Saturday, April 5, 2008
4 Eggs and Bacon
Mom made me go back and cook 2 more eggs. So for breakfast, Mom ate 4 scrambled eggs, toast w/strawberry jam, 3 pieces of bacon, glass of OJ and an Ensure. It is going to be a good day.
Hurry, Hurry .... Wait
We haven't heard back from Mom's blood work as of last night. With this being said, we have moved her Doctor's Appt to Wednesday at 2:00 PM. We are going to come up and back the same day right now unless they decide to do Chemo. We should know in front of the visit.
Wendy is coming today w/Matthew and also Richard the PT guy. We have fluids on tap this morning. We are moving stuff around in the house today to get everyone situated for when school starts back.
On tap for today is hopefully a bath, trying to get the house settled, grocery store, fluids, PT, trip to the Goodwill to drop some stuff off and work. Breakfast orders this morning are for scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and some juice.
Mom was in a little pain yesterday and is not feeling great today. Will see what the day brings with this.
Will try and post again tonight with a little more detail of the day... Got to go make breakfast for Mom.
Wendy is coming today w/Matthew and also Richard the PT guy. We have fluids on tap this morning. We are moving stuff around in the house today to get everyone situated for when school starts back.
On tap for today is hopefully a bath, trying to get the house settled, grocery store, fluids, PT, trip to the Goodwill to drop some stuff off and work. Breakfast orders this morning are for scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and some juice.
Mom was in a little pain yesterday and is not feeling great today. Will see what the day brings with this.
Will try and post again tonight with a little more detail of the day... Got to go make breakfast for Mom.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Lucy, Ethyl...
Our days have been running together here lately. I am usually either going to bed or getting up at 2:00 AM. Between work and Mom, I am very tired today.
Mom woke up about 7:15 AM. Got her meds, board, phone, breakfast and got her situated about 7:50 AM. I ran to work for a meeting. [I have a Lock Box implementation going live this week.] We start this, Stan calls and the nurse will be here between 9-9:30AM. I come home, move a meeting. The nurse gets here at 9:45 AM for Mom's blood work and to change her port access. [Thus the name for today. The ethyl chloride spray made this a lot easier. One quick stick and she was good to go.] Cookies and milk for Mom since she was good for the nurse. Call in late to a department meeting at 10:10 AM. During the meeting, call from Richard the wonderful PT guy that he will be here between 2-3:00 PM. Go ahead and start Mom's fluids so she will be well watered or close to it when Richard gets here. Back on the phone to the department meeting, followed by a short meeting w/my manager at 11:15 AM. Check on Mom. Answer a couple of emails. Mom moves to the couch about 12:30. Go fix lunch. Put something in the crock pot for dinner. Mom eats good and then takes a little nap. She is finished w/fluids by a little after 2:00 PM. PT with Richard from about 2:15-3:15 PM. Mom decides to move the big bed. [This is my bed.] for a while and then moves back to her room. We start moving again about 5:30 PM and eat what was in the crock pot, more meds and then Mom sits on the couch for a while. About 6:30 PM, Mom is out for the count and goes to bed.
Couple of general thanks that have been in my head today:
1. Thanks Clark for checking on Mom. I try and give you a call over the next couple of days.
2. Thanks Wanda and Donnie for getting ready for Anna from Minnesota. That is such a big help.
3. Thanks Gail/Wanda for everything you have done.
4. Thanks to Erin for giving me a place to hide most nights for about 15 minutes.
5. Rod - Sorry we missed you today. Will try and give you a call tomorrow.
Keep us in your thoughts Friday. As soon as I know something about the blood work results, and have talked w/Mom and Wendy, will give you an update.
Mom woke up about 7:15 AM. Got her meds, board, phone, breakfast and got her situated about 7:50 AM. I ran to work for a meeting. [I have a Lock Box implementation going live this week.] We start this, Stan calls and the nurse will be here between 9-9:30AM. I come home, move a meeting. The nurse gets here at 9:45 AM for Mom's blood work and to change her port access. [Thus the name for today. The ethyl chloride spray made this a lot easier. One quick stick and she was good to go.] Cookies and milk for Mom since she was good for the nurse. Call in late to a department meeting at 10:10 AM. During the meeting, call from Richard the wonderful PT guy that he will be here between 2-3:00 PM. Go ahead and start Mom's fluids so she will be well watered or close to it when Richard gets here. Back on the phone to the department meeting, followed by a short meeting w/my manager at 11:15 AM. Check on Mom. Answer a couple of emails. Mom moves to the couch about 12:30. Go fix lunch. Put something in the crock pot for dinner. Mom eats good and then takes a little nap. She is finished w/fluids by a little after 2:00 PM. PT with Richard from about 2:15-3:15 PM. Mom decides to move the big bed. [This is my bed.] for a while and then moves back to her room. We start moving again about 5:30 PM and eat what was in the crock pot, more meds and then Mom sits on the couch for a while. About 6:30 PM, Mom is out for the count and goes to bed.
