FIVE DAYS OF CHANGES.....................

On Monday afternoon Mother injured her leg.  Because of the great loss of blood we called 911.  After bandaging I took her to the emergency room.

The experience was not totally satisfactory so called her BRAND NEW PRIMARY PHYSICIAN and he said call an ambulance or drive her to the Altus Emergency immediately.  He said he wanted them to check blood levels because she was 'too small' to lose that much blood! 

What woman wouldn't love a doctor who tells her she is 'too small'! Hee hee.  The experience at Altus was very good and we felt that her leg could properly heal.  We were to contact her primary physican in   3 to 5 days.  We saw him this morning and he told her she was doing fine and asked me to call him in a week and let him know how she was.

Also, he told me my foot is healing nicely and I could wear a regular shoe.  I said fine.  He said do you have a tight shoe?   I said sure one just like this and my other pair is almost the same.....he looked at me and said "How many pairs of shoes do you have?"  I said, "Two, why?" 

He said I see you as a very sophisticated woman and has a closet full of shoes to match everything.  I told him I had moved from California... he said how many did you have there, and I said probably7 maybe more.  But I said my husband and I had traveled lightly for years and my wardrobe mixed and matched the two or three pair of shoes that I had and I only traveled usually with two pairs of shoes.   

Isn't this funny conversation to have with your doctor...... and the number of shoes you have rates your sophistication? 

He confessed he only had about two or three pairs of shoes.   I told him I could only wear one pair at a time and never felt the need for more for a good many years.................

I have been working every afternoon at my aunt's house trying to get it cleaned out for the new owner who are arriving with furniture today.   They have already filled the garage which I got cleaned out before the 13th....doing this by myself is really a big job but I expect Iwill get it done eventually.  The new owners are not going to live in it just use it for storage until their new home is finished.

The pressure is on......and I am tired but foot is better and that makes me HAPPY.  And mother is sleeping in her own room again.  She was afraid her leg would bleed through again and she slept in one of the lift chairs in our room.  We have three and even my daughter  asked to sleep in there over the holidays. 

Peace maybe here at Marigold Country Home!

 

HOW FAR CAN THE HEART REACH?

I have questions in my mind as the sun comes up on yet another day. 

 The pastor of the church we attend has a wife with Parkinson's Disease.  She is far advanced to Jack.  But Jack has many related problems.   We were sharing  small problems like the nightmares and sleepless nights of our spouses.

Jack often screams out in the night and then talks and I can't always tell what he is saying but seems related to military experiences.  He  has no memory of these nightmares.

The pastor's wife believed she had talked to their eldest son and she was glad to see him.  He said he told her No, their son wasn't there, he was in Iraq.  I said why did you argue?  Why not let her believe and have a pleasant memory?    He shook his head for an answer.

Sometimes I don't understand the very conservative thinking.   If the son was thinking of home and family and in particular his mother who is so very ill, why couldn't his thoughts and spirit touch her mind and heart?

Why does everything have to be black or white? Why not shades of grey?  When you deal with the very ill you can believe in experiences of the spiritual heart.  Hopefully she clung to her knowledge that her son touched her from so far away.

PEACE

 

 

A shoe is a shoe is a shoe..........

This stupid cast shoe is coming apart..........is the life of a shoe more than 2 months.  Hope I can give it up soon.......just so much can be accomplished with glue! LOL

AN ANSWER TO PRAYER!

I have been trying for a year to get my mother to go to a doctor.  Her insurance agent said if I could get her someone to give her aide and assistance for 90 days then it would go on for the rest of her life!  There would be  NO MORE BIG BILLS  for insurance for long time care.

She said why go to the doctor if I am not sick........but she had a sore hang nail this week and I conned her into going to doctor.  All the paper work was done and turned in so all she had to do was walk in and show him her finger! LOL

Well would you believe they had an emergency and had to call an ambulance and she got so bored and tired that she was ready to leave without seeing the doctor.  She said she had been hungry for a piece of fried chicken at breakfast so I told her after she saw the doctor I would buy her some chicken!

Well she saw the doctor and he is a real jewel,  he talked her into a blood test to check her thyroid and etc.   And someone to come stay with her when we had to be out to see the doctor, etc.   And he is a real "smoothy".  He wanted to know where she was born because she looked so much like his grandmother who had the same last name, and Mother fell for the interest and now says the doctor and she are related!  Of course the possibility is remote because he is black and she is white and they are from different places but she is absolutely delighted.   AND SHE HAS HER VERY OWN DOCTOR!   Now doesn't that sound like my mother is color blind?

