Ramblings

For the few of you who regularly check my blog--and have found nothing lately--I apologize. My brain and ambition have also been missing some what lately. I know there are 'definitions' and lots of advice on curing/handling it. I know them, I counselled them, so I don't need them repeated to me. Thanks anyhow. It just is where I am now, but I don't intend on staying there. Life and stress can do that to you sometimes. And for those of you who know well, you know I am not just sitting in my stupor, but things are still getting done. Sometimes I get more done in a day than a person who is at their norm. Pity party over. Thanks for reading and not responding to it.

Dwight continues at the Care Center (AKA Nursing home). He is moved regularly it seems to different rooms, often to the confusion of family and friends who can't keep up. He has been in three different rooms in the last month. He is currently in room 121, a private room, although we are not, nor are we going to pay for a private room. He is not there at our request but because of the remodeling to 'old' rooms now that the new wing is open. The heavy push, verbally to move Dwight to another nursing home ended when Dwight and I continually insisted on a written request to move him. (When and why in writing please.) It seems we stirred something up. He was told he can stay. BUT not in a private room. That is out of my pay scale. I would like back all the time I spent going to many different nursing homes, making phone calls, and actually starting the paperwork. Not to mention the stress on both of us and the kids.

While in the first of three rooms Dwight was carrying a fever, after much requesting they ran a culture on his urine and found two UTI's. Yes, two. One related to MRSA. Took two more days to start antibiotics. After a week of antibiotics there were to test again, but it keep being put off. Now there is another complication. More waiting. And while waiting, he is really missing seeing the grandchildren, who aren't allowed in with the contagious infection. Not seeing family on BIG holidays is hard on anyone.

There is always fun stuff happening when you are a grandparent. Esther Faith has declared that I am her friend, a high honor indeed. Aurora declared (and is upset) that I am not old enough to have white hair mixed in with my blonde. Isaiah has decided that I don't like him as much as the rest because he isn't as cute as them. (Doesn't being very handsome, kind, loving and bringing me Tim Horton's count for anything.....?) And the other two, what fun to watch them interact, they are such great friends and share their own special jokes and laughter.

And speaking of Tim Horton's....so love that I was 'carded' (Golden Buckeye card) to get the senior discount. Sweet, naive boy thought I was 38. :).

I had a great trip home to New York and celebrated my 60th birthday (again) with my family there. Enjoyed so seeing everyone. There just wasn't enough time to converse with everyone, I need to head up again for some more time with every one. We even has snow for me, loved it. Can't have my birthday (Oct 29) without snow.

Now we are mostly caught up. My sewing/embroidery machine and lots of projects are calling me.....

WOW---Thanks.

The cards came and came. All the way to Sunday, Oct 9th. Number one hundred sixteen. 116. WOW. And thanks to all, all, all the wonderful people who helped make this a great birthday for Dwight.

Dwight received cards from family, including my sister who never, NEVER, sends cards. From friends of our family. From our group at church, some have never meet Dwight because the inability to get regular rides on Sundays. But still they choose to wish him a great, blessed day. From a group in Cincinnati who regularly prays for Dwight. Friends from College. And lots of silly cards from a web group our son belongs to. Not counted in the total are wishes received by email and on facebook.

WOW

And back to the tough stuff. There have been comments made for several months about Dwight needing to leave Mill Run. But no pressure, till a couple weeks ago. Now it is time to get a new place for Dwight. I have visited four. Called more. I really liked one place, but they say they don't have an air bed for him. Really, the beds are ordered by the doctor for the resident. Rented and brought in. Really. Wish people would be honest.

Wasn't impressed by a couple others. Gave Dwight info on the fourth, but he prayed about it felt it wasn't the right one. A couple of the phone calls stated no room. Grr. Praying for guidance, want Dwight in a home where he will be well taken care of and where he can be a witness.

Several people took pictures, I am waiting for them to share with me so I can share with you.....

Birthday Surprises

The surprises I planned for Dwight happened and then some. He has received, as of Monday, 90 cards. And his birthday is Tuesday...more to come. Some of the girls from the nursing home made him a card and got him some balloons. All of the children and grandchildren were able to come for lunch: one of Dwight's favorites--KFC, supplemented with pies, cake for the staff and more balloons.

And then Dwight turned the tables on us. He actually planned, with his two favorite aids, to get into his wheelchair and join us in the little 'cafe' for lunch and dessert. We adults were hoping he would succeed, but the grandchildren had no idea. The expressions on their faces were 'priceless'. I'm not sure who was prouder, Dwight or the aids who convinced him to go for it when he doubted himself.

Thankfully, our son-in-law (who shares his birthday), had his ever present camera and got some great shots, including:

And Dwight would like to add:

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of those who sent cards and words of encouragement to make my birthday so extra special. I was overwhelmed at that number old and 'new' friends whose cards filled to over flowing every bulletin board we could find. Thanks again so very much, love Dwight.

