Archive for September 2nd, 2010

Today’s Business: 2010-09-02

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Today’s Activities

  • Shower.  DONE.
  • Cat duty.  DONE.

Log

03:50 AM: I’m up. Not able to sleep very well tonight — perhaps I went to bed too early.  Now I know what will happen.  Long about 5:30 this morning, I’ll grow very sleepy again.  But since I have to be up at 6:30 AM, I’ll not be able to sleep as long as I must in order to overcome the sleepiness.  So, I’ll be yawning all morning.  Oh well, at least I won’t be in a class or any activity that requires consistent attention.  :-)

05:40 AM: Spent the past hour or so going through all  the US mail that arrived while I was away in Pittsburgh caring for Mom.  It’s all done!  Well, at least, I threw out all the junk mail anyhow.  But there are still the bills to pay.  I’ll get to that sometime in the next couple days. 

05:45 AM: {Emmy] just came over to say good morning; though a bit groggy.  We’re hoping this orthopedist will give provide a solution to [Emmy's] wrist problem today.  We’re excited at the prospect, and perhaps this is why both of us had so much trouble sleeping overnight.  Our anticipation over what he might say is like that experienced on Christmas eve as children, when we wondered what Santa Claus might have placed under the tree for us.  I sure hope he has some good news, now that he’s had a chance to review [Emmy's] nerve tests done last month.  She’s really had a tough go with her hands, for years, and it’s about time she get relief. 

06:40 AM: Posted the    Tom’s Views –> Thoughts on Bigotry   piece, which was inspired by all the hubbub about the mosque at ground zero, gays in the military, and other oppressive situations of late. 

08:00 AM: My driver arrived, to take [Emmy] and me to her orthopedist appointment. Back later.

08:40 AM: Arrived at [Emmy's] orthopedist’s office.  But her appointment isn’t until 9:50 AM.  So we’re going over to McDonald’s nearby for breakfast.

09:20 AM: We’re back at the doctor’s office, waiting on him to see us.

10:05 AM: We saw the orthopedist.  He says that [Emmy] still has carpel tunnel but that it’s not severe enough to risk surgery.  He recommends anti-inflammatory medicines, splints, exercises, and limited usage of her wrists to deal with the problem.   Unfortunately, she’ll likely always have tender wrists.  Many women do in fact.  But he seemed confident that she could minimize the difficulty with the aforementioned techniques. 

10:20 AM: After the appointment concluded, we headed for McDonald’s again; this time, for some hot chocolate; delicious but a bit thin (not enough fat) for my taste.

10:25 AM: We’ve walked back to the front of the University Orthopedics building.  Now, we’re waiting on the Blair Senior Services van to take us home.

11:30 AM: Received a voice mail from Mom, saying that she found her cell phone this morning, in her bed.  Well, I’m glad that the battery I purchased for that phone won’t go to waste now. 

11:50 PM: The van arrived slightly ahead of schedule, and good thing too, because the sun outside today is brutally hot.

12:30 PM: We’re home.  Nap time. 

01:00 PM: Mom called to say that she needs some pants and shorts.  We’ll probably take them up tonight or tomorrow. 

03:05 PM: I’m back up. 

04:30 PM: Cooking t-bone steaks, and fried vegetables for supper.  [Emmy] is making a salad of fresh vegetables from sister Diane’s garden, and we have peaches for dessert.  Hmmm.  I think the hardest part of this meal will be the cleanup, but only because I’m using the George Foreman grill for the steaks.  I do wish mine had the removable plates that you can submerse to clean. 

06:00 PM: Sister Christine just arrived.  We’re visiting Mom at the nursing home tonight.  [Emmy] is staying here, as she’s not feeling well.  Back later.

07:40 PM: I’m back home.  Now, we’re going through the DVR and deleting all the Y&R episodes that we saw while in Pittsburgh during August.  Need to clear some space on it, as it’s 75% full at the moment. 

10:45 PM: We finished cleaning out the DVR and we now have 50% available space on the hard drive for more shows!  :-)

10:50 PM: Off to bed now.  Must get up early again for shopping tomorrow.  So good night and take care.  I’ll have more to write in less than twelve hours. 

