Update: Out of the Hospital and Better!

I visited Grandma on Tuesday night. She's back at the care home! She passed the swallow specialist's tests ("With flying colors?" "No.") and was released. She can eat and drink again! When I arrived at the home, Elizabeth, Claire (a friend of Elizabeth's), and Grandpa were there. Grandma seemed upbeat, peaceful, satisfied, and comfortable. She couldn't speak loudly at all - I had to mute the TV and lean in close to understand her - but apparently she had talked a bit with Cathy earlier on the phone about parenting, and she had her triple combination open and was reading (in Alma, I think). She said she has hope of living a "normal life" now; in the hospital, on the feeding tube, she was afraid she'd never function again. (This may be a misquote, but it's the impression I got.) Her dinner tray was still there. She'd cleaned it up pretty well!

Grandma in Hospital

I have a lot on my plate right now, so I just made a recording of me talking about what I know and what my experiences were with Grandma this weekend. She's currently in the hospital. It's 25 minutes long. Please don't hate me for taking a calculated risk with my cold; I tried to be really careful.

Listen:


Download Page: Here

October 25 2013

On this day, I came after a class lecture focused on the medicinal properties of chocolate, complete with about 10 varieties of chocolate to sample! I arrived in a very good mood and told her everything I had learned.

As I recall, I think she was a bit down when I came but my chattering cheered her up. She probably had some chocolate too. I probably gave her a foot massage with an essential oil or two. I know I've done so a couple of times in the past two months; I'm just not sure precisely which visits. She enjoys them.

You can see that it was pretty dark in her room. I opened the shutters near the end of my visit, so the room was brighter. :) I left sooner than she expected but she said she was glad to see me. :) She loves visitors.

October 4 2013

Another catch-up post. I wrote most/all of this one while I was with her. It just took a month to add the Bingo part and the pictures.

Friday, October 4 1:33pm

When Grandma talked an hour ago about mending the quilt which was sitting on the trash can, I thought she was talking nonsense. But when I picked up the quilt, I discovered threaded needles!

Isn't it wonderful that she's up to her old tricks!

Right now, I'm trying out a brand new (bargain) camp chair, and Grandma is sitting comfortably in a folding chair working on the quilt. We are listening to piano music (link: Piano Portraits). The oxygen machine is softly grinding and puffing across the room. The spool of light blue thread is on the TV table next to her, and she just had me get "one more piece of chocolate." (We had Creamies together earlier.)

The earlier Creamie.

The new camp chair! It's quite comfortable.

Let me tell you about what happened before this point. Yesterday something very special arrived in the mail.

Let me go back further. Grandma couldn't go to the Weber this year. I've been meaning to make a photo book of her family for ages  but haven't gotten all the way through it. A few months ago, I found a Groupon deal for MyPublisher photo books, and snagged 3 of them. With MyPublisher, you write the book and put photos in, and then the company prints the book and sends it to you. I finished a book with Weber pictures a couple of weeks ago and had them sent to Elizabeth's house; so, today I picked them up.

I couldn't wait until her birthday to give it to her! When I walked into the care home, Grandpa was just on his way out. We opened one of the boxes. He *loved* it! He thought it was so neat. Man, it was so exciting. Then I went into Grandma's room. The lights were off, but she stirred and I walked in. Then I got the book out and we looked at it together.

She *loved* it! And the book is dedicated to her, which she really liked. She said things like "You're the first one to write a book for me!" and "I could look at these for hours." Well, Grandma - you can, because it is yours.

The book I gave her is has a cloth green cover; she liked it better than the black cover. Visit her to look at it! I'll send one up to the Weber Cabin as well. (How can I see/get one of these books, you ask? Talk to me. It's a bit pricey but the company has good sales occasionally.)

Well, back with Grandma - one of the aides told us that a Bingo game was going on. She decided to go, and wanted to take the quilt with her! So we played together, and she tried to continue mending, and I think we won/placed twice. There were like 6 other players there, so this wasn't half bad. Below are pictures.