Couple of general thanks that have been in my head today:
1. Thanks Clark for checking on Mom. I try and give you a call over the next couple of days.
2. Thanks Wanda and Donnie for getting ready for Anna from Minnesota. That is such a big help.
3. Thanks Gail/Wanda for everything you have done.
4. Thanks to Erin for giving me a place to hide most nights for about 15 minutes.
5. Rod - Sorry we missed you today. Will try and give you a call tomorrow.
Keep us in your thoughts Friday. As soon as I know something about the blood work results, and have talked w/Mom and Wendy, will give you an update.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Do the Rubber Duck
Bath time today. We are now the proud new owners of a hand held shower in the Master Bath. I bought one for the Kid's Bathroom but Mom wants to take showers in our bathroom. Go figure.
We had a bath, lunch and Mom is getting fluids.
I called this morning about the blood work today. Insurance would only approve the visit along with the change in Mom's port access which is scheduled Friday. I called and spoke w/our nurse and she moved the port access change up a day so we could get this on Thursday instead of Friday. I am crying on the phone to them about the blood work and how anxious I am and they were able to figure out a way to make this work. I can't speak highly enough of both of the agencies that are doing the home care this way. I talked w/George's office and they said to have the blood work faxed to them and they would call me. This blood work has a 24 hour turn around so it may be really late Friday before we have the results.
We had a bath, lunch and Mom is getting fluids.
I called this morning about the blood work today. Insurance would only approve the visit along with the change in Mom's port access which is scheduled Friday. I called and spoke w/our nurse and she moved the port access change up a day so we could get this on Thursday instead of Friday. I am crying on the phone to them about the blood work and how anxious I am and they were able to figure out a way to make this work. I can't speak highly enough of both of the agencies that are doing the home care this way. I talked w/George's office and they said to have the blood work faxed to them and they would call me. This blood work has a 24 hour turn around so it may be really late Friday before we have the results.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I Want Your Blood
Doctor's Update:
Mom weighs 170 lbs. The last weight they have for her is 172 and this is in early March. I was so disappointed at the number, but maybe it is okay. Mom was pretty much in the hospital until she came home with me so maybe we just made up whatever she lost there. If you saw her, she wasn't eating consistently during her stay. She feels heavier to me when I move her around since she has come to stay, so I am still going to call this a good thing.
We are waiting on some blood work to make some treatment decisions. I got a call late Monday that they needed more blood work. We had originally planned to do it in Cary, but moving Mom around today is very hard. I called Mom's nurse here, she said they could to it Wednesday (and come and see Mom) , if I had George write the order. I called back to George and explained the situation, and they were perfectly fine. I just didn't feel like I could move Mom safely from the car to the lab and back. Mom had a little PT today, but because of her energy level, we didn't push it.
Part of this is coming from Monday. Mom walked more Monday that she has in several days. Mom's core is weak, so sitting up requires some effort that we normally don't notice. Between the drive and the walking, Mom was pretty well spent yesterday afternoon and today. Mom had 3 liters of fluid in High Point before we left and that helped.
The blood work will drive if we are back in Greensboro on Monday. When Wendy and I have an update, we will let you know.
We had several things on our list for George.
1. Prescription for Ethyl Chloride Spray - Done
2. Change Mom's fluids to Daily (These are here. We actually had the additional supplies on our doorstep w/n a couple of hours of making it back to Fuquay. When Mom started this, I was trained on how to do this. We have a nurse come weekly and change Mom's access. This makes a major difference on how Mom feels. Plus I have enough if she needs more. I can call the Dr and have them write an order specifically for X amount of additional fluids for a particular day. If Mom is not drinking, I can check a couple of things (Blood Pressure and how she physically looks), call the Dr and have this approved pretty quickly.
3. Continue PT - Done
4. Handicap Placard - George filled out the paperwork. One of my friends Mom's works at the DMV in Lillington. He is going to pass this to her to do and bring back my way. Thanks David and David's Mom.
5. Resource for Mom - This is the one I am struggling on. I am looking for a social worker type person to talk w/Mom. As close as we are, there are some things she needs to be able to say to someone else. If you have any resources or contacts in this area, please drop me an email.
