Sitting on my lap

Last night when Grandma got out of her wheelchair she stood up, took two steps and then sat on my lap - talk about role reversal!  I think she just wanted to be close to me. 

The antibiotic eye drops are doing wonders for Grandma's eyes, they have cleared up and she's even opening her bad eye now.

After Grandma goes to sleep, I lay the breathing mask under her nose and she gets her treatment without fighting.  It does make her cough though.

One of the nurses told me that when her daughter comes out to visit she always makes sure she finds grandma, she thinks she is so cute and little.  We've heard so many people say that, haven't we?

Grandma's breathing treatments

Rhea and I went to the nursing home last night after work.  The nurse said Grandma fought them yesterday when they tried to do her breathing treatments and asked if we wanted to try to give her a treatment.  After we visited for awhile, we got her ready for bed and then gave her the treatment.  She was so tired that she didn't fight much.

When we first arrived Grandma was still in the dining room and we visited there for awhile.  She kept standing up, I guess because she gets so tired of sitting in the wheelchair.  She'll stand for a minute then sit back down.  She would put her arm around me to hold herself up but I'm pretending that she stood up to hug me.

While we were in the dining room visiting, a gentleman resident came in and rolled up to visit with us.  He began speaking German and we really enjoyed visiting with him for awhile.  He would try to get Grandma's attention by crying like a baby or saying things in German to her and also used the German word for mother when he would talk to her.  Things were going along nicely until his dentures started falling out.  You have to understand that with all the medicine I've been taking over the last two weeks my stomach is raw and on the edge.  So, when he would talk and his dentures would slip out of his mouth - he would use his tongue to put them back in and I started feeling a little queasy.  But the ultimate was when he decided he needed to spit - he hocked and then spit on the floor to the right of Grandma.  It's a miracle that I didn't hurl right there.  I asked Grandma if she was ready to go to bed and we went to her bedroom without "Mr. German".

Grandma was a lot better than I thought I would find her.  Her cough is bad and she had a large black circle around her mouth.  But we got a few smiles out of her even though she wouldn't talk much.  I'll be going back every night to do the treatments with her.

I know y'all miss her but she looks so bad that it would be difficult for most of you to see her this way.  She weighs 79 pounds and can take a few steps but is VERY feeble.  Michael (nurse) said she is still eating most of her meals but not drinking.  We tried to get pictures of her last night but my phone ran out of power, I'll get some tonight.

Prayers Needed

Little Grandma is sick with a chest cold. 

The nurse called me yesterday and said her lungs are congested and she has a cough.  They are going to give her mucinex and breathing treatments twice a day.  I haven't been able to go out to see her for almost two weeks because I have a chest and head cold.  The nursing home asks that family/friends not come while sick plus I didn't want to give this mess to her but she ended up getting it anyway.  Three other residents have it too.

The nursing home calls her the "Comeback Queen" so hopefully this cold won't go badly for her.  They say she is still peddling around in her wheelchair so that's a good sign.

I know Grandma will fight the nurses when they try to do the breathing treatments.  Please pray that she'll be calm and will take the medicine.

November 16, 2010

Rhea and I went out for Grandma's birthday Tuesday night.  As usual Grandma was ready for us to put her to bed.  Momma and Daddy had sent her beautiful flowers and she smiled when she looked at them, she liked smelling the red rose.  We brought her birthday cake with whip cream icing.  Grandma kept eating the icing and saying, yum . . . yum . . . yum . . .  She was so funny and had the icing on her hands and face.  We sang happy birthday to her and she sang a few lines with us.  I think we wore her out, after all that we put her to bed and she was very content to be in her bed - 94 years old.

Thursday, Nov. 11th 2010

I've been gone alot for the last two weekends so I haven't put anything new on.  Grandma was very tired tonight and ready to go to bed.  I was asking her about her birthday tonight and how old she'd be, she said 6 or 8.  She couldn't remember Daddy's name tonight and her little eyes were so red from her rubbing them.  On the way home we passed a coyote and I couldn't help but think about how Grandma would have enjoyed seeing him.

I got two videos of Grandma tonight and as soon as I can figure out how to get them off my phone I will upload them.

