Well, Grandma had a great weekend. Either she was putting on a show for Shelby and Peter or she is just deciding to get better. I had a face to face talk with her the other day and asked her if she was just going to lay in the bed until she died. And if so, I was having no part of it. I said I wanted her better, but she had to want to get better and it was all up to her. I would take her anywhere she wanted to help, but I was tired of 'making her want to get better'. Well, she must of thought a lot about that because every morning she gets to the dining table by herself and has breakfast, reads the paper and is being cooperative. FINALLY...
Took her to GP doc today and her memory test was right on, and I can see that it is getting better too. Her pulse is very low so Dr. Borecky took her off of one of her pills to see how that works.
\
I looks like the new diabetic medication is working, we see that doctor next week.
TTFN
Jennie
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27. 2009
Well, today is Shelby's birthday. Happy 25 years to her.
My Mom is a little better every day. The heat is keeping us from going out to her exercise classes at t have a new cane for her to try. That would be a big step forward. Her memory is coming back which was a huge fear of mine that it would not.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Jennie
My Mom is a little better every day. The heat is keeping us from going out to her exercise classes at t have a new cane for her to try. That would be a big step forward. Her memory is coming back which was a huge fear of mine that it would not.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Jennie
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday Aug 17th 2pm
I took grandma to one of MANY exercise classes at the Senior Center here in town. She was NOT HAPPY, but we are going to go 2-3 times a week, even if she doesn't like it. I believe that it will get easier as her energy level increases from this program.
She has not bounced back after her 2nd stay in the hospital, even though that reason was much less severe than her first stay. Her memory has really been affected. I have a feeling that she will not fully recover mentally. This is a very sad idea, considering that before her first stay in the hospital, she was driving, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, etc. and now, it is hard to even get her to the table to eat a meal. Speaking of meals, that is another problem. She really doesn't want to eat, so i am kinda force feeding her. Mostly cottage cheese, jello, applesauce and olives (for variety of taste and texture). I have gotten her to have a little chicken and she does seem to like shrimp cocktail type shrimp. I also have started her on a good multivitamin in a capsule form so that I know that it will dissolve better as well as vitamin water varied with plain water.
One of her diabetic medications was causing a lot of bad side effects that she never told her doctor about. He stated her on a new one at the lowest level and I am testing her every morning to see how it is working. The major side effect of this medication is increase appetite. This is a good side effect for her. We just started this last week, so it will take about 3 weeks to get the new meds really into her system.
This is a very hard road for me to go down. Her memory has been slowly slipping for the last year or so, but this is a major leap. I noticed it but said nothing, but Shelby has really noticed it. She also said nothing until this last major problem.
When we see her GP next, he is going to give her a memory test to see how she does. I am sure that I will be asking for one of the new meds to help dementia.
If any of you are interested in learning more, RiteAid Pharmacy has a great video on it. We all see lot's of our new life in it. http://giving-care.riteaid.com/giving-care/
Keep me and grandma in your daily thoughts, as this is a life changing time for us.
She has not bounced back after her 2nd stay in the hospital, even though that reason was much less severe than her first stay. Her memory has really been affected. I have a feeling that she will not fully recover mentally. This is a very sad idea, considering that before her first stay in the hospital, she was driving, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, etc. and now, it is hard to even get her to the table to eat a meal. Speaking of meals, that is another problem. She really doesn't want to eat, so i am kinda force feeding her. Mostly cottage cheese, jello, applesauce and olives (for variety of taste and texture). I have gotten her to have a little chicken and she does seem to like shrimp cocktail type shrimp. I also have started her on a good multivitamin in a capsule form so that I know that it will dissolve better as well as vitamin water varied with plain water.
One of her diabetic medications was causing a lot of bad side effects that she never told her doctor about. He stated her on a new one at the lowest level and I am testing her every morning to see how it is working. The major side effect of this medication is increase appetite. This is a good side effect for her. We just started this last week, so it will take about 3 weeks to get the new meds really into her system.
This is a very hard road for me to go down. Her memory has been slowly slipping for the last year or so, but this is a major leap. I noticed it but said nothing, but Shelby has really noticed it. She also said nothing until this last major problem.
When we see her GP next, he is going to give her a memory test to see how she does. I am sure that I will be asking for one of the new meds to help dementia.
If any of you are interested in learning more, RiteAid Pharmacy has a great video on it. We all see lot's of our new life in it. http://giving-care.riteaid.com/giving-care/
Keep me and grandma in your daily thoughts, as this is a life changing time for us.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday in Prescott
Jay, Grandma and I made it here just fine. Grandma made the trip just fine. Shelby and Amy (travel buddy) are on their way here this evening. Will see Sean tomorrow. Pictures in the am and a meal and then at 3pm the ceremony should begin.
PS Thanks to Pace for saving the day!!!!!
