It's a Gregorious Life

Sunday

Mom was enthusiastic when I called about 2pm and asked if she'd like to go sit on the porch. "That sounds good to me" she said.

She was in the lobby talking to Mrs. Perry's daughter when I got there at 230. We sat out there til I took her in to supper at 450. She had went to Sunday school then lunch later.

I told her when I got there that I had an apple turnover we could have after supper. But after I finished hanging up her laundry and went back to the dining room to get her I saw she was eating a piece of sweet potato pie.

John said she didn't want the jello on her plate so he flagged someone down and got her the pie. I thanked him and he said "I try to take care of her."

She wheeled into the room later carrying the coffee I had gotten for her to have with the pie. She wanted to know where the apple turnover was.

I told her it was in my bag and that she didn't need it since she had already had dessert. No, she protested. I told her I'd take it home. "It won't be good once it gets cold" she said. I told her I'd remember that whie I was eating it later tonight.

She laughed but continued on. "Where is it?....can I see it? ...can I just have a bite?" so I did give her a bite and she was happy.

We returned to the porch where David and Pat joined us. I told them about the turnover fiasco and mom just laughed and shook her head. She was looking very good today. I left about 650.

I went by dads grave on the way home and put new flowers on it and two flags. When I got home a rabbit was there to greet me.

It was a good day.

Saturday

David and Pat came over yesterday while mom her brother and Drake and I were on the porch. I let Drake too close to Pats foot and he licked it before I had enough sense to pull hum back.

Today I went over at supper time and she was already at the table and eating at 4:50. I overheard her ask the cna if she was in the dining room.

She wheeled into the lobby later with a piece of pecan pie wrapped up in a napkin. "For you my dear" she said as I approached to take her outside.

I told her she should finish the pie but she protested saying "I can't make it for you and this tastes just like mine."

She said Terry called today and they won't be back til next week. She said "living away from home this long makes you a little bit crazy." I said join the club.

I told her I had called about 130 and was coming over earlier but got no answer. She said she was in the dining room listening to Liberty Mutual, which she quickly corrected to Liberty singers.

When I got home and took Drake out we saw a cat sitting exactly on top of Misha's grave. It's a stray that we've seen before. By the time I got back in to get my camera It was south of the grave and on the prowl.

Tuesday

Mom was in her room when I called as I left work. She was halfway down the hall when I got there.

I wasn't there but a moment when Pat walked out into the garden with us. She had some of moms clothes with her.

Mom went to the resident birthday party today with Batchie. They had cake and drinks.

Then I came home and saw this on Fox 18. This man is like Hitler. Is this our future? Kill anyone different? That's not the Christian message I got from my parents. Was it yours?

http://youtu.be/d2n7vSPwhSU

Sunday

Mom had a good weekend. We sat on the porch Friday with her brother and Pat came over later. Donald was talking about racing while I was there and mom told him "you need to get that off your mind. You might be smart if you did."

Saturday I went over just before supper and we sat outside then again after she ate. She won a quarter at bingo that morning. 

Sunday I got there about 230 and we sat outside til she had to go to the bathroom then went back outside after she ate supper. She didn't eat hardly any of her ham but devoured the sweet potato.

Pat came over about 620 and David joined us out there a little before 7.

Thursday

Yesterday at moms we all sat out front on the porch after she finished
eating. She was in a good mood. She reminisced about how she still
remembered funny sayings that Paw Smith had said, live "quiver" for cover
and things like that. "It's funny how we can remember things like that from
so long ago."

Today I went over after work and ran into a former co-worker whose mother in
law is across the hall from mom. She came over and said hello to mom. Mom
was looking for her tissues.

She had called me earlier in the day but it was so busy I told her I had to
call her back. I did but she didn't answer. She said they had the family bbq
tonight. I had forgotten about it and I don't know that anyone else knew.
She said Julia, her tablemate, "Julia's daughter was there and she helped
me. She cut up my bbq and got me some milk" mom said. I had to work til 7.
They usually have them those days.

She said they had tacos for lunch. I told her that's what I had too I told
her.

She looked good in her pretty top and actually had a smile on her face when
I took her photo.


♡ PEACE ♡
(¯`v´¯)
*.¸.*
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
( ¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. .,¡i|¹i¡¡i¹|i¡,.
`'¹li¡|¡|¡il¹'`
=============================
God has not called us to see through each other, But to see each other
through.
=============================
'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.'
=============================

Tuesday

David went over at supper time and took mom out in the garden after she finished eating. She said they were out there quite a while and she really enjoyed it.

I went over for a few minutes after work. She was in the room filling out her menu. I finished it up with her and dropped it off when I left. 

She said she was dreading her shower tonight because she didn't know who was going to be giving it to her. If they'd staff a place with 3 8 hour shifts and keep the same people she wouldn't have to worry about it. But that would make too much sense and probably there's a penny or two in there somewhere to be saved, never mind the humans, they're all secondary.

Monday

Mandy was out back with mom and her brother today when I got there after work.

We moved to the front porch. Mom had on her new clothes Tim got her. I tried to get her to smile for a photo and barely succeeded.

She told me she doesn't like to smile. It goes back to an incident that happened when she was staying with her mother.

