Slow Snowy Saturday

Yeah, more snow. Not too much though. I did see them taking snow from the parking lot with a dump truck. Maybe getting ready for the next big one.

Nothing too exciting to report. She had a good day. Slept off and on, but when awake, she was very alert. I showed her the clothes I went and got Jonah & Paige, she approved with a smile! Her secretions were less thick today, which is good. They are doing some stool cultures to check for blood because of her hemoglobin. She would be glad I shared that one with ya. She didn't fight about getting up this evening. They had stopped her blood sugar checks and started them up again, not sure why, will find out about that though.

I tried to do the therapy with her today. I showed her a small ball and her comb. I asked her to look at each one and she did. I ask her which one was used on hair. She looked right at me and gave me a big eye roll. I took her hand and showed her the comb anyways and told her about it even though I think she knew and thought I was the stupid one (not that she is). Maybe tomorrow I will do the yes/no questions with her. I tried to get her to do some of the swallowing exercises today like sticking her tongue out and smiling and puckering. They help strengthen the muscles. She didn't cooperate though. I do believe I saw her later out of the corner of my eye sticking her tongue out. I didn't let her know I saw her.


I had the chicken today, it was good. They had a salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries and apples in a vinaigrette, that was good too. For dessert there were many kinds of mini cheesecakes. I couldn't decide which to take and the girl told me they were free take one of each, so I did. Didn't want to hurt her feelings or anything. I snacked on them throughout the day. I didn't used to eat anything in front of Mom, but I sometimes do now. I tell her she will be able to eat these good things again after she relearns her swallowing and should do her exercises. I don't know if that is being mean or not because she honestly doesn't seem that interested in eating.

I will put up a few more pics, they will be of her room and her view out the window to the courtyard.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org

Snow Again

Woke up this morning to more snow and of course I was going to go to Wal-Mart, but I did go! It has snowed all day, but nothing has really stuck, it has all pretty much melted when it hits ground.

When I got to the hospital this morning, ma was sleeping. Woke up and gave me a smile though. I went down and ate at the cafeteria for their holiday dinner and it was free! Even better! I chose the manicotti and garlic bread and mashed potatoes. Some combination huh? Ate a whole bunch of fresh fruit too. I was told that they were doing it again tomorrow, but not sure. If so, I will have the cranberry stuffed chicken.

OK, you want to hear about Mom and not what I eat right? Good day overall. I was told she was awake all morning. Good vitals all day. A substitute speech therapist came in to work with her and I got to watch. She told me some things that I can do to help her. Her physical therapist said she did well today and she was resisting a bit which he says is good. He is still working on getting her an order to go down to the "gym".

She got mad because she didn't want to get up again tonight and I told her she had to.
It's so hard because it is like I am the mom now and she is the child. She was mad enough that she wouldn't even smile at her cardio boyfriend and he noticed! The hematologist said her hemoglobin was a bit better today.

I had a talk with her about the situation we are in together and told her how it was!! She turned her head away from me and I turned mine from her for a bit. When I looked at her next, she winked at me. Maybe she thought about it or she forgot, wish I knew what was going on in her brain.

I watched TV with my 2 house mates this evening. It is nice that we all like each other and get along. We do alot of talking too. Debbie is here for her 22 year old son who was in a car crash and is paralyzed. They are from around St. Louis. Mike is here for his wife. I know he said she has had problems with her lungs for along time. He is from Morris I believe, about an hour away I think.

I am going to post a few pics of Mom's room tonight for you, I think they will end up at the beginning because I am not sure how to get them where I want.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org

Yesterday--Yuck Today--Yay

Like the picture? It is a self portrait. I am actually surprised she let me take it.

Yesterday was stressful and blah for me. When I got to the hospital I didn't think Mom looked right. She was having really labored breathing too. I had to go down to the social workers office to work on some insurance things which are absolutely a nightmare. I don't know if I could do that for a living. There was a scare in the morning, they thought she might be having another stroke, but she was not. She had alot of mucus yesterday and alot of plugs. So she got a warmer for her aerosol and that has seemed to help break things up.

