Tom's Diary

Today’s Activities

• Shower.  DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash 2 loads of laundry.  IN PROGRESS.

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up.  Sunny this morning, yet again, and mind you, I’m not complaining.   

09:40 AM: Posted the   Tom’s Views –> Muslim American Rights   piece.

12:10 PM: Watched The History Channel’s mini series:  America: The Story of Us; Part Three   on the DVR.  This one covered mostly the Civil War and the continued migration westward, and Lincoln’s bolstering of industrial forces to win the war.  He relied on the telegraph, trains, and established infrastructure in the north, to better coordinate, oversee, and more efficiently deliver men and supplies to the the war effort than did the confederates.   They talked of the advances in firearms and ammunition with the advent of the mini ball bullet, and illustrated the settling of the great plains, the massive buffalo kills.  Mostly, this 2-hour episode focused on the period of 1840 through 1900.  Again, an excellent show, and I’m so looking forward to viewing part four sometime either today or tomorrow. 

02:30 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   on the DVR. 

03:45 PM: Going up to visit Mom with sister Christine.  Back later.

05:55 PM: I’m back home and put all Mom’s extra clothes and other belongings away.  See details of this visit   here.

06:30 PM: Sister Christine, [Emmy], and I sat outside on the south porch talking about our visit with Mom and comforting each other. 

07:25 PM: Recorded audio journal episode   AJE-2010-09-15-19-05. 

10:00 PM: We have a chilly house this evening; chilly enough to warrant turning on the heat for the first time this heating season.  Hmmm.  Good thing I cleaned the furnace filters a couple weeks ago.  The furnace worked great and within about ten minutes, the chill disappeared, and a cozy feeling, inspired by the warmed floors, pervaded. 

11:00 PM: Watched CNN news and talk all evening; the highlight being Larry King’s interview of Supreme Court justice Stephen Biar.  He explained to my satisfaction why the Supreme Court hearings are not televised.  He said that fears that sound bytes would be used to take court proceedings out of context would probably abound.    Also, much of what the justices do in a case before them is to write; not a very interesting activity for television.  Yet he does support televising some parts of the court daily agenda.  Doing so would be a great way to better educate Americans on the function of the Supreme court in our government. 

12:00 AM: Watched   KDKA TV’s Local News at 11:00 PM   along with   David Letterman’s monolog.  Informative and funny, respectively. 

12:15 AM: Bed time now.  So I’ll say good night and promise that I’ll write more tomorrow.  Take care. 

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Patient satisfaction survey from the hospital in Pittsburgh for Mom to fill out.
• Misc. banking papers.
• TigerDirect catalog.  Hmmm.  I wonder when the hard-copy catalog will finally become obsolete.  With the advances in Internet and computer technologies over the past twenty years, I’d have thought that the traditional “mail order” magazine would have gone the way of many local newspapers today — extinct.  But apparently, TigerDirect still makes quite a few sales though these publications.  Not from me however.  When I want to buy something from them, I do it on their web site. 
• Offer for a tripple-A auto membership.  Not at this time, thanks. 

Related Posts

• Mom’s Status: 2010-09-15
• Today’s Diet: 2010-09-15
• Tom’s Views –> Muslim American Rights
• Weight Loss: 2010

Summary

Mom had no physical therapy today; what with the transfer to the hospital and all the hustle and bustle associated with that.  Her voice sounds sadder than last visit, because she’s still anxious and worried about what will happen once they finish her current antibiotic run.   Will the MRSA return?  As noted, Mom has been moved to a hospital environment where they can monitor her very closely in the days that follow the end of the antibiotics.  She’ll also receive intense physical therapy.  I’m sorry to report that Mom does not wish to have any visitors during this very critical time in her healing.  We don’t want to risk her catching the flu or other bug from people stopping by.  Plus, she must put much energy into her convalescence, and so will likely be very tired after a full day’s workout.  Indeed, these are highly uncertain times for all of us, and especially Mom. and we’re grateful for the support and patience from her friends.  Thanks very much. 

Deferred Objectives

These objectives are on hold until Mom returns to the nursing facility. 

• Order podiatrist for regular checkups on Mom’s feet.  IN PROGRESS.  I’m going to call her regular podiatrist on Monday and ask him if he can stop in at the facility to treat Mom’s feet. 
• Track Mom’s extreme weakness and loss of feeling in legs. IN PROGRESS.  This has gotten notably better over the past week or so.  We still feel that the nerve damage is reversible.  She’ll continue full PT workouts (including   standing   exercises on Monday). 
• Monitor Mom’s overall pain status.  IN PROGRESS.  Her pain continues to lessen so that now, she has little in her legs when she’s laying still.  So the static pain seems all but 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 next week. 
• Locate Mom’s living will.  IN PROGRESS.  Her attorneys called a couple days ago, and want me to visit their office.  I’ll try them again next week, and hopefully, they can come to the hospital for Mom’s signature on these papers if needed.  Or at least, they’ll be able to FAX me the living will.        

Completed Objectives

Log

04:00 PM: Sister Christine and myself arrived at the nursing facility.  Details of the visit follow:

• 04:00 PM: Mom has already been moved out.  So we’re gathering up her belongings, as she’ll only need clothes at the new place.
• 04:10 PM: We’ve packed Mom’s belongings and are headed to her new location. 
• 04:30 PM: We’re here.  We’ve picked the essentials for Mom and are taking them in to her.
• 04:40 PM: We’ve arrived at Mom’s new room. 
• Mom was  in so-so spirits.  She was sad and worried today, but liked seeing us. 
• She will not have a cell phone while she’s at this place; apparently, it’s not allowed with all the sensitive electronic equipment around.  So any contact will with her will need to be made through family members.
• Mom is alert however, and said she knew all the brain-teaser questions that doctors have been asking her most every day since her return to Altoona. 
• 05:30 PM: We’re leaving.  Mom sends her regards to everyone and says not to worry.  She’ll be fine.  

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Today’s Business: 2010-09-15

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.
• 01:00 PM: 1 bag of popcorn with Parmesan cheese.  350 calories.
• 03:15 PM: 1 bowl of oatmeal with Parmesan cheese.  600 calories.
• 05:00 PM: 1 McDonald’s vanilla milk shake.  600 calories.
• 09:00 PM: 1/2 cup of raisins.  260 calories.
• 10:00 PM: 1 bowl of lime-flavored cream cheese Jello.   400 calories.

Total calories: 2210.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Other Food Diary Entries
• Today’s Business: 2010-09-15
• Weight Loss: 2010