Wheelchair

Because Dwight was in the hospital in July he qualified for physical therapy for a few weeks. On one of the last days before they signed off on therapy they taught the aids how to get him into his wheelchair. He has now been in his chair three times and an aid wheeled him around a little. He even moved about twenty feet by himself. He will only be put in his chair when he asks, and if there are three aids available to assist. I am hoping he asks 2 or 3 times a week. It has been 13 months since he last sat in his chair.

The aids who are aware of the card shower for Dwight's birthday come in and count his cards with a sly smile. He still hasn't asked why he is getting cards from people who wouldn't normally know it was his birthday. I hope he can get up next Sunday and join his kids and grand kids for KFC lunch in the little cafe near his room.

Today we are fighting a fever, hopefully just a reaction to the flu shot he got on Thursday.

Extreme news--good and bad

Dwight's pain continues to an issue. Everytime he is in and out of the hospital the meds are adjusted and readjusted. At times he is barely comfortable. During the first visit to the new pain Dr, he seemed to be listening (sometimes mostly to himself and all he does in his free time) and said he would get the meds back to where they need to be. But the scripts weren't quite right.

Then back in the hospital with them looking at old med charts and using them and sending him back the Mill Run with those orders, except for a decrease in his baclafin, because it could damage his kidneys. (Which are already damaged?!?!???)

This week Dwight had a 2nd visit with the pain doctor, who did not inquire how things were, just started cutting one drug in half and increasing another, one that make Dwight drowsy. Dwight started to ask why, and couldn't they leave the one alone, as it was working most of the time. Doc said no, Dwight attempted to engage him in dialogue to understand his plan and the Doctor snapped his laptop shut, stood up and stated, "We are done here." and walked out of the room. Not sure what we will do next, we are examining some options.

Good news: while Dwight continues simple physicial therapy in his room, sitting on the bed edge and arm strengthing, his goal is his wheelchair.

Last week a few techs where shown how to get him in and out of his wheelchiar with the lift. Two got it, two were bored.

Today they got him in his chair and wheeled him to the therapy room where he did a few exercises and back to his room. Of course Dwight gave a happy hello to everyone he passed.

He is quite excited and hopeful.

Want to cry---or scream..

When the remnants of Ike came through three years ago our home suffered some damage, as did many others in the area. Finding repair men was quite a challenge. Dwight did find one gentleman that he was confident would take good care of our needs. (Of course Dwight would rather have been able to do it himself).

Instead of the man Dwight talked to, he sent his wanta be son in law. As it has turned out, he really didn't know as much as he needed to. Too many things have shown that, including the repeated flood in my kitchen.

Twice in as many weeks we had a strong storm come in from the north. A combination of an unsealed door frame and either full gutter or unbalanced gutter resulted with a water fall into my kitchen. Water was literally spraying out of the top of the door jam, shooting out into the room. A bucket placed under it had 7" of water in it, plus all the rest loading the towels on the floor. So glad I got home shortly before it started.

In the basement it was running down the north wall, the worst near where the door is. Plus several other spots. So very frustrating.

We have talked about a roof over the porch, which if installed correctly, may help with some of it. I will need to seal over the door tomorrow, somehow, I asked the neighbor if I could borrow a ladder.....hate to seal the moisture in, would wait till Wednesday but it is to rain again.

Dwight: another infection sent him to the ER on Tuesday, two 'bugs', ones he hasn't had before. Back to Mill Run Thursday after dialysis. He has five days of IV antibiotics to fight it. He does have a new room mate. We were able to get a live church service on the Internet this morning, which we enjoyed.

Celebrated (late) Karin's birthday this morning and Jackson's kid birthday party his afternoon. Fun.

Thanks for letting me stew.

No, you did not....

I have loved cats since before my rememberer started working. My family always has had cats. On the farm there were lots of barn cats, in the spring more kittens than you wanted to count. And by autumn there were way less. Dad would sent a spray of the freshest milk out from under a cow straight into the mouth of the smartest cats. There was always warm, foamy milk poured into the pan for the 'family'. (We called it the cat pan, but it was for food and milk--not the same definition we use today.)

My favorite is grey. I think because we had a wild momma cat that you couldn't get within 20 feet of. Every spring she produced 2 or 3 grey kittens who never made it to adulthood. Until the last year of her life, she had two dark grey kittens, all grey, just like her. I finally was able to get to them one day while she was away. One definitely was going to be wild like her. The other, a little girl, seemed to enjoy being held and loved. When they were about two months old momma went hunting and never returned, a few day later the wild one disappeared also. The little girl allowed some loving and stayed around but didn't make it through the winter. She snuggled a warm cow and forgot to move....

I have had a few more grey cats since, three were very special, loving pets. And now I have another that is doing all he can to be added to the list. He definitely does not like being left alone. The empty nest is not to his liking. He will sit in the other room and protest. Like I am going to go to him, really...trot your little self to me.

Tonight we had some loving, a snack, some in your face while you try to read, and some yowling. Then, after another round of protest from the kitchen he ran straight into the bathroom, onto the toilet seat and..............

............drank from the toilet.

Seriously--I thought that was a dog trick.

He has water in the gravity water dish, water in another dish, but evidently, only the freshest will do for him.