 Mother has not had a doctor of her own for her whole life I guess except when I was born.  She has had emergency care, and things of that sort but never felt she needed a doctor.  And she seems happy with the situation.   In this community going to the doctor is a social event.   The receptionist is the pastor's wife, the nurse is someone who gave her a flu shot last fall and remembered her (?) but they are so sweet that she felt she was right at home.

There is something to say for small town clinics!  Bah on HMO's!

Sheriffs should have bigger offices!

I went to the Sheriff's office this morning to thank them for their prompt and courteous response to the call for help.    The office was a cubby hole!

The Sheriff looked at me and said, "But we didn't do anything."  And I understand why after the under sheriff showed me the codes and laws that they follow. 

They can't do anything about dogs and cats within our city limits because they are controlled by city laws.  They can do anything with sheep, pigs, chickens, and horses but not cats and dogs.  Farm animals are a different breed of 'cat'.

He said however those laws should be changed and the legislatures are the ones that have cages that need rattling.  I am on a crusade!

In our situation we have no law enforcement except the local county sheriff and I did think they responded and so courteously.  Interesting enough they brought up sueing the man in civil court.  I don't want to sue I want the man to properly restrain the dogs with quality fencing that will prevent them from hurting someone else.

The owner is a reserve deputy in training and going to school.   I wonder how these calls on his animals will influence his record...probably not at all.  The sheriff told him if he sees the dogs out, chasing anything or anyone they are dead dogs!  At least that is what he said.

I asked about carrying side arms.  He said it only takes about 3 months in training and a security check and I can carry a sidearm..Hee hee.  Mrs. Lone Ranger Rides Again!  You can do a lot of things in Oklahoma.

He said there is a city ordinance against discharging guns in the city limits.......always a barrier........however he would not prosecute if I shot the dogs on my property.    Like the dogs are going to hang around while I go get my weapon and then call the sheriff.

Anyway there OUGHT TO BE A LAW  to protect animals and people from vicious dogs.

No one is safe!

Since we have been in Oklahoma a grey cat gave birth to three kittens.  One was dark smoky grey, one black, and one light grey.  The  mother cat developed an absess on her leg which made it difficult for her to get around.  She was wild enough that I was never able to touch her.  Dogs killed her. 

Her kittens have been very frightened of dogs.  Scally had been injured sometime back.  Not sure if the injury was back or leg, but she had finally let me pet her.  I had made a place for her to sleep on our patio and she seldom went far. 

I noticed and commented to Jack this morning that she was using her leg and putting it on the surface that she happened to be standing on.  She played and rolled and jumped about this morning.  And I petted her every time I came close.

I went to work at my aunt's house.  A cousin came by and said there were some dogs killing a cat down the street.  These are two big breeding boxers.  Mean and agressive.  I rushed home and found Scally's bed disturbed and blood, big dog footprints on the patio.   I went looking and found her.  I yelled at the dogs and they moved away a bit.  I got out and looked and touched Scally to see if I could help and if it was really her.

The dogs came at me and I barely had time to get in the van.  I had no idea that I was in so much danger. 

It was too much, I went to pieces.  Hysterics and tears and sobbing so hard I could not talk.

A neighbor called the sheriff .  She had already called once.  The dogs are dangerous and not supposed to be out.

When the sheriff came I could hardly talk and tell them that the dogs had chased me when I went to the rescue of the cat.  I had stopped in from of the home of the owner of the dogs and honked for a long time with no results.

As soon as the sheriff drove up in the driveway the owner came out.  THE GOOD OLE BOYS TALKED IT OVER AND IT WAS JUST A CAT AND THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO MY BEING CHASED BY THE DOGS.

THE OWNER WAS A SHERIFF AUXILIARY PERSON.  I showed the sheriff where they had pulled her out of her safe place and she had put up a valient fight hanging on to her box, the blood that the rain had not washed away, etc.  Sorry, the law says they can't do anything because they didn't see it.

WAIT TILL THE DOGS MAUL A CHILD! Then what will they do?

However, they said if the dogs come on my property and attack me I can shoot in my defense.  Guess I have to start carrying a side arm.

All of this to say, I felt such pain at the helplessness of the poor animal, and such pain for the parents of the students.  THEY WERE JUST AS HELPLESS AS THIS POOR CRIPLED CAT.

My heart breaks for those parents, families, friends, and others who were injured and other wise tramatized by that horrible act.  Sometimes it takes something close to home to realize the hugeness of that shooting.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

It takes a village!