September 18 2013

I'm on another catch-up blitz! Below was written shortly after the visit. I can't find any pictures for this one.

Visit: around 2 pm

Grandma was engrossed in reading the paper when I came in, and she continued to enjoy it during our time together. (I read Moby Dick for class, so we were both happy.) I had Oreos with me since a store had had them on sale, 2 packages for $3. She thought that was a great bargain. She enjoyed one Oreo and declined a second, since it wasn't very healthy and she hadn't eaten that much today. She read that Utah beat BYU in a football game and expressed disappointment: "I want BYU to win." She also tsked about a BYU player being suspended for violating the Honor Code.

Grandpa came as I was leaving. He was glad to see me and joked about hiding my keys to keep me there longer. :/

Wednesday September 18, + Sunday

Grandma was engrossed in reading the paper when I came in, and she continued to enjoy it during our time together. (I read Moby Dick for class, so we were both happy.) I had Oreos since a store had had them on sale, 2 packages for $3; she thought that was a great bargain. She enjoyed one Oreo and declined a second, since it wasn't very healthy and she hadn't eaten that much today. She read that Utah beat BYU and expressed disappointment: "I want BYU to win." She also tsked about a BYU player being suspended for violating the Honor Code.

Grandpa came as I was leaving. He was glad to see me and joked about hiding my keys to keep me there longer!

The funeral was on Friday. Grandma wanted to go but didn't feel well enough on the day of. We talked about it on Sunday dinner, and watched a lovely video with photos from his life. It was touching, and Grandma asked to not watch it twice that night.

Orneriness to a Smile

When I came in to see Grandma today, she was just finishing being showered. When she came out, I asked her how she was, and she said she was feeling ornery. Her brother Paul passed on today (or last night); this was the reason.

But throughout the visit Grandma did positive things. The aide who helped her shower was new, and Grandma told her that she did a fantastic job - that she was one of the best ones. When I clipped her toenails (at her request) she was very appreciative. Her skin was so soft and nice from the shower! In fact, once we got her into bed, she looked so cozy and warm that I just had to take a picture! (Pardon the wet hair.)

We chatted. When her toes were finished, she was sleepy and ready to nap. She just needed chocolate. Thin Mints were the only chocolate to be found, so she enjoyed two cookies and gave me two to enjoy too. (I couldn't resist.) When I left, she was smiling.

Provo Puzzle

When I arrived, Grandma was up and on her way to the bathroom! I love it when she's being independent. While she was busy, I noticed there was some Girl Scout paraphernalia around the room: a pin and a reusable grocery bag with the Girl Scout logo. When Grandma finished, we had some Girl Scout Cookies! She wanted Samoas. We saved the Thin Mints for later. She didn't go back to bed; we settled by the refrigerator.

She received dinner and knew she couldn't eat all of it, so she decided to save some of it for Grandpa. I told this to Grandpa and said that he should come hungry. Then Elizabeth arrived, with fruit and vegetable party trays! They were left over from something at work. Grandpa and David arrived, hungry. I'm afraid they were never fully satisfied...

Once everyone was there, Grandma went back to bed and we just talked. Grandma didn't say much. The conversation revolved around Grandpa's opinions of physical therapy and hospice (he's very frustrated). Then, David helped lighten the mood by telling about when a polygamist crashed a YSA dance, and an ensuing activity in California (the bishop gave him a straight talk and he never came back)

Elizabeth went home. I'd brought a gift for Grandma: a beautiful, 100-piece puzzle of the Provo Temple! We cleared off the TV table and started working on it!

Grandma wanted David to read everything on the box...so he did ("RobertABoyd.com." "RobertABoyd.com."). Grandpa mostly watched while the three of us worked on it. David and I play-fought over pieces of the temple and the American flag. He actually hid some until the end!

Then, she finished the puzzle.

The last piece!

Grandma loved the puzzle! She said they did a good job at making the puzzle challenging but not too hard. The puzzle pieces are bigger than the puzzles usually in the nursing home. She did a significant bit of it, which made me happy because lately when I've gone with her to the normal puzzles with tiny pieces, she's struggled to do much with it. It was a lovely ending to the night.

