The Mom Report

Better. She's better. I called this morning and her 'sitter' put her on the phone and she was not nearly as confused as she has been. She was actually pretty coherent. She did apologize for not being able to send me email and said that as soon as she got back to her apartment, that is what she would do first. She also sounded like she was drowning in her own phlegm. She said they woke her up at 3 a.m. to make her cough "I did it just so they would leave me alone." But, at least she can now cough.

She (and the sitter) both told me that this morning the doctor said he was hopeful that she could go back to 'the home' tomorrow. I think this is very encouraging. They all know her and love her to bits there and will make sure she is comfortable and healing properly. Plus they know that they will have to answer to me. Mom told me a while back that around 'the home', I am an effective weapon. "All I have to do is tell them that if they don't do what I want, I'll tell you about it. That straightens them right out."

So things are better... Much better. Whew.

The Mom Report

Better. She's better. I called this morning and her 'sitter' put her on the phone and she was not nearly as confused as she has been. She was actually pretty coherent. She did apologize for not being able to send me email and said that as soon as she got back to her apartment, that is what she would do first. She also sounded like she was drowning in her own phlegm. She said they woke her up at 3 a.m. to make her cough "I did it just so they would leave me alone." But, at least she can now cough.

She (and the sitter) both told me that this morning the doctor said he was hopeful that she could go back to 'the home' tomorrow. I think this is very encouraging. They all know her and love her to bits there and will make sure she is comfortable and healing properly. Plus they know that they will have to answer to me. Mom told me a while back that around 'the home', I am an effective weapon. "All I have to do is tell them that if they don't do what I want, I'll tell you about it. That straightens them right out."

So things are better... Much better. Whew.

Mom and other stuff

I just got a note from Polly confirming that Mom will get busted outta there tomorrow. And she will get to go back to her own room instead of the nursing wing. Her own room is important because that's where her TiVo is. If she can watch what she wants instead of what's on, she'll be happier and likely more engaged.

Polly did say that during the night, Mom got pissed about something and jerked the rings off her fingers and flung them across the room. I so cannot imagine my mother doing something like that. But, anyway, when Polly got there this morning her rings were back on her fingers and now taped down. Polly asked her if she wanted her to take the tape off and Mom said no. ??? What.ever.

But, whatever pain stuff they have her on now appears to be doing the work. She has no more catheter and is propped to a sitting position. And Polly is getting everything ready for leaving the hospital tomorrow. My brother and his wife or just his wife - I'm not real clear on this one - plans to be there this weekend.

And I contacted the woman who pays Mom's bills and asked her to either fax me Polly's invoice so I can check it or make sure she has billed for all the time she's devoted to Mom this week. I can never pay her for her heart but by derned I can make sure she gets paid for her time!

I drove the car to work today. The cost of bus riding went up so much that I did not buy a monthly pass this month. I intend to still take the bus but I might drive now and again. Maybe. I'm testing today but I also need to go shopping after work for eyes and noses. There are three excellent craft/fabric stores within 5 miles of where I am sitting right now.

When I made my first teddy bear this weekend, I ran up to the fabric store closest to me which happens to be the outlet store of a local chain. They had the perfect eye/nose solution. One card, $1, 2 wiggly eyes and a nose all with shanks for sewing. I have since learned for several days of serious web surfing that my accidental find is really quite rare. It is difficult to find these bits with shanks for starters and nowhere have I found the 2 wiggly eyes and a nose on one card combo. And noses with shanks - I'm betting you did not know this - are really really hard to come by.

I bought all they had at my store so today I am going to scope out other options. And, one of the stores close by is a store in the same chain as my outlet. What I might find is that I got the best after all and I need to go back to my outlet and tell them to order me up a bunch.

So that's my after work chore today. Eyes and noses. And one needs a car for this - at least in these parts.

Mom and other stuff

I just got a note from Polly confirming that Mom will get busted outta there tomorrow. And she will get to go back to her own room instead of the nursing wing. Her own room is important because that's where her TiVo is. If she can watch what she wants instead of what's on, she'll be happier and likely more engaged.

Polly did say that during the night, Mom got pissed about something and jerked the rings off her fingers and flung them across the room. I so cannot imagine my mother doing something like that. But, anyway, when Polly got there this morning her rings were back on her fingers and now taped down. Polly asked her if she wanted her to take the tape off and Mom said no. ??? What.ever.

But, whatever pain stuff they have her on now appears to be doing the work. She has no more catheter and is propped to a sitting position. And Polly is getting everything ready for leaving the hospital tomorrow. My brother and his wife or just his wife - I'm not real clear on this one - plans to be there this weekend.

And I contacted the woman who pays Mom's bills and asked her to either fax me Polly's invoice so I can check it or make sure she has billed for all the time she's devoted to Mom this week. I can never pay her for her heart but by derned I can make sure she gets paid for her time!

I drove the car to work today. The cost of bus riding went up so much that I did not buy a monthly pass this month. I intend to still take the bus but I might drive now and again. Maybe. I'm testing today but I also need to go shopping after work for eyes and noses. There are three excellent craft/fabric stores within 5 miles of where I am sitting right now.

When I made my first teddy bear this weekend, I ran up to the fabric store closest to me which happens to be the outlet store of a local chain. They had the perfect eye/nose solution. One card, $1, 2 wiggly eyes and a nose all with shanks for sewing. I have since learned for several days of serious web surfing that my accidental find is really quite rare. It is difficult to find these bits with shanks for starters and nowhere have I found the 2 wiggly eyes and a nose on one card combo. And noses with shanks - I'm betting you did not know this - are really really hard to come by.

I bought all they had at my store so today I am going to scope out other options. And, one of the stores close by is a store in the same chain as my outlet. What I might find is that I got the best after all and I need to go back to my outlet and tell them to order me up a bunch.

So that's my after work chore today. Eyes and noses. And one needs a car for this - at least in these parts.

I wonder...

My mother is generally nice and sweet and polite to a fault. She can dish with the best but generally feels guilty when she makes the occasional caustic remark. So when she starts throwing things and whining and crying and yelling and being generally disagreeable, everyone knows there is something drastically wrong.

For the most part I am whiny and mean and hateful and caustic and often disagreeable and never afraid to show it all and that's on a good day.

So... How is everyone going to know when something is drastically wrong with me? Will my already snarky personality turn deadly? I mean how much more unpleasant can I get?

I wonder...

I wonder...

My mother is generally nice and sweet and polite to a fault. She can dish with the best but generally feels guilty when she makes the occasional caustic remark. So when she starts throwing things and whining and crying and yelling and being generally disagreeable, everyone knows there is something drastically wrong.

For the most part I am whiny and mean and hateful and caustic and often disagreeable and never afraid to show it all and that's on a good day.

So... How is everyone going to know when something is drastically wrong with me? Will my already snarky personality turn deadly? I mean how much more unpleasant can I get?

I wonder...

Now... THIS is a picture

I'll put it behind the cut because it's kind of big but it is worth a click. It's from Jake Dobkin's website.
( There are way more than 1,000 words here... )

Now... THIS is a picture

I'll put it behind the cut because it's kind of big but it is worth a click. It's from Jake Dobkin's website.
( There are way more than 1,000 words here... )