Big John (security guard at the bank):  How's your mom doing, she is some special lady!

Mary Ann (one of Mother's drivers and helpers over the years: Just called to see how everyone is, how is your mom doing?

Kathy (the assistant Postmistress): How is your mom today?

Mr. Jones (that really is his name LOL) : Mary and I miss walking with your mom.

Marilyn ( lady from church): Didn't see your mom Sunday is she doing Ok?

Mom doesn't  get out as much lately because of the cold temps, wind, and the recent rains.  But over the last few years people have watched out for her.

PLANNING AHEAD.....CAN IT BE DONE?

Jack and I have made changes, some for the good, some for the better!

In California, our health insurance was much less and handled  through less effort on our part.  Here we have to buy our supplement insurance at a great cost and our prescription insurance as well.

Changing from an HMO to independent insurance means we can select our doctor...which was a problem at first but we chose a local small town clinic.  The doctor is young and very caring.  He does referrals much as the HMO did.

 

Planning ahead: I am taking a lifetime care insurance as well.  If you can work that into the budget it is well to start it as early as possible.  You never know when you might be the one needing the care.  Our agent advised me in this area, Jack couldn't have the insurance because of his age and health problems (heart and Parkinson's).  Mother has health care only in the home, which I am sure she thought was what she wanted, but isn't always the practical choice.  You have multiple options in this area.

Everyone can start early to make changes in their home as they upgrade or repair.  We are installing another handicap stool in one of the bathrooms and hardware in the showers and sinks can be changed to handicap.  These are as attractive as  the others.  No one except the homeowner will notice the difference.

Big doors everywhere.  Spacious arrangements of furniture, less is best.   Buying a home, think twice about multiple stories, steps up and down at entrances, lawns  where a wheel chair can be easily parked, scooters can roam, power chairs can maneuver easily.  Putting in sidewalks, make them wide and no sharp turns.  Jack's control isn't always the best. 

Changes to the home can sometimes be assisted by Veteran agencies.  Jack is a veteran but does not qualify.  So we always have to have doctor's prescription and then there is some income tax help.  

We are very fortunate to have the availablity and use of a extra large handicap bathroom.  The roll in shower is wonderful and the sink counters are low and have cut outs where Jack can get right up to the sink.

Another necessity that is often overlooked is the effeciency of the air conditioning and heating system in the home.  Some patients' comfort is so dependent on the environment of the  house.  When purchasing, repairing, replacing, or upgrading, look into ways to not only insure the efficiency but put the therometers low where the handicapped person can control the temperature.  Most are high on the wall.  There is probably a good reason but perhaps the installer can make adjustments.

When installing or changing cupboards or closets be sure someone in a wheelchair can reach clothing they need.  Sure they have someone available usually, but the feeling of independence is very valuable.

Carpeting: color, stain resistant, wheelchair assessible.  Ever try to push a chair in deep pile?

Storage of medical supplies.  This is a biggie with us.  In California I has a small bedroom that was dedicated to medical supplies.  Home health nurses commented on how well organized I was......here there isn't the room and I haven't  utilized the space I have to the best yet........at least I am still having to hunt too often.  

Finding a local supplier for wound care and other supplies was another problem, but we are a firm believer in buying local and we are quite satisfied with the local company.  We seem to get good service on Jack's power chair as well.   Hee Hee -even if I have to get batteries from a farm supply company.

Our vehicle is a Dodge Grand Caravan converted by Braun Company.  We DO NOT have anyone locally to work on the handicap mechanism closer than several hundred miles.  The local dealer said he would help us find a company that did that work.  And he said there are very few vans like ours in the immediate area.  Guess that is why when we go shopping or out for a day, people stop and watch as we open the van ramp, doors, back storage, etc. all by remote.  I am getting used to box boys coming to a stop and staring as everything opens up as we exit the store.  

This is our second van, the first we had 7 years without any problems.  When we made the decision to move we purchased a new vehicle because we didn't know how available a dealer would be.  Good choice on our part.  Our dealer in California took our van and sold it for us for a small fee.  The dealers didn't take trade-ins where we lived.

Ask  your accountant or tax person about deductions on the additions for the handicap that have been made on the van.

