Sacred Space

Have I told you guys about this website before? It's really great. I don't visit everyday but it sure helps when I do. It's run by Irish Jesuits. Enjoy!
http://www.sacredspace.ie/

She's so clever, we're so naïve

If you think taking away the boxes and suitcase will keep Mom from packing everything she owns, you're underestimating her resourcefulness. Everything packs up nicely in one laundry bag, one pillowcase, one zip-up sweater, and three knee-highs. I found things this way when I stopped by (unannounced) to drop off some mail. She cried, of course, when I told her Lavin is insisting she stay. She cried when she spoke of how she was being ignored by her family. (I wanted to cry at that too.) I found the globe over the Blessed Mother statue broken and in the trashcan. Mom thinks she gave the statue itself to Mrs. Leonard or Mrs. Lawrence for safe keeping. She wasn't sure, but she thinks she gave it to one of her friends. I took the big plant with me and she insisted I take the drawing of Dad. It only makes her feel worse. She doesn't like that they're giving her dope. At least when I left she was returning things to her empty drawers.

Sorry to bring a cloud into your weekend visits to La-La land. I know y'all hate when I report this stuff. Why can't Lavin put her on some anti-depressant?

I stopped by Yarmouth to make sure T. S. Hanna hadn't invaded (she hadn't), and to pick tomatoes. I'll be ripping the tomato plants out soon, since they are mostly dying from lack of water or rotting on the vine, and attracting too many flies, etc. Somebody please come take the peppers. That plant still is healthy and full.

Time for a potent cocktail.

Sorry, busy day yesterday. But good news all around :-) (at least yesterday - who knows what today is like)

So....I called mom at 7:40 to tell her that I was the one taking her to the doctor and that I would be there around 8:30 after I dropped the kids off at school. When I arrived, she wasn't outside (surprising) so I went in and she wasn't in the main area (interesting). I went up to her room to find that 50 minutes is the exact amount of time one needs to pack up one's entire room! The good news is that I was able to tell her that she didn't need to pack for a doctor's appt and that she didn't need to pack, this is where she lives now. She had a little breakdown saying that she really thought that she was at the beach for a few weeks. She wasn't angry, just dejected. But by the time we unpacked (waaaaaayyyyy to many clothes!!!!! I will start to weed them out a few at a time - she's got too many choices and that's confusing) she was happy with the way the room looked nice and tidy. While she was in the bathroom, I managed to throw away the "trash" (all of the moving boxes which she evidently got out of the dumpster, a few bags, the tomatoes Megan brought three weeks ago which have been in the freezer and a bunch of shoe laces) Later I asked if she wanted me to take the suitcase since it was cluttering up her closet. She asked if I needed it and I told her that Emma didn't have one and would love it. She told me that I could take it (I'm sure the next time she tries to move, she is going to be cursing the person who STOLE if from her, but at least it will not be a constant indicator that this is a temporary living situation)

The doctor's appt was good. He really believes that the fainting is caused by her low blood pressure and not a heart problem. He told her that she could either take another pill (which she didn't) or she could take charge of the situation herself by taking ALL of the meds he prescribes, (including the sleeping aid which she often refuses) eating well and staying active (but be very mindful of feeling week of woozy, in which case she should sit down and rest, then get up slowly). The really great news is that Mom gained 7 lbs! He was pleased and so was she! He told her that she needs to remain at BGT as it was the best place for her.

Back at BGT everyone that we saw asked how she was and told her how truly happy they were that she was back. This included residents and staff. When I left, she was eating a pb&j, reading the paper and getting ready to go to mass at noon. They may have questioned her walking without supervision because it could become a problem if she is off premises and faints. I don't know that they said she can't, but I am sure that they are not happy with the idea of her walking unaccompanied. Maybe we should line up a nun to come get her ;-).

TAFN - Love, Levelle

BTW I would love a board meeting! We really should also talk more about the house and what we are going to do with it.

I'm sure Levelle will post later....

...but good news - she got all boxes and Mom's suitcase out of the building today. So no more "ready to go"

Sounds like maybe Mom was done with that anyway :(

If Mom keeps talking about being at the beach, would someone please put her in their car and rive her around for awhile. Arrive back at BG and say "We're home!"