Pictures of Grandma!

Below are pictures from a couple of visits over the last two months. I don't remember much about them by now, but they say pictures are worth a thousand words anyways...

JULY 23RD

4:20 PM

(I wish I remembered what this was about too.)

AUGUST 6

3:15 PM

I think I may have brought a book too...and we read together.

 AUGUST 10

6:18 PM

Here, she's enjoying one of my homemade banana muffins! She was ready for dinner and I happened to have them with me. She insisted on butter and really, really loved them.

SEPTEMBER 1

12:49 PM

This may not be a great picture of her, but it does show her enjoying a piece of chocolate. (Sorry about the quality.) I think she had me throw away the wrappers afterward and joked that later she would be able to get more chocolate and whoever got it for her wouldn't know she'd already had some.

The next post will be about a visit with David, Elizabeth, Grandpa, and I...and of course Grandma...and include several nice pictures!

Recipe Queen

Grandma came to dinner tonight and was in good form. Grandpa, David, Robyn, and Kevin were there with Elizabeth and I too. She interjected comments - verbally and physically - with great comedic timing. When Elizabeth told her that the roast recipe used tonight was from Grandma, she beat on her chest with her fist - like, "I am Grandma the recipe queen, hear me roar!" The recipe uses potatoes and apples, and Grandma said she got it from her grandma (although David commented that Grandma added her own twist to it).

The rest of her jokes currently slip my mind. As usual Grandma was considerate of her food and asked to take home what she couldn't finish. She left in good time before she got too tired. It was a good night.

Last night, Elizabeth visited and apparently Grandma was really, really relaxed and peaceful - not "good company," but in good humor. She was wearing her pink pajamas and in bed, and was very contented.

Not Completely On Hiatus

Hello! Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I've been really busy with work. I've taken pictures but haven't posted them, and since I need to get to bed soon I won't post them now. Hopefully I'll post them in the next month (it's still busy), and from now on when I visit her I'll try to bring my laptop and write the blog posts as I sit with her.

Grandma came to dinner tonight and commanded two water cups at the table, so she'd never run out. :) She cleaned her plate and enjoyed root beer cake for dessert. David, who is visiting (and spending a lot of time with her, I'm sure), took her back to the center before she took a dive due to lack of meds. She was quiet but soft-spoken. When we talked about Idaho she helped tell a visitor the towns she grew up in ("Malad"), and after she accidentally dropped a piece of chicken on the ground she made me wash it off and give it back.

Brownies & Beds

Today was another day where she was struggling and I came in to help. She asked me to give her sips of water. She couldn’t talk well. One of the first things she told me was that she’d been “stupid” and had “pushed [her]self” too hard. I didn’t press for details. I’d brought my laptop, and offered her a choice of music: classical, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Shirley Temple. Guess which one she picked? (Hint: the answer is always c.) During the “Animal Crackers” song, she told me that it was a very popular song when she was a little girl! (Of course. It’s a classic!)

She looked at some family photos in a little album and on my laptop, and enjoyed it even though she couldn’t remember everyone’s names. Softly and earnestly, she said she loves all her grandchildren though and she knows them, even if she can’t think of their names. She asked me to make a list of people for a party; the list was all her female descendants. She really loves you all, boys and girls!

She could talk better by the time I left (and Grandpa arrived), but I wasn’t sure if she’d come to dinner. She did, though! However, she decided it was a mistake when she arrived; she didn’t feel well enough to sit at the table. Dinner was an unusually small affair of 4 without her and the usual others. She lay on the couch for a while, used the bathroom, and then settled down well in Elizabeth’s room on the bed, reading the newspaper. She wasn’t very interested in most of the meal, but when Elizabeth offered her dessert (ice cream, raspberries and black bean brownies) she had two helpings!

See how nicely the bed and bedding matches her clothes? Perfect outfit. :)

Before heading out again, Grace stepped in the room for a couple of minutes to be with Grandma. Grandma saw her shoes (Easter pastel purple Steve Madden Wedges), she gasped, “Oh my goodness! Those are glamorous!”