Someone said something funny and mom laughed really hard. Rudy's son Shane saw her and thought her teeth were big. "Wow you've got FANGS!" she said he shouted. It must have crushed her because she said "you wouldn't want to smile either if you had fangs."

Such a strong woman to still be hurt by a child's harmless content even at her age. Are any of us any less vulnerable, at any age ?

I remember being on the school bus in junior high and I was lip syncing a song on the radio as we all rode on the school bus. My friend Jackie looked at me an with such a blank, expressionless face said to me "you have a large mouth for a boy."

I've been insecure ever since. I said things to people at that age that I'm sure made them feel the same way.

Our struggle as believers is that after all the hurts of this life, many committed by those that portray themselves as righteous when really they practice selective literalcy, we know there is peace in the next.

Mothers Day 2012

Mom seemed to have a good week. The facility had some mothers day activities and singing and her church deacon came by.

On Friday she got to see Terry and Marianne and Annabelle before they left for Hilton Head and beyond.

She hasn't been getting exercises though. Saturday we had a good laugh on the porch about her and Frank if they were to marry. I told her the bluebirds were home.

Sunday we all left the facility about 2 and met Tim at Catfish Cove. After lunch we went back and had some awesome cake Pat had made. Then mom opened presents. She seemed to have a good day.

Wednesday

Terry spent the afternoon with mom. She had her nails and hair done and was quite happy with the nails, showing them off to me.

We all say on the porch until about 7. David came in just as I was leaving.

Monday

Terry and Mandy had mom outside most of the day yesterday after lunch. They were on the front porch when I got there at 4.

They left a little after that and mom and I stayed out there til a little after 7. David and Pat went over after I left.

Today she was in the room when I got there at 4 trying to get her call button. It was wrapped to the bed rail again and was on the floor. She had no hope of getting to it. I got it up and pressed the button for her. I think the state needs to know about it. Someone having a critical emergency would not have a chance.

Donald got there at 5 and after she finished eating we all sat out on the porch. He wanted me to take a photo of her hair with him pulling on it.

Saturday

Linda and I went to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch then I had some errands to do. I
was going to moms so I called and asked her to meet me in the lobby if she
wanted to sit on the porch.

She did but she called back and said she had to go to the bathroom first. I
went ahead and ran around and got to her room about 340.

She was trying to get to her call button with the picker upper. The call
button was wrapped tightly to the bed rail which was in turn locked on the
floor. The cord was wrapped around the bottom of her chair. She said she had
been trying to get to it since we talked. We talked to Mrs. Petty's daughter
out on the porch later and she said a lady had called out to her yesterday
as she passed by her room and needed help reaching her call button. She said
it was also in a place she could not possible have reached it. We also
talked about how the ice pichters were not filled up regularly and never on
the weekends. It's supposed to be a human care business, not a bottom line
profit business.
I got it unhooked and pressed the button. Then I noticed her glasses were in
the floor and asked her what happened. "I didn't even notice they weren't
on" she said, sadly.

Mom said she went to the bathroom earlier and the cna or nurse told her she
was worse off than when she first worked there years ago. Mom said that
upset her and she was upset all through lunch. She said she had needed to do
number two but had waited to call until now because she was afraid that
woman would come back in there. Isn't that sad???

So Rebecca took her to the bathroom and I related what mom had said to me.
Rebecca told her she was not worse off and was doing great. Mom thanked her
as she left and said "she's got a problem" referring to the lady that made
the comment.

We headed to the porch and stayed out there until I left at 7 except for
when she was eating. She brought me some pecan pie and would not rest until
I took a bite.

Sometimes I think I take better care of the Drakester.


♡ PEACE ♡
(¯`v´¯)
*.¸.*
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
( ¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. .,¡i|¹i¡¡i¹|i¡,.
`'¹li¡|¡|¡il¹'`
=============================
God has not called us to see through each other, But to see each other
through.
=============================
'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of
battle.'

Friday

My day started at 630. Mom later said hers started at 530. I got to the
doctors office on time and he went over my test results from the other week.
He said my heart is operating at a good level showing 59% efficiency which
he said was excellent. It's getting oxygen just fine and was in normal
rhythm today and during the tests the other week. I told him I'm getting a
treadmill which he said is good because if I didn't lose weight and get off
the cpap machine and stay in normal rhythm I could develop heart failure
which he, curiously, said "would be problematic." At the least, I would
thing.

Then to the office briefly for a bathroom break before seeing the attorney
at 9. I got downtown without having the address or the name with me, hoping
to rely on memory. That cost me 15 minutes of rambling around and walking
into various offices for help, and some sightseeing, like this photo of the
dilapidated historic Lawyers Building. I guess it's still called that
because it's surrounded by them, but none are inside, so it's mainly a
landmark.

That went well and I got my will, living will, health care power of attorney
and power of attorney drawn up. I go to sign them next week.

After that I went to the animal shelter and picked up Drake's rabies tag and
license. So he's legal now.

I stopped at Panera Bread and got lunch and brought it home, then went to
moms about 130. She was in the room watching tv with the sound off. She had
to go to the bathroom and while she was in there Tim walked in. In the room,
not the bathroom.