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

  • Weekly coupon mailer.
  • Ambulance bill (Mom).
  • Promo Only’s Country Radio music series; the 2010-10 issue.
  • Medicare payment to Mom to help defray some of her ”donut hole” medicine costs in 2010.
  • Natural gas sale notice.  I can keep receiving my natural gas at this summer’s prices for a whole year.  As they’re pretty low at present, I think I’ll opt in for this.  Of course, there’s the risk that prices will fall lower next summer than what I’m paying.  But I feel that the risk is low enough to justify taking it. 
  • Offer from DirecTV.  Not at this time, thanks. 

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Mom’s Status: 2010-09-02

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Summary

Mom had physical therapy today and the feeling in her legs continues to return.  She stood up again today, with help, and she got into a wheelchair for the first time and we found her socializing with some of the other patrons in the lounge when we arrived.  Nice!  Her voice still sounds a little high and weak, but is stronger than at any time since this latest hospital stint began near the end of July.     She’s emotional right now, and needs lots of family and friend support, and we appreciate all the cards, calls, and visits.  Thanks very much. 

Pending Objectives

  • Order podiatrist for regular checkups on Mom’s feet.
  • Track Mom’s extreme weakness and loss of feeling in legs. IN PROGRESS.  This has improved markedly over the past six days.  Given the progress, we are less inclined to believe now that the nerve damage is permanent. 
  • Monitor Mom’s overall pain status.  We’re looking to get her pain stopped.  IN PROGRESS.  Her pain continues to decrease so that now, she doesn’t seem to have much in her legs when she’s laying still.  So the static pain seems to be almost gone.     
  • Track the dissipation of Mom’s pelvic hematoma.  IN PROGRESS.   Can’t measure further progress on this one until Mom has another EMG test in a week or two. 
  • Locate Mom’s living will.  IN PROGRESS.  Her attorneys called me back and left voice mail; phone tag, and I’m it.  I’ll try them again tomorrow.      

Completed Objectives

  • Secure a private room for Mom.  NOT POSSIBLE.  This facility has no private rooms except for cases that dictate a need for isolation. 
  • Log

    06:00 PM: Leaving now with sister Christine to visit Mom.  Details of our time together follow:

    • 06:25 PM: We arrived.  Mom was buzzing around the halls in a wheelchair, socializig with a few friends in a lounge area with west-facing windows, and so, the sun was beaming in. 
    • Mom found her cell phone, in her bed beside her.  Curious that she didn’t hear it ringing; I called it several times last night and this morning.  But she has it back now.  Sweet!
    • I swapped my better-condition battery for her depleted one.  Hopefully that will give her enough talk time per charge until the new batters for our phones arrive early next week. 
    • She needs a shower tote for her toiletries and other supplies.  I have one I’ll give her when next I visit her.
    • We need to find her reading glasses — blue frames.  We’ve looked around here but so far, no luck.  We may have to order her a new pair.
    • She’s able to spread and contract her legs today for the first time, and she says she has more feeling in them and less pain than ever during this hospitalization. Now she still experiences pain in the fronts of her thighs, but very much less sever than it was just ten days ago. 
    • She says she will reject any additional surgery, and has requested DNR status.  We’ve verified this with the nurses, and we asked her many questions to make sure she understands the ramifications of these requests.  She does, quite well. 
    • 07:15 PM: Well, we’re leaving.  She’s happy and gave both Christine and I big hugs; we were all a little teary-eyed.  She’s really looking forward to coming home. 

    Tom Hesley

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    Today’s Diet: 2010-09-02

    Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

    I keep this food diary to stay aware of just how many calories I’m eating daily, with the hope that it decreases the likelihood that I’ll overeat.    It seems to work, so here we go with another day…

    Today, I consumed the following items:

    • Herbal tea and diet pop throughout the day. 0 calories.
    • 09:00 AM: 2 McDonald’s Egg McMuffins.  600 calories.
    • 09:10 AM: 2 cups of orange juice.  220 calories.
    • 05:00 PM: 16 Oz. t-bone steak.  1500 calories.
    • 05:10 PM: Fresh garden vegetables salad with olive oil.  100 calories.
    • 05:15 PM: Fried vegetables.  200 calories.

    Total calories: 2620.

    Tom Hesley

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