Patrick made an entry on gifts for the patient and  they were wonderful ideas, some I have already used.   I would also suggest gift certificates for perms and haircuts.  Men visit salons, too.  Home made gift bags of small bars of wonderful smelling soaps, samples of perfumes, lipstick samples, colorful tissues, ribbons and fancy combs.  For men lots of socks.  Ladies like the colorful ones but men like the clean white ones and lots of them.  In Jack's case he can't wear ordinary socks but he loves extra large flannel shirts in the winter, navy or dark throws that he keeps handy on his chairs. Hats or caps to shade the eyes, and keep the head warm in the winter.  Large gloves that don't restrict the hands and are EASY to put on. 

For the home, plenty of small juice glasses.  I must  be extremely dangerous with glasses!  Plastic is best for the patient and the clumsy caregiver.  But they do crack and the dishwasher shortens their lives.  We use large soup dishes for eating.  Jack can't get to the table because of the size of the kitchen and entry into the dining room.. he has to hold his dish when eating.......this means the food stays in boundaries and seldom goes over the edge.  Also, these hold less food but the plate is full! (sneaky smile).

I will probably think of many more and wonder why I didn't include those.  But enough for now.

MEAL TIME

Meal time is an antidote for most ills....................

Tonight the rain is heavy and Mother is rushing from door to window giving a moment by moment report on what she sees which is sometimes different from what is ..since her vision is greatly impaired.

Finally I can stand no more..lol.. and I actually say Mother you are making me so nervous.  I will go to the barn and be sure the water is not coming in and see that the animals are all doing fine.........

That still didn't satisfy the weather beast within the soul of a farmer (Mother is still classified as a farmer).  SOOOOOOO

I decide it is time for supper ( a bit early but who notices..hee hee).  Mother says it has to be hot and  wants soup.   Ok, a can of chicken noodle soup is the thing.  Poured over cornbread not crackers.  She is happy.   She is calm.   And the weather reports slow down and finally stop!

The pain management doctor said that I should not be preparing something different for everyone for every meal.  Well, somedays you do.   Most days you don't for all meals.  The doctor said we should have a family meeting and vote! HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA

Jack and I have more varied palates than my mother who will be 90 in October.  We like Mexican, Italian, Chinese, French, and a variety of sea foods.  Mother likes Oklahoma Country Cuisine.   She also has a limited number of teeth which means I prepare foods easily eaten or can be cut/chopped/or mashed so she can still enjoy the food as well as the texture.  

 I commented on the odor of foods in a nursing facility and was told, that as people get older they like stronger foods because the smell and taste abilities are changing.   I THINK THAT IS AN EXCUSE FOR BOILING CABBAGE!  yuck!  Glad we didn't have a family meeting and vote on cabbage.

Jack's diet has changed lately because he isn't eating some of the same foods and some of his favorites upset his stomach.  He wants bland foods and often has a small glass of milk.  Medications are doing a tough number on his body.

I am finding that I absolutely don't want anything that everyone else is eating.  By the time I cook, chop, mash, slice, and serve foods......they don't look very good!

Because I have trouble sleeping I tend to nibble in the night........this is very bad for a healthy diet, this is not designed for a slim body,  but it usually puts me to sleep!   I am not a big eater........but   eating at the wrong times is really not good.

MEAL TIMES usually calm, redirect thoughts and certainly motivates differentactions.  When it is over, the dishes rinsed and put in the dishwasher, all the left overs put away or fed to animals, counter tops washed off...and the kitchen restored to some order.........then the cook is  OUT!

Peace!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting day!

Iron scrap pile, about 20 years old, is finally cleaned up and gone! Yea!

Yard is in the process of being recontoured, bobcat tractor running around moving dirt.  Huge truck of dirt brought in to fill in depressed areas.

Plumber may not come in today, ours is not an emergency, but upgrading and preventive maintenance.

MOTHER IS ESTATIC.  I thought this would not be a good experience but she is having the most fun running from window to door watching all that is going on.  Later they will reseed the areas that have been affected.

I am exhausted coordinating all the activities, but now I can sit back and relax until time to pay the piper! 

PEACE in Marigold Country Home!

Kudo to spouses of caregivers!

 

 

KUDOS TO SPOUSES!

 

 

Reading Patrick's entry this morning stirred the gray matter and the emotions!

Kudos to the whole family who can let the spouse of the patient follow their career.

And I say special kudos to the patient who can let their needs be second to career building, income for the family, and "family stability".

I know that I had to keep teaching when Jack's physical needs had to be second  to my teaching career, I had to get in all the necessary time so I could retire.

It was "ours" but mostly Jack's decision to let me continue when in reality he needed more care than he received.

It is still Jack who often has his needs placed second to my more demanding mother and it is Jack who keeps his mouth closed and emotionally suffers when he sees me continuing in the position of "hired girl" instead of loving daughter.

