Grandma's funeral arrangements

Visitation will be 10:30-12:30pm Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at Forest Park East, League City, TX. Funeral services will follow at 12:30pm.

2 weeks since Grandma's fall

Two weeks ago tonight Grandma fell out of bed which resulted in a fractured hip & femur. Her chest has the worst bruise. She is staying stable but not eating very much at all. She weighs 60lbs and is dehydrated. Evidently her timeline is not the same as hospice. Last week they said she had 48 - 72 hours but she is still going. She hasn't spoken to me in two days now, occasionally I'll hear a little moan. She is on tylenol for her pain but she doesn't seem to be in pain. She is sleeping about 23 hours a day.

January 29, 2012

Grandma fell and now she has a fractured hip and femur. She is bruised from head to toe. Her pharnyx is also inflamed. On top of everything she has a cold and difficulty breathing. Hospice has put her on morphine for the pain. She looks terrible with all the bruises.

12/19/11

Grandma was amazing last night! She was using words and communicating again. I was walking around beside her chair and she said "come here". I hadn't heard her speak like this in a long time. She knew what she wanted to communicate. I got up one time and she said, "wait!" I told her Bobby was coming this week after his job and she was trying to say the job keeps him busy. I was SO amazed! It felt good to hear her talking again. She said she didn't know my name but she knew who JESUS and Bobby were. I really hated to leave since she was talking but she was also very tired and sleepy. She said she was ready to go to bed.

December weight

Grandma gained 1.8 pounds and now weighs 74 pounds.

Grandma's Hat

Last night at the nursing home Grandma was a little bit "with it". I had bought a red Christmas hat to take her picture and when Rhea took it off she said "NO!", she wanted it on.

I noticed while she had the hat on she didn't rub her head. One of the nurses there had crocheted her a pink hat so I put that on her and she still didn't try to rub her head. Now I'm wondering if her head has been cold and that's why she rubs it all the time.

The sad thing is Grandma drools all the time now, I hate that for her.

When I was telling her good night she turned to kiss me, what a surprise! I didn't have to ask several times for her to kiss me good-night,she totally caught me off guard. I was so happy she responded to me without being prompted.

Thanksgiving

Im at the nursing home with Grandma but she is sleeping through our visit.

Grandma's birthday

I wasn't able to get Grandma to stay awake long enough to look at her birthday flowers, she just wanted to sleep.

I was able to get a good night kiss though.

She just wanted to sleep.

The nursing home called today and she has a tear across the top of her right hand (below her knuckles) down to her wrist.  No idea how it happened.  The nurse put her skin back together with strie strips.

Grandma's 95th Birthday

We are having a birthday party for Grandma this Saturday at 2pm for her 95th Birthday.

Grandma weighs 72 lbs and has been cleared by the wound care specialist.

Saturday 11/5/11

When I went to visit Grandma Saturday afternoon, I had a surprise when I walked in the door and saw how her hair was fixed.  The nurse explained that they have several young CNA's with little girls and she guessed they pulled grandma's hair up the same as their daughter's.  They thought it might help her to stop rubbing her head - but it didn't.

The wound care nurse said Grandma's leg is healed and she doesn't need to come back for Grandma's treatments.  So thankful she has been cleared!

October 26th 2011

This is a clip of Grandma saying "I love you too".

The pictures below are of grandma's legs, the first picture is when she had MRSA, the second one shows how well it is healing.  Everyone is shocked how well she has responded to the antibiotic, most believe it is because she rarely took medicine

Getting a kiss goodnight.  Grandma used some words tonight, that is very encouraging to hear.

Friday 10/21/11

Grandma's health care meeting was this week.  She has gained 1.5 pounds and is back up to 73 pounds.  They said some people go downhill quickly but grandma is going down very slowly.  They are using arm and leg "sleeves" now to try and protect her skin.  Every moment is causing small skin tears.  The MRSA (staph infection) is dormant now and she will always test positive for it now.  She was more alert Wednesday night for awhile and refused to eat during that time, she pushed the spoon away.  However, she still crosses her legs and rocks them, so cute.

Monday 10/17/11

Hospice tells me Grandma is sleeping the majority of the 24 hours.

Oct. 6, 2011

Grandma has powder on her neck in this picture.  She has started drooling which is making her neck raw.  She is healing from the MRSA (staph infection) and doing much better.  However, over this last week she has stopped talking.  She will occasionally make a sound that sounds like "yum", but not sure what she is trying to say.  She holds and rubs her head much of the time now too.