After that we all went to the porch. Pam came out and did moms exercises
with her.

We sat out there until 4 when I left to go pick up Drake. I got back about
440 and he was inside with mom so we waited on the porch with Donald.

Tim came out a little after 5 and said mom was still eating. He had took her
out in the garden a while. He also said Drew has been playing at a church
that's looking to move and he went to check out the new location and ran
into two buzzards guarding the place. The weird thing was when he left two
buzzards suddenly appeared in the tree directly in front of the porch then
flew off. I called him and told him it must have been the children of the
ones he had seen since they were not as big as he described. But that was
really really weird.

He left and we stayed out there til I left about 620. Donald kept scaring
Drake by making sounds like firecrackers shooting off.

Posted via my iPad cause the other stuff ain't workin!

Thursday

I didn't get over to moms until a little after 545. She was in the room drinking some tea she had brought back from supper. 

She had a new floral arrangement on her table. She said a bunch of children came over this morning and they all spent several hours out back in the garden. They gave the residents these flower arrangements that they had made for them. 

She was really happy with it. I brought her and I a Little Debbie fudge cake so we ate those before heading out to the porch.

We stayed out there until I left about 740. It was a nice temperature. Mrs. Pettys daughter stopped by for a while. Mom told her what she told me earlier, that she would be fine living at home with a 24-hour live in aide. I told her I would talk to everyone about it in case it could be viable.

She told me Batchie came over with Rudy and Ricky this afternoon so she was happy to see them. She said she had no therapy today but I reminded her that it should be tomorrow since it's Mon/Tues/Wed.

I tried to upload a photo of the flowers but the system is down.

Wednesday

I spoke to someone at the facility this morning about mom not having any therapy in a while, that it had stopped on the 18th. 

When I went over after work and we were setting on the porch she was confused again, it was breakfast. But she remembered having therapy yesterday morning (this morning after I called). So the question wasn't answered but at least they did something. 

She was in a good mood but said she had a fit yesterday, just getting frustrated about the situation.

Tuesday

I went by moms on my way to lunch to take her the body wash she wanted for tonight. It had a good smell but she said she could not smell it.

When I walked into the room I said what's going on. She said "come on in if your nose's clean." I told her I was on my way to eat and let Drake out and had to go since I just had an hour. "Well at least you put me first" she laughed.

I said I was coming back after work but it was a crazy day so I just called her a little before 9 but didn't get an answer.

Monday, April 30th 2012

I had to work over little and got to moms about 630. She and Donald were on the front porch.

He said she was asleep when he got there. Glady's husband came in to check on her and get her to supper. She was confused and thought it was the next day at breakfast, that she had been in the same clothes as last night, etc. 

But they had sat outside after supper in the sun and she really enjoyed that. She said she had a dream last night that my cousin Cindy and I were married. Donald said they went to Showmars over the weekend and "nobody was there, I counted 15 people." I asked him if those people knew he thought of them as nobody. 

They went about 7 and I retreated. But before that I captured them in all their goofiness. 

Sunday, April 29th

I don't have full use of my left hand yet but today was the first day my fingertips were not numb all day, so in deference to my aunt Beatrice I shall resume daily musings about mom and her activities. I may even add some quips about my own comings and goings.

I went over about 515 and mom was eating supper. I asked her to knock on the window when she was finished and I would be on the porch. She did and we sat out there about an hour. Just as she tapped on the window I was watching a tiny thrasher walk toward me. It came very close and was a  cute little bird. She said she saw it through the window too.

David and Pat had been over earlier and brought her some ice cream. They ate it in the garden. I told her my phone said they were out back when I got there so I had worn my sunglasses in. They must have just left.

She said she went to Sunday school this morning but there was no teacher, so I don' t know quite what that meant. 

Saturday April 28th 2012

I went over to moms after supper. She had played bingo this morning but didn't win. She was upset about not having company today and then mentioned therapy.

I remembered her mentioning therapy yesterday and got her log book out. She was correct, that she had none all week. They stopped it on the 18th. It doesn't make sense. Someone even advanced the year to 2021.

Caromont Health at work????

 

Friday, April 27

Mom seemed to have a good week. She was a little lethargic and by no means as animated as in the old days but moving pretty well.

Wednesday as we sat on the porch she commented on how lucky she was, because some people who have strokes can't talk and do the things she does. Earlier at the supper table she had vegetable lasagna and broccoli cheese soup. She didn't want the soup so I ate it and it was good. We saw Miss Bennie for the first time in about a year out on the porch. Her daughters were taking her somewhere to celebrate and they were all dressed up. I recognized one that I used to see almost every day. Her car had a Georgia tag on it so she must have moved.

Pat brought us all some ice cream later, around 650. 

Thursday I went by after work but mom was in the dining room listening to some singing and I could see this sweet smile on her face so I knew she was enjoying it. I just went to the room and got her clothes and left. I passed David in the parking lot on the way out.

Friday on the porch she forgot he was there until I questioned her about it. She also said she'd had no therapy all week, but I'd have to check on that too. 

When we first got to the porch I said "how are you feelin today?" Within a nanosecond she said "with my fingers."

