a hodgepodge of unimportant information

I talked earlier this spring about the blooms on the pecan tree.  Recently my husband said we needed to trim some limbs since they were hanging so low.......well low and behold they are loaded with heavy pecans.  I commented to a neighbor that maybe it would be a good year for pecans....and of course they said..."if the worms don't get to them first!"  Geesh, how they exploded my hopes!

But if I really don't appear to care.........last year we could get no one to pick them up and finally raked and paid someone to help me clean up the nuts from the grass.  Isn't it interesting that the kids would not even pick them up to have a nut war..........or even steal them to nibble on......what is this world coming to?  LOL

I would go get the equipment ready to mow tonight but can't leave since it is about an hour until what we call supper.  Mother sometimes slips off and goes to bed quite early and then I have to get her up for supper.  To save me the effort and frustration I think I will wait and mow a little later.

It rained again last night and there is standing water............bad mosquitoes!

Peace, tranquility, and Country Summer at Marigold Country Home!  It was a bit cooler today...going into Indian Summer.

 

When we expect the best in a day......................

I went to bed last night knowing that today would be a good day even if it promised to be busy.

My day started at a quarter to 4 this morning.  Mother got up before this time but Jack became worried and woke me because he thought Mother might have gotten up because she didn't feel good.

Oh she felt fine, all the lights were on, we were all awake and so were the feline fluzzies who hang out on our patio.  So of course I fed the four legged fur balls first.  Then poured Mother some coffee, got Jack's medication ready for him, made mother a pancake, made toast for Jack and I, and took a minute to drink a cup and gobble down the toast. About an hour later I told mother I was going to try to sleep some more and what would she do, and she said she would sit right there! LOL

Well, I did get a few more minutes of sleep and then just got up at 6 and let the day begin.   My neighbor who cleans for me would come in about 8:30 and together we have a good time cleaning or doing a project.  On Sunday afternoon, she and her son replaced the cupboard that had fallen earlier this year.  She laughed today and said well it is still up!

We talk a lot and I enjoy her so much and she is a real whiz when it comes to cleaning.  Today we did the panneling in the living room and generally dusted and cleaned there.

I had carried out the linens in Mother's room, cleaned the other areas, vacummed, and started the process there.  Kathy chased the cobwebs, spiders, and dust bunnies.  Together it looked pretty good and the exciting thing was that Mother didn't mind our being in HER ROOM.

Mother was ready for lunch early today! LOL and she ate a good bit......Her aide came this afternoon and did the nails, hair, and general grooming and the puzzle in the newspaper.  Mother just can't seem to get the words like she did earlier this year.

Jack's nurse called this afternoon and wanted to drop by, and Mother's RN came by the check on her.   We were having open house?  Anyway after my chat with the RN, she said she would fax the doctor a note and ask for a prescription for Mother to help her with memory. 

THIS IS WHAT MADE MY DAY GREAT!  The neighbor said.......with all you have in this house, it does not smell......that is something that I fight all the time.  And recently she said I don't even see any bugs in your house, flies yes but not any old nasty bugs.    Then Jack's nurse this afternoon said you are the greatest caregiver....and I said what do you mean?  She said you are so organized and have things together.  But I said you see that everyday.....she said No what I see is disorganization and confusion about giving help to a patient.   The RN also said with your mom, it isn't anything you are doing wrong or anything like that, it is age that is giving her problems right now and You can't fix that.   

If a caregiver gets a compliment they don't usually put much value on it unless it comes from someone whose observation they respect and value.  Today I felt like I had received a gift from these people who  gave me encouragement with their comments.

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT I HAVE RECEIVED IN CAREGIVING WAS FROM MY DAUGHTER....."Mom, you get an A in clean!"

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT I HAVE RECEIVED IN CARING WAS FROM OUR DOCTOR WHO SAID........" You really love your husband, it is so good to see you two together".

I hope your day had some bright moments, Mom is still sitting here dozing and I should encourage her to hit the sac and rest her bones, but she seems to have enjoyed drinking her coffee while I mess with the computer.  Tomorrow is another day with therapist and Schwans, and prescriptions, and errands, and housework, and maybe a bit of rain.

Peace from Marigold Country Home: mud colored brick, pewter comp shingle roof, three bedrooms and 2 baths, laundry room, very large living room and formal dining room.......with the handicap wing that is extended to a large den like room, roll in handicapped bath, safe room,  and extention on the original kitchen with sink, dishwasher, second refrig, and  sliding glass doors that open onto a patio.   The two car garage has another refrig and another freezer to match the one in the laundry room...........when I clean I have a lot of space to cover and Jack and I only occupy the handicap wing because of the placement of furniture Jack can not get into the rest of the house, unless he would go outside across the lawn and in the front door.  Hee hee that is a trip in itself. 