I scrolled down through Grandma's pictures of here tonight and was surprised at how she is changing.  Since I see her so often I don't notice it but I can the difference in the pictures.

10/23/10

Grandma was in a talkative mood tonight.  She would respond to questions pretty good!  Especially when Rhea Lynn asked her who her favorite grandchild was and grandma said "Kellie"!!!  All this time I thought it was Jason.  She said her son's name is Bobby King but doesn't know where Elliot is.  One thing I noticed tonight that she hasn't done before is she was taking shallow breaths.

This is such a good picture of grandma, she rarely opens her left eye and I happened to catch her looking with both eyes open and a little smile.  She's so tiny now I think I may have to start buying her little girl's size clothes.

Tuesday night

Just got home from being with grandma, she was restless tonight when we put her to bed.  She kept trying to get up and hold hands.  She would try to lean on her right arm and hold hands.  She also hugged me tonight which hasn't happened since the beginning of summer.  I was afraid to leave her tonight because of the way she was acting.  Since she isn't able to tell me how she's feeling, I didn't know if she was feeling afraid, in pain or just uncomfortable.  She did finally settle down and I came on home.

room change

Grandma is in a different room now, room 12.  She had to be moved because she wouldn't stop being mean to her former roommate.  I realize hatefulness it part of the disease and she has sure had her share of it.  The room she is in now has two other ladies and grandma sleeps in the middle bed.

She has gained weight and now weighs 80lbs.  I believe the reason for this is because of Michael, a CNA that she really likes.  When he is there during meal time she allows him to feed her.  He can get her to drink her ensure and as long as he sits with her she'll eat. 

Last Thursday night when we were cutting her fingernails she knew her birthday - what a shock!  She said she is 84.  Rhea asked her if she remember Brother Sellec and she said, "he sure was a good one".   We no longer have to bribe her with candy to cut her nails, she just sits there.  I asked her if she had children but she said no.

I told her she has a beautiful new great-great-grandson and she said, "sure nuff?  well that's a good one."

Sunday afternoon

Rachel and I went out to see grandma this afternoon.  She was in the recreation room for a pirate party.  We took her back to her room for a visit but she wasn't talking today.  She wants to be in bed all the time.  She can stand up for a short time but she quickly sits back down.  Earlier this week I asked her how old she was and she answered 12.  I was asking her about her son and she didn't know if she had any children.  She has bruises on her legs from bumping into things, she can sure move backwards very fast in her wheelchair.  Her eyes look better and I'm glad of that.  She sure is going downhill though.

Grandma was in the dinning room tonight when I arrived.  She had eaten two bites and then poured her drink on her plate.  When she doesn't want to eat she plays with the food in one way or another, pouring her drink is one way she does that.  It's her way of saying she doesn't want anything to eat. 

One of her shoes were off and I asked her why and she said she didn't want it on.  Her answer really surprised me and made me laugh.  It's been awhile since she has been able to understand what I'm asking and able to answer properly.  I thought it was a great answer.






For some reason Grandma bends over in her wheelchair all the time.  I don't know if it means she's tired and wants to lay down or what.

Grandma has an eye infection right now and I told them to call the doctor and get something for her.  She is so pitiful.  Everytime I  think she can't get any worse, something happens.
Usually grandma rolls back very quickly in her wheelchair so I tried to get a movie of her doing that but she wasn't moving fast tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBlw9UHGKN8 - Grandma rolling backwards in her wheelchair.

Friday, Sep. 3, 2010

Grandma has a cut on the back of her calf, I guess from all the rolling around and bumping into things.  Her skin is too thin for stitches so they are using butterflys.

Wednesday 9/1/10

When I arrived tonight, Grandma was in her wheel chair trying to get into her roommates bed.  We got her cleaned and put her to bed, it took about 20 seconds for her to fall asleep.  She didn't know me tonight.

Saturday August 21st, 2010

Grandma wouldn't talk very much to me today  I asked her if she wanted to get up, if she was feeling bad, if she was in pain - all her answers were no, she just stared.  She didn't have any pain medicine today, which makes her sleepy, so her mood confuses me.