Sunday, April 22nd

Mom seemed to have a good week. She's always at her best when she's on the porch taking with her brother. They reminisce so easily.

Tuesday she said that a trainee was there that morning and they took her out of the bathroom on one of those lifters, a first for her. She said she was afraid of her falling and didn't know how mom worked. So that was a good thing I guess. Mom was not endeared by the experience though.

Friday I told her I almost killed myself Thursday when the fabric on her old swing that is abandoned out back split and I fell through it. I could not get up. The fabric had rotted from exposure to the weather and gave way as soon as I sat down. It's sitting where the greenhouse used to be attached to the house. I finally managed to wiggle my way to the front and fall out. It left me sore and bruised and a little shook up.

Terry came over Saturday and spent the afternoon with her. I went over Sunday after supper and she was just about the leave the dining room. She had not eaten her stew beef and rice and was not going to, so I ate some of it and it was really good. She said she just wasn't hungry. 

We went to the room then went to the porch for about 20 minutes before a rain came along with a cold front and the temperature dropped.

Monday

Moms Care Plan meeting was last Thursday. David and I went and they said she was doing really well. Her weight has stabliized and her sugar was good.

Tim came over Friday and brought her lunch from KFC. They ate out back in the garden.

Terry was there Saturday, and David and Pat came by after they got back into town Sunday. 

My fingers are still numb on the left hand so after using them all day I'm still refraining from using them a lot at night thus the continuance of the abbreviated blog. 

Mom did have a funny moment yesterday when I was telling her I had given the bees at her house nicknames after they and I made peace. "Maybe one of them is "BEE-atrice" she said, speaking of her sister's name. It was funny.

Tuesday April 10, 2012

We sat on the porch after work Monday. Mom and her brother discussed the meanings of their childhood nicknames. His was "Dottie", which wasn't fully explained. Mom said she remembered Dottie riding on the tricycle.

She huffed about therapy being cut off again and relegated to three days a week by the CNA's. "I wonder if they'd let me in the therapy room if I wore dark glasses?" We had a good laugh about her talking about one of the cna's who made a noise "just like a cat" while they were cutting up.

Tuesday when I went over after 7 David and Pat were there. Mom had already had her shower. She had been in a tizzy when they got there because she thought she had been told she wasn't going to get a shower tonight. She was told she couldn't get one right then because it was right after supper and there was only 1 person on the hall. Mom said as David and Pat were leaving that she wanted to hit someone.

After they left she added, "I know ya'll get tired of hearing me complain but as long as I'm not deaf and dumb I'm going to take up for myself."

Easter Weekend, 2012

David and Will were still in town Thursday and came over. Terry came over Saturday and brought mom a new Easter outfit and some perfume she likes. The Siberian Husky brothers dropped by for a visit. 

Sunday I picked her up about 1210 and headed to the house. I had fixed a pork loin and David and Pat came over with all types of stuff including rice, chicken and dumplings, and sweet potatoes. I had some ham and banana pudding and Pat made some chocolate pies. We even used the good china rather than paper plates, though David and Pat did come prepared just in case. David and Pat and mom fed Drake from stuff from the table- ham, and vanilla wafers. 

Mom ate it all up. She said she had a good time. David and Pat cleaned the whole kitchen and dining room up like Langoliers afterwards. 

We read from moms diary after that. It sounded like Days of Our Lives. She had more men mentioned in the few days that we read that most women have ever seen in a Chippendales revue. 

After that we headed back about 3. We went by the cemetery first to see the flowers Terry had put on dads grave. 

When we got back to the facility we discovered as we went through the door that mom and her hallmate Sal had the exact same outfit on. East Twins I dubbed them.

I called her later but didn't go back over. She said she had a good supper. I told her how well she had done getting in and out of the Tribeca today. 

Thursday

I called mom about 455 and didn't get an answer. She called me back about 640 and said she had been in the bathroom.

She said David and Will and David and Pat had come by and visited. Pat went to get her some ice cream from Dairy Queen, a blizzard. I went over about 715 and she was telling me about it.

She was asleep and groggy. "I failed in therapy" she said. They wanted her to stand for five minutes but she said she had to sit down.

I got her toothpaste out but she said she could not brush yet. I told her she could on the front but she protested so I put it away left she forget and put it toward the back.

Wednesday

Terry got to moms about 2. She and mom and Donald were all at the supper table when I got there a little after 5. Adrian came out and told me she was excited about how well mom's doing after the surgery.

I went to wait in the lobby and by 540 they still were not there. So I left to go run an errand and while I was in the car I heard this song on WSGE. Downloaded when I got back to moms a little before 6.

They were on the front porch by then. Darryl picked up Terry a little later. Terry had said mom had some snoozing this afternoon but mom protested. "I did not go to sleep. My eyes just would not stay open."

Donald brought Drake some wipes for his rear end. Mom said she had therapy today. She talked to the social worker who asked her if she intended to go home and mom said "not like this." That's another story that opened up a can of worms.

Her color looked really good sitting out on the porch. I caught this photo of a rabbit in the back yard when I got home.

Tuesday

I went by moms this morning at 815 to see how breakfast had gone. She was already back in the room about to turn on the tv.

