h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

spent the morning at Mum's who had a chiropodist visit. I went early to wash Mum's feet prior to the visit only to find the morning carer had already done it (I had left a note saying she had that appointment)What a marvellous woman the chiropodist was, she spent almost an hour on Mum's feet, did what had to be done (I will spare you the details) and left a bill for my brother for £23.

Sat with Mum until the lunchtime carer called, writing out my housework diary into a proper log book so everything's in date order and done stuff can be seen at-a-glance. how I hate longhand and probably only I can read it.

My daughter has sent me some photos of my grandson's Prom. Who wants to see the handsome chap? http://picasaweb.google.com/109163337517290185142/2013#5883738804361348050

Wow. what a hansome lad your grandson is--especially in a tuxedo. Hope he had a great time. I'm glad that one of your carers is ON IT and helpful. Hope your mum feels better and that you get enough rest.

Very elegent.

He got to take TWO girls?

I've yet to ask him about that

That is a whole new take on double-dating for sure!

No wonder he is looking so pleased with himself

Hope your Mum is feeling a bit better now.

Websailor

ask him what aftershave he used

I still haven't caught up with him

My car "collapsed" on Friday - literally - I sat in it (thank goodness it was on my drive) and there was an awful grinding noise and the car flopped to the ground. Getting out quick, I found the car body resting on the rear tyre, driver's side. Luckily Ian knows a mechanic and he came out, the springs (coils?) have gone, thanks most probably to the amount of potholes in the area. Still, I'm on Shank's pony until at least Tuesday.

Ian's daughter gave me a lift to Mum's yesterday (Sat) and I told her what had happened, then asked if she fancied fish & chips for lunch, as there's one within walking distance of not ending up with a cold dinner The answer was yes, so I left a note in the kitchen for the lunchtime carer not to start a meal for Violet, and off I went to the chippie. I must have been gone half-an-hour, came back to find the dining table set with 2 plates & 2 lots of fish cutleryand Mum pottering about, so I put the kettle on and popped each wrapped bag into the microwave for 30 secs. I put the dinners in the serving hatch for Mum to put on the table while I made the I carried the cups through myself and found Mum sat at the dining table, having twisted off the lid of a (new) coffee jar and was trying to shake the contents onto her fish & chips. I took the jar off her and asked her what she was doing. She said she was trying to put sauce on. Sauce? Do you mean vinegar? Yes she said. Mum, this is coffee. I'll fetch you the vinegar (no reaction). I returned to the kitchen and the vinegar was on the shelf below where she'd taken the coffee jar. Good job it was a brand new sealed jar eh? Coffee-flavoured batter might catch on though

Good job it's a nice day, as I'm walking there & back

As she is up and about, I should check the cupboards regularly to see where she's putting stuff. My sister had to clear out a house of someone who was a little disorientated, and found food in the airing cupboard and sock drawer, and heaven knows what in the fridge.

I'm there every day, and I've only ever seen her going to the loo & back, then on a Thursday I walk her up the stars, shampoo her last few whisps of hair ready for Caroline to set it and make her look pretty. That didn't happen this week as the chiropodist called Thursday morning and Caroline couldn't make any other time.

I was really surprised to arrive back and find the table set. Just shows what she *can* do, when she wants to! It's almost as if she's turned into a human/feline.

GB, I don't think it is a case of <> but more blanks in the brain, sometimes temporary and intermittent and other times permanent.

I have had more experience of this than I care to mention and I agree that you need to make sure what is available for her to open by mistake. They can lose all sense of what something is, even though it is staring them in the face.

I can't begin to tell you the things my Mum and Dad did that beggars belief and can be scary. My Dad completely recovered his faculties after a few months, having been ill, but my Mother never did.

Don't mean to worry you, just warn you to keep tabs on her. Brains are funny complex things.

Take care,

Websailor

I'm there every day but I feel it's not enough. Last night my brother texted to say he'd found her face and fingers covered in blood, she'd been picking her nose for England and the nails have got talon-like.

He's asked me if I will go and trim her nails today. In the meantime my sister is ill but texting me every day for updates on Mum. When I reported that Mum's wetting every pair of pants (a regression back to her discharge from The Beacon) she asked me to organise a GP visit and collect a urine sample to check if she's got another water infection.

We're supposed to be at a Memorial Service today. I'm also running Ian around as his daughter has the same lergy as my sister). Scalded cats have nothing on me

I don't know the root or reason for the behavior, but I've noted confusion as with the coffee many times with my own Mom, behavior I'd describe as obsessive-compulsive with someone much younger, getting carried away opening cans or putting ice in drinking vessels for example, the latter rather serious in the high temperatures of this desert with a limited supply of ice.

On the latter, I got her an igloo ice cooler and top it up with ice daily so she'll have ice and ice water readily to hand and not need to get into the (backup) refrigerator supply.

She frequently has trouble distinguishing clearly between waking and dreaming states, responding to personalities appearing in her dreams as though they were physically present, has most of her falling incidents when in this state.

She's currently got a home oxygen machine, and has markedly less trouble when she uses it, but despite being willing, sometimes forgets.

Since she's got a diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, she'll be getting an upgraded breathing machine to supply her oxygen under pressure, thankfully, tomorrow, W 12 Jun 2013.




Whew!




I may get more and better sleep myself with fewer night-time interruptions.

with the new machine and getting more zzzz's . Don't let yourself get too run down and take your B vitamens.

FINALLY the Carers Allowance has kicked in.

Phew!

Great news! I hope this will help you feel less frantic, GB

Not before time GB! Should make lots of things easier for you.

About time you got something. I know you feel you need to be there more, but you are only human and need to take care of yourself too.

Talking of finger nails, what are her toe nails like? My husbands were appalling and if Ihad known I could get a chiropodist in, I would have, though whether he would have been allowed over the doorstep I don;t know

Anyway, take care,

Websailor

Ditto on nails.

I had an elderly gentleman (93) in the neighborhood I drove for occasionlly who made a regular stop to have finger and toenails done and was able to have the people at the convalescent care facility do my Mom's the most recent occasion she was hospitalized.