Wednesday August 3rd 2022

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2022

Good morning!
Joe, hope you've a good day. Glad J is feeling better.

Ado, I hope your back is feeling better now.

My sister is a former nurse so knows a bit what she's getting into with my elderly parents. However, knowledge is one thing and the wear and tear of everyday care can be overwhelming. She's understanding that with my house, job and dogs and being in Florida there's only so much I can do. I'm hoping it doesn't come down to "I do everything and no one helps me". This is why I want them down here closer to us here in Florida where I can help. Time will tell.

I'm taking some scheduled time off today and tomorrow to use up PTO so I don't lose it. Not doing much.

Have a great day.

No Stars In My Eyes · Aug 3, 2022

So much for the list in my "brain"! I didn't get my hair trimmed, nor did I shred stuff, or vacuum or hang up clean clothes and whatever else I wrote down. And here it is: almost time for hubby to call-in something for supper. Blah!

Had to make another run to the grocery store. When I come in w/ 4 six-packs of Pepsi zero, hubby says, "Why did you buy so many?" and as I always say: "Because you drink them up so fast." Then the next thing I hear is, "You let me run out of Pepsi." ?

Uh-oh, we had a baseball game this afternoon and I missed turning