PS Thanks to Pace for saving the day!!!!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sat. AM Aug 8th
Grandma got the OKAY to travel to AZ for Sean's commissioning on Monday. Her right foot is still a little swollen, but is not getting worse and it is a lot better than when we started with the swollen foot syndrome. She is feeling much better and her appetite is is coming back and she wants 'to get out of this house' for a while. Always a good sign.
Off to pack for the trip to AZ. YEAH. Sean's dream is coming true.
Off to pack for the trip to AZ. YEAH. Sean's dream is coming true.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wed. Aug. 5, 2009
Mom is doing VERY WELL. The only problem we have now is her feet are swelling. She is finding out how I felt the last 2 months of my pregnancy with Shelby. On your back/side with feet prompted up on pillows.
It's looking like we are over the July hurdle. Thank goodness.
It's looking like we are over the July hurdle. Thank goodness.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tuesday Aug 4, 2009
Mom is doing great. Her feet are quite swollen, but I think I have figured it out. We will see. I have her feet prompted up, changed one of her meds back to what it was before this entire mess started. We see the doctor on Fri.
Sean got his first set of orders. After his training in TX, he and Karli will be heading "North, to Alaska"! BRRR! Now, I have a real place to go visit! Cruise up and visit and then come home.
Sean got his first set of orders. After his training in TX, he and Karli will be heading "North, to Alaska"! BRRR! Now, I have a real place to go visit! Cruise up and visit and then come home.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Aug 2, 2009 7AM
Grandma and I both had a great night sleep in our own beds last night. She is doing well. Her feet are swollen, but I have them propted up so they will look normal again later.
Oh my, it is good to be home.
Oh my, it is good to be home.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Aug 1 2009 6:30pm
WE ARE FINALLY HOME!!!!!!!
What a mess. The two doctors yesterday said she could go home today, but, the forgot to put it in their charting notes. Today, another doctor from the group stopped by and said he had to talk to the ortho. doc. before discharging Mom. Well, 3+ hours later, we were still there. The RN said she would look into it. In the mean time, a discharge coordinator stopped by the room to make plans to discharge Mom to a skilled nursing facility for 48 hours. OH NO, THIS WAS NOT HAPPEING. She is in better shape today than she was the last time I brought her home. I told her that she was going home with me, if I had to take her out without doctors orders.
At 12:50, the RN came in and finally had reached both the doctors that needed to release her and got it all taken care of. GOD BLESS Mechelle. She hung her last IV antibiotic. That took over 2 hours to get into her system (the usual time) and went over paperwork with me, called for the wheelchair escort to take us down. WELL, 30 minutes later, she called them again and told me if they were not there in 10 minutes to let her know. I told her that I had my own wheelchair in the van and I would take her down myself, but we were leaving the hospital today!
Well the wheelchair showed up, took us down to the van, and now Mom is napping in her own bed.
She had wonderful caring people taking care of her and I have no complaints except for the doctor this morning. I will be talking to Dr. Borecky about this issue. He is so new to Graybill, he didn't even know all the doctors names and didn't want to take responsibility for sending her home. If she had to stay another day because of him, he was going to be paying for that day in the hospital!
Mom is walking slowly with her walker. She is able to get down the hall to the bathroom and back to her room again. Much better than when she came home 2 weeks ago.
Will update Sunday...
What a mess. The two doctors yesterday said she could go home today, but, the forgot to put it in their charting notes. Today, another doctor from the group stopped by and said he had to talk to the ortho. doc. before discharging Mom. Well, 3+ hours later, we were still there. The RN said she would look into it. In the mean time, a discharge coordinator stopped by the room to make plans to discharge Mom to a skilled nursing facility for 48 hours. OH NO, THIS WAS NOT HAPPEING. She is in better shape today than she was the last time I brought her home. I told her that she was going home with me, if I had to take her out without doctors orders.
At 12:50, the RN came in and finally had reached both the doctors that needed to release her and got it all taken care of. GOD BLESS Mechelle. She hung her last IV antibiotic. That took over 2 hours to get into her system (the usual time) and went over paperwork with me, called for the wheelchair escort to take us down. WELL, 30 minutes later, she called them again and told me if they were not there in 10 minutes to let her know. I told her that I had my own wheelchair in the van and I would take her down myself, but we were leaving the hospital today!
Well the wheelchair showed up, took us down to the van, and now Mom is napping in her own bed.
She had wonderful caring people taking care of her and I have no complaints except for the doctor this morning. I will be talking to Dr. Borecky about this issue. He is so new to Graybill, he didn't even know all the doctors names and didn't want to take responsibility for sending her home. If she had to stay another day because of him, he was going to be paying for that day in the hospital!
Mom is walking slowly with her walker. She is able to get down the hall to the bathroom and back to her room again. Much better than when she came home 2 weeks ago.
Will update Sunday...
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