Better Today

Mom was better today.. Turns out, Dad informed me this morning, that she ended up sleeping on one of the couches in the living room all night. She called for him at six-thirty in the morning, and he helped her into their bed then, where she slept some more until about nine-thirty, I think.

When I got there, she was dozing in her chair, having just had her juice, pills, Ensure, and a banana half, and later, I helped her eat an entire hard boiled egg and drink a glass of orange juice. We were expecting visitors today, but everyone showed up later than expected and our nurse M. ended up rescheduling for Monday. I took off the bandage on her ankle with the pressure wound and let it air for a few hours, then when the P.T. Brian arrived, I applied a simple band aid, her socks and sneakers, and we three went outside for three loops up and down the driveway in the windy but warm late winter air. Then we sat her down on one of the chairs on the front porch in the sunshine, and Brian had her do some leg exercises. After a good half an hour in the sunshine, we went back in, and he had Mom show him how she used the bed bar. Then he let her rest, promising to call next week.

After another forty-five minutes -and by this time, Mom and Dad had already eaten their "dinner" lunch of salmon, rice and green beans - the home health aid Linda showed up and gave Mom a light sponge bath, moisturizer and a fresh shirt. It was a short visit as Mom was tired from her "work out," and we let her settle back down, up right, on the couch with her feet up. Dad had retired to the basement for awhile, and I read aloud from the Cuban travels book.

Four o'clock came, and Dad took his pills and we gave Mom her Haloperidol pill. She was less confused today, and even asked us if it was just the one pill she was to swallow. One more bathroom break later, I settled her back up right onto the couch and went home.

On my walk back, I saw my brother's car at the top of our driveway. He's up skiing with friends and is staying over night with us. He zipped over to spend some time with Mom, and I think it's good for everyone to have more visitors, as tired as Dad is these days.