She has lost weight and was down to 67 pounds but is up to 71 pounds right now.  Her food is pureed now and thickening is put in her drinks, she seems to be doing better with eating now.  Previously she was rolling her food around and not swallowing. 

She never complains when the wound nurse cleans her leg and changes the bandage.  She still crosses her legs, it's so cute.

MRSA

Grandma has developed MRSA, a staph infection in her right leg.  The wound specialist is changing the bandages twice a day with an oral antibiotic that MRSA responses to.  Hopefully she will be able to get through this - the nursing home calls her "The Comeback Queen".

She only weighs 67 lbs now.

Health Issues for Grandma

Grandma has a few health issues right now and we would appreciate your prayers.  A week ago tonight Grandma's neck was very swollen and red.  The nurse told us it was cellulitis, hospice ordered hot packs 4 times a day for 10 minutes.  By Sunday the swelling was almost gone and a small amount of swelling remains now.  See her picture below.  She also has a rash on her neck.

At the beginning of the week, Grandma hurt her right leg somehow under one of the dinning room tables which created a 1x5 blood blister.  The blood blister has now reabsorbed which was good but yesterday the nursing home called and said her leg is now infected with cellulitis.  The wound care specialist came today to examine her and took a culture from her leg.  She will have antibiotic cream and take antibiotics by mouth for the next 10 days. 

If Grandma is in any pain she doesn't show it, she doesn't seem to be aware of the problem unless you touch her leg.

The picture below is Grandma blowing a kiss, it took alot of work getting her to do this but she finally did.



I talked with the nursing home yesterday and they said they have seen a decline since the last meeting 3 months ago.  She weighs 74 pounds and doesn't talk much except she can still say "I love you too".  It was explained to me that she is coming to the part of Alzheimer's where the patient stops talking.

When I arrived last night and she finally saw me, she held out her left arm and said, g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g, which I think means good, good, good and we had a hug.  She is so tired by the end of the day and usually goes to bed about 6:30 or 7:00.

August 7, 2011

This last week Momma, Daddy & Megan (great granddaughter) were able to come up for a short visit and check on Grandma.  She didn't recognize Daddy or try to speak with him very much.  When Daddy spoke she would turn his direction to look for him though. 

Yesterday Grandma tried to speak a little but her speech was very slurred.  Her speaking abilities are limited and most days she doesn't try much.  Yesterday day she did have some very soft giggle sounds which was nice to hear. 

She is so incredibly tiny, it's very difficult to imagine it.  The CNA's tell me she is eating about half her meals, everything must be ground up or mashed now.  I'm getting concerned about her holding food in her mouth though.  I'm currently waiting to hear from the nursing home about her 3 month health care meeting.

Your continued prayers for the Lord's mercy in her life would be greatly appreciated.

Ready for a nap

Had lunch with Grandma today, she ate all her fruit, half her cheeseburger & all her jello.  Any meat grandma eats now has to be ground up.  She eats jello because she doesn't like to drink, not even hot tea (her favorite). 
 
The nursing home weighs all the residence on the first of the month and Grandma is still holding at 75lbs.  Both the nurses and hospice tell me Grandma sleeps most of the time now.  The picture below is of Grandma today when I was getting ready to leave.  I asked her if she was tired and she said she is sleepy.  She's holding her baby and ready to nod off.

I told Grandma that Bobby loves her so much and that she is the best mother ever and she smiled real big and said that is special.  I need to make her an appointment at the beauty shop, her hair is getting really long.



Grandma weighs 75 pounds

Saturday when I went out to visit Grandma, she was awake but didn't talk, she just stared at me.  Usually I can get her to say a few words but she wasn't in the mood to talk I guess.  I always wonder if she's mad at me and that's why she doesn't talk but hospice told me she will eventually quit talking - that is part of the decline.

This picture is of her sitting in her large chair.  It's like a recliner on wheels and she's so little in it, she looks like Edith Ann in the oversized rocking chair.  She was cold so Rhea Lynn found a blanket in the closet and we put that on her.

Sunday when I went out to the nursing home the nurses had put her in bed already so I sat with her for awhile.  She wasn't talking then either, she just wanted to go to sleep.  Currently she eats then goes back to sleep - all day.  The hospice nurse told me she's in another decline but she'll watch closely to see if she levels out or continues to decline this time.  She weighs 75 pounds.

I've been taking small cakes & cokes out to try and put some weight on her.  She likes them but this last Thursday, I couldn't get her to understand to take a sip from the straw.  She never did understand what to do.

