AM I NOT SUPER WOMAN?

NOW HEAR THIS, I AM SUPER WOMAN!

At least I thought so...........but daughter, doctor, neighbors, friends, husband, others, have   decided to set me straight.  They keep telling me I don't have the training to take care of my mother with Alzheimers. 

 The doctor used this term for the first time in our last conversation. 

 She has a new medication that might help somewhat with memory problems.  In the last few weeks Mom has mentally slowed down.  Sometimes I think she has a little difficulty deciding just who I am (sometimes I wonder who I am too!).

A facility with trained staff sounds wonderful for her but it doesn't help my guilt feelings for giving up.

I hope I know when the time is right to do this change.  Some one out there who has made this decision.......Please Help!

TELL ME DOCTOR.......

The doctor called today to tell me he wanted to prescribe an antibiotic for Jack and I asked for something for Mom's memory.

Then I got the same general counseling about finding a place for Mom so she would be well cared for and I would not be burned out and end up needing the care.  He understands the problem with the two to care for and he wants to keep me able to take care of one at least.

He said the thing that impressed him the first time we came to his office (three years ago) was the fact that when he wanted to see Jack's leg I sat in the floor, unwrapped the wound and then wrapped it up again.  I didn't understand why that was so rare, and he said he rarely saw wives caring for smelly, messy wounds, and certainly not sitting on the floor of the doctor's office.  He said we talked to each other differently than many of his patients, and  he hoped when he was married as long as we were that he and his wife were as caring for each other.  Tell me that this doctor isn't a rare jewel!

Anyway I have to begin to think about this caring thing in a different way.  First, I will find a place that will take Mom for a few days so I can get some rest and Jack and I can get away.......also if Jack had to have medical attention in a hospital I would need a place to put mom till we were home again.

If Mom needed the hospital care, Jack's daughter would come stay with him I think, she did when Mom had cancer surgery in February.  It seems I have to always have a back up for any situation.  Guess that is one of the things that makes me nervous at times.  Backups are sometimes not reliable.

This is the doctor who made a house call during his lunch break to tell Mom that she cancer and he would find someone who would fix it......and he did.

Peace of a sort reigns at Marigold Country House and Marigolds are starting to bloom!

There is evening and then the dawn.........

There is morning then evening.............after that the dawn.

Today Jack could not stand this one room of our existence another minute!  We took Mom and went out...........just out!  I was the driver so could decide just what we would do.

We left about 11:30 and drove about 20 minutes to a small town Whistle Stop Cafe.  We ordered lunch and Mom had biscuits and gravy and of course Ensure! lol  We had not been out for  a meal in a long time but it went fairly well.  Even though I took her wheel chair I let Mom walk the distance to the restaurant and back to the car. 

Mom needed the fresh air and the wind in her face.  She also needed the exercise.  I knew she would be tired but a nap would take care of that.  Jack needed the same things but the change of  environment was a biggie for him.

After lunch I said I wanted to drive  around this small town and we drove up and down the streets seeing how it compared to our town. We laughed that every house had at least 3 junk cars and as many dogs.

We then checked out the local cemetery and enjoyed reading the unusual Indian names.  Jack and I have always loved cemeteries since our days of doing genealogy research.

As soon as we got home Mom went in and took her rest.  Jack and I both put our feet up and talked about our outing.  Sometimes the simplest things can turn out well.

Yesterday, I had to call the paramedics to help Mom up.  She had fallen and I was not able to help her get up.  I also wanted her checked out to be sure she was not injured.  This occurred while I had gone to the post office to get the mail...Mom kept saying Jack had helped her so much........actually being there with her was what helped.  You can't imagine Jack helping her up from his power chair.

A couple of teens came by tonight asking for a kitty.  I let them pick out one of the babies with the promise that they would bring it back if it didn't work out.  This one was eating dry kibble with the big kitties today so I am sure it will be fine.   Mommie cat might wonder where this baby wandered off.  It is hard for me to part with them and wonder if they will be well cared for.

Tonight Peace reigns at Marigold Country Home.

 

 

 

FAST SERVICE!

On the 23rd of April,  I  asked Mom's nurse about getting a wheel chair and walker for Mom.

She asked what I though she should have and I relayed information from her therapist.

This nurse did the paper work, called her home office,  asked what company  they used, and asked Mom's doctor again to be sure and said to let her know in two days if I had not heard anything!

Yep, right on schedule,  two days later, I received a call, to confirm what we wanted, doctor's name, said they would get back with us the following week!  The representative said the items were in the warehouse it was just the matter of getting the order from the doctor. The following Wednesday afternoon the company representatives arrived with a top of the line wheelchair and walker with wheels, seat, and cargo compartment! LOL

One week! I still can't believe it because we had been talking with the therapist about this for a number of months, and no one had made a move.

Peace!

WEATHER ALERT

Because I have two people that I am responsible for, I thought it was necessary to be aware of weather conditions since we live in tornado alley so to speak.

Recently I purchased a weather alert radio and it keeps us well informed about storms and severe weather conditions that might occur.

This provides more sleep usually and puts lots of trust in electronics!  So far the wake up siren is quite effective and I listen to the information provided about the weather.    There are three levels of warning: warning, watch, and advisory. 

I slept happily through two really noisy, electrical displays and rain last night without the least worry!  For a native that has watched storms for years, giving someone else the job really works for me!

Peace in Marigold Country Home on the Oklahoma Prairie!