It was a bit topsy-turvy today.
Yesterday (Sunday) Mom was all out of sorts...she didn't want to wake up, or get up, except that she had to 'go'. She really didn't want to eat or get dressed at all, either. She wept and winced all the way to the potty, she was in that much pain. I gave her her morning pain pill and some liquid morphine to get to the pain quickly.
I called Bill about 8:30am to tell him that I was keeping her home from meeting, and why. He is always so kind to me, and never questions these judgement calls.
I propped Mom up in bed, gave her some hot tea, some fruit and yogurt, did her testings, (her sugar was decent) watched her swallow her pills, and got her as comfortable as I could.
I made it to the B of B, and then left during the conference letter reading. She wanted only soup for lunch so I heated up some pumpkin and squash bisque, and I added some left over croutons, which makes her happy. She had string cheese, cocoa and toast for supper. Not much. We both went to bed early.
Her nurse Cathy came this morning when she was still in bed. We refilled her medications, she took her blood pressure, listened to her heart & lungs, and discussed with me her poor appetite, her sleepfull-ness, her growing confusion & cognitive loss, the evident decline. She knows about the chronic UTI situation, and saw the specimen cup that I have set out to remind me to get a sample tomorrow morning. I'll drop it off on my way to work. I always get a urine specimen to the lab a week before any appointment so we can see if the antibiotic is working or if we need to switch. Cathy doesn't want me to plan on getting her out to the urologist next Monday. They (hospice) really help me to face facts; what's the point in adding the stress and bother of an outing when the Dr. can call in a prescription if there is any issue. I told Cathy that it was really because Dr. Kim went to Penn, and that often we go out to Rodofo's for soup afterwards. Oh well.
Her aide will be coming after 2:30 today. A substitute. When she asked me if she could bring a student, I hesitated. One new person at a time. Especially if she is bare-naked, thankyouverymuch.
Mom is up and in her chair now, watching a cooking program. I will get her back to bed after her bath. She will sleep until suppertime.
"Thou hast made me what I am
and given me what I have.
In Thee I live and move, and have my being.
Thy providence has set the bounds of my habitation,
and wisely administers all my affairs.
Let me be numbered with Thy holy ones,
resemble them in character and condition, sit with them at Jesus' feet.
Until I finish my course with joy may I pursue it with diligence,
in every part display the resources of the christian,
and adorn the doctrine of thee, my God in all things."
Monday, April 29, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
New kittens...
I can't believe how the days fly by. Last weekend 4/14 was All-Day-meeting and Mom was so so so so worn out. We both stayed for the afternoon address, but I stayed home from Gospel with her. She gets tired so easily, and then she sleeps for hours.
For the last two weeks I was stressed about my taxes and was not thinking about blogging. As it happens every time (at this time of year) I want to quit owning a business and work for someone else. My tax preparer is very good at her job. She worked and worked with my return...and because first she told me that I might owe $1500.00 plus penalties ( I hadn't been able to make the estimated payments) after I was done fainting she sat down with me and we worked on it some more. She reminded me that essentially I was only owing my Self-Employment Social Security contribution (as if that felt any better) I was able to write the check for the whole amount...except I had forgotten about my car payment and my (self compulsory) IRA contribution so I was on edge all week, going to the bank every day with every single dollar that came in hoping that the check wouldn't clear until I had enough. I was encouraged with the verse that Our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. So I rendered to Caesar. As of today, it hasn't cleared.
Today we went to the eye doctor and Mom got good news! Her prescription is pretty much the same and the cataract in her good (left) eye hasn't progressed enough to warrant surgery. In fact, he said that she would only get slightly better clarity but the operation would come with risks. Her right eye is pretty well a blank. She was assigned a new case worker this morning by hospice (RN) named Kathy. We like her. It's time consuming to get her up to speed, but she has the pertinent information on her computer record. The visit was non-eventful, meaning that none of her vitals were worse that expected.
We caught four kittens, one right after the other. I guess that has been taking up my thoughts too. One morning we discovered that we had caught the Momma and a kitten too! Yay! Tom and Sue took her to the shelter but brought the kitten home. We had four very frightened kittens on our hands that were about five weeks old. After the trauma of trapping them I decided to keep them together for a few weeks. Sue lent me a kennel. They stayed in there all piled up together. We try to handle them every day to get them used to us. Janet came last Thursday night after Reading meeting and took two home with her. I thought about letting Juana take the one she wanted but I think they are too young to be alone. Besides they are so cute playing together. I think we will keep them. I do go back and forth about it. Lily sometimes decides she is the reincarnation of the Hound of Baskerville and we have had to physically remove her. We keep the separate when we are gone. Mom enjoys it and so we press on! Last night one actually came and sat on my lap while I was at the desk. They let us pet them when they are napping, but they are impossible to catch.
