Thursday September 19th 2024

nursej22, MSN, RN · Sep 20, 2024

Wow, where is everybody? I know it's quiet here at my place. I spent some time today updating some of my online auto-pay accounts. Some were attached to my debit card which I recently updated. kind of a pain, but it's my own fault for misplacing my card. It still better that physically writing checks. I also mowed the backyard. The grass was so green and juicy that the dogs have green paws. I'm painting popsicle sticks to use to mark plants so I can find them when they are dormant. One of the other Master Gardeners suggested it.

My older sis called today to touch base about her cancer treatment. She is finished with chemo and has 2 more rad treatments. Then she will start immune therapy which has shown good results with her kind of cancer. She is still smoking, but plans to start Chantix this weekend. Her doctors are quite pleased with how well she tolerated chemo and rad. Only a dry cough, and some tiredness. No nausea, no pneumonitis, no hair loss. She also vented some more about the prep for her port placement. No one told her to hold her Excedrin 5 days before placement. Her new instructions say to hold aspirin for 5 days. Luckily she is smart enough to know excedrin has aspirin.

Going to lunch with dd and the 2 grandsons tomorrow, and dh. Plan is to get take out and go sit in a park. And I will need to clean house. Youngest ds is having friends over and he says we don't need to clean. Uh no, my house, and at least the bathrooms and kitchen will be clean.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 20, 2024

I didn't come back here yesterday because, well, I was worn out!! It took me 45 minutes to disimpact Nannie! 😩 And there was still a 'good' amount of firm stool that scooted back up inside her, so not reachable.What makes it a challenge is that I can not insert but maybe 1/2" of my gloved finger or she'll squeal and squall. I tell her bear down, and then if the least little edge of stool is jutting outside the edge of her rectum, I can flick it out a little at a time. Eventually, EVENTUALLY, the rest of it will come down. You know, I believe Nannie doesn't need more fiber....she eats a lot of fruit and a good amount of veggies, so she gets lots of 'fiberful' foods. The thing is lack of motility in her gut, and of course her lack of much mobility ... she sits and sits and sits, so everything gets packed down to the rectum. Could walk her more, but it depends on her mood if she will cooperate, and of course, there is always the weather....I have increased her fluids, anyway. I could give her an enema every other day, but can't do that while she is sitting on the toilet, and her bed is too far from the toilet and she can't 'hustle' in a hurry to get there! I could layer the bed with chux and do it, but she would have a fit, and sometimes, too, the stool is so solid you can't get an enema inserted past that to cause some 'flushing' out...

So, now that we have had a tour of Nannie's bowels, I will change the subject. 😏

Today the regular (chatty) sitter came, so I went out, just to be OUT. I got my nails done, I shopped around at WallyWorld, but could not find Momo's favorite salmon treats. Got my Covid and Flu shots. Bought Nannie a small 6 flower bouquet of roses, because she didn't get any flowers for her birthday. I was walking past the display and this particular bouquet said "PSSST!" as I walked by. It had three various shades of peach-colored roses, and one each of white, bright yellow and deep red roses. Nice.

Over the next 3 days it is supposed to climb up to 90 degrees! Later in the week we will be getting more rain for a few days.

SiL actually talked (complained) to me about BiL, who is a diabetic and has ^ blood pressure, and is taking a med for his bi-polar-ism. She hasn't ever beyotched to me about him until yesterday! I said he sounds a lot like his brother, except without the booze. She expects him, as an adult, "to make an effort to do the things you have to do if you have diabetes". As I used to tell hubby, it is YOUR diabetes and you need to learn how to take care of yourself. BiL doesn't eat meals on time, and doesn't eat good foods if left to himself. Same-old-same-old-same-old! Must run in their family, though neither of their parents was diabetic. But, the "boys"! Ignoring their health doesn't work out well. Hubby never listened to me, and BiL isn't listening to SiL about the attention he needs to pay to his being diabetic. It often seems like some people think it is "too much trouble" and then drag around saying they don't feel well. *sigh* Not good memories! SO! I'm going to scrap that subject of conversation as well. In fact, I think I will switch over to doing a few crossword puzzles while waiting for Nannie's bedtime. (In an hour)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2024

G'day!

Hope everyone is well. I'll be taking a break for some self-reflection. I'll post later on down the line.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 20, 2024

nursej22, you need to eat a lot of popsicles, to get all those locater sticks for your garden! 🙃. That is encouraging new all around, for your sister. I hope all keeps going well.

Tweety, do what you need to, to best care for yourself. Hugs.

No Stars, I am not familiar with megacolon, what treatments or plan would best help? I'm glad you got some YOU time! Hmmm, it seems denial runs in BiL's family, eh?

Hiya Joe!

We were up in the night monitoring one of the cats, who (per dh) was vomiting multiple times in a 15-min period. By the time dh woke me up (to help him watch her), she had stopped and was alert and behaving normally. She has continued to look good, is eating and drinking and using the litter box appropriately. But we slept in some, needless to say!

This afternoon I got some groceries and made another batch of one-pot sun-dried tomato-spinach pasta, most of it for a friend. Then I delivered it, and dh and I are super. We practiced some of our songs for an hour, in preparation for Sunday's program in Oak Glen. Mostly to keep my calluses!

I cleaned litter boxes, then showered and am taking relaxation time now.

Have a good evening!

toomuchbaloney · Sep 20, 2024

Enjoy your trip abroad, @Tweety. That's one way to escape the campaign ads.