She said she had oatmeal, milk and apple juice for breakfast. She said her gums were sore but they weren't pounding or hurting. So she seemed to have a good night and morning.

I called her a little before 7 and she said Terry and Mandy had been there and had brought her some home made soup. They ate supper with her at the dinner table. She had some mac and cheese and some mashed potatoes with it.

She said she did her own exercises today.

Monday

Today's post got locked up and I ended up taking a photo of it so I did not have to type it again. You'll have to click the photo of the post in order to read some of it The link to the dentist is here and moms photo is below the post. Pat texted me about 845pm and said mom drank some Coke, ate pudding and drank some broth.

The Weekend

We sat out on the porch Friday.

Saturday afternoon she said she had an awful night. She had to go to the bathroom about 2am and they put her on the bedpan, which is unusual. She said she had a hard time going, and it almost cut her into two pieces. She said she never went back to sleep. She also went to the bathroom and hit her head on the mirror and sat down in the floor. They called David because of that and he and Pat went over there Saturday morning.

I went to work Saturday morning and called her from there about 1115 and she gave me the skinny. David and Pat had already been there and they went back after lunch and put her in the bed since she had not slept. David told her they would be back and that when she woke up to not think it was tomorrow. David and Will were there too.

I went over at supper and she said she didn't fall she just sat down. I told her that she was causing just too much excitement for one person and she got a laugh out of that. Pat had come over and sat with her on the porch until supper. We went out to the porch when she finished eating and she related a funny story from childhood.

"We were so poor growing up that daddy would come home at the end of the week with a big ball of chewing gum that he'd been chewing on all week. An we'd fuss about who was going to get it." OK.

I went over at 5 on Sunday. Tim called while I was on the way and said he's coming over tomorrow afternoon and will meet us at the dentist. I was sitting in the car talking to him as David and Pat and David and Will were leaving. Pat said I was waiting in the car for them to leave.

We sat on the porch after she finished eating. She had on gray sweatpants with a colorful top. She said David told her they didn't look like Sunday pants. She said she was trying to save something to wear to the dentist.

We watched the doves play and were commenting on their behaviors. I said I wondered if they knew we were watching them. "I don't know. They're pretty smart for birds" she said, then added "but I've heard people call people bird brains."

I got her with an April Fools joke. I said oh my goodness that squirrel over there has a bird in its mouth! She grimaced and said " oh no where!?" then I said April Fools. She got a good laugh out of it.
We went in because she had to go to the bathroom. While she was in there I checked the weather radar and a storm was almost there so I high tailed it out.I told her I'd call her later.

I almost forgot to do so and called about 830. Got no answer but she called back on my cell but the signal was so weak it cut off. We finally got together on the house phone. She said she wasn't going to be in bed until 9 and was waiting on Raymond to come on. "Everybody loves Raymond" she said. "If you don't there's something wrong."

 

 

 

Wednesday

Mom and Donald were already out back when I got there just after 5. He said she didn't eat her fish for supper because she was afraid of bones.

Adrian saw me and came out and said Dr E said mom can't be put to sleep because of her breathing, for the oral surgery Monday. But we're not sure if that includes sedation so she's going to check on that by calling Dr. Jameson and asking him directly to clarify. If she can't she can't. I'm getting the feeling the nursing/doctor side is against the procedure so I'll be glad to have it clarified and then let mom make the final decision.

She said she had a busy day. Therapy, nails, Terry was there, "I haven't been in my room much all day" she said. I told her that was good because she was busy and she said no it wasn't because she didn't get any rest. I told her rest for sleep at night. 

Mrs. Neely stopped by she and mom started talking about the wistria in the front of moms house. I think it was wisteria, I can't remember. But I brought up the tree that got hit by lightening on that side of the house and mom said "that was like me and the stoke. I'm the tree" she said, pointing to her chest.

Her brother and his wife made an unscripted visit to the mountians yesterday and seemed to enjoy it.

This will be the last daily blog from me until May. I'm taking the rest of March and all of April off due to pain in my left hand and side that makes it difficult to type after doing it all day at work. I will continue to post updates of note, such as her oral surgery on Monday, but nothing daily unless circumstances warrant. 

Thanks for listening.

Tuesday

Mom was in the dining room listening to singing when I got there after work about 710. I asked her if she wanted to go to the room and she did.

We went down and talked a while. She had therapy and they worked on her legs, trying to get them stretched out.

She hadn't had her shower yet so they came to get her about 720. I told her I'd wait. She got back about 735, pretty quick. 

I called Barbara this morning and she's supposed to get Dr. E to look at her tomorrow since she's having oral surgery next week. She said they've had several people in that position recently and they were handling the gauze etc ok.

Monday

Mom and Donald were on the porch when I got there after work. We had a good visit. She said she spent 15 minutes in the bike in therapy. Bingo, nothing. They stuffed artificial Easter eggs with candy for the kids next weekend.

The Weekend, March 23-25 2012

Friday evening was spent on the porch. Mom had on a top that matched the colors in one of her bracelets, which I mistaken called a necklace. "It's a bracelet, not a necklace" she said.

Tim had been there earlier before lunch and had gotten them some stuff from KFC. They ate it out back in the garden.I told her and Donald about a dream I had that morning about dad driving a speedboat with us in it.

