Hey, Y'all,
Well, today I had a talk with Gramps' physical therapist, Sam, and he regretfully told me that because there is not continuing improvement in Gramps' condition, he is going to have to discontinue his physical therapy after this week. However, the speech and occupational therapy will probably continue on for awhile, I believe. What this all means as far as Medicare paying for his stay at the nursing home, I am not quite sure of yet. I am going to investigate the matter with the admissions manager. I hope it doesn't mean that I will have to begin paying for his care myself.
He has begun pleading for me to take him back home to our place here, and it is very difficult to tell him no. He said today that we could work together and make it work. I said that I was sorry but there is no way that could happen with my back the way it is.
We went outside this morning for him to eat his lunch, and he enjoyed being outside. When this happens, I take him outside and get him settled at one of the tables, and then I have to go back inside and down the hall to get his food tray, carry it out, and also get one of the bibs for keeping food off the clothing. Then after he eats, I take him back inside. There is a code that has to be punched in at the door and there are only a few seconds to get the door open and then get the wheelchair back inside before the alarm sounds. Usually there is someone outside to help with the door, and sometimes there is not. That is when it is really difficult to achieve success, but I have done it at times. After I get him back to his room, I have to come back out and get the tray and take it back to the cart in the hallway. It can take several minutes to accomplish everything, and it can be tiring.
Gramps always has to have his cap and sunglasses to be outside and sometimes I forget to get them, and have to go back and get them. What fun! But I don't mind doing it, to keep him happy and comfortable. When we get back inside, he starts patting the bed and looking longingly at it to take a nap. I usually leave after he has eaten his lunch and they will either put him to bed or take him for some kind of therapy. Then I leave to go back home or to eat and return about 3:30 or so, before he has supper at 5:15.
Yesterday, I left about 5:45 after he had eaten, and came home for supper with our neighbors, Scott and Laurie, and their 3 children. After we had eaten, we played "Apples to Apples" and had a lot of fun playing. Soon after they arrived at my house, the storm began and their was thunder, lightning, and lots of rain. It was wonderful and cooled off the temperature outside really well, so that today the weather was much cooler.
Today, I left after he had his lunch and went to a hair appointment in Jefferson City. While there, I heard about a bank robbery that had just taken place in Dandridge apparently while I was at the nursing home there. Sharon, the beautician who worked on my hair (and did a beautiful job) was talking on the phone to her brother who drives a tow truck and he was telling her about it. The one who robbed the bank was throwing money out the window of his car, and rammed three police cars trying to get away. The police finally nabbed him near Newport, chasing him around a lot of curves. What an adventure that must have been. Her brother said that people were picking up money all over the place. ha. I really enjoyed the time I spent with Sharon at the beauty shop! She is a lovely lady.
Tonight I left Gramps getting ready to go to bed, and came on home. I guess I need to get off here and get busy doing "stuff" that needs to be done. So, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends. Bye for now.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A Strange Day
Hey, Y'all,
I don't know why I should think today was any stranger than any other day, because when you are married to a person with dementia or Alzheimer's, any day can be strange. Ha.
This morning, I was up at my usual 6:30 a.m. and soon was making breakfast and eating it by 7:15. Then I got dressed in preparation for my visit to the nursing home, and spent some time online with Teresa IM'ing each other. When I got to the nursing home, Gramps was still in bed sleeping, so I went outside to read for awhile. Then about 11 a.m., I went back in to get him up for lunch, and the aide helped me get him up and dressed and into his wheelchair. About that time the nurse came in to give him some medication. It turns out that what she was giving him at lunchtime was a medication that can cause sleepiness and is for his blood pressure and to relax his bladder. I asked her if she could get it changed to nighttime, because he gets so sleepy a couple of hours after he takes it. She wrote a request for it to be changed.
After he finished lunch, we went outside for about an hour and then, he was so sleepy he wanted to take a nap, so I took him back inside and we put him down for a nap, and I left for lunch. I went to Ruby Tuesday's there in Dandridge and had a fresh avocado Quesadilla. Yum! It was really good. When I got back to the nursing home, he was still asleep, so I sat in the chair next to his bed for awhile until he began to stir and asked if he was ready to get up. He said, "No," so I laid down beside him in the bed and put my arm around his middle.
He asked me what my oldest son, Fred, was doing these days, and I said, "Who do you think I am?". He said, "Mae". Ha. I said, "What do you think Ruby would say about me lying here next to you?" He said, "She would just laugh and think it is funny."
