Yep. She didn't feel well enough to come to dinner, and when Grandpa and David and I went to see her after, and watch the Oscars with her, she was sound asleep.
In other news, at dinner Emily brought a video of Grandpa's mother talking about her maternal grandfather. She tells a couple of stories, and says that his beard was the softest she's ever felt, like a baby. And that he always had peppermints in one pocket, and horehound candy in the other, and the grandkids had to blindly pick one pocket and they got a piece of whatever was in that pocket, even if they didn't like it. She didn't like horehound, but she liked peppermints. The video was taken around 1994. I've got to get a copy of that!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
23 February 2013: Primping for the Oscars
Last night Grandma was doing pretty well. Elizabeth
visited her around dinnertime. All of her food is pureed now, because it’s SO
much easier for her to swallow it. The staff are very strict about it, but also
try to be really nice. She misses “real food”, but since the change she’s generally eating more. David
brings oranges and bananas sometimes. Elizabeth and Grandma watched a program
on Abraham Lincoln, and Elizabeth washed and put some cream on Grandma’s feet.
22 February 2013: Murder, Murder...
When I walked in tonight, there was a lot of fresh fruit in bags on the bed, and Grandpa, David, and Elizabeth were gathered around her bed watching a show about different murder trials. Grandma was wearing David's reading glasses! He has had them for years, just in case, but never used them. They are of the weakest prescription, but Grandma said they were better than nothing. She'll keep them; she reads a lot. David also had his MacBook, which he's brought to do work or...watch Antiques Roadshow! Turns out you can watch it online! Excellent.
Also, Elizabeth discovered that she knows the family of one of the best nurses on our floor. His wife used to work at her office.
P.S. On the 19th, Grace and I went over in the evening. Grandpa and David were there, as they usually are at that time. Grandma couldn't speak very well.
Also, Elizabeth discovered that she knows the family of one of the best nurses on our floor. His wife used to work at her office.
P.S. On the 19th, Grace and I went over in the evening. Grandpa and David were there, as they usually are at that time. Grandma couldn't speak very well.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Grandma's Valentine's Day!
The night before Valentine's Day, Grandpa brought her a sundae to enjoy. :)
What follows based off of Elizabeth's account of her visit tonight. She visited from around 7:30 to 9 pm (my estimate), and brought a homemade ricotta parfait thing for her.
Grandma was very talkative tonight. Grandpa, David, and Annie had planned to go out for dinner on this Valentine's Day evening, but Grandma decided not to go because she didn't think she would be able to handle it. She told Elizabeth that she felt very jealous of them all day, which she said was an unusual feeling her for her and upset her a bit. "I'm just not used to feeling this way," she said. However, once they left she felt just fine! Her jealousy evaporated. They brought her back some chicken nuggets and french fries, which she nibbled on. They're always so thoughtful that way.
What Grandma really wanted to do was go around to all the grandchildren and give them chocolate for Valentine's Day. The aides got her much of the chocolate (3 bags) but in the end it was decided to drive around and give the Valentines to the grandchildren on another day, and so a text was sent out to most of the grandchildren. She really loves to connect with them.
What follows based off of Elizabeth's account of her visit tonight. She visited from around 7:30 to 9 pm (my estimate), and brought a homemade ricotta parfait thing for her.
Grandma was very talkative tonight. Grandpa, David, and Annie had planned to go out for dinner on this Valentine's Day evening, but Grandma decided not to go because she didn't think she would be able to handle it. She told Elizabeth that she felt very jealous of them all day, which she said was an unusual feeling her for her and upset her a bit. "I'm just not used to feeling this way," she said. However, once they left she felt just fine! Her jealousy evaporated. They brought her back some chicken nuggets and french fries, which she nibbled on. They're always so thoughtful that way.