Terry came by Saturday and they sat out in the sun. David and Pat joined them. They all left before supper. I went over after that. She said she had pecan pie. We sat on the porch but ended up in the room to get the sticky off her fingers.

 I told her about Drake finding a snake out back just before I came over there. It was a black snake it looked like. He chased it under the house. I'm glad it didn't bite him. She said she played bingo that morning but didn't win anything.

Sunday I took her laundry back and she was still eating supper when I got there. I took her some brownies too but she chose to forgo them because she had carrot cake for supper, after her ham and something else I can't remember. The Salvation Army had been by at 2.

We sat out on the porch even though it was in the 60's. She had her sweater on but I didn't. I told her I was going to wer one to work tomorrow even though it's supposed to be much warmer. She said that may be what's wrong with my shoulder, not wearing a sweater. She laughed and said "we keep talking and we'll solve this mystery. I feel like a detective" she said. I went to the restroom and still could not use the left arm to flush, it didn't have enough strength to mash the lever.

I left and went to the car wash and saw a clever sign on the way out.

 

Thursday

The shoulder thing sidelined me to home again today. I called mom about 745 to see what was going on over there.

She said she was in the dining room before supper and a therapist came and got her and took her to moms room. She said she was going to get her to do a few things to see if she was eligible for additional therapy.

Mom said she said she was, and that she would start working with her. She said she was going to bring a walker in there and let her use it and would be using it when she got up out of bed, etc.

She told me as I was about to hang up "let me tell you about this crazy dream I had last night." She said dad was in bed with her and got up and walked down the hall. "I don't know what he was going to go do" she said.

Wednesday

I stayed in bed all day due to the shoulder/chest problem.

Mom and Donald sat out back when he got there today. He said Batchie was there in the parking lot when he got there and was looking for Rudy. He took her home and when he got back Rudy was on the porch he said.

Mom said Terry got there about the same time as Batchie, so she had a good visit day. As they were sitting on the front porch the cna came to get her about 640 to go do therapy. Donald told her it was good that they are keeping it up this time. 

On a bad note she said her sugard was 123.

Tuesday

I called mom in the afternoon to see how she was doing. "I'm doing" she said.

I went over after work and she had just gotten back to the room. She had her therapy and then her shower. She was smiling and in a good mood.

Monday

I had to go to Conover this morning and then to Hickory. While I was in Hickory mom called in the afternoon and wanted to know if I had called. I told her I hadn't. I was in the middle of something so told her I would call back later.

We got really busy so it was an hour or more before I called back. The phone rang about 4 times then it went dead. I looked and the office phone I was on had reset itself. Oh no, if she picked up she's fussing at someone who isn't there. Sure enough she did. When it finally rebooted and I called back it was still busy.

I called again in about 20 minutes and Pat answered. She had the afternoon off and was about to take mom to sit outside. She had offered to bring her some lunch earlier but mom said she better not.

I left Hickory at 5 and came home to let Drake out. I was at moms by about 545. She and Donald were out back and he was showing her some flowers. I didn't interrupt them and waited out front.

She said Terry had called and was coming over but didn't make it. She had all of her exercises.

The Weekend, March 16-18th

Me and mom and Donald sat on the porch Friday night after I got there after work. She seemed to be in a good mood but she said she had wasted the day. "I didn't do anything for anyone" she said.

Donald was being a troublemaker, wondering if he could set his car alarm off from the porch. So I tried mine and it did but would not turn off so I had to walk down there to stop it.

Saturday I was in bed a lot because of the pain but went over about 530 and we sat on the porch after supper. I told her about a crazy dream where I was hovering around and the walking when someone who looked like Austin Butler stopped me and asked if I had the time. When I looked at my arm I had on two of moms watches, both with different times. She laughed and said "that's a sign you need to bring my watch back." I need to get a new battery for it.

I told her about getting locked out last night and David and Pat coming to my rescue after I called them from a neighbors phone. Miranda drove up and waved on her way to work. She got her RN this week.

Back in the room mom asked me if dad died in 1001 or 2002. I told her it was 2001, that if it was 1001 that would mean we are all vampires.

I went over Sunday at 330 and she and David and Pat were on the porch. She was all bundled up. She said she got to talk to Erin and Maggie on the phone.

Thursday

I called mom as I left work to see if she wanted to sit on the porch but didn't get an answer. She called me back just as I walked into the lobby and said she had trouble getting to the phone in time.

I didn't tell her I was there. As I got closer to the room I told her I had to go and I'd see her tomorrow. "You mean you're not coming by here tonight?" I told her no and she asked why and I said I gotta go and hung up. By now I was at her door and walked in as she was hanging up. I said something and she started laughing.

She was trying to put her gown on so I called for assistance. She said she had exercises after supper. There was Bible study this morning and they also had some crosswords on a big screen but she missed that she said. She said Terry called today and they're coming back tomorrow.

Wednesday

Went by moms after work and she and I and her brother sat on the porch and had a good time. He wondered why others don't sit out there. I suppose it's because they're not as close?