I just got up and laughed, and said, "Don't you think she would be jealous?" He said, "No, I don't". I said, "You are right." A little later, I asked him who he thought I was then and he said, "Aunt Lula". So, Aunt Lula is back in the picture. What an interesting afternoon it was.
We got him up and he had supper soon after, and he was waiting to be put to bed when I left him. The aide, Joie, was in there getting ready to put him and his room mate to bed for the night. I came on home and made my onion/tomato/bacon/miracle whip/ sandwich and it was just as good tonight as last night. I also washed a load of clothes, and am sorely tempted to go to bed myself, but will wait until my supper has settled, so as to prevent acid reflux. I can do better with housework in the mornings than I can after a day at the nursing home.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now. More later.
I don't know why I should think today was any stranger than any other day, because when you are married to a person with dementia or Alzheimer's, any day can be strange. Ha.
This morning, I was up at my usual 6:30 a.m. and soon was making breakfast and eating it by 7:15. Then I got dressed in preparation for my visit to the nursing home, and spent some time online with Teresa IM'ing each other. When I got to the nursing home, Gramps was still in bed sleeping, so I went outside to read for awhile. Then about 11 a.m., I went back in to get him up for lunch, and the aide helped me get him up and dressed and into his wheelchair. About that time the nurse came in to give him some medication. It turns out that what she was giving him at lunchtime was a medication that can cause sleepiness and is for his blood pressure and to relax his bladder. I asked her if she could get it changed to nighttime, because he gets so sleepy a couple of hours after he takes it. She wrote a request for it to be changed.
After he finished lunch, we went outside for about an hour and then, he was so sleepy he wanted to take a nap, so I took him back inside and we put him down for a nap, and I left for lunch. I went to Ruby Tuesday's there in Dandridge and had a fresh avocado Quesadilla. Yum! It was really good. When I got back to the nursing home, he was still asleep, so I sat in the chair next to his bed for awhile until he began to stir and asked if he was ready to get up. He said, "No," so I laid down beside him in the bed and put my arm around his middle.
He asked me what my oldest son, Fred, was doing these days, and I said, "Who do you think I am?". He said, "Mae". Ha. I said, "What do you think Ruby would say about me lying here next to you?" He said, "She would just laugh and think it is funny."
I just got up and laughed, and said, "Don't you think she would be jealous?" He said, "No, I don't". I said, "You are right." A little later, I asked him who he thought I was then and he said, "Aunt Lula". So, Aunt Lula is back in the picture. What an interesting afternoon it was.
We got him up and he had supper soon after, and he was waiting to be put to bed when I left him. The aide, Joie, was in there getting ready to put him and his room mate to bed for the night. I came on home and made my onion/tomato/bacon/miracle whip/ sandwich and it was just as good tonight as last night. I also washed a load of clothes, and am sorely tempted to go to bed myself, but will wait until my supper has settled, so as to prevent acid reflux. I can do better with housework in the mornings than I can after a day at the nursing home.
Well, that is about it for today. This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. Much love to each of you. Bye for now. More later.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thank You Notes
Hey, Y'all,
Thank you notes are becoming a rarity in many instances these days, but my children, grandchildren and great grands are always faithful to send them to us. However, the other day I received a thank you from someone I have never met. Yes, it is true...I was at a local restaurant a few weeks ago, and on my way to the car, I looked down and saw a piece of paper on the pavement near the car. Curious (of course) I picked it up and realized it was a title to a car. I looked around to see if I could find the car described on the title, but no luck.
I put the title into my car and left, heading over to the nursing home for the day. When I got home, I got a business sized envelope and addressed it to the name and address on the title, wrote a small note to the person, and put a stamp on the envelope. The next morning I dropped the envelope into the mailbox at the post office, and headed on over to the nursing home and thought no more about it.
This week, I found an small envelope addressed to me in the mail. "Hmmm, I wonder who this person is on the return address," I thought. I opened the envelope and found it was a sweet note from the person who had lost the title, and she was thanking me for my honesty and thoughtfulness. It really made me feel good knowing that I had helped her. You just really never know what a difference one person can make, do you?