I have been enjoying an old book...The Valley of Vision: a collection of puritan prayers and devotions.
" I know that Thou art the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is Thine alone,
that every good work or thought found in me,
is the effect of Thy power and grace,
that Thy sole motive in working in me to will
and to do is for Thy good pleasure."
So beautiful. I read this morning this line:"...to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace."
Even if I can never ever pray with such poetic eloquence, I can thoroughly enjoy the reading of it.
BTW I noticed that I have a 'follower' in Germany...? and that there were 26 pageviews. oh no.
For the last two weeks I was stressed about my taxes and was not thinking about blogging. As it happens every time (at this time of year) I want to quit owning a business and work for someone else. My tax preparer is very good at her job. She worked and worked with my return...and because first she told me that I might owe $1500.00 plus penalties ( I hadn't been able to make the estimated payments) after I was done fainting she sat down with me and we worked on it some more. She reminded me that essentially I was only owing my Self-Employment Social Security contribution (as if that felt any better) I was able to write the check for the whole amount...except I had forgotten about my car payment and my (self compulsory) IRA contribution so I was on edge all week, going to the bank every day with every single dollar that came in hoping that the check wouldn't clear until I had enough. I was encouraged with the verse that Our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. So I rendered to Caesar. As of today, it hasn't cleared.
Today we went to the eye doctor and Mom got good news! Her prescription is pretty much the same and the cataract in her good (left) eye hasn't progressed enough to warrant surgery. In fact, he said that she would only get slightly better clarity but the operation would come with risks. Her right eye is pretty well a blank. She was assigned a new case worker this morning by hospice (RN) named Kathy. We like her. It's time consuming to get her up to speed, but she has the pertinent information on her computer record. The visit was non-eventful, meaning that none of her vitals were worse that expected.
We caught four kittens, one right after the other. I guess that has been taking up my thoughts too. One morning we discovered that we had caught the Momma and a kitten too! Yay! Tom and Sue took her to the shelter but brought the kitten home. We had four very frightened kittens on our hands that were about five weeks old. After the trauma of trapping them I decided to keep them together for a few weeks. Sue lent me a kennel. They stayed in there all piled up together. We try to handle them every day to get them used to us. Janet came last Thursday night after Reading meeting and took two home with her. I thought about letting Juana take the one she wanted but I think they are too young to be alone. Besides they are so cute playing together. I think we will keep them. I do go back and forth about it. Lily sometimes decides she is the reincarnation of the Hound of Baskerville and we have had to physically remove her. We keep the separate when we are gone. Mom enjoys it and so we press on! Last night one actually came and sat on my lap while I was at the desk. They let us pet them when they are napping, but they are impossible to catch.
I have been enjoying an old book...The Valley of Vision: a collection of puritan prayers and devotions.
" I know that Thou art the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is Thine alone,
that every good work or thought found in me,
is the effect of Thy power and grace,
that Thy sole motive in working in me to will
and to do is for Thy good pleasure."
So beautiful. I read this morning this line:"...to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace."
Even if I can never ever pray with such poetic eloquence, I can thoroughly enjoy the reading of it.
BTW I noticed that I have a 'follower' in Germany...? and that there were 26 pageviews. oh no.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Busy Weekend
Here I am! I know it was a busy weekend because I am still tired, but I can't remember just what we did. On Sunday I took Mom to the Soboba Country Club for their Easter Brunch...a special menu that included lamb, shrimp, crab cakes, salmon, prime rib, etc...it was pricey but really good. A once in a year (or lifetime) treat. The only bummer was the compulsory 18% tip. sucha drag. I think it was because of all of the chef type people who were there. Either way, the customer should be the one to decide...
Today (Wednesday) has been an especially hard day for Mom. She hasn't wanted to get dressed for two days. She can't remember to do the task I set before her ten minutes ago, like test her sugar, or do her albuterol treatment while I get her breakfast. She just forgets. She's forgetting what day it is. She used to be able to keep track by the person who was there that day. Not anymore...she can't remember that far back. She forgets if it's morning or evening. I used to try to get her focused on it, but it just confuses her more because she doesn't remember that she doesn't remember.