It is Jack who has to share "me" and has a tired companion instead of a wife/caregiver who is ready to take him for excursions or dinners out.

It is Jack who had to also give up our home in California and the availability of his daughter  to move to this depressed part of the state of Oklahoma. 

 It is his days that are as boring and tiring as mine when he has to listen to my mother's commentaries about family, friends, possessions, and the weather! lol

I say Kudos to the spouses of the politicians who are running for president .  They are the ones who will secretly feel the reality that their spouses are putting their careers first and the silent personal fears that they dare not express less it 'discourage' or 'distract' the candidate. 

The politicians are givers of "caring" not caregivers because they have the $$$ to pay and provide professional  "caregivers" when it is necessary.  And in these cases it appears that stage has not been reached.  

 In my humble opinion "caregiving" is that emotional support and constant interaction with the patient that makes them the center of the "family" even when they are cared for in a nursing facility.  The question: Would these politicians still be career building if their wives conditions were more advanced?  This we will never know. 

Politics aside this has caused me some soul searching about more equal time for Jack.  I have questioned my position of "caregiver", am I being a caregiver or a custodian.  Some days I utterly fail at both jobs.

This was written after an exhausting and emotional conversation with my mother trying to make her understand WHY  I didn't take her with me to clean out her sister's garage.  It is the city clean up on Friday and the garage was full of trash and discards that needed to be carried away.  It was 'her' garage and 'her' trash and she needed to 'see' what was being thrown away.  Of course it has set there for years and we have a potential buyer who wants to take possession ASAP. 

After a restless night I am wondering if I was a caregiver for her or Jack, since all three of us felt the hurt and anger.  She was hurt and angry because I had taken over and I was hurt and angry because she didn't trust me to do the job right.  Jack was hurt and angry that although I try to do the right thing I am not appreciated and get emotionally upset.

TODAY ANOTHER EMOTIONAL STORM HITS!  The landscapers will be recontouring the yard with a bobcat; the plumbers will be invading our space to repair and upgrade; the city workers will be removing a metal junk pile that that my stepdad had built over the years. 

 There was a lot of planning to make these jobs spread out over a period of several weeks but a number of things caused all to come together on one day.  

WEATHER WISE: 80 percent chance of thunderstorms tonight......probably the same percent of emotional storms, also.

The caregiver/custodian has to make lots of difficult decisions and stick to them.  This job isn't easy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What was in your Easter Basket?

We expected to find snow or rain for the Easter Bunny Day but nothing so far!

There were lots of Easter Egg Hunts......I don't have any interest in Easter Eggs.....unless they are jelly beans or chocolate.

We went to church and there were lots of families home for the holiday.  Here the kids were out of school Friday and Monday.

This has been a day of rememberance for Jack and I and a tad of the sad side.   The last couple of years have made big changes in our lives and taken the lives of many friends and relatives.  We miss all our friends so much.

So what was in our Easter Basket?

A  smile from those we love.

A  dream of those who are dear.

Greetings from miles away.

Peace in Marigold Country Home.

And a plan to have a Lindt Golden Rabbit in Gold foil and with a red ribbon---NEXT YEAR!

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday morning, cool, and clear!

We are to expect very low temps for Easter.  It never fails, get a new dress and put winter's coat over it! lol

Yesterday was a good day.   I took Mother with me to one of the towns where I get precriptions.  On the way back we stopped and bought fish for Mother's lunch.

Then, Jack and I went to the Whistle Stop, the culturally different restaurant that we love.  I had an Indian taco for breakfast and Jack was more conventional and had a ham and cheese ommlette. 

We took a short drive looking for Quanta Parker's Star Home near Cache, Oklahoma.  We drove through the wildlife refuge, the part with prong horn deer, buffalo, and long horn cattle.  Didn't see any wildllife tho! lol

We stopped at a Dollar General and got some Jelly Beans and then came home.  

  It was after 12 when we got home, and Mother had not eaten.  Later in the afternoon, Jack and I took off again and went after soft freeze icecream! What a great day to get out and away.  Mother doesn't deal well usually with our being gone.  I will have to take her some place today. lol...

Peace at Marigold Country Home! 

THE SKY IS FALLING............

After a day when I had little time to be off my foot, and an evening that I am sure was not a blessing on my blood pressure or MY mental state...............a cupboard litterly fell off the wall.  

This cupboard is in the handicap portion of the kitchen.  I had opened the door to remove a box of crackers and it ended up in my arms.

