I find it easier to do anecdotes as we try to keep everyone updated on Mom. We all are learning new things daily regarding this new facility so I will just try to share what I think is important…

Mom’s days are up and down. Quick synopsis of last few days:

• Friday: Generally good with travel to Spokane and transition to new place. When she had bowel movement in evening she fell apart and cried for quite awhile. Blood Sugar was 400+
• Saturday. Saturday morning was o.k., but afternoon and evening she was wailing/crying. (Note: Blood sugar was still high and she did have a chocolate milkshake. Callaway evidently could not transfer the xanax so she had a 24 period without this med. I don’t know if this would predicate some of the crying – or if xanax is the kind of medicine that stays in your system…
• Sunday: Great day, blood sugar was 160 – relatively normal. She was conversational, had humor,
• Monday – Good day, blood sugar 240 ish, A little quiet but no tears/crying.
• Tuesday – OK afternoon but a few tears before dinner. She then chose to finish dinner in room. Then 2.5 straight hours of wailing.

Meals – Mom can feed herself with help. When we are not there she sits at a table where an aide assists all of them with eating. When we are there we sit at the table by the slider to the garden. We are all welcome to eat there but they would prefer a days notice. There is a charge of 5-8 dollars per meal for guests. They seem to bring us a pop or snack if we ask for it.

I am going to ask the social worker about a care conference. Pat and I (and I am sure anybody who is here during a crying jag) would like to just talk to them about what they would recommend we do during one of these episodes. We tend to try to give comfort, try to understand if she seemingly is trying to communicate…but often we just sit and ignore some of it because she can be so inconsolable. I can’t believe how her voice holds up after wailing for hours.

Weight: Her initial weight was recorded as 87 but tonight it was 117. Obviously the chair scale was not correct on one of those times and the nurses aide thought she was more a 117 than an 87. They are bathed in a spa type tub with a lift twice a week and are weighed during this time. They will double check that.

I made an appointment for a shampoo and set at the beauty parlor a week from Thursday at 11 am. The beauty parlor is just down the hall.

Still are impressed by all staff. Patty, a CAN on light duty was reading to Mom when Pat visited yesterday. Tonight they brought her in asking if we would like her to stay with Ann when we left as Ann was crying, etc. As we left she was cradling her and letting her know that she was going to be o.k.

Janice – another CNA shared with us that she climbed into bed with her the other night to help comfort her and she finally stopped crying and went to sleep.

Staff shared that she went to Vespers on Sunday and went to Sittersize this morning and tried to participate with what exercise she could do…

In a conversation yesterday with a CAN who had been gone…we talked about Mom’s tender left shoulder. Within 3 hours we had a laminated sign posted above her bed reminding staff to use a belt because of the sore shoulder.

A speech therapist visited to assess Mom’s swallowing ability. The physical therapist did an initial review and will consult with the Doctor about maintenance PT. The OT measured Mom for a wheelchair yesterday and informed me that they provide the wheelchairs as part of the program…unless it is a special needs chair that Medicare or Family would provide.

We would still like to make her room more ‘homey.’ We have covered the bulletin board and brought a few things from home. Bill: When it’s convenient – if you could bring up one of her chairs, that would be great. Even if she can’t sit in it, guests can sit in it and be more comfortable while visiting. Maybe one of the Cerrillos or Frank could possibly pick it up if they were on the way up to see Mom because we know this is your crazy busy time.

Just some thoughts… I have created a blog but need a couple more days to get it going. I think it might be a better way to keep everyone updated about Mom…. And have a place where all info is located. It would include a link to the calendar and places for people to comment or actually write. Will keep you updated on that. God Bless all.

FYI: In wailing mode, Mom participated in our evening prayers of blessing and she wailed/prayed each of your names at some point.. i.e., Pat would say, God Bless Mike and Ann, and Mom with eyes closed tight and with a loud raspy voice, would repeat: “Mike and Ann.” She repeated all of our names…we just did the 10 kids and their spouses. The grandkids would have made it way too long. So just know that Mom was wail-praying for you tonight. (Maybe it’s the start of a new fad…)