Wonderful Weekend

Mom has been home 7 days today. It was a week of adjustment, sleeping at home in her new room o the first level. Our old family room if anyone remembers from the olden days with the orange walls and the shag rug carpeting has changed over the years, and now serves well as mom's new bedroom, therapy room, etc. Dan, John Wolfe and Kris remodeled this bathroom to include a shower, which Lisa rigged up a shower curtain for. She has a hospital style bed to help with elevating her legs, her new lightweight wheel chair is easy to maneuver and mom is getting more confidence in taking steps with us supporting her on the side. She stepped over to the shower this morning with more strength than I have previously seen. WOW! It's great to see improvement.

Our helpful and caring Delfina has stepped up to the plate with all the daily tasks....showering, cooking for mom, and administering her meds. The nurse and physical therapist are in place. Sue and James. We also plan to employ Dorothy for assistance with showers and Polish language. We hope to make Delfina as comfortable as possible and make sure she is happy with us, as we don't want to lose her. she is upbeat, encouraging mom and truly caring. This is a mice change from all the commotion at Rest Haven.

Lisa is cooking dinner at her house tonight, and will come to get 'the girls' between 3 -4 o'clock. Danny is home from college this weekend and it is also Justin's birthday (yesterday).

If anyone plans to visit, please call Lisa or Karla in advance. We will try to ward off schedule conflicts with therapies, other visitors, etc. Thanks for all the support! Mom is pretty happy being home, but looking forward to getting aroumnd on her own. She is not patient with herself...but things are going well.

Weekend summary

Saturday family meeting at Rest haven with potential caretakers and mom, Kris, Lisa, Karla, MIke, John , Kelly. Both nice polish women, one younger, experienced with stroke victims, and has good command of english. have to see if she is willing to take the job, mom thought both women were nice. Either one would live with mom at her house until we find a suitable ranch style town house or condo . Dan, Kris, Stephen working on the minor remodel of the bathroom. John Wolfe will be here (with Susi of course) to assist in carpentry, etc. this week. Sara also coming in. By this time next week we sill be home sweet home. Discharge date 9/15, don't know if there is any leeway for readiness. We are getting house re=carpeted asap. It will be a tough week, but we are all so thrilled that things are going well for mom lately...we all have positive feelings about her coming home, especially mom! I brought carpet samples over to mom today, carpet man measured also today. A friend of Mike's dad has a business and will try to get this done asap. We have gotten a lot of help keeping mom's spirits up from all her good friends, thank you all ...soon we will be able to visit in more comfortable surroundings. She sure loves her chocolates at med times, sugar free, but chocolate nonetheless. The other ladies at Rest Haven have followed her lead, and many of them also use the chocolates to kill the aftertaste of the medicines. All mom's numbers are good...blood pressure and sugars too. Pain in her legs and knee are still bothering her somewhat...mostly I think due to the edema, and swelling. When at home she will be able to elevate more consistently and earlier in the day. All is good.

Thursday night, late entry

Mom wss tired last night at 7...already in bed. We had tea, brought Toby and Mike for a visit, watched a bit of baseball.....she was in good spirits, and I believe she is up because going home soon. Family meeting tomorrow at noon with mom at Rest Haven. Looking forward to the results of Lisa's search for information and available services.

Happy Labor Day

We had a great night! Patsy and Rosie were pushing organic homemade zucchini pasta and sauce. They also had a dessert ...chocolate, figs, dates, no sugar. Mmmmmm. I brought home grown tomatoes, which the table helped us eat. I'm glad to see the grilled cheese rebellion has called a cease fire for the moment. Mom ate slowly, but well.

Mom's attitude is very positive, her movement in her left leg is much improved, as I noticed when we were showering. She is easily brushing her teeth and taking care of her dentures. The staff is still minimal. The poor girl was all by herself tonight. Seems Mondays are always short-staffed. I will make sure I'm there every Monday to assist with showering.

I was really pleased to see the bladder med(?) is working. I assume that she is on it....dindn't have a chance to catch the nurse. All I know for sure is that the cath is not in use...hoorah! I am so happy about this....it is a big deal to mom, self-image somewhat recovering on that front.

Thank you all for the great work lately...I think the home cooked food and outings are making all the difference!!!

Sunday update

Susi's party was a blast...lots of dancing, music, etc.

Kris, Stephen and Chris left this am , Mike and I are home already. Sue is visiting mom midday, lunch time on Monday. Bernie and Zena are also stopping in...Mike and I will be over for dinner then. Thanks to Lisa and Dan and family for taking mom on another outing! They went to Brookfield Zoo (one of mom's favorites) and then to their house for the remainder of the day. It was perfect weather for it. Susi and John are driving up on the 12th and will be here for 5 days or so. Sara is also planning a trip.....