Well, this morning, I left home early to take some things over to the nursing home for Gramps and then came back to Jefferson City and had breakfast, then came on back here to pick up Laurie and Olivia so we could go to the Book Shelf in Morristown to trade some used paperback books. I carried in 80 books and came out with 40 that I had not read. Good deal! Laurie and Olivia were able to get a few as well. Then we had lunch at Wendy's in Jefferson City and I took them home and headed on over to the nursing home to see how Gramps was doing.
He was quite sleepy this afternoon and I couldn't get him to carry on any conversation at all. We sat outside for a while and I kept trying to get him to talk to me. All he wanted to do was sleep, so after he slept through supper (he ate a few bites, but not much) they put him to bed, and I left.
Guess what I had for supper tonight and last night? I had a bacon/tomato/onion slice/ and miracle whip sandwich. Yum, it was great! Then I had a nectarine for dessert. It is only 9 p.m. but I feel like it is much later. Nothing done here today, but that is okay. I intend to try to sleep tonight for about 8 hours (I probably won't make it, but that doesn't mean I can't try. Ha).
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for tonight. More later. Much love to each of you,my friends. Bye for now.
Thank you notes are becoming a rarity in many instances these days, but my children, grandchildren and great grands are always faithful to send them to us. However, the other day I received a thank you from someone I have never met. Yes, it is true...I was at a local restaurant a few weeks ago, and on my way to the car, I looked down and saw a piece of paper on the pavement near the car. Curious (of course) I picked it up and realized it was a title to a car. I looked around to see if I could find the car described on the title, but no luck.
I put the title into my car and left, heading over to the nursing home for the day. When I got home, I got a business sized envelope and addressed it to the name and address on the title, wrote a small note to the person, and put a stamp on the envelope. The next morning I dropped the envelope into the mailbox at the post office, and headed on over to the nursing home and thought no more about it.
This week, I found an small envelope addressed to me in the mail. "Hmmm, I wonder who this person is on the return address," I thought. I opened the envelope and found it was a sweet note from the person who had lost the title, and she was thanking me for my honesty and thoughtfulness. It really made me feel good knowing that I had helped her. You just really never know what a difference one person can make, do you?
Well, this morning, I left home early to take some things over to the nursing home for Gramps and then came back to Jefferson City and had breakfast, then came on back here to pick up Laurie and Olivia so we could go to the Book Shelf in Morristown to trade some used paperback books. I carried in 80 books and came out with 40 that I had not read. Good deal! Laurie and Olivia were able to get a few as well. Then we had lunch at Wendy's in Jefferson City and I took them home and headed on over to the nursing home to see how Gramps was doing.
He was quite sleepy this afternoon and I couldn't get him to carry on any conversation at all. We sat outside for a while and I kept trying to get him to talk to me. All he wanted to do was sleep, so after he slept through supper (he ate a few bites, but not much) they put him to bed, and I left.
Guess what I had for supper tonight and last night? I had a bacon/tomato/onion slice/ and miracle whip sandwich. Yum, it was great! Then I had a nectarine for dessert. It is only 9 p.m. but I feel like it is much later. Nothing done here today, but that is okay. I intend to try to sleep tonight for about 8 hours (I probably won't make it, but that doesn't mean I can't try. Ha).
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for tonight. More later. Much love to each of you,my friends. Bye for now.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Look Ma! No Cath!
Hey, Y'all,
Yeah, I know that is not a very couth title for today's posting, but it is exciting for Gramps and me, especially him. Yes, they removed it night before last and he has been doing well without it. I went in this morning and Rick told me that Gramps had walked into the bathroom this morning (with Rick's help) and when Rick came in to see if he was finished, there was Gramps walking from the bathroom, sans gown or anything else, flashing anyone who might be walking past the room. Ha.
By the time I arrived Gramps was getting sleepy, and then by the time lunch came, he was taking a bite of food, and then dropping his head and closing his eyes. He slept his way through lunch, taking a bite of food occasionally. I kept waking him so that he wouldn't get choked on food or liquids. Finally, I moved his tray table and helped him onto the bed and left him to sleep. I then headed to Knoxville for our movie day. We had lunch at Louis' Original Restaurant, and Mae and I wound up with enough left over spaghetti for our suppers. The movie I took with me was "Lars and the Real Girl" and it was poignant and funny. We enjoyed it tremendously, and then I took Mae home and headed on back to the nursing home, where I found Gramps was wide awake and ready to eat his supper.