When we got home Monday, there was more food from Bonnie. [She dropped it off at my mother in law's place - Again, I am so grateful I live in a small town.] The first couple of days of the month are crazy at work. This was a big relief not having to worry about Mom having something wonderful to eat.
Thanks to Ron and Joni for the cards. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sending them to Mom. I worry that she is away from everyone here in Fuquay, but I just don't know a good solution. My door is always open to everyone and please feel free to call. If you get the urge to come this way, just give us a warning so we can better plan our day. [As wonderful Richard, the PT guy will say: "You only have so much energy across the day. You need to plan how you will use it."]
Mom weighs 170 lbs. The last weight they have for her is 172 and this is in early March. I was so disappointed at the number, but maybe it is okay. Mom was pretty much in the hospital until she came home with me so maybe we just made up whatever she lost there. If you saw her, she wasn't eating consistently during her stay. She feels heavier to me when I move her around since she has come to stay, so I am still going to call this a good thing.
We are waiting on some blood work to make some treatment decisions. I got a call late Monday that they needed more blood work. We had originally planned to do it in Cary, but moving Mom around today is very hard. I called Mom's nurse here, she said they could to it Wednesday (and come and see Mom) , if I had George write the order. I called back to George and explained the situation, and they were perfectly fine. I just didn't feel like I could move Mom safely from the car to the lab and back. Mom had a little PT today, but because of her energy level, we didn't push it.
Part of this is coming from Monday. Mom walked more Monday that she has in several days. Mom's core is weak, so sitting up requires some effort that we normally don't notice. Between the drive and the walking, Mom was pretty well spent yesterday afternoon and today. Mom had 3 liters of fluid in High Point before we left and that helped.
The blood work will drive if we are back in Greensboro on Monday. When Wendy and I have an update, we will let you know.
We had several things on our list for George.
1. Prescription for Ethyl Chloride Spray - Done
2. Change Mom's fluids to Daily (These are here. We actually had the additional supplies on our doorstep w/n a couple of hours of making it back to Fuquay. When Mom started this, I was trained on how to do this. We have a nurse come weekly and change Mom's access. This makes a major difference on how Mom feels. Plus I have enough if she needs more. I can call the Dr and have them write an order specifically for X amount of additional fluids for a particular day. If Mom is not drinking, I can check a couple of things (Blood Pressure and how she physically looks), call the Dr and have this approved pretty quickly.
3. Continue PT - Done
4. Handicap Placard - George filled out the paperwork. One of my friends Mom's works at the DMV in Lillington. He is going to pass this to her to do and bring back my way. Thanks David and David's Mom.
5. Resource for Mom - This is the one I am struggling on. I am looking for a social worker type person to talk w/Mom. As close as we are, there are some things she needs to be able to say to someone else. If you have any resources or contacts in this area, please drop me an email.
When we got home Monday, there was more food from Bonnie. [She dropped it off at my mother in law's place - Again, I am so grateful I live in a small town.] The first couple of days of the month are crazy at work. This was a big relief not having to worry about Mom having something wonderful to eat.
Thanks to Ron and Joni for the cards. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sending them to Mom. I worry that she is away from everyone here in Fuquay, but I just don't know a good solution. My door is always open to everyone and please feel free to call. If you get the urge to come this way, just give us a warning so we can better plan our day. [As wonderful Richard, the PT guy will say: "You only have so much energy across the day. You need to plan how you will use it."]
Monday, March 31, 2008
Back in Fuquay
Just a brief update. We are back in Fuquay tonight. Will try to put down some details in the AM. Long day, long wet drive, but we are snug in our beds tonight.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Gail and Kathy
Mom and I headed back to Greensboro today for the appointment with George in the morning. Zach got up and ran out for pancake stuff and then helped me make breakfast. Zach is well known for his skill with the waffle maker. I ran into the office a short while this morning, did a couple of things at the house and we got on the road about 11:30 AM.
We got back to Mom's about 2:30 PM. I unloaded the car and then Mom and I both took a nap until... Gail and Kathy came with supper. Yum, Yum.. Ham, Macaroni and Cheese (homemade), Apple Casserole, and Asparagus. They are in on my master plan to make Mom 5 lbs heavier for this Dr's visit. Mom and I had a nice visit with them.
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers this week.
We got back to Mom's about 2:30 PM. I unloaded the car and then Mom and I both took a nap until... Gail and Kathy came with supper. Yum, Yum.. Ham, Macaroni and Cheese (homemade), Apple Casserole, and Asparagus. They are in on my master plan to make Mom 5 lbs heavier for this Dr's visit. Mom and I had a nice visit with them.
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers this week.
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