I bet it would work.

I think we need a board meeting, just to support the in-town folks. My treat. What's a good day for you all?

=Lel

Well, where should I begin?

How about Hurricane Levelle? How about getting a real taste of what's a coming down the road?How about nominating Quinn for early beatification? Quinn had a few more hours with Mom than I today but I'm sure she's is way too tuckered out to blog. My apologizes in advance if I'm not exactly on point with relaying her part of today's tale. So here we go...
Quinn went to GBMC around 2pm or so hoping to expedite Mom's discharge. Upon entering Mom's ward she could immediately tell that there was a commotion going on down the far end and had a bad feeling about it's cause. Well apparently, Mom had given the nurses about all they could handle since waking this morning. Mom wouldn't stay in her bed, wouldn't stay in her room, wouldn't stay out of other patients rooms and in a nut shell (sorry, bad word choice), was being extremely disruptive. So much so that at one point, Mom had to be put in a restraining chair at the nurses station. The nurses were treating Mom with the utmost patience but had to do what had to be done. After getting Mom somewhat calmed and back to her room, Quinn literally had to block the doorway to prevent Mom's wandering off. There was much more turbulence before the discharge papers finally came though. Then Mom metamorphosed into into the sweat elderly lady that lies beneath and spent a half hour saying good bye to or hugging everyone and reading every wall hanging between her room and the hospital exit.
I went straight to BG after work figuring that if Mom wasn't back yet, I'd just go on to GBMC. Learning that she wasn't, I headed for the parking lot just in time to see Quinn pulling up with her. It didn't take long for me to realize that Mom was in about the worst mental state that I had ever seen her. After Quinn & I got her back to Rm 303 with difficulty, I went back to my truck to get the new TV remote and a paper that I really needed Mom to sign. En route, my humorous sister sends me a text to "Run while you can". Back in the room, I encouraged Quinn to heed her own advice and sent her packing... she deserved it.
I tell you, I was emotionally drained when I left an hour and a half later. It was like being in the eye-wall of a hurricane. Mom couldn't stay still for 60 seconds. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she was on 'speed' instead of the calming drug Ativan which she got intravenously just before leaving GBMC. The good news is that she fixed and ate a four course 'meal' (PB&J sandwich, raisin bread, part of a fruit tart & a Burger cookie). The bad is that the ultra-simple TV remote will probably not be simple enough (sorry Lel, mighty nice thought though). Also, I could not obtain her signature as desired. Though I was repeating her name as was needed on the document, she began to sign Dad's name, then barely legibly signed it 'Mary Gentry' (Stuart, we gotta talk bro').
Sorry for the downer report. But hey, we will have better ones down the road. Go gently.
Love, MGAF Danny

Shhhhh! Don't mention the surprise homecoming party

BTW, Michael, ETOH, You opened your mouth, years ago and again months ago, so it's time to follow through. You could find a place big enough for the three of you and get Mom out of that bad environment to boot. She was so happy talking about your homecoming!
ATSG... She got to room about 1am and by then, was glad to be in a comfortable, warm bed.
I spoke with her nurse this a.m. She had an uneventful night, was having an echocardiogram at the time and should be d/c'd to home (BG) this afternoon.
One more BTW. She related several times that she just wanted to get "home", meaning BG. At one point she said "If I'm so lucky as to ever get back to... ( long pause as she tried to think, I was about to fill in "Yarmouth". Luckily I didn't get it out before she finished) "what's it called Gardens? I want to move a couple of tables out. I have too many." She is definitely starting to think of it as home. In my humble and uneducated on Alzheimers opinion, I think we should avoid bringing up Yarmouth. If she brings it up of course we can talk openly about it. It was just interesting that she made several references to home and was talking about BG.
TTFN. Go gently, Q

Fresh Thread

Anyone seen my Mom lately? I wonder how she is doing.

It has been three weeks since I was there. Does that make me a bad person?

7:00 UPDATE: Mom went to the hospital again, another fainting incident. Per Lel she was taken to GBMC where Megan and Levelle are with her. She may have a cardiac monitoring test. Stay tuned.