Tuesday September 26th 2023

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 26, 2023

73 degrees with 73% humidity, cloudy, but no rain is forecast until 51% rain tomorrow. But it is so gray out there, it LOOKS like it wants to rain.

Yes, Tweety, "grim" is an apt word for hubby's outlook, for sure. I have to go by the lawyer's office tomorrow and ask them about the POA because I don't think hubby has enough brain cells together enough to be Nannie's POA and he is most likely going to need a POA to handle him when the time comes.....which will prolly be sooner rather than later. He is downright pathetic and getting more-so. I wish he was a service veteran so I could shoot him off to the VA for treatment. Not that VA would be the best place, but it would be an option we could use. I sure as heck don't know what to do with him. His left forearm and hand are still edematous, and he swears he takes the Lasix, but I dunno. He really needs to go to the doc (PCP) and an Gastroenterologist....and he also is losing his teeth so a full mouth extraction would be a good idea. But with all his other health problems I'd bet he'll have to go to the hospital for the prep for a colonoscopy and endoscopy, and for the procedures, and dental work, as well. Maybe not all at the same time, though! (As if it will all fall into place. yuh.)

Well, it is nearly time for supper. I got a bunch of freezer dinners again, because I have so much stuff to do that I don't have the inclination to cook anything for suppers. I understand it is not the best nutritionally but I can only take so much before I have to take short-cuts.

I went through the checkbooks today and paid bills and will distribute them tomorrow, as required by which bills will be late if I mail them. If I tried to do all that via laptop, I would ef it up worse, because I am no kind of computer-person.

I texted my friend in Fla to see if her niece will make some copies of the pic she took of me and Momo, but have not heard back yet. They also have to send me the veterinarian's documents.

I feel like a juggler: everything is up in the air, and I don't know which item to catch or let fall, or toss again.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Sep 26, 2023

It's in the 50s here, breezy and overcast. The big rain that was forecast never happened. Showers are forecast. We just got back from taking the dogs to the park for a long walk. Dh and both pups are out cold. I plan to play trivia on line tonight. Yesterday's trip to the neurologist was hopeful. I really liked him, he wasn't as stuffy as some I've encountered. He thinks it could be an inner ear thing. He ordered a head MRI, a consult with ENT, and sent a request to PT to work on balance for her. She starts outpatient PT for her femur fx next week. She is getting depressed about lack of answers, but I think the neuro gave her some hope.

I'm waiting to get my flu shot until the end of October. I'll ask about COVID at my next monthly RX pickup. My pharmacy doesn't get the "senior" flu until the end of October, and I've always read that seniors should take it later so it's working when the Flu B strains are active in the Spring. And I'm going to order some COVID tests.

NSIME, yes, I think you will need to get POA for Nannie, unfortunately. I'm looking forward to pics of Momo.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2023

G'day.

I meant to get my covid vaccine yesterday or today. Had a staff meeting this morning. Nothing earth shattering. Same old stuff.

Agree that getting POA straightened out should your husband become incapacitated is a good idea. You will automatically have his POA as his legal wife but not sure if that will transfer to Nannie or not. Best to get some advice.

Went to the movies with best friend. I noticed he has a tendency to cut me off when I'm about to talk about something. I was going to tell him something about Taylor Swift and he interrupts with some other thought about her, and I was going to talk about a film festival coming next month and he interrupts to talk about a film festival coming in January. Annoying considering the tends to tell long detailed stories that I'm always attentive too. Oh well he is who he is and I accept it. We're close enough that I can tell him if and when I want.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2023

Hubs has a conversational style much like that.. interrupts and then goes on with a long-winded story or comment. After 34 years I guess I don't let it bother me too much.

My computer at work still isn't quite right. I sometimes add more stress to myself than necessary because I want to get the most right, most detailed answer. I can go down rabbit holes. Today I was so frustrated with the computer issues that I made myself back off.