What Grandma really wanted to do was go around to all the grandchildren and give them chocolate for Valentine's Day. The aides got her much of the chocolate (3 bags) but in the end it was decided to drive around and give the Valentines to the grandchildren on another day, and so a text was sent out to most of the grandchildren. She really loves to connect with them.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
11 February 2013: Walking. a Puzzle, and Chocolate Ice Cream
I headed over to Grandma’s while Grace’s computer was being fixed. I saw that Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda had been there earlier, and Grandma confirmed it; she said they stopped by on their way back from Arizona or someplace. She was pretty good when I was with her; her voice could have been a bit stronger, and she asked me to tell her the date in detail, but she went on a walk with me! She had an old movie with a young Katharine Hepburn and Fred MacMurray (I think), and was also reading in the Book of Mormon. She was wearing her oxygen thing, which she always does nowadays I think. Her lunch was finished beside her – not completely gone, but she’d had her fill.
After saying hellos, she said that it was a good thing I came, because she was just thinking of taking a walk! I told her I was waiting for a call and I had to go after the call (to get the computer and go back to homework), and she turned off the TV and we got ready to go. She made sure to comb her hair, and I tried to touch up the back which is often pretty flat because it’s usually against a pillow. Once she was in the wheelchair she scooted herself up and down a couple of the hallways, worked for a few minutes with me on a puzzle in the recreation room, and even stood up and pushed her wheelchair down the hall for a bit! (After that bit, she sat down in a chair for a few minutes.) She said hello to several patients and nurses and even jokingly told a male nurse that she was going to run him over. Or down. Something like that. While we were working on the puzzle, she remarked that whenever she puts a piece in, she feels like she's really helped with/accomplished something. It took her a while to put pieces in the right place. I think she put in at least three today. When she wanted to go, she decided she had to put one more in. A few minutes later, she'd had no success so we agreed that I'd give her the next piece that I though was a sure thing. That's what we did, and so she was free to further roam the halls. We were out of her room for about 45 minutes. Here are the pictures I took on my phone and sent to my parents.
When we got back she was still doing well. I reminded her about some ice cream in the nurses’ freezer left over from Saturday(?) night’s dinner, and she was really excited about that! She was in the middle of it when the male nurse guy came in with her meds (right on time – two minutes early even!). She took them just like you or I would, without any swallowing problems! Then she went right back to her ice cream. She saved a little for later and I put it back. Then the call came that I was waiting for, and she was ready for a nap. She said she’d see me tomorrow, and I had to tell her that she probably wouldn't because I’ll have school. Then I waved goodbye and left.
After saying hellos, she said that it was a good thing I came, because she was just thinking of taking a walk! I told her I was waiting for a call and I had to go after the call (to get the computer and go back to homework), and she turned off the TV and we got ready to go. She made sure to comb her hair, and I tried to touch up the back which is often pretty flat because it’s usually against a pillow. Once she was in the wheelchair she scooted herself up and down a couple of the hallways, worked for a few minutes with me on a puzzle in the recreation room, and even stood up and pushed her wheelchair down the hall for a bit! (After that bit, she sat down in a chair for a few minutes.) She said hello to several patients and nurses and even jokingly told a male nurse that she was going to run him over. Or down. Something like that. While we were working on the puzzle, she remarked that whenever she puts a piece in, she feels like she's really helped with/accomplished something. It took her a while to put pieces in the right place. I think she put in at least three today. When she wanted to go, she decided she had to put one more in. A few minutes later, she'd had no success so we agreed that I'd give her the next piece that I though was a sure thing. That's what we did, and so she was free to further roam the halls. We were out of her room for about 45 minutes. Here are the pictures I took on my phone and sent to my parents.
When we got back she was still doing well. I reminded her about some ice cream in the nurses’ freezer left over from Saturday(?) night’s dinner, and she was really excited about that! She was in the middle of it when the male nurse guy came in with her meds (right on time – two minutes early even!). She took them just like you or I would, without any swallowing problems! Then she went right back to her ice cream. She saved a little for later and I put it back. Then the call came that I was waiting for, and she was ready for a nap. She said she’d see me tomorrow, and I had to tell her that she probably wouldn't because I’ll have school. Then I waved goodbye and left.
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