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.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Saturday, September 14, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, September 6, 2013
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.
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.
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!
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