May 26, 2012

• Scary Times and Good Times

  I finally figured out how to enlarge my font!! The small letters were driving me crazy. 

  This week I have had two days taking care of Mom. Besides missing my family, I have done really well.  She is starting to have trouble swallowing, so we are trying different tricks and techniques to help her.  One of the things we do is touch the indention at the base of her throat and tell her to swallow.  For some reason that works sometimes.  We also gently hold her nose.  Sometimes she swallows, and sometimes she pulls her head back and doesn’t swallow.  She can hold fluid in her mouth for 30 min or longer.  It is not that she can’t swallow.  She can swallow fine.   The signal from her brain to her throat goes haywire and she doesn’t understand to swallow.  It is hard to deal with.  If she has food in her mouth, she swallows with no problem.  If she has only fluid, we can expect trouble.  Today I tried giving her a little sip of water when she took a bite.  It worked great.  She swallowed it all together.  It was just hard to get enough fluid in her. 

  Yesterday my brother came and mowed their yard.  After lunch, I took Mom outside and we watched him ride the mower.  Today Martha and Jared came and brought us Starbucks.  Let me tell you, when you are stuck in the house being a caregiver, a surprise Starbucks really, really is wonderful!

  When they gave me my coffee, I tried to give Martha the money for it and she wouldn’t take it.  I said, “if you don’t take it, I am not going to let you bring me another one.”  They laughed!!  Yeah, they thought it was really funny.  She said, “we are not too worried that you are going to turn down a Starbucks.”  I said, “ok, just don’t call and ask if I want one.”  Cause, of course, if they call and ask, I can’t turn it down, BUT, if they don’t call, I won’t have to worry about turning it down.  They thought that was funny too, so I just gave up. 

  Jared played the piano for Granny.  Ahh, he is such a sweet, precious grandson to play for Granny and Papaw (Granny especially loves it).   He played and we sang several songs.  Mom harmonized with Martha and me.  (wow!)  Even Dad sang.  When he started singing, Mom pointed at him.  Anytime she wants us to notice something, she points.  She also pointed to Jared playing the piano, letting us know she loved it. 

   

  

  Once while Mom was singing, she pointed to heaven.  It touched Martha and me. It was a memory to cherish. 

  When they started to leave Martha said, “we gotta go, but first I want to show you how I spank Jared.”  That girl is such a mess!  She is always aggravating her kids. 

  

  He’s grinning and getting a kick out of her trying.  I told her she would have to tell him to turn around and be still.  Ha!  He decided he was going to pick her up.  She is small enough that he could.

  

  It was so funny!!  She was saying, “Jared, no!!  I mean it! No!!”  (Like she could do anything about it.)  He didn’t pick her up, but he teased her like he was going to.  They are going to love me so much and be so very excited that I posted these pictures.

  As they were leaving, Martha had a great idea for me to take Mom to the door and wave to them.  For years, Mom always stood at the door and waved.  I decided to take her out on the porch. 

  

  You know, there are times I know Mom enjoys something, but she doesn’t smile much anymore.  When we went back inside, I layed her down to rest.  She was bright-eyed from enjoying them being there.

  Since I am posting about Jared, I wanted to show you all a pic Martha gave me of him on prom night.  The scanner isn’t hooked up to the computer, so I had to take a picture (of the picture).  I don’t have one of him with his date, but she is very, very pretty (or so I hear).

  

  Isn’t he such a handsome young man?!?  Of course I think so!

  Before I close, I also want to journal about Dad falling last night.  I was sitting at the table with Mom while she was finishing her meal.  Dad took a load of towels out of the dryer (beside us).  Somehow, the dryer door hit his leg and he fell backwards to the floor.  I yelled, “Daddy!”, and ran over to help him.  I was frantically trying to help him up and he was trying to tell me he was ok.  He was able to get up off the floor and sit down at the table.  He layed his head on the table because he almost passed out.  It scared me to death!!!!  He was breathing so hard!  I tell ya, in ways Mom is in better health than he is. 

  He finally got ok, and then Andrew called to tell me he had had an accident at work.  He was taking the lid off a radiator and it blew up in his face.  He ended up in the emergency room.  He had to have a tetanus shot.  They also gave him lanacane for the burn, an antibiotic, and tylenol 3.  Shewee!!  What a night!

  As I was leaving last night, I couldn’t find one of my shoes.  One was right by the door, and the other one was nowhere to be found!  Dad and I looked everywhere.  He got so tickled because you know how everything always happens to me.  I had to go home wearing one shoe.  I told Sandra it was a good thing I didn’t get stopped by a policeman.  I could imagine him saying, “I know that woman has been drinking, cause she is only wearing one shoe!”  I came back this morning, and we still couldn’t find it.  I finally found it this afternoon.  You’ll never guess where.  When Dad fell he was next to the door.  The towels fell on the floor and I quickly scooped them up and took them to the bedroom (and put them on the bed).  I found my shoe in the load of towels before he folded them today. 

  Ok, I am so tired!  I am heading for bed.  Hopefully, I can sleep late tomorrow because I am off!!

   

   

   

  • 12:22 am
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