I sat there and talked to him while he ate. He ate every bite of his supper and we went outside for a little while until he was ready to go back into his room. He has been becoming more cognizant of the things going on around him most of the time. He has been taking enough interest to read the Standard Banner. I showed him pictures of the home we are buying in Texas and he liked the looks of it.
We don't know if he will ever be able to live at home with me, but I know his improvements will make life easier for him anyway, regardless of where he lives. I am quite thankful for any degree of progress that he makes along the way.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. We are having thunderstorms tonight, and I am glad for that. I love to hear the rain, don't you? I am quite excited, because one of my blogger friends who has been a long time reader is coming to visit me in person on July 2, while she is visiting her grandson's in Blaine. Her name is Clara and she writes a blog called "Clara's Corner".
Also I am excited because my daughter, Teresa and husband, Tom, are coming from Alabama to visit us on July 4th. Yay! Good things come to those who wait.
Signing off for now. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends. Bye for now.
Yeah, I know that is not a very couth title for today's posting, but it is exciting for Gramps and me, especially him. Yes, they removed it night before last and he has been doing well without it. I went in this morning and Rick told me that Gramps had walked into the bathroom this morning (with Rick's help) and when Rick came in to see if he was finished, there was Gramps walking from the bathroom, sans gown or anything else, flashing anyone who might be walking past the room. Ha.
By the time I arrived Gramps was getting sleepy, and then by the time lunch came, he was taking a bite of food, and then dropping his head and closing his eyes. He slept his way through lunch, taking a bite of food occasionally. I kept waking him so that he wouldn't get choked on food or liquids. Finally, I moved his tray table and helped him onto the bed and left him to sleep. I then headed to Knoxville for our movie day. We had lunch at Louis' Original Restaurant, and Mae and I wound up with enough left over spaghetti for our suppers. The movie I took with me was "Lars and the Real Girl" and it was poignant and funny. We enjoyed it tremendously, and then I took Mae home and headed on back to the nursing home, where I found Gramps was wide awake and ready to eat his supper.
I sat there and talked to him while he ate. He ate every bite of his supper and we went outside for a little while until he was ready to go back into his room. He has been becoming more cognizant of the things going on around him most of the time. He has been taking enough interest to read the Standard Banner. I showed him pictures of the home we are buying in Texas and he liked the looks of it.
We don't know if he will ever be able to live at home with me, but I know his improvements will make life easier for him anyway, regardless of where he lives. I am quite thankful for any degree of progress that he makes along the way.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. We are having thunderstorms tonight, and I am glad for that. I love to hear the rain, don't you? I am quite excited, because one of my blogger friends who has been a long time reader is coming to visit me in person on July 2, while she is visiting her grandson's in Blaine. Her name is Clara and she writes a blog called "Clara's Corner".
Also I am excited because my daughter, Teresa and husband, Tom, are coming from Alabama to visit us on July 4th. Yay! Good things come to those who wait.
Signing off for now. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends. Bye for now.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Another Scorcher
Hey, Y'all,
I know that some of you may not think that 98 degrees with humidity is a scorcher, but I think it is. Sometimes we can sit out in the breezeway at the nursing home and it is not too bad, but there are times around 4 p.m. when the day is at its hottest, and there is really not a breeze stirring in the breezeway. That is how it was today. Even Gramps was complaining that the heat was too much. So we went back inside. I think he may have just wanted to go back to bed.
This morning, soon after I arrived at the nursing home, we were told they were having church services in the dining hall, so Gramps wanted to go. He picked up his Bible to take with him and I put it in his lap and pushed him to the dining hall in his wheelchair. The service was being led by Reverend McCray and his wife. The reverend led the singing and songbooks had been passed out to all the attendees. The room was just about full. Some of the people who were there: Cora, who always has a beautiful hairdo, and who likes to sing a song before services begin; Dottie, who holds a baby doll, and continually rocks it in her arms, looking lovingly at it; Hazel, who continuously asks people to pray for her and asks Jesus to come for her; and of course, my Gramps, who tries to find the numbers in the songbook, and needs help. But almost everyone in the room sings and it is wonderful to hear and to see these seniors in so many different stages in their lives looking to the Lord for sustenance.
After we were through singing, Mrs. McCray spoke about fathers and their importance in the lives of their children.
