. They were also the hit of the ship because they danced every night and then there was Aidan who learned a new phrase... "Oh Ship" right before the cruise and cracked everyone up the whole trip!
The month of July began with a bang literally when we attended Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus. This has become a family favorite during the year.
Our Fall and the holidays were also full of family fun with a trip to a corn maze, apple picking and then family time together for the holidays. It is so good to have a family that really enjoys adventures together.
2012 holds a lot of promise for more of the same!
With these 3 sweet faces, how could it involve anything besides fun?!?
It isn't supposed to go this fast. When I was younger, I remember my mother and grandmother telling me that time goes faster as you get older and I thought they were ridiculous. I am older now and I completely understand!!
2011 was a full year. It began with a trip to Portland, OR to attend the wedding of Adam and Andy's brother Bobby to a very sweet young lady. The boys were in the wedding except for Aidan and Max. Aidan was too young and no one knew if Max would actually get there or not from Germany with his mom. They did come in the night before the wedding.
Soon after the wedding, 2011 was in full swing with lots to do and plans for a Summer vacation to warm us during the LONG Winter.
It was during the long Winter that the Shawler's, Inc. household made another change. We aquired Brenda who was first injured and then in the hospital with an illness and then decided to stay on in Columbus. Almost a year later at age 67, she is looking forward to beginning her own life for the first time ever. She has applied to move into senior housing and is currently on the waiting list. Until then, she is at home in our home and helping a lot with her cousin who we all know as "Gma".
Gma had some adventures in health this year between falls and getting teeth removed and being in the hospital with we still don't know what, she has kept things interesting. In the last 4 months we have seen 5 specialists and that doesn't include the oral surgeon who finally took out the infamous teeth. We still don't have the new teeth. Hopefully, that is happening sooner rather than later in 2012. With 2 dentists dealing with Medicaid, hopefully someone will come up with approval for new choppers.
2011 was not just about the choppers and Medicaid adventures. We had a couple of fun family adventures. In June, we took the boys on their first cruise. I can tell you for sure it won't be their last.
They had a blast. They were also the hit of the ship because they danced every night and then there was Aidan who learned a new phrase... "Oh Ship" right before the cruise and cracked everyone up the whole trip!
The month of July began with a bang literally when we attended Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus. This has become a family favorite during the year.
Our Fall and the holidays were also full of family fun with a trip to a corn maze, apple picking and then family time together for the holidays. It is so good to have a family that really enjoys adventures together.
2012 holds a lot of promise for more of the same!
With these 3 sweet faces, how could it involve anything besides fun?!?
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