This was a long post..............sorry, to bore you but I felt like chatting.

Again, Peace!

A drive with MOM

I took Mom with me today when I ran errands.  She was dressed and wanted to get out.  We didn't talk much but it was nice to be together.  We went to the Pharmacy, picked up lottery tickets, and  visited the salad bar to take home lunch. 

Tomorrow is Mom's day to have the aide do her nails, hair, and chat awhile.  My friend who helps me with house work will come in tomorrow morning.  Just knowing she is coming, gives me that extra lift that I need to make it through the week. 

Tomorrow promises another day filled with promise and butterflies.

 

 

 

There is always a new day..........................

Yesterday morning I rushed to the doctor's office to get Jack a prescription for the infection.........and the office was closed and would be till Friday.

Over the weekend I had looked over some prescription bottles that I had saved and found a Cipro prescription from February with a refill?  How I had overlooked this in February I don't know but I must have noticed to have saved this bottle.   Anyway I took it to pharmacy and it was a good refill............

Now this is small town America the last frontier........and the pharmacist said that if i had found this prescription refill on Saturday night or Sunday he would have gone to the pharmacy and filled it for me.   I laughed later when I paid out that I could not have called because I didn't recall his last name..........she immediately wrote the name and number and gave it to me and told me not to hesitate if I needed help.

What a beautiful promise of help that was.......I have often repeated in this journal my amazement at the caring that comes from small town America. 

I also found on the door on Sunday afternoon a note from the pastor of the church where I take Mother.   It seems that in the middle of the service she looked up where we usually sit (right in front actually) and asked, "Where are they?"  

  When she came by she read the note:  Very bad pain day, if you do not have an appointment, please do not disturb.   This is now a permanent note that discourages uninvited visitors on days when we just cannot handle anymore.  And thank goodness she didn't  knock because we were all asleep!

Today Jack's wound care therapist will be by today to take careof his leg.  This helps take some of the  responsibility of  this leg.  The doctor started this last year and we had good results.  It actually was healed for several months.  I guess I am always amazed that when I sign the request,etc., the interviewer always says there is no charge to you for this service.  With the excellent sup. insurance and medicare, we are fairly well covered.

The sun hasn't come up but there is the promise of a beautiful day at Marigold Country Home!

All in a caregiver's day

Where the sun comes up in the morning, take a moment and bask in the warmth and beauty of the bright rays that reach out and touch everything, even you!

I am learning that caregiving is so multifaceted that what I thought was...isn't and what isn't might be.   I was told once by a person who had great awareness, that when a beautiful moment occurs grab it and hold on to that moment, because it could be a  most precious memory for that day. 

That seems like a rather simplistic ideal but so true.  When you are a caregiver, you often think that there are few moments that you would like to preserve as a memory, some days are full of  the mundane and ordinary.  And something as endearing as a loving word from a spouse when they are so very ill,  makes everything worthwhile.

Today is the day after a night of almost no sleep, and a spouse so ill that I battled with whether to call paramedics or take him to emergency myself.  Making these decisions is so difficiult when my spouse say no, I don't want to go to the hospital, I won't live to come home...and knowing that he is shaking so violently from chills that he can scarcely speak. 

 Needless to say we made it through the night, with an old prescription of antibiotics and lots of changing and drying clothing as the fever broke.  I was frightened.......but didn't want this fear transferred to my spouse.  These infections always happen at night and usually on weekends.   I am going to ask the doctor for a prescription for "emergency" episodes when he isn't available.

I didn't mention that part of the decision to hesitate to go to emergency is the storm raging outside....the tail of tropical storm Erin was passing through our area and with it flooding.

What to do was also colored by my almost 90 year old mother who is vision and hearing handicapped.  What to do about her, do I wake her and try to explain where we are going, or let her sleep through the night?  Mother also has some other problems that come with age and I wasn't sure she could stay by herself very long.  Thank God, we made it through the night..    The old country song ..." Help me make it through the night"..certainly went through my mind many times.

 So Peace reigns at the moment at Marigold Country Home...

How can I tell?