Mom said a therapist came in and let her sit on the bed and get back into her chair. She said she got the gist about her not progressing enought for regular therapy. She said her knees would not straighten up enough. "My gears are broke" she laughed.

Pat went by later.

Tuesday

I called mom after work to see if she wanted to sit on the porch but the phone was busy. By the time I got there I saw it was just off the hook. She was not in the room so I figured she was in the shower.

The CNA brought her in after a few minutes and said she had her shower and before supper had her exercises. Mom was smiling and looked happy. Pat came in not too long after I got there.

Monday

I take a day off because the eye appointments traditionally take 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and today mom and I were in and out of that place in an hour.

I picked her up in her room at 210. She had already went to the restroom and was ready to go. She got into the car pretty easily and since the place is just a block away we were there pretty quick. The place wasn't crowded and though her appointment wasn't until 230 she had already been taken back and gotten the first phase of the exam by 229.

The did the hearing test and sight tests but they never put her on the machine where they do "it is better here, or here?" thing. I thought that was odd. The doctor is the one who does it and I guess he didn't because he said her sight won't improve without a cornea transplant. He didn't recommend it because you have to lay completely flat for three days.

He said the macular degeneration has not progressed much. She said her vision in the right eye is stil 20/50 and that technically people with that eyesight can drive an automobile. I told him about her hearing music and how that had just started and he said that goes along with hearing loss and that she had not passed a hearing test there in years.

He said the fuchs dystrpophy that she has passes on to 50 % of the offspring.

We went back to the facility with just a note to come back in a year. He suggested magnifiers like he did last year. I'll look at the catalog better this time.

I went back a little after 5 after going by the office for a while. She was still in the dining room. After she finished we all went out to the porch. She was in a good mood and we had a good time. Donald put her chair in the position and I turned around and there she was so I said where did you come from! She got a kick out of it and we all had some good laughs. Rita sent a note on Facebook to tell them both hello so I passed that along and back.

We went to the lobby after it started to cool off and from there to the room. The CNA told me she goes to get mom up for supper and she goes back to sleep, and same thing for therapy. So we had a talk outside about her not giving up and fighting off the desire to sleep when they come to get her. The cna had mentioned it to me because she heard Donald mouthing off about mom being asleep and not being woke up as he took her down the hall to supper. There's always at least two sides to everything. Sometimes even more if you have a seven course meal.

 

The Case of the Missing Green Bean

I suppose it's appropriate that "Murder, She Wrote" was on tv when I got to moms about 4. Trivia: When the show was in first-run production it was known in South Africa by the title "The Murders She Wrote."

The mystery today was the green bean that I saw on her leg yesterday. Pat sent me a text message tonight that they found it on the bathroom floor. She said mom and the nurse had a good laugh about it because she told her I had asked her if she ate it. Pat texted a photo of her laughing about it. She said mom saved it to show me but before they got there someone had thrown it away. That was a really good "you had to be there" event.

When I got there I saw the Hershey wrapper from the bar I brought her yesterday. I asked her if she had eaten it and she said yes then she asked if I wanted some of it. I said no! She laughed.

We went out to the dining room and I ran an errand then came back. Mrs. Perry's daughter brought mom out to the porch where I was waiting. She sat in the sun for a good while. She seemed happy. We had sat out back in the garden for a little while prior to supper. When we went back to the room afterwards she was hearing that music again, this time it was hymns.

Saturday

I worked most of the afternoon to try to catch up from the three days I've been away. I called mom from there at 440 and she dropped the phone into the cradle so it put me on hold. It was busy for a while after that. When I finally got her she sounded real groggy and said she had been asleep.

I went over about 530 and she was going up the hallway from supper slumped down in her chair. I got her to the room and on the way noticed she had a green bean on her pants leg. I noticed later it was gone and asked her if she had eaten it and she said "no!"

Terry called today and she talked to her and Micha. Mom said "somebody plays the same record over and over" in there. She mentioned it yesterday too. I asked her if she could hear it at that moment and she said she could. I heard nothing. She said it wasn't loud enough to be irritating. I googled it and it said it's related to hearing loss.

Her cup and magazines were in the floor when I got there. I had cleaned that up and washed the cup.

David and Pat came in at 615 with some of her clothes. They were there until I left about 7. She actually smiled for Pat to take a photo.  I told her I'd be ashamed; she won't do that for me so easily! Here's Pat's photo.

Friday

I went by moms about 4 and we went out back. The front was too cold.

She got a little sun for about 40 minutes. She was talking all negative and how she didn't feel at home there. I told her to be positive but I knew it was frustrating for her. I told her that's why I tried to come by as often as I do. She said she appreciated it. We looked at Ruths obituary online, and Donald brought her a copy of it later.

I took her to supper and waited in the lobby. Her brother came in and got her when she was fininshed. We sat there briefly then she had to go to the bathroom so we went to the room. A CNA took her to the bathroom but commented she was delivering trays to people on the hall. The nurse actually came in later and got mom out of the bathroom. Mom told her she hated she had to bother her for that. She told mom she did what she had to. That was good of her cause a lot of people would not have done it, and in fact for all I know it's against policy. It's a shame health care facilities are staffed as short as they are.