I screamed, my mother ran in and stood in my way trying to help me hold the cupboard.   I am telling her to move so I can move the cupboard out of my arms.  She is going to HELP me...........Jack came in and helped me move the cupboard over to a safe position..MY HERO!

I had to empty the cupboard on the floor, to remove the shelves which were quite heavy, Mother kept saying quit throwing things on the floor!  LOL  

Now where would I put it? There is no cabinet space since this is over the sink and dishwasher.............and nothing was breakable.........and the floor was clean!

Well, today I have to find someone to put the cabinet back! 

Looking for Peace at Marigold Country Home! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We heard this week about an older lady whose house burned and she had to be air-lifted to Oklahoma City to a burn center because of her injuries.

I think this might have really scared Mother because last night she stuck out her arm and said she was ready for her blood test?   I had told her if she would go to the doctor, he would take her blood PRESSURE  and listen to her heart and then he could recommend someone to stay with her while I went shopping,etc.   I didn't think the examination would be very intrusive. 

We have been trying to get her to this point for over a year.  Her agent said after 90 days  of prepscribed care by a doctor then she could go on life time home care.  This would be good for all of us.  And I could do some things and not worry about her.   Jack and I have not gone anywhere together in so long.  She doesn't like to go out to eat or to do so many things that it does hamper our enjoyment of an outting.

I hope this is the first step in making her days a little more interesting also.  

It is supposed to be 86 degrees today.  Off goes the heater and on goes the air conditioner!

Expect plumber today to see about preventive maintenance to outside  water lines to the house.  Then the landscapers will probably be here this week to work on the yard.  After that I think we can settle down to a quiet existance! LOL

 

 

This isn't good for the bloodpressure!

The adage that the caregiver has to take care of themselves first..........or they can't give good care is so right!  Jack has a blood pressure instrument to check his blood pressure on an as needed basis.   Mine is always low, but I decided to check it the other night!

Was I shocked!  The last time I went to the emergency room it was up and at the dr's office it was higher than usual.   Well it was up in that evening too.   I checked on line how to bring it down and then thought about why it was up.

Part is the constant frustration that I encounter all day long.  This morning is a good example.  I wake up a little after 5am and put the coffee on.  Decided to wait to feed the cats since they didn't seem to be making a ruckus so went to the computer.  A few minutes later Jack told me we had an emergency.  This involves a complete shower, change of clothes, dressing of wounds, and other medical treatments.

We just finished the almost hour long session when the lights went on in the kitchen and mother was up.  I had planned to fix biscuits and gravy for her and asked her if she wanted anything else.   No, but you know I have to hurry to get ready for church.  I asked if she wanted to eat first or after she took her bath,etc.  She said before but she really needed to go ahead.   I finished making the gravy and had the biscuits already ready so she could sit down.  I tried to explain that two hours was quite a long time and I thought she would have plenty of time for her breakfast and leisure cup of coffee.  Now she ate, bathed, dressed, and did all the things she had to do by 7 o'clock!  And I asked her what she was going to do for the next two hours since it was still two over two hours before she could go to church.   Well, the answer was she wasn't going to sit and wait, she had other things to do........????

The rest of the time I fed Jack, fixed something for myself, put together the week's meds for mother and Jack,  gave Jack his for the morning and put the rest of the day's where he could get them. 

Did two loads of laundry, and listened to her scheduled reports on the time........each time about 10 or 15 minutes later than the last time. 

 I fed the cats on the patio and those in the barn, walked around the yard and did lots of things to try to calm down.  Only to go back and see she had chosen something old and threadbare to wear to church.  She can't see holes, or even stains on clothing and I have to constantly check things out to be sure she will be decent! LOL

Of course in the middle of this Jack has lost his comb and would I help him look, he suggested the wastebasket where he thought he might have accidentially throw it, and I finally found it in the clothes on the way to the laundry.

After the continued reminders it was time for me to get ready, I am ready and it is only 9 am.  Church starts at 9:30am but we drive across the street because of all the water in the ditches...etc. and there is only one car there.  The church is cold and damp and they have only just lighted the fires.........another reason for not getting there 30 minutes early.

After church which included a baptism and first sunday communion.....one of the  members came up and said I am coming to see you........and my gracious and polite response was "WHY?"

She said just because I want to come see you.  I laughed and said when someone came to see me they usually had something for me to do......and she said no she was just coming to see me.  We both had a good laugh over my "why" answer.

  Now my suspecious mind doesn't work that way.