Soon after, when she’d finished her dessert, she allowed me to take the above photos and clean her fingernails, and then talked with Cathy on the phone for a few minutes (she was talking pretty well!). Then she told me she was pretty well talked out. However, around half an hour later Elizabeth connected her with David – so she got to talk to 2 of her out-of-town kids today!

Last Wednesday, July 10

The highlight of this visit, for me and Grandpa, was a mattress.

We helped Grandma look over and see it. She was quiet but seemed to be having a good night. 

Now YOU can sleep when Grandma does!

4th of July!

Grandma went up to the Sundance Cabin on Independence Day this year! She sat in the rocking chair surrounded by family and was relatively perky. Gardens were on her mind; she asked Daniel (I think) if he has a garden, and she kept saying that she wanted to see the garden there at the cabin. She took a lie down at one point; apparently she loved the bedrooms and kept asking where the furniture was purchased, and then felt a little sheepish that she couldn't remember where she got them.

Soon after her return, she was ready to go outside! She said she wanted to take a walk around the cabin. I gave Elizabeth a look that said, "Aaaahhhhh but she can't handle thatwhat're we gonna do?!?" We did. We helped her walk out onto the back porch. We invited her to come back inside, but she wanted to go around the cabin. We had her take the newer stairs, which are safer than the old ones. And we walked her around. When she saw the front garden area (a wildflower garden, not a vegetable garden) she was disappointed in the tall grasses/weeds that where there, and wanted to weed! By this time she was ready to sit down, and sit down she did, by a post holding up the balcony. Soon we helped her move to an area with a little wall (it's at 9:00 if you're facing the cabin). There were plenty of weeds there, and she went to it with a will!

She felt good about what she'd done but wished she could work on the real area - the flower garden. I remember her weeding that garden a few years ago, too.

As Grandma was working away, Paul's dog Chuck was happily somewhere nearby in the grass. As Paul was driving out, he called him. Chuck came out with something gray and furry in his mouth! Our best guess is that he was gnawing away at a dead squirrel, and the tail's what he brought out. I didn't get a picture of it, unfortunately, but the reason I'm mentioning it here is because Chuck dropped his catch, not at Paul's feet, but at Grandma's. He knows who's the queen around here!

Yesterday, July 5th, I spent a bit of time with Grandma during the afternoon. We mostly read the papers together. An aid came in with Hershey's Kisses for Grandma - she'd asked him for chocolate, and though he was thinking, "We're not a convenience store," he found some! After he presented her his catch, I showed him the chocolate stash in Grandma's fridge for future reference.

After she used the bathroom, she just wanted to sit on her bed, not lie down on it. I was feeling sleepy, so I sat down too and we lied back on the rumpled blankets together, she reading and me dozing. I took the picture of us below.

Elizabeth visited her that night and said Grandma was pretty tired. But because I went during a good time, we knew that contrary to our fears, the Independence Day jaunt didn't completely wipe Grandma out.

Update with Pictures

Sorry for the wait! Okay, here are three reports.

Cathy came and visited for a week. She spent time with Grandma every day. They watched Sunday's missionary broadcast on her iPad, and then on Grandpa's iPhone; they watched a Shirley Temple movie on her iPad; she gave Grandma foot massages and generally pampered and sat with her mom as much as she could. Although Grandma was struggling physicallly that week, she loved it. If Cathy wants to write a post with pictures for this blog, she is certainly welcome. :)

A few days ago I stopped by. Grandpa was there too. Grandma wanted some Diet Coke for her mouth, so I left and bought a pack of them. She was happy to have them!

Last night, Grandma was alert although she couldn't talk very well. Grandpa, Elizabeth, and I were there. She liked hearing about my day and asked about my shirt (I had my work uniform on.)

Pictures!

 Cathy puts anti-fungal stuff on Grandma's feet, like Elizabeth does.

 Grandma gets a foot massage from Cathy with lavender, peppermint, and some other oil.

 A few days later, Grandma's feet enjoy a non-oiled foot rub from me.