On Monday I woke up thinking of all of the grand things I wanted to do on my day off, namely start clearing out the garage of irrelevant stuff, and get ready for a garage sale. (Do you want the wicker camper hamper?) In the back of my mind I knew it wasn't going to happen. There wasn't a free minute. It was like Grand Central here and I felt like the President of the US...go to this room and talk to these people, go to that room and talk to those people.
First, Mom's home-health aide came for her bath, then her Nurse came for her check-up, then Beverly (the lady who watches my shop when I'm gone) wanted to bring Mom an Easter Lily left over from her church, then some folks from our HOA needed to talk & pick up some mail, then the Von's grocery order. All those people needed to talk to me. Then Mom's diaper order came, and then we left to go to her podiatrist in the afternoon and I went to the animal shelter to pick up a cat-trap.
My neighbors have discovered that the feral momma cat that left her kittens on my patio last year has had a litter in their attic. Tom came over and helped me, go up there with me, and decide what to do and where to set the trap, and who for. We have been trying to solve the dilemma but it's been like the farmer who needs to get his goose and his dog over the river puzzle; We tried to trap the momma on my patio but she has been too smart. She runs back inside. We want to catch the kittens but they are too skittish and they hide in the insulation . So we chased momma out of the roof and blocked the hole. Sounds inhumane, but if we can get the kitties hungry and in distress we can find them. It didn't work. They are still hiding from us. We can hear them scratching but they are in a crawl space under the tub of the upstairs bathroom. Tonight we were resigned to set the trap for the kittens themselves in the attic. At least this way they'll have food. I can't be there which distresses me. I have to wait for a phone call from the tenants. The primary task is to get the cats out of the attic. Bonus #1 would be to get the momma to the animal shelter. Bonus #2 will be to catch the kittens and get them adopted. We might end up letting the momma back in, scaring her into moving the kittens herself. We'll see!
Gotta get Mom ready for bed!
Today (Wednesday) has been an especially hard day for Mom. She hasn't wanted to get dressed for two days. She can't remember to do the task I set before her ten minutes ago, like test her sugar, or do her albuterol treatment while I get her breakfast. She just forgets. She's forgetting what day it is. She used to be able to keep track by the person who was there that day. Not anymore...she can't remember that far back. She forgets if it's morning or evening. I used to try to get her focused on it, but it just confuses her more because she doesn't remember that she doesn't remember.
On Monday I woke up thinking of all of the grand things I wanted to do on my day off, namely start clearing out the garage of irrelevant stuff, and get ready for a garage sale. (Do you want the wicker camper hamper?) In the back of my mind I knew it wasn't going to happen. There wasn't a free minute. It was like Grand Central here and I felt like the President of the US...go to this room and talk to these people, go to that room and talk to those people.
First, Mom's home-health aide came for her bath, then her Nurse came for her check-up, then Beverly (the lady who watches my shop when I'm gone) wanted to bring Mom an Easter Lily left over from her church, then some folks from our HOA needed to talk & pick up some mail, then the Von's grocery order. All those people needed to talk to me. Then Mom's diaper order came, and then we left to go to her podiatrist in the afternoon and I went to the animal shelter to pick up a cat-trap.
My neighbors have discovered that the feral momma cat that left her kittens on my patio last year has had a litter in their attic. Tom came over and helped me, go up there with me, and decide what to do and where to set the trap, and who for. We have been trying to solve the dilemma but it's been like the farmer who needs to get his goose and his dog over the river puzzle; We tried to trap the momma on my patio but she has been too smart. She runs back inside. We want to catch the kittens but they are too skittish and they hide in the insulation . So we chased momma out of the roof and blocked the hole. Sounds inhumane, but if we can get the kitties hungry and in distress we can find them. It didn't work. They are still hiding from us. We can hear them scratching but they are in a crawl space under the tub of the upstairs bathroom. Tonight we were resigned to set the trap for the kittens themselves in the attic. At least this way they'll have food. I can't be there which distresses me. I have to wait for a phone call from the tenants. The primary task is to get the cats out of the attic. Bonus #1 would be to get the momma to the animal shelter. Bonus #2 will be to catch the kittens and get them adopted. We might end up letting the momma back in, scaring her into moving the kittens herself. We'll see!
Gotta get Mom ready for bed!
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