Nov. 229, 2010

Girls both made it home. Lita took Trina to Saginaw for her 5 o'clock flight, then went on to Grand Rapids. They decorated Bill's room for Christmas and gave us our Christmas gifts 'cause Trina won't have any time off at Christmas. Yesterday I went over about 6 p.m. and watched a couple TV shows with him.
Daniel came by for a few minutes tonight after school and put the stormwindow in the garage door. Checked my front tires and said they were a little low, but since I'm going to get new tires and my car aligned on Thursday, didn't go get them filled. Paid off one credit card, and now have to get the tires, and glasses for me. Never stops, does it?
Finally found a little food chopper that gets rid of the chunks in the cat food Tilly likes. Think I'm throwing away less cat food now. She used to lick all the gravy and other liquid, then leave the chunks of fish (or whatever). Now, she eats just about all of it.
Guess that's all the exciting news for today. Have a care plan meeting Wed., so might learn something new then.

Thanksgiving 2010

The girls and I picked Bill up from the care facility and we all went to JJ Jamoke's for a turkey dinner. I'll probably be able to have three or four meals (sandwiches, at least) out of the food leftover, which they let us take home. It's been a dreary, windy day, but the food helped warm us up. The girls are trying to find a way so Bill can hear the TV without turning it so high. The head phones he was using here at home are full of static when hooked up over there. We'll see what they come up with. Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!

Nov. 23, 2010

Picked Trina up from the airport Sun. afternoon. Time sure flies by when she is around. Today she bought a little tree and a couple other trinkets to decorate his room. Taking in some more family photos tomorrow. He seems to be doing pretty well, but he sure is giving the activities lady a challange. He doesn't want to do anything she suggests.
She (Trina) got a massage this morning and got me a pedi/mani cure. Boy, did my feet feel good afterward. This afternoon she showed me how to make an album on Facebook. Hope I can remember it next time I try.
After I dropped her at the bed and breakfast tonight (about 7:20), I went up to the facility. Closing time is 8, but I had talked to the on-duty nurse and he said he wouldn't kick me out if I wanted to stay a bit later, so I went in and watched NCIS with Bill. Stopped off on the way over to buy some caramel corn, so it was even better than a movie and pop corn. :-)
Going to the B & B for breakfast in the morning. They're pretty fancy cooks, so should be good.

Nov. 18, 2010

Only saw Bill for about five minutes yesterday. Ran in long enough to leave some 3-ply Kleenes (finally) and a small pkg. of Whoppers. Ran into Saginaw with Daniel to check out a couple Goodwill shops. Had a few extra minutes, so stopped at Covenant and picked up the bag of clothes they forgot to send with him.
Today they had Thanksgiving Dinner for the second floor at the Facility. I hadn't planned to go, but changed my mind and went up. He had refused to go to the dining room--was too tired and wanted to sleep. When I walked in I told him he had to go eat with me, but he whined a little and said he didn't even want to eat. An aide and I went down and got meals for both of us. For someone who wasn't hungry, and wanted to sleep, he sure cleaned up pretty well. We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce (the good stuff--all ground up), delicious rolls, green bean casserole and pie. I chose apple for both of us. Never have figured out whether he likes that or pumpkin better. I DO know that peach is usually his favorite. Probably because it is so seldom available. :-) I had heard someone mention chocolate cream, but that was all gone by the time I got there.
They worked him for two hours this morning in rehab. I'm going to check and see what the possibility is of shorter sessions. Gosh, for months he hasn't stayed awake, let alone moved for two hours at a time.
Rose (used to come stay with Bill) is coming over tomorrow to clean up the bathrooms and kitchen. Folks will just have to ignore the rest of the place. Did get all the bills paid tonight--on time I think (and hope). Now, it's time for B.T. and Tilly. Poor Buster, I haven't walked him for two days. Will try to fit that in tomorrow.

Bill in Caro

For those of you who aren't on Facebook, here is what Trina posted there (I called her a brat because she posted it before I got to posting my blog.): Mom got Dad settled he is at Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, 1285 Cleaver Rd., Caro, MI 48723. Their webpage http://www.tcmcf.org/home.hhtml under contact us has a way you can send email to the residents. Dad isn't sure if he wants a phone...they supply tv/vcr/dvd player and basic cable so that is cool mjakes it easier for us. Hospital forgot his clothes in the closet so mom will go back to get them later.
So, that's where we are at this point. The nice thing is that I can stop in for just a few minutes when I'm out around town if I want. The bad thing is he's not home. Now, it's up to him. I told him if he gets so he can walk to the bathroom and the kitchen, I'll bring him back home....one step at a time, I keep telling myself.

Update on Bill

He's been seen by the Dr. from Caro, a doctor from the hospital, a cardiologist, and a neurologist. I don't think there were any others, but I'm not sure. The social worker is in the process of finding a place where he can go for rehab. If rehab doesn't help him improve a LOT, we will be looking for a long-term care facility. He did walk down the hall this afternoon, about as far as it would be from his lift chair to the front door. I was quite surprised, because he hasn't been on his feet since Monday afternoon. He's cooperative and nice to everyone who is working with him. He's also happy that he has his dentures and can eat most anything he wants. I think he has pneumonia, the doctor from Caro thinks he has Parkinson's (I'm fairly certain that's not so.) They've ruled out heart problems. The brain has shrunk, and they are going to do some more checking on that. Haven't seemed to be able to get anyone interested in finding out why he's lost feeling in his legs and can't get a message from his brain to his feet. Guess I'll have to try harder tomorrow. I'm doing pretty good. Getting more sleep at night to make up for losing my afternoon naps. :-) Trina is coming home for Thanksgiving week. She has been talking to the hospital every day and to some of the doctors, so I won't be able to get away with anything.