Grandma last night: very relaxed and listening to the news.

Picture-less Update

I went tonight. Elizabeth said Grandma and Grandpa had gone to a funeral viewing, seen many friends there and had a good time. However, it had so exhausted Grandma that she wasn't able to talk and barely moved in her bed afterwards until about five minutes before I arrived (after 9 at night). When I came, she was reading the newspaper; Poirot was on; she could talk okay. I clambered on her bed, sitting around her feet. We talked a little about what we'd do if we won a sweepstakes or the lottery; I suggested things for her like a posh medical bed and flights and chauffeurs to bring her visitors; she said she'd have it be her grandkids' college money. She is a wonderful example.

After a few minutes, Elizabeth left and Grandma loaned me a pillow so I could doze on the floor (I usually bring my own pillow, but not this time). Grandpa came while I was dozing and I listened vaguely to them talking on the phone to either Chris, Cathy, or both. :)

Bread, Bread for an Afternoon Snack...What's Next?

Sorry for the little hiatus! Here are some updates from the last couple of weeks.

• I think she'll stay in the new place!
• Yesterday I made some bread with Grandma and Grandpa's bread machine! It was a "basic oatmeal loaf" made with white whole wheat flour. I took a couple of buttered pieces over to Grandma, but she was asleep so I used the pink notepad to write her a note and left it. I also took a couple of scenic pictures over and put them on her wall.
• Another time or two when I visited, she was awake and interested in what we were saying but wasn't talking well. On Wednesday night I went by after institute and talked about the lesson; she loved hearing about it (parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son in terms of covenants lost and regained).

Today, I was able to go see her due to a stranger's random act of kindness. I told Grandma this story, so I might as well say it here. 

For work, I was sitting by some elevators to make sure teenage conference participants didn't get on them. When I had about 45 minutes left, I suddenly felt unwell - like I'd just had my blood drawn (I don't do well with that), and achy in several places. I often carry ibuprofen with me, but I didn't have that purse with me. 

A cheery woman came to use the elevator. She showed me her what was in her lunch bag - just a brownie! I expressed appreciation (yum!) and sympathy (that was her only lunch!) before she went up. When she came back down, I asked her if I was pale (no) and then if she happened to have any painkiller on her I could have (since I often do). Then I was like, "All right, then that's okay - I get off work in like 25 minutes, so I'll go home and get my own then." But she was like, "I have some in my car! It's a full bottle!" We discussed it back and forth for half minute and I said yes - her car was in the closest lot,  she helps women for a living (I think!), it would kick in as I got off work, and she just got off an LDS mission ("So she REALLY wants to serve!" I thought). 

This angel dressed mostly in white, whose name is Christina, got that AND got a Cookies-n-Cream Milk for me from the university cafeteria so I wouldn't take the ibuprofen on an empty stomach! And she gave me the whole bottle of pills! ("It's just a dollar store bottle, take it.") Her injunction to me was to pass on the kind deed. (Will do! The bottle's in the car now and I'll carry more with me. Another thought - I've donated ibuprofen to similar good causes several times, so this was like karma coming back to me!)

So, thanks to Christina I changed my mind about going home and collapsing into bed at the close of my shift, and went to visit Grandma instead! (End of personal journaling.) She was reading the Reader's Digest with the television on when I came in. I got her some chocolate, her "last" for a while. Then she was ready to use the bathroom. I took her oxygen off, as usual (when she leaves her bed), and she used the walker to go into the bathroom. I waited outside for a while. When she was ready for me to come in, she was at the sink and somewhat muddleheaded. 

After a few minutes I helped her back to bed and wondered if oxygen would help. When I put it back on, she sucked it in deeply for a couple of minutes. This seemed to help her regain her strength and mental clarity. I've seen Grandpa and med techs/nurses measure her blood pressure and say she should have her oxygen in, but I haven't noticed such a dramatic change between pure oxygen and normal air in her before.

Well, she settled back into bed (with several re-positionings, so that was exercise). She took her meds without a problem. It looks like the med tech/nurse is flavoring the medicine now! This set was pink, and there were several other pink cups of medicine on the cart.