The fractures in her pelvis are healing very well so she is wanting to stand up and has even taken some steps (or shuffles would be a better word).  In one way this is a really good thing but otherwise I'm afraid it could be a very bad situation.  She doesn't understand to set her brakes on the wheelchair and I"m afraid she could have a detrimental fall. 

Thursday night the nurse had her sitting at the nurses station with her so she could watch her. Hospice is ordering an alarm for her chair and bed so the nurses and CNA's can be aware when she is trying to stand and can help her. Her bedroom is very close to the front desk but usually when grandma goes to bed she doesn't get up during the night.

8/17/10

I had to buy grandma a new set of shoes.  The nursing home called yesterday and said her shoes were leaving marks on her feet.  Since her feet hang down and she isn't up walking her feet are swelling so I bought her a new pair yesterday.  She also has a large bruise on her upper arm from trying to get out of her chair and falling against something.

Grandma was doing good tonight but the nurse found her today in another bed.  She got out of her wheelchair and got in her roommate's bed.  This concerns me because I"m afraid she will really get hurt from a bad fall now.  They are going to reevaluate her tomorrow.  I think we need a seat belt. 

She also has a bad spot on her toe where her large toenail has worn an opening.  The doctor will evaluate that tomorrow.

She was ready for bed tonight.

Monday 8/9/10

Grandma was crabby tonight.  She was throwing cuss words around quite a bit.  She is rolling backwards in her wheelchair until she reaches the wall or furniture.  Then she lifts her feet and rolls forward, so she has bruises on her legs because she is running into things. 

She ate really well tonight, eating is a hit and miss thing with her.  I don't mind so much when she is crabby, I actually prefer that to her being blank and numb acting.  She even gave us one smile tonight.

Wednesday Night 8/4/10

Grandma was in a real good mood tonight at supper and was talkative.  I brought her a fresh peach but she only ate two bites.  The lady at the table with her ate it all though.  She is so thin now, her body looks so     different. She still weighs 77 lbs. When I was putting her in bed, she stood up from her wheel chair but couldn't move her legs.  It's the first time I've seen her stand up in a month.  I was glad to see her smile & talking alot tonight. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouE-MteCWi0

Update on Grandma

Grandma didn't eat well Saturday and Monday nights but did eat well on Sunday evening.  She was in a bad mood Sunday night and slapped me.  First time in a long time for her to do that but she didn't appreciate me wiping the cherry cobbler off her chin.  I forgot to ask how much she weighs because she's so tiny.

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Grandma was hurting this afternoon so they gave her morphine.  She slept through the afternoon and they woke her up for supper.  Back to bed after supper for the night.

Long Two Weeks

Grandma sure hasn't been feeling good.  The pain medicine really helps but it also makes her sleep alot too.  One night when I went to see her, she had just finished eating supper in the dining room and had her eyes closed.  She wouldn't open them because she was hurting so much.  The nurse brought her meds, it looks like a tiny syringe and they squirt it in her mouth and it is immediately absorbed into her system.

These days our conversations consist of - "I love you grandma, I love you too hon".  Not much more than that.  She isn't combative like she was except she doesn't want her eye cleaned out, but she doesn't hit when bathing and cleaning her now.  She will let Mary help her with anything though.  She really likes Mary but Grandma's vision is so bad I wonder if she thinks Mary is a man and that's why she likes her so much - she's a Watkins girl.

The nurses get her up for meals and they were trying to keep her up a little bit but I told them to let her sleep if that's what she wants.  The important thing now is no pain.

I did have the - "it's ok to go live with the Lord if you want to"- conversation that hospice suggested.  I don't like having that conversation.

Most nights she is in a good mood and smiling more lately.   Rhea Lynn and I go out after work to put her to bed so we can check for bedsores - I sure don't want that happening.

Grandma is looking at a picture of Robert and I was telling her that he loves her so much and that he is so thankful she told him about Jesus and how to be saved.  (Grandma lead Robert in salvation prayer after church one evening).  When she gets cards I read them to her and we talk about them. 

This is Grandma's favorite place to be, she sleeps alot.  I don't blame her, these last two weeks have been so hard on her.  She is so tiny now, she eats but hospice said it doesn't nurture her body.

Daddy would appreciate your prayers for God's mercy for Grandma.