The day is coming to an end.
I did go mow some more.
I did water.
The gardener who mows at mother's other houses finished his mowing and came by for his check and dinner. Aunt Louise always feeds him. Now it is my job to fix a meal for him. < it is ok>
I made some phone calls for Mother, she doesn't do well on the phone because of the hearing.
It has been a busy day in our lives..........
MONDAY AFTERNOON...........
Called about washer.......just needed to stop a syphering cycle....easily done! I did it myself without knowing what I was doing..called to cancel service call! LOL
Went to doctor's office--he wrote all the prescriptions and said he didn't need to see Jack for 2 or 3 weeks!
Went to get prescriptions---doctor is in a small town 10 miles away. Then you go home and later go to a small town 11 miles away to get prescriptions. But this pharmacy has a gift shop to beat all gift shops! Lovely shopping!
Mowed the large field next to our lawn....this will become part of the lawn as the bermuda grass expands. Will go out later and mow some more and will water while I am doing that!
For me I took a long nap after mowing! It felt wonderful but I was really stiff and sore....must get out and mow more often or do something that exercises those muscles!
Doctor said he had talked to eye doctor in California....that doctor would not give out the details of Jack's eye exam! Wow getting this Oklahoma driver's license is really becoming a job! So the doctor recommended an eye doctor here that everyone likes. Just happens to be mother's eye doctor. That is the next thing we have to do.
Mother has decided to update her will. We called her lawyer last Thursday and as yet he has not returned her call. Some how I am getting annoyed!
Called computer tech and left message to see if he has time to install new computer and change over information from old computer......now what else was on that list!
Oh! I am not washing the car today! (smiles) And I didn't call about car service..well, I had to leave something to start tomorrow!
Peace in country USA....autumn is here!
Monday morning!!
Washing machine is on the fritz..must call this morning!
Jack's prescription for nitro tablets needs to be renewed (only fresh for 6 months!)
Need to make appointment for Jack--pain pills run out this week!
Need to call for car appointment--regular service and recall notice letter!
Need to call for computer installer!
Need to wash car!
Part of the lawn still needs to have some fresh mowing done!
Gardener will come this week to mow the other three places that mother owns in this town! (gardener is nephew who mows and then expects lunch! lol)
Need to water, strong winds dried out a lot of the flower beds.
Need to take care of me, too! lol
We have had a full week.
Jack has had lots of chest pains beyond the usual indigestion. I have stayed close and tried to keep things real pleasant. Oh well I have tried! <smiles>
When you are doing a double caregiving event--------you find there are things that are present that you would never expect. Both individuals need my time and attention. Jack is doing so many things that helps free me to give time and attention to my mom, but then he needs his fair share of my time, also. Balancing this isn't always easy.
For example: Jack and I love to go out to eat, and just sit and enjoy the people around us and chat about all kinds of things. Mother wants to put in her order and then eat asap. I have spoiled her, by having her meals ready, hot, cut into comfortable bite sizes, and she doesn't have to WAIT!
I am becoming more and more aware of the aging process and WAIT is not something that is comfortable for those who are older. Time is relative! When we went to lunch on Saturday, I explained that it was at the noon hour and the place would be full and busy and we would have to wait! Mother didn't enjoy our lunch out. It took too long. She doesn't like to go with us when we get the car serviced because we have to WAIT on it! <smiles> At Sam's Club she does WAIT, but I bring her samples while she waits! lol
I bought myself a birthday present---A new hp computer. Mine is 6 years old and ready to be replaced. The new one is still in the car and I am going to get someone to install and change over the things I need to take from the old computer. I feel perfectly capable of doing this, but the last two things I have put together and installed, I had so much HELP that I had to do too much over, because I was distracted! lol That is another item of the aging process that needs to be a part of caregiving........they need to feel needed and helpful.
Visiting with a lady recently I admired her home and said I was really into beautiful homes, since I was now homeless. I really am homeless. When those who need extra care are religated to a nursing facility they must really feel homeless. Most are aware that they will never return home, and therefore that "room" is all they have. Jack and I actually only have a "room" that is "sort of" ours. We don't have a lot of privacy and those in nursing facilities don't have much privacy. This situation makes me so aware of the elderly and infirm who need 24/7 care.
Peace from the country in autumn.............
Jack has finally been released from the home nurse and therapist that he has had for several months. The leg wounds are healed and he has lots of exercises to do to build up his stamina to walk.
We are thrilled with the progress he is making and he seems to be stronger than before we came to Oklahoma. This is real progress.
We had a real date yesterday. Went out to lunch and spent an hour at the casino. We were surprised at the restaurant when they met us with the doors open and a big spacious place with a table where Jack could be comfortable. Crowded restaurants are a real NO NO.
We received the same VIP treatment at the Casino. Jack found a group of patrons at the Casino all in power and wheel chairs and they invited him to stay and have a drink with them. (smiles)
Jack was having chest pains this morning. I needed to go to the bank, so just gave him some tums and took him with me. The doctor's office was around the block from the bank and all we needed to do was check with him if the tums didn't work.
Having an enter van makes going somewhere much easier than getting into a car. Jack has a power chair and just buzzes right in and buckles up.
One thing about this "country" place is the power chair picks up lots of sand, dirt, gravel, on driveways and entries. I have now gone to carrying a tiny whisk broom and dust pan.
Peace.............
Car registration notice for my mother's car arrives by mail!
I think, good we will return this by mail------------wrong!
There is no amount to send so it must be taken to the tag office with the offending card aka as the official VA card.
I do a really stupid thing and ask Mother if she knows where this information might be..........yep! In the cellar!
No, I am not going there! I look in the car and fail to find it so decided to take the second step and find the insurance card that is kept in the car..........nope! Not there! I have established an outstanding file system for mother's business and so I go right to the files and find NOTHING! That says it for my system. Well, I finally checked our file and found it filed in error! Went back to car to put insurance card where is should be and guess what--the offending card is right there! Need new glasses--what?
It is tough enough to keep all the files, records, and bills paid and filed for Jack and I---------But the double dip of secretarial errors keeps me in an ample stock of grey hair!
I am just into the 9th month of this mad mad world....there is more to come!
...when you think you have it all together, then beware of a gathering storm! And it isn't always the weather that brings seasons to our lives.
The clouds gather, disperse, and gather again.
The rain falls, then stops, then falls again.
The sun brings warmth, brightness, and hope.
Then disappears to reappear with autumn in a paler and weaker version of itself.
Autumn's colors cover the travesty that the scorching summer has reeked. Some trees already are approaching the bareness of winter, the withdrawing of life in its limbs.
This year has rushed from season to season without regard to the calendar. Winter was brief rushing into Spring without opportunity to put away the winter threads. Spring because Summer before sandals could be found and bare feet became cooler than shod feet. Summer didn't even wait to be announced and now Autumn slipped in on a three day rain.
Sometimes the opportunity to reflect can bring too many comparisons to life and the weather.
Care giving puts you so close to those you love. You see the gains and deny the losses. You seek to maintain the integrity of a confident full life. You close your eyes to slipping memory and unsteady limbs. You weep when you can blame a bit of dust or the peeling of an onion. You smile and laugh and hope you help them through times when all you have at your disposal is love to ease the pain or the frustration of forgetfulness.
And now I can't blame the onion I sliced at lunch.
Peace..........
