I have to report -- and am happy to report -- some good about yesterday with my lil mommy and with my dad. Mom started the day with a quiet conversation with me in the early morning that was reflective, perceptive, pretty well on point and only a tiny bit off here and there. #thankyouJesus A word to the wise: be careful what you say and express nonverbally around folks who are not all the way coherent or who are dealing with some confused mentation. They pick up more than you know or realize, even in a confused state, particularly if folks are being dismissive of them or such. Mom indicated that concern about others who were listening to her on Tuesday. She was able to speak to a few of the things that had concerned Dad and me -- especially Dad during the late afternoon shift on Tuesday, which I was then able to share with him while I got ready for work an hour later. I think it helped him. Mom also did well in therapy Wednesday (walked a few steps at the parallel bars and some other things); was upbeat, bright and playful in conversation and facial expression, including some classic Ree-isms, thereby giving hope and uplift to my dad. He was practically manic about how much better things had been when I got to the facility after work. What a relief it must have been to him that his sweet baby is still very much in there, just a little clouded. His concern level was so apparently eased that Moms several references (starting in the AM with Aunt Georgie and through the early evening with us) about having taken a quick trip to Florida yesterday was something he could handle. She even asked me if Id flown there yesterday too. Wonder where that was coming from...? She/our family havent been to Florida for MANY years -- not since she and I treated ourselves to a trip to Disney World in the late 80s.... Perhaps shed had a sunny day in other ways, and felt warm and good. Dad said Mom also ate pretty well, and that she had sat up in bed awake for 2 1/2 hours. Aunt Georgie also reported that Mom had sat in the wheelchair for a few hours in the afternoon. All good. Im coming in tomorrow afternoon and Friday afternoon to learn from the therapist how to safely transfer Mom from bed to chair and back. I also learned something from STNA Ciera tonight about Mom responding well to clear, firm instructions about what she needed to do to help us move her. Were also having a multidisciplinary care conference on Friday afternoon, and I understand from the social worker yesterday afternoon that insurance may cover her here until Dec. 1. Dad may be anxious to get her home though...not sure how that will work out. Definitely want/need to keep Joy Bledsoe Bivens updated on decisions about her continued care here or at home... Ill know more after Friday afternoons care conference. I have to tell you all this cute little story that demonstrates some of the humor in confusion. While I was typing away, I noticed that Mom was rubbing her knee over and over. Thinking she might be becoming uncomfortable, I adjusted her bed, and then had her roll to her other side for a while. She mentioned something about little fishes in her thigh that were in a fish bag of some sort. She asked me what I knew about that. I had a hard time suppressing a smile and a bemused chuckle. Fish bag -- too cute! She asked me if her mother had had a fish bag. (They both have/had bone-on-bone knees. Is this related to the fish bag shes referring to?) I told her that I didnt know, that Grandma may have had different fishes. That seemed to satisfy her. Beloved STNA Terry just poked her head in to check on Mom and me. I so appreciate that. She said she had done so earlier when she came on shift, but she supposed Id been in the bathroom. (True.) The other very good thing that happened today was that Dad has his checkup with their oncologist. His Multiple Myeloma numbers are still stable, so hes still on vacation from chemo. Thats very good news. #thankyouFather! Well, thats the news from this part of the world. Heidi Lynn Yoakum reporting for WFAM News -- over and out. Have a good night. :-)
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:04:22 +0000
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