Ruth Long

  |   Visit Guest Book

GASTONIA - Ruth Norris Long, 93, passed away March 8, 2012, at (facility), with her loving family by her side.

She was born in Prattville, Ala., daughter of the late Henry Winston and Theola Jane Mims Norris.

Mrs. Long was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church, Lowell.

Mrs. Long is survived by her daughter, Sandra Segars and husband Jerry of Gastonia; one step-daughter, Jeannean Laws of Fayetteville; two brothers, Oscar Norris of Gastonia, Clifford Norris and wife Sue of Charlotte; one sister, Kathleen Ottinger of Stanley; four grandchildren, Todd Segars and wife Lisa of Bessemer City, Patrice Martin and husband Billy of Crouse, Randy Hoagland and wife Faith of Virginia; four great grandchildren; three great, great grandchildren; step-daughter-in-law, Jane Saunders and husband Wally of Lowell.

Mrs. Long will lie in state at Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and the family will receive friends at the home of Jerry and San-dra Segars.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the Masonic Section of Gaston Memorial Park with the Rev. Larry Dawalt officiating.

Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry Long; daughter, Nancy Hoagland; three brothers, Marvin Norris, Leo Norris, Henry Norris; three sisters, Lessie Starrett, Alice Huffstetler, Maggie Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Woodlawn Baptist Church, 1101 North Main Street, Lowell, North Carolina 28098.

Online condolences may be made at: www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com.

Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia is serving the Long family.

Published in Gaston Gazette on March 9, 2012

Thursday

I was still under the weather at home yesterday so I again didn't get to go by moms. I called her about 7 and Donald was there. "I don't know what I'd do without my brother" she said. Pat went by later too.

Today mom called me about lunchtime and said Ruth had died this morning. She seemed upset about it a little. But she said she was glad she wasn't suffering any more. I took her some miniature roses tonight. Christine told me when I bought them that you can set them out at home and they'll put out new blooms every year and get about 2 feet tall. So hopefully no one will throw this away. (note to Mandy).

I went by after work briefly and she was asleep. When I woke her up she said the exercising was wearing her out, making her legs hurt. David and Pat came in just as I was about to leave. He said it best: "you either get too much therapy or not enough."

Tuesday

I took Drake out this morning when I got up a little after 7 and my head felt swimmy, and since I had been sneezing the past few days a lot I decided to stay home today.

I spent the whole day in bed except when I had to take Drake out. I called mom about 730 and she said she had already had her shower. She said her day was "so so" but when pressed said it was ok. She said the girl that gave her the shower was coming back later to do some exercises with her.

Monday

I forgot to drop off moms menu this morning so I did so on the way to work. When I got back after work she and Donald were in the room.

She said the salmon patties for supper were too strong. Usually she likes them. Donald said she was in the room snoozing when he got there. She had recovered well though and seemed normal. I told her as I was leaving that she looked good. Then I said but you don't sound good so keep your mouth shut and you'll be ok.

She and her brother got a kick out of that. Earlier MASH had been on tv and we were talking about how none of us had ever really liked that show. I said it was supposed to be a comedy. "It's comedy is in the wrong place" she said forcefully. I said "the Oracle of (facility name) has spoken!" She laughed at that too.

I brought her a new type of Hershey's chocolate, aerated, and we halved that. She got her exercises in today but I think it got her wanting to go to the bathroom from the way she talked. So she did that while we were there.

She was in a good mood but you have to be careful what you say. I asked if Ronnie had been by lately and she said no. Then she said "everyone's forsaken me." I said oh no Oracle!!!

 

Sunday

Mom was sound asleep when I got there Sunday with her clothes around 430. She said Terry called today.

I got her to super and she seemed to enjoy it.

Saturday

Terry went over to moms about one and they went out back in the garden for a while.

I got there about 235 and they were just coming in. We sat in there and had a good visit until Terry and Mandy left about 5. She had brought mom some flounder and hush puppies and a sweet potato from Northside.

While we were talking Mandy let the cat out of the bag that they are all going to the Caymans in a few months. Mom said "maybe I'll be gone and all over with when you get back." She gets ill every time Terry goes out of town so she wasn't going to say anything to her. We all tried to laugh it off though.

I came back at 530 after going to Petsmart to get Drakes K9 Advantix +. Mom was just leaving the table. Back in the room she said they had brought her some pecan pie for dessert.

Friday

The weekend started off with several bangs. One being the thunderstorms that moved through just as I was waking, and then the security company alarm after I opened the front door without turning it off.

And so went the day. It was busy and hectic and sometimes alarming. I got to moms about 545 and she and her brother were in the room. She was waiting to go to the bathroom. Barbara had stopped me in the hall and said mom had requested 2X sized pullups. She wanted me to know mom had asked for them specifically. I told her mom is usually abhorrent of anything with an X beside it.

She said she had a good day. Her face looked younger and I told her. She looked very different. She said she put grease on it this morning and laughed.

I told her the cat was not happening. She had asked me about it yesterday when she called. I told her I found out today it was an indoor/outdoor rather than indoor so there will be no Chaos here at least not in feline form.

She said she missed her sister and that she knew she would be there every day if she could. I was checking the weather radar and missed some other things she said. I hope we don't see/experience any tornadoes tonight.