Right after the church service, Sam came for Gramps and took him to therapy. I got his walker so that he would have it to use walking. When I got to therapy, Gramps was out in the hall way and walking with Sam. Gramps was standing alone and walking. Sam had a support belt around Gramps' waist, and gave him occasional support, then in a little while, he gave Gramps the walker and Gramps used the walker, with me following after with the wheelchair. When there was only one more hall to walk down, Sam sent me on ahead and took the wheelchair and rolled it along behind Gramps. They went all the way almost to Gramps' room and then I took Gramps outside to get some fresh air.
He wanted to come back in after about 20 minutes and it was lunch time. I sat with him while he ate lunch and then left when he went back to have some occupational therapy so that I could go and pick up some boxes that Judy had saved for me to pack with. I got a call then from our niece, Donna, that she was coming to visit him with his sister, Bonnie, so we decided to meet for dinner. We met at Shoney's and then I met her at the nursing home where we visited for over an hour. It was after that that I took him out before supper and he decided it was too hot after a few minutes.
As I said earlier, he was wanting to go to bed, but I held him off until after supper, because I knew he would just have to be gotten up for supper which comes at 5:30.
Well, it is about time for me to sign off, because these days are really long, and I may be going to bed soon. This is Blabbin' Grammy saying, "so long for tonight, more tomorrow." Tomorrow is Movie Day in Knoxville with the two sisters-in-law, and I'm looking forward to it. Love to all of you. Bye for now.
I know that some of you may not think that 98 degrees with humidity is a scorcher, but I think it is. Sometimes we can sit out in the breezeway at the nursing home and it is not too bad, but there are times around 4 p.m. when the day is at its hottest, and there is really not a breeze stirring in the breezeway. That is how it was today. Even Gramps was complaining that the heat was too much. So we went back inside. I think he may have just wanted to go back to bed.
This morning, soon after I arrived at the nursing home, we were told they were having church services in the dining hall, so Gramps wanted to go. He picked up his Bible to take with him and I put it in his lap and pushed him to the dining hall in his wheelchair. The service was being led by Reverend McCray and his wife. The reverend led the singing and songbooks had been passed out to all the attendees. The room was just about full. Some of the people who were there: Cora, who always has a beautiful hairdo, and who likes to sing a song before services begin; Dottie, who holds a baby doll, and continually rocks it in her arms, looking lovingly at it; Hazel, who continuously asks people to pray for her and asks Jesus to come for her; and of course, my Gramps, who tries to find the numbers in the songbook, and needs help. But almost everyone in the room sings and it is wonderful to hear and to see these seniors in so many different stages in their lives looking to the Lord for sustenance.
After we were through singing, Mrs. McCray spoke about fathers and their importance in the lives of their children.
Right after the church service, Sam came for Gramps and took him to therapy. I got his walker so that he would have it to use walking. When I got to therapy, Gramps was out in the hall way and walking with Sam. Gramps was standing alone and walking. Sam had a support belt around Gramps' waist, and gave him occasional support, then in a little while, he gave Gramps the walker and Gramps used the walker, with me following after with the wheelchair. When there was only one more hall to walk down, Sam sent me on ahead and took the wheelchair and rolled it along behind Gramps. They went all the way almost to Gramps' room and then I took Gramps outside to get some fresh air.
He wanted to come back in after about 20 minutes and it was lunch time. I sat with him while he ate lunch and then left when he went back to have some occupational therapy so that I could go and pick up some boxes that Judy had saved for me to pack with. I got a call then from our niece, Donna, that she was coming to visit him with his sister, Bonnie, so we decided to meet for dinner. We met at Shoney's and then I met her at the nursing home where we visited for over an hour. It was after that that I took him out before supper and he decided it was too hot after a few minutes.
As I said earlier, he was wanting to go to bed, but I held him off until after supper, because I knew he would just have to be gotten up for supper which comes at 5:30.
Well, it is about time for me to sign off, because these days are really long, and I may be going to bed soon. This is Blabbin' Grammy saying, "so long for tonight, more tomorrow." Tomorrow is Movie Day in Knoxville with the two sisters-in-law, and I'm looking forward to it. Love to all of you. Bye for now.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Continuing Improvement
Hey, Y'all,
I believe Gramps is continuing to improve. He is certainly more alert these days than when he first returned to the nursing home from the hospital the second time. For the past five days, he has been much better and has gotten his dry sense of humor back. He is walking better and the occupational therapist, Cathy, has given me new hope that I will eventually be able to take him home with me. She also said that probably he will not be able to get rid of the Foley catheter ever.