I showed her the pictures. She liked the mountain one I'd put by her bed, but loved the picture of the beach that was across the room on the refrigerator! So, at Grandma's requrest, it was moved to the wall above her bed with the family pictures.

Now, I'll explain the title of this post. Before her meds came, she wanted food; I said wait for the meds and then get something (I didn't want to risk tiring her swallowing before her meds came). Once the meds came, I warmed up the bread in the microwave and gave it to her. She LOVED it! I told her I'd bring more from future loaves. Around this point, I mentioned that Christina had had only a brownie for lunch (with the sympathetic tone). "I'd like a brownie for my lunch," said Grandma! I didn't make any promises with this, but -- since I enjoy baking -- that could be arranged...

Sing, Sing, Shirt

When I walked in today, Grandma couldn't talk or hear well (she should be going to the doctor soon though!). "How can we make this meaningful?" I wondered. Aaand at a silence, I started to sing. "Hurry It's Lovely Up Here," parts of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and other songs from the Wizard of Oz (That's one of my favorite songs," she said, "Have you seen The Wizard of Oz?" Yes, Ma'am). Parts of "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles, "The Second Star from the Right" from Peter Pan, "When You Wish Upon a Star," "I've Never Been in Love Before" from Guys and Dolls, and more. I tried to pick songs she already knew, so she could fill in better the words she couldn't understand. She'd close her eyes, and sometimes clap after I finished what I knew of a song. We must do that more!

I went to the home's piano to see if there were any good music books with lyrics. I didn't find any to my liking. But on the way back I ran into three visitors for Grandma! It was Deedee Rose, her grandson, and _____ Nuttall. They said hello and gave her a Hershey's bar, which Grandma took happily and clasped to her chest. It was brief but fun!

When I left, I went to Grandpa's for something. He was wearing a shirt which we discovered was ready to be retired. He said he has had it for about 50 years! It's a good-looking shirt. I took a picture of him in it for memory's sake.

Back in Her Home Chair

Last night, I went by the nursing home and found that Grandma was out! So I drove to Grandpa's, saw the light on, and thought "Ahhh..." 

Here's what I saw as I walked in!

It was so good to see her in her chair again! Something's right with the world.

She read magazines, tried to sort a pile (against Grandpa's advice), and tried to follow Grandpa's and my conversation while I was there (oh, her earwax...). We talked about economic doomsday and their relationship with the Monsons. Grandpa went to high school with Frances and Grandma took the bus with Frances' future husband. Grandma said something like, "I didn't think he was very good...as a boyfriend." I laughed and said Grandma was waiting to find Grandpa. Grandpa also remarked that at his 50th high school reunion, the Monsons came and were of course the stars of the stars. Imagine having them at your high school reunion! I brought some Ghirardelli's dark mint chocolate which I'd just found on sale and shared it, which she enjoyed.

After 10, it was time to take Grandma home. I gave her the rest of the chocolate for later. It's in between the seats. I love her expression in this picture!

Grandma Likes Cheese; Grandpa Likes to Whittle

I walked in tonight. The aide was there to help her get ready for bed. Grandma was bright-eyed and mushy-tailed; she had eaten all her dinner and now really wanted cheese! (The aide's slightly exasperated aside to me: "She's so funny.") The aide suggested chocolate. Grandma said no.

"That's a first!" said the aide, with another look at me.

"I've had four pieces today, and that's my limit," said Grandma firmly. I complimented her on her self-discipline.

The aide suggested ice cream, but Grandma declined: "I want something better."

I got Cheetos from her closet, because they sort of have cheese. And she accepted. Since I was there and Grandma was eating, the aide left us, saying she'd come back in a few minutes. When Grandma finished the Cheetos, she was roarin' to get ready for bed, and changed her shirt by herself.

Grandpa came in., and I caught him up to speed. Well, wonder of wonders, he had food! He'd used a Burger King coupon for 2 meals ("It was a bahgain!" he said) and had most of the second meal in the car. He fetched it, and Grandma happily dug in.