The sunset this evening was gorgeous and the moon is nearly full.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 27, 2023

Sweet little Momo is feeling more relaxed and at home, now. If I have to go into Nannie's room for the laundry, or her bathroom, I will get up and point my index finger at her and say "Be a good girl and stay there." then I spread my fingers, like 'stop', and point my index finger again and repeat "you stay there," and then I spread my fingers again and say "I'll be RIGHT back," She's catching on. I know it isn't typical dog training, but I've always used my own words and gestures, and they work fine, as long as the dog is intelligent enough to catch my drift. With Moosie, instead of saying "come." I'd say, "This way..." and he 'd come follow me. Animals don't know if you aren't following the traditional language of dog training rules!

She is using the underpads exclusively for her bathroom. She is eating small amounts of food when she feels hungry, but doesn't over-eat. This AM (which is actually noon-ish, but it is MY morning!) she liked the Cesar Chicken Recipe I put down for her. After she ate what she wanted of it, I let it sit alongside her water dish, but she didn't eat any more of it. When we came upstairs for bedtime, I put a fresh underpad on the floor in my room, refilled her water bowl, and stirred the chicken recipe she ate earlier and put a small amount of water in it. By golly she ate a bit more while I was assisting my husband to get ready for bed in his room. Funny she doesn't really eat or drink while we are watching; when we go about our business, she'll go to her dish or bowl and consume what she wants. If we come back into the room, she stops and leaves the dish alone. Must be something from her past animal-hoarding living situation. That's why I don't mind loving on her a lot of the time, to make up for all those years when she wasn't paid a whole lot of personal attention. She likes to sleep between pillows while I am sitting up against them up in bed. She carries the little squeak-toy they brought up here with her, and burrows in. She can carry it but can't make it squeak, as her jaws aren't strong enough. I will get her a few smaller toys tomorrow. Anyway, she carries the toy with her to settle down between the pillows. Later when I decide to lay down and cover up-, she will sleep in her round, fuzzy bed that accompanied her here. I think I already said I would be looking for a front-side papoose carrier that I can hook over both shoulders and sometimes carry her against my chest while I am out and about, or doing a task around the house. The green dog-purse-type bag is awkward and a bit unwieldy, even though she is only 4 lbs.

She doesn't have a light-bulb shaped head, thank goodness. When I look at her face from the side (profile) she reminds me of a close-up photo of a fox in profile, a photo I had as a screen saver for a while. I think I told you she is fawn colored, with a bit of older-dog white fur on her face, and a white chest; her paws don't have socks exactly, but her toes are white. And her left eye....I don't know if she can see out of it; that's the eye where she got a scratched cornea and it isn't full or round like a regular eyeball would be; the lid moves normally, but sort of acts a bit squinty some of the time.

And boy-oh-boy does she soak up being held ,or sitting in my lap or beside me, with me scratching and stroking her. I gotta say, she is quite precious and pretty dang "chill" and mellow. One thing she likes to do is wedge herself between my shoulder, and the back of the thick, soft sofa arm where there is a space in front of the upper side (where ya lean back) of the sofa, She's practically upright and drapes her paws and chin over the top of the arm. Hard to describe, but odd and cute.

Nannie can't get over how well behaved she is, but she also refers to the dog as "that little puppy" and how "he" doesn't make a mess.. But at least she doesn't want necessarily to hold Momo in her lap, thank goodness.

As I am also writing to my sibs about her, I'm not entirely sure if I repeat myself, and if so, excuse me. You can tell I am enthusiastic about her, quite taken with having an older dog as opposed to a young pup. Momo is my love-bug. Right now she is bathing her fuzzy squeak-toy as if it is her child, she is laying down wrapped around it so it is up against her belly. Leftover mothering, after having had three litters. I wonder if they took her pups away from her too soon?

It's a nice change from focusing on you-know-who and his not-very-good way of 'living' his so-called life, which I may have given really TMI about in my previous post, but I had to vent and squawk, as he is a major and regular SMH constant around here. Once again he could barely get up out of his recliner tonight; only with much effort and many tries, he finally did get on his feet, and once again I had to assist him up those 9 steps to the kitchen so I didn't have to watch him fall backwards. UGH! and GRRRRR! He is so bad---- NOT taking care of himself, not eating at all, then tests his FSBS and I am the one who fills the insulin syringe since he can hardly see it. But I refuse to let him have the syringe until he has EATEN something for the 18 units of Lantus, if not for himself.

Momo says "Enough about that man. Let's snuggle and read!" ...and I agree!