It's a Gregorious Life

Wednesday

I went by to pay moms bill at lunch about 1240. She was back in the room eating a cracker and watching The Jeffersons on tv.

I only stayed a moment. When I went back at 545 she and Donald were in the room. She was in the bathroom. When she got out she did her whole morning routine at the sink. Washed her face, lipstick, the whole mine yards. She didn't remember me being there earlier. She asked if I had sat down while I was there and I said no. "That's why I don't remember it" she laughed.

She was convinced it was Thursday. She sage had her hair fixed yesterday , Wednesday. Supper tonight was breakfast again.

Donald said Bill Morris asked about mom and I today when he saw him. "He's got a lot of spunk doesn't he...spistoranctum" she said, referring to a word her dad made up.

We headed to the lobby about 625 to wait for Rev. Webber. On the way mom asked me to not tell the girls at work that she was crazy. She said she thinks Batchie called today, she thinks.

She looked really sleepy. I hope she can get out of this cycle.

Tuesday

Mom was confused again tonight. A lot. I got there a little after 7 and David and Pat got there about 715.

 

Monday

I called mom earlier in the day to tell her Denise at work told me Treva Edmondson had died Thanksgiving Day. She was the organist at moms church for 40+ years. It was the first I heard of her death.

I got to moms about 6 and she and her brother were in the lobby. I told them they should be made the official welcoming committee.

He said she had been in the room asleep when he got there. She thought supper was breakfast- meatloaf. I may try it someday.

He asked her if she heard from Nick today about therapy but I never heard a complete answer.

I pretended to give Drake a cracker. He wasn't there. She knew it too. "If he was here he'd be trying to jump in my lap" she said.

I left about 7 as they headed to the room. She still thought it was breakfast even though she said earlier she had it straightened out. I told her to sleep well later and goodnight, and she said no it's morning and told me to "had a good day."

 

Thanksgiving Weekend 2011, November 25, 26, 27

Mom and Donald were in the lobby when I got there Friday evening after work. I took notes, but I can't decipher. One of them said "I am not normal" meaning they thought they are not normal. Not me, one of them. But I don't know who said it nor in what context.

Then mom asked Donald if Linda was going to call him if it snowed. I can't remember if she was or not. So my note taking is not working. I will have to go back to longer notes.

We went to the room and the CNA that came in to help mom to the bathroom told her that she had told Nick that mom wanted to talk about therapy again. She said she stopped him on his way out and that Nick turned around and went to Barabara's office to talk to her. But we don't know what was said. Mom was just happy that someone said something.

Saturday the kids went over to visit before they left about 330. I got there about 4. Mom said "they say those younguns talk about me and I hate to say it but I find that hard to believe." She said that it was because she saw them so infrequently.

I took her down to the dining room after we talked about Drake and him not being able to have kids. I told her he had a good personality and would probably produce a good dog. Mom said Erin had told her Drake was mean so I called her and told her mom said she was talking trash about my dog. On the way to the dining room mom said she wished God would send me a wife. I told her that at this point that would be a case of return to Sender. She got a kick out of that.

I got her some coffee after supper and we spilt an apple turnover from Arbys.

Sunday I went over about 3 and we sat outside until it got too cold. She said she didn't remember Friday at all but knew it was Sunday. She went to supper about 430 and I went home to get Pats phone because someone was driving from Charlotte to buy it from me.

After supper we went to the lobby and he came and got the phone about 530. We sat out there another hour then went to the room. She went to the bathroom and I got her some ice and water. No one from there EVER fills up her water on a weekend. She just has to fend for herself.

Thanksgiving 2011

Mom had a good day. David picked her up in her car about 1130. I got over to David and Pats about 1205. We started lunch about 1250.

There was mom, David and Pat, Tim and Michelle,Nelson,  Erin and Jeffery and Maggie and Brewer, and Justin joined us later.

The food was great and we all had a good time laughing and reconnecting. Mom loved having the kids around. She doesn't hear well so as David was saying the prayer mom was asking to go wash her hands.Erin showed us Brewer's chocolate cake recipe. Nelson used Facetime for the first time to have a video conversation with his son in another city.

After all the food and desserts we stayed in the living room until Tim and Michelle and Justin and Nelson left about 5. It was about 530 when I left, and David and Pat took mom back about that time.

I went over to say goodnight a little before 7. She had her gown on and a glow on her face. She had a good day. One of those that you wish could be like every day.

When I got home I discovered this was one of MIsha and Drakes love-hate days. Of all places, she had thrown up on a book about his breed.

 

Wednesday

We got off work at 3pm today so I went home and let Drake out then he and I took a nap. It didn't go well.

I went to moms about 520 and she was still eating. Donald was in the lobby and she joined us after just a minute or so.

He said she was asleep when he got there and woke up thinking she was going to breakfast. She didn't have anything at her table so he had to go get someone to bring her food. They had given hers to someone else he said.

She said she talked to Terry and Emma today, and that Batchie came by yesterday and Ronnie today. She was looking for the kids to come back by but they didn't.

She was feeling bad about not being able to take anything to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow except herself. I told her that if wasn't for her that none of us would be here, that I would not be sitting there right now. Her brother concurred; "I wouldn't be sitting here either" he said.

I had a pleasant surprise and a former coworker came in with some others to visit one of their mothers who was just admitted. We visited for a few minutes and they got to meet mom and her brother. Mrs. Neely came by and said she heard some not too good news about Chuck. Mrs. Perry's daughter on her way out said this will be the first Thanksgiving she has not cooked. I offered to bring her and her mother a plate but she said her and her husband were going to get their food from Jacksons.

Tuesday

I talked to mom on the phone this morning to see how she was doing. She seemed fine.

I went over after work at 7 and Jeffery and Erin Maggie Brewer David and Pat were all with mom out in the lobby. Mom was in seventh heaven. She was kidding and talking and she told them about Drake and Misha "playing hide and seek" the other week.

I stayed til about 730. They were all still visiting.

Monday

Mom and Donald were in the lobby when I got there after work. Mrs. Anthony and her daughter in law were there too along with a small frog. It was climbing the wall, proving once and for all that mom is not the only one there who is climbing the walls.

We had to go to the room after a while for her to go to the bathroom (mom, not the frog). The lady next door was calling for someone to help her. She kept mom up again all night. Mom was in a good mood though.

 

Sunday

Terry called from moms about 3 and said mom didn't have any long sleeved gowns and was getting cold at night. I was going over there after I ate but went home to wash instead. There was one gown in there.

I took her clothes over about 510. She was in the dining room eating so I went on to the room and put them away. She was in there in no time so she must have been almost finished when I got there.

She had a Thanksgiving card from Temple and there was a card there from Michelle that Tim had brought with him on Friday. She said she would see us Thursday.

She was real sleepy and started to doze off. She said both of her neighbors kept her awake last night. I was about to leave a little after 630 but saw David and Pat coming so I went back in for a few minutes.

Saturday

Mom was already in the dining room when I got there about 430 today. I sat there and talked to her until Ruth came in then I left to go get a light for the front porch and came back just a little later.

She said she had took a nap and woke up thinking she was going to breakfast. She had it straight by then but later on she kept reminding herself it was Saturday. She said she had on the same clothes as yesterday but she didn't. I pointed out those were the stretchy ones and she remembered.

She said she won the jackpot yesterday in bingo, $1, but I'm not sure now if that was yesterday or this morning. A lady came into the room on her walker and said she was going to popcorn and movies at 7, but I think that was actually this afternoon.