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...