Sometimes when I set down to write in this journal, things come out that I don't expect.........then I erase those and realize that my attitude isn't always positive but positively bad! LOL

Yesterday was a great day!   The gal that helps me for 2 hours on Wednesdays  came and we unwrapped my very large pictures and antique mirror and decided where to hand them...........but first we "unloaded" a cupboard/bookcase and move the big old heavy thing to a new place in the room.  Then we reloaded the whole thing.

After the pictures were hung we decided the room was definiately improved......looked bigger and much more light and airy.   Pictures help you feel at home where ever you are.   One of the large pictures was a painting given to me of Cherry Valley in California...........we only lived a stone's throw from there......that helps me with the homesick feeling I get sometimes for what was.

What is.......is a room that is homey, a bit clutered, and definately much more comfortable.  I moved my chair closer to the ceiling fan and airconditioning vents.  Where I was seemed to be a hot corner.   Now Jack and I are in chairs closer to each other and closer to the cooling system and the heating system in the winter.

Jack's home health care begins today........help with the leg wounds will be wonderful.

Today is also Schwan's Day for home delivery of good stuff and we also are signing up for "Angel Food" which is a discount food distribution for Senior Citizens.  A friend is the local contact and I decided to try the service.  It is $25.00 a month for a selection of foods worth much more.  What we can't use we will share with others.  Since everything is here in town it will be easy to participate.

Ok! the floors are cloroxed! LOL The carpet vacummed!  And I am enjoying my coffee with the airconditioning going full blast.........we have a room airconditioner we well as the big house unit.....but it is too cold for mother so we set it on 80 and we sit down here in the south wing of the house where it is rather warm.  The south part of anything in Oklahoma is HOT!  So the room airconditioner is really our lifesaver!

I didn't even go get the mail yesterday.........what a crime!  Guess the car comes out and I will start the errands.  This is a busy day......take care all of you!

Peace but very hot here at Marigold Country Home!

 

 

 

 

Oh what a beautiful morning.................

OKLAHOMA, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat (which has already been cut) can sure smell  sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain............

But there has been no rain and the grass is not so green but not growing so fast! Thank goodness!

The song really describes this state!  And Oh what a beautiful morning  from the same movie also described this morning..........at 6:30am Jack and I went out east of Manitou toward the lake..found a farm driveway to pull of on on a hill.... we could see the lake and watched the sun come up!   A wonderful experience!

Peaceful here at Marigold Country Home!

 

 

The wonderful days of summer!

The rains have made the grass grow and the boy who mows will do so when the grass and ground is dry enough........one of the things on my list!

My marigolds are dying.......they turn white and keel over.......anyone have any ideas........I think it is too much water and the air cells around the roots are clogged with water! Oh well, who knows?

I did something to my left foot this week and the lazy days of trying to stay off of it is helping........but hard to do with so much responsibility.

Oklahoma's bridges according to the news are the worst in nation.....must remember to stay away from bridges.

Oh well with the way everything else is going, staying at home is the best bet!

We have run away twice this week...........once to get ice cream cone--another to get products at health store that had been ordered.   These 30 minute runs have been the joy of the week. 

This morning we were up at 12:30 a.m. doing emergency stuff and decided to run away.....of course we didn't but it was fun to dream.   In California we could have gone for coffee a mile away anytime in the 24 hours of a day.

Have fun.....hug a tree....pet an animal....kiss a frog!

Friday.........hot, muggy, and a lazy day if I ever saw one!

So this is what I have to do! LOL

rain rain rain rain rain rain

rain rain rain rain..........yep it rained again just when the little ponds were drying enough to mow! LOL

The last time the boy mowed he found a snake.....I asked what kind and he said dead!  LOL

The aide and nurse from the health care say we will have to wait to have a another recertification but I called and they said the doctor could ask for more time for mother.  She talked the whole time the aide and nurse were here today and I know she needs the mental sitmulation.

My friend who cleans came this morning and we got into all kinds of mischief with the cleaning and had a wonderful time.   We did the dining room fan and light fixture...because it had been a place where my stepfathers bed had been, and there were some broken globes.  These globes pieces had been saved and taped on the globes...We washed and glued the pieces together, I have been wanting to do this for ages!  We even grabbed the murphy wood soap and washed the kitchen cupboards.......yeah that was another I want to do this sometime!

Then when the aide and nurse came this afternoon the car was out and Jack and I went off to take our special break................Sonic makes great soft ice cream! (smiles)

Then the rains hit and did it ever rain! I would calculate several inches in an hour!  But the lightening was great, right over our heads and loud!  The power went off several times, altogether it was a great afternoon.

Peace and stay dry!