 

Notice the fry sauce on the table (a Utah thing), the bib from Zina and Bernice, and the Whopper in her lap. 

We ate the fries together. When I left she was still doing great and hadn't touched the burger.

Grandpa and I chatted. After dropping Elizabeth off at the airport, he went home by way of Rick and Earlene (Did I get those wrong?). He caught them on the way to a funeral. Rick was all dressed up but had some chemo things with him; he's fighting cancer.

I told Grandpa that I'll be working at an all-state high school track meet from 5:40 AM 'till noon tomorrow, and this reminded him of something from his past.

When he was 16, he won the all-state 100m AND 220m relay races! He still remembers his teammates' names. The school got trophies with the students' names on it, so Grandpa's younger siblings saw them all through their high school career. Grandpa was astonished to realize that that was sixty-nine years ago! "I remember that better than I remember yesterday!" he remarked. Grandma asked about the 69 years, and when he asked her to do some mental math she did it, no sweat. We figured out it was in 1944.

A few minutes later, I used a pencil and noticed it needed sharpening. I asked if there were a pencil sharpener there. "No," he said, but he had a knife, and could try whittling.

Ta-da!

Not bad!

Since Grandma was talking pretty well, we decided to try calling my mom so they could chat. We didn't reach her while I was there, but after I left she called back and they were able to talk!

Doing All Right After Therapy Day 1

When I walked in last night, this was pretty much what I saw! Only, the overhead light was off. Elizabeth and Grandpa were visiting Grandma and each other. And the paper by Elizabeth's head wasn't there, because I brought it. :) It's the directions Grandpa wrote for how to use the remotes to operate the television.

Grandma had had physical therapy that morning, and Grandpa said she did "really well." During my visit, she sometimes had her eyes closed and sometimes looked around. After Elizabeth left and when I was sitting on the bed, she said hello and we directly interacted a little. We held hands. It might have been partially because the AC was on and I was in capris and short sleeves, but her hands felt so soft and lovely warm to me.

Grandpa said he got a call that Grandma was refusing her 7:00 meds. When he came and asked her why, she said she wanted to see what would happen. Oh, Grandma! Sometimes she can be so mischievous. Eventually she accepted them.

Before I corrected her thought, she thought I would be accompanying Elizabeth on her trip and asked me to "take care of everyone." :)

Poor Hour, Good Hour

When I went around yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 14 May), Grandpa was there but Grandma was asleep. He was doing stuff, and said she'd been sound asleep the whole time he was there. Since Grandma had wanted to write something the day before and I couldn't find paper, I brought a magnet pad I've had for a while. It's on the fridge now, in view from her bed:

As we were talking, Grandma woke up! She wanted her brief changed. Once that was done, we had her stand with the walker for a minute or two while we finished making her bed. Then she went right back to sleep.

I left my computer there so I'd be sure to come back after a shift at work, and returned a little after 8. As I parked, I noticed through the shades that the light was on in her room! "This is a good sign," I thought. When I walked in, she was awake, alert, and happy to see me! "You are just the person I need," she said (or something like that). I helped her turn on the TV, like she wanted. We watched some of America's Funniest Home Videos, and then we found The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Grandma said happily that she loves that show. It was the episode about the high school reunion. 

As we watched TV, we got some chocolate (erm...at my request - I was tired) and I started working on typing up Grandpa's TV instructions to put on her wall (he wrote some down but they're kept in the dresser). Grandma started reading a book about John Greenleaf Whitter, which Aunt Annie lent to her a couple of weeks ago. She couldn't talk very well - I usually had to lean in and ask her to repeat it a couple of times. She apologized that "not very good company" - a line I haven't heard in weeks and which reminds me of her old self. Maybe she's starting to recover from the transition? Who knows?

I took a couple of pictures of her:

With the book and a tiny smile

With a big smile

Elizabeth went over later and reported that Grandma was still doing fine, but that she (Elizabeth) had to repeat everything about three times for Grandma to understand what she was saying (the opposite of my visit). That's more like the last month. Ah well.