I haven't yet begun to pack boxes but there is still time for that, since it will be sometime in August before we leave here. I am not sure exactly how I am going to get the packing done, but I know I will. I plan to begin getting boxes tomorrow afternoon. Finding the time to do everything is going to be challenging, but I am up to it, I'm sure (kind of) ha.
It is close to eleven p.m. and I am getting sleepy. The days are plenty warm, and tomorrow they begin getting shorter. I dread that, because I love the long days of sunlight, don't you? Today our neighbors came down for supper with me, and we had salad greens, with baked chicken strips, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, feta cheese, mandarin orange sections, and choice of dressings. We also had tater tots, deviled eggs, and cheese-its. Dessert was fresh strawberries with whipped cream. After supper we played Yahtzee and had a lot of fun doing so.
Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends. Got to get to bed so I can get a few hours sleep before another day at the salt mines. Bye for now.
I believe Gramps is continuing to improve. He is certainly more alert these days than when he first returned to the nursing home from the hospital the second time. For the past five days, he has been much better and has gotten his dry sense of humor back. He is walking better and the occupational therapist, Cathy, has given me new hope that I will eventually be able to take him home with me. She also said that probably he will not be able to get rid of the Foley catheter ever.
I haven't yet begun to pack boxes but there is still time for that, since it will be sometime in August before we leave here. I am not sure exactly how I am going to get the packing done, but I know I will. I plan to begin getting boxes tomorrow afternoon. Finding the time to do everything is going to be challenging, but I am up to it, I'm sure (kind of) ha.
It is close to eleven p.m. and I am getting sleepy. The days are plenty warm, and tomorrow they begin getting shorter. I dread that, because I love the long days of sunlight, don't you? Today our neighbors came down for supper with me, and we had salad greens, with baked chicken strips, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, feta cheese, mandarin orange sections, and choice of dressings. We also had tater tots, deviled eggs, and cheese-its. Dessert was fresh strawberries with whipped cream. After supper we played Yahtzee and had a lot of fun doing so.
Well, this is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for today. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends. Got to get to bed so I can get a few hours sleep before another day at the salt mines. Bye for now.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Two Good Days in a Row
Hey, Y'all,
Yesterday and today Gramps stayed awake all day and alert! Rick told me today that Gramps was ready to get up this morning at breakfast, as well as yesterday. He ate breakfast both days in the dining room and then he ate lunch yesterday in his room. I had to leave before his tray was taken away, but he was up all afternoon. They took him for therapy so I know he was up. He told me later that he had not had a nap. Yesterday was Movie Day with my two sisters-in-law in Knoxville. They needed to go to the mall for awhile so I was late getting back to the nursing home, and Gramps had already had his supper.
He was not in his room when I got back, so I looked in the dining room and found him sitting alone, waiting for anyone to take him back to his room. He told me that he had a problem with his car (wheelchair) and couldn't get home. So I told him that I would take him home (his room). We decided to sit outside for awhile instead of going back to his room. It was lovely outside and some family of another resident was out there visiting and we had a great time talking and laughing together. We take our pleasures where we can find them, don't you know? The simple pleasures are the best. They had finished eating some KFC that they had brought (like a picnic) and the resident's room mate was out there with them.
By the time we went back inside it was close to 8 p.m. and I left then after taking Gramps back to his room. This morning he had an appointment with his surgeon who had performed the hip replacement surgery, and so I met him at the dr's office. Two very nice fellows delivered him via Jefferson County Ambulance service and then took him back to the nursing home after the appointment. The surgeon told me that the hip replacement looked perfect and had healed nicely (which I was glad to hear). He is a really nice fellow and I was glad to talk to him again. When I went to check out I told the office girls, "Well, as Randy Jackson would say, 'Hey, Dawg, check it out, check it out.'" Ha ha, they laughed too.
By the time we got back to the nursing home, it was almost time for lunch, and he chose to eat in his room. I sat with him as he ate, and read a book. I like to be with him when he eats so I can see how well he eats. He ate most all of it, and then Sam came to take him to therapy and when he returned Gramps, he told me that he did really well and was pleased that Gramps is so alert the last few days. He also cautioned me that he needs to do leg exercises over the weekend so he won't lose ground. It is quite difficult to get Gramps to do them, though. It is a problem.