Mother's Day

Grandma gets weighed once a month and last month she weighed 75 lbs.  Hospice tells me the nursing home reports she isn't eating or drinking very much.  Each week I talk to them, they seem to try to prepare me.  Her speech continues to become limited and uses mostly sounds and small words such as no, yes and NO!  She is SO tiny you can't imagine it.  I purchased some new clothes this week because her current slacks are sliding down as she moves around in her chair and her shirts are truly bagging on her.  She also doesn't appreciate me patting on her or rubbing her.  I was brushing her hair this weekend and she didn't want that either.  I think she is uncomfortable.

Grandma on Easter

Grandma and I on Mother's Day

Grandma's new chair

Grandma and her nurse Michael - he can get her to eat.  He is very kind and good to her.

Grandma's new chair arrived today. She sits up higher and seems to really like it.  She even fed herself a little bit tonight.  I wish so much I would have thought of it sooner.  She will be comfortable and not get her hands caught in the wheelchair.  She was so good tonight.  She looks so little in the chair.

Grandma's bruised hand from getting it caught in the wheelchair.

March 9, 2011

Grandma's usual face expression

A rare smile

Grandma doesn't smile very often so this picture is a treasure for me.  She has terrible bruises on the tops of her hands from putting them in an open spot in her wheelchair.  She can't get them out and she tugs causing the terribly bruising and swelling. I'm also concerned about her slipping out of her wheelchair.  I asked for a Geri chair because of her skin tears and bruising on her legs and hands.  My feeling is for her to have quality days - not banged up days.  She doesn't have much mobility, she moves her feet a little but no walking or moving around.   She weighs 74 lbs.  I noticed last night that she has broken veins on her chest close to her neck, her little body seems to be breaking down.  Also learning new communication with her as sounds have taken over for words but occasionally she'll spout a few words out that are very clear.

She still has beautiful hair.

Sunday update

Friday night when I went out to see grandma the nurses were putting her in bed so I sat with her until she fell asleep.  When I went Saturday afternoon she was asleep so I sat there for awhile.  Today I went out and she had just come out of church service and was back in her room.  I stopped in front of her door to say hello to one of the other residents and I heard her saying, g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g . . . I believe she uses this sound for good, good, good.  It made me happy to see her speaking and sitting up looking me over.  She is still having problems with her hands and wrists swelling.  The doctor doesn't seem to think too much of it and feels that she's probably sleeping on her arms wrong.  It was 11am and she had been up since 6:30 so she was tired. She wanted to get in bed so I put her in bed and she closed her eyes right away. 

Grandma's hands

They've cooked many meals, washed many dishes,

pinched several ears, patted many dogs and cats

provided medical care, gave directions 

and hugged many children.

February 15, 2011

As you can see, Grandma is moving towards the fetal position.  Her temperature tonight was 96.2 and her oxygen level was 92%.

February 15, 2011

I am way overdue for an update on Little Ruby. 

Grandma has a few things going on right now.  She is back on breathing treatments because she is wheezing.  She also has several bad bruises from falling out of the bed.  Her bed is very low and close to the floor but she fell half way out of the bed.  She has a large bruise on her hair line, it is a round shape and feels like jelly when you touch it.  A cut on her right hand which has her right hand swollen.  A large round bruise on her right butt cheek.  Bruises down her right leg and on her left foot.

Grandma weighs 74 pounds now.  She isn't able to feed herself, the nurses do or when I'm there at meals, I do.

At Christmas she didn't know Daddy which was very hard to see.  Grandma is declining.

Blisters

Grandma has three blisters on her right hip - they look like water blisters.  The hospice nurse said they're from heat and the standard procedure is to exposure them to air.  She sleeps on her right side all the time so they have to keep her off her side. 

I'm working on her Christmas cards so I should be getting those out in a few days.

Grandma's daily routine

Below is Grandma's daily routine.

6am - up for breakfast
7:15 - breakfast served
10am - first activity
10:30 - nap
12:15 - lunch is served
1:30 - nap
5:15 - supper is served

There is also an activity in the afternoon & evening but usually after lunch Grandma is exhausted.  It takes her a good hour & sometimes more to eat.  Grandma goes to bed about 7:30 or 8pm and is more than ready to be in bed.  She can push herself backwards in the wheelchair but can't figure out how to go forward.  If she runs into a wall or something, she is stuck until someone moves her.  The nurse said she doesn't talk much during the day and she isn't talking much with me.  But when I tell her I love her, she'll say - "I love you too".

Tuesday 12/7/10

Last night Grandma's breathing sounded bad but we gave her the breathing treatment and she sounded much better.  She just laid there and stared.  She sure doesn't feel good right now.