The hematologist is worried about her hemoglobin. He says it is too low and if it doesn't improve he wants to do a bone marrow biopsy. I am not too sure about that one. I asked him today what her numbers were and what he wanted them to be. He said yesterday it was 9.1 and today it was 8.8 and for her it should be around 11 because she is sick, normally a 12. He is going to keep an eye on it over the weekend.

By the way, here is what she has with her trachea.......TRACHEOMALACIA

The gastro doc checked her yesterday. Here is what they are working on now. She can't get moved anywhere while she has a NG tube. They don't really want to put a feeding tube back in her stomach while she still has a wound from the first tube. So...she needs to be able to eat. They did a swallow test on her last evening The speech therapist had to really coax her to get her to swallow, but she did it. The best news is that it went down the right way. They use blue applesauce and after swallowing in about 10 minutes they suction her to see if any went into her lungs and she passed and didn't have any for 24 hours. So now they are working on her swallowing, doing exercises with her.

I spoke up about she has not been out of her room yet like promised. John the Physical Therapist is going to work on that tomorrow and he will, he is good.

Today was a much better day. She was very awake and alert and smiley all day. Love to talk to her and see what kind of expressions I get. She really participates. She didn't want to get up tonight in her chair. She made that very clear by fighting her aide. I gave in and told them they didn't have to get her up. But when she started to push away the RT's hand because she didn't want to get suctioned, I did hold her hand down and make her mad. I reminded her she really has to have that done so she can breather and I got the eye roll. She was smiling the whole time I was putting her lotion on also. Must of felt good.

There is one thing she did that I am just amazed at. An aide was in and put a new bracelet on her. She picked up the papers the aide had laid on the bed. So I gave her a paper off the bulliten board and told her she could hold that. (she loves holding things) It was her swallowing exercises instructions and she held them up and I swear read them. I watched her eyes go back and forth. Then when she was done I told her there was more on the back. She laid the paper down, turned it over, picked it back up and seemed to read it and then gave it to me. They are always telling me how she won't follow commands, but they never seem to focus on what she does do. That bothers me.

Now, I need some help. She will be going to a nursing home when she leaves here. They are trying to get the insurqnce company to approve her coming to Decatur. I need honest answers about what snyone knows or has experienced at any of the nursing homes in Decatur and I want honest answers!!!! Oh there is one on the list for Sullivan rehab, not the Mason one. But Mason Point is on the list too. OK so maybe the surrounding areas too. The goal is to get her strong enough to attend a special stroke rehab program and there is a wonderful one in Springfield and then for her to be able to come home and live. Please, Please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh she got to hear Luca on the phone this evening and it was the biggest smile and twinkle in her eyes I have seen for quite awhile. It was good for her, another reason to get her closer to home.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitgorwardhouse.org

That worked!!!

I see the picture worked. I wasn't finished yet though.

Yes, that is the lovely Prince and Princess at Medieval Times.

Everyone be sure to check out the lovely pic of the #1 follower......Miss Gail. Reminds me I need my hair cut. Also reminds me when I do my Mom's hair I always sing her Beauty School Dropout and she rolls her eyes at me. Maybe because I only know 2 lines of words. Ha!

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com

Good day? Bad Day? Not Sure

I know I am really far behind. Just been feeling really mentally stressed out and had a headache for many days so I have just been taking it easy.

I will try to make this easy and uncomplicated. I am very tired, but wanted to update.
They tried to plug her trach last Friday and it didn't go so well. So here is the story....they do not think at this time she will be able to be plugged. Has something to do with her stroke. Has a big name I will tell later. So from the respiratory side they can not do anything else for her.

Ok, so we start talking where to go from here.....

Find out today that she can't go on somewhere with the NG tube in her nose, but she does not have to be at a facility for her vent. Basically I have 3 options because now she has to be somewhere they will take a trach with aerosol. Dietary is supposed to come talk to me tomorrow and her speech therapist is going to start working with her tomorrow on swallowing. I thought we might be out of here this week and now I guess not.

Another worry for me is I was extended another week here at the house on Sunday. Now they have someone wanting a room and basically I am the one to have to go. I think I should still get my week and I know I don't want to go home and leave Mom here, but I might not have a choice. That is part of my stress right now.

I am going to try to post a pic and if it works, I will have one of Mom for you tomorrow.