This afternoon, a group of children came from a Christian day care and sang for the residents. We really enjoyed that along with the others who live there. We also saw some dogs that people bring for pet therapy, and Gramps got to pet them. He really does like dogs. I took Gramps outside for about two hours this afternoon, and then took him in and we watched television until supper came. I got him settled eating his supper and then I left around 6 p.m. I had not eaten anything since breakfast, so was ready to just about eat the paper off the walls. Ha.
I stopped at Lisa's Kitchen, a local restaurant, and had some supper, then came home to an empty house and I can hear the ticking of the clock on the wall, ticking away the time. Then, I signed the contract to a house in Texas, so we will be moving some time in the near future. I just realized that I need to prepare letters to send for change of address, so I guess I will get those together soon. I have been thinking about that for a short time. Then there will be boxes to get for packing up stuff. Excitement is building! Whoo hoo!
I told Gramps today that Carol and Daryl had found a house for us to buy in Texas, so he is okay with it. I look forward to getting to better know my great grands, and closer association with my grands. Just can't wait! I will terribly miss all my friends and family here, though. Life does move on, doesn't it?
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.
Yesterday and today Gramps stayed awake all day and alert! Rick told me today that Gramps was ready to get up this morning at breakfast, as well as yesterday. He ate breakfast both days in the dining room and then he ate lunch yesterday in his room. I had to leave before his tray was taken away, but he was up all afternoon. They took him for therapy so I know he was up. He told me later that he had not had a nap. Yesterday was Movie Day with my two sisters-in-law in Knoxville. They needed to go to the mall for awhile so I was late getting back to the nursing home, and Gramps had already had his supper.
He was not in his room when I got back, so I looked in the dining room and found him sitting alone, waiting for anyone to take him back to his room. He told me that he had a problem with his car (wheelchair) and couldn't get home. So I told him that I would take him home (his room). We decided to sit outside for awhile instead of going back to his room. It was lovely outside and some family of another resident was out there visiting and we had a great time talking and laughing together. We take our pleasures where we can find them, don't you know? The simple pleasures are the best. They had finished eating some KFC that they had brought (like a picnic) and the resident's room mate was out there with them.
By the time we went back inside it was close to 8 p.m. and I left then after taking Gramps back to his room. This morning he had an appointment with his surgeon who had performed the hip replacement surgery, and so I met him at the dr's office. Two very nice fellows delivered him via Jefferson County Ambulance service and then took him back to the nursing home after the appointment. The surgeon told me that the hip replacement looked perfect and had healed nicely (which I was glad to hear). He is a really nice fellow and I was glad to talk to him again. When I went to check out I told the office girls, "Well, as Randy Jackson would say, 'Hey, Dawg, check it out, check it out.'" Ha ha, they laughed too.
By the time we got back to the nursing home, it was almost time for lunch, and he chose to eat in his room. I sat with him as he ate, and read a book. I like to be with him when he eats so I can see how well he eats. He ate most all of it, and then Sam came to take him to therapy and when he returned Gramps, he told me that he did really well and was pleased that Gramps is so alert the last few days. He also cautioned me that he needs to do leg exercises over the weekend so he won't lose ground. It is quite difficult to get Gramps to do them, though. It is a problem.
This afternoon, a group of children came from a Christian day care and sang for the residents. We really enjoyed that along with the others who live there. We also saw some dogs that people bring for pet therapy, and Gramps got to pet them. He really does like dogs. I took Gramps outside for about two hours this afternoon, and then took him in and we watched television until supper came. I got him settled eating his supper and then I left around 6 p.m. I had not eaten anything since breakfast, so was ready to just about eat the paper off the walls. Ha.
I stopped at Lisa's Kitchen, a local restaurant, and had some supper, then came home to an empty house and I can hear the ticking of the clock on the wall, ticking away the time. Then, I signed the contract to a house in Texas, so we will be moving some time in the near future. I just realized that I need to prepare letters to send for change of address, so I guess I will get those together soon. I have been thinking about that for a short time. Then there will be boxes to get for packing up stuff. Excitement is building! Whoo hoo!
I told Gramps today that Carol and Daryl had found a house for us to buy in Texas, so he is okay with it. I look forward to getting to better know my great grands, and closer association with my grands. Just can't wait! I will terribly miss all my friends and family here, though. Life does move on, doesn't it?
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for now. Much love to each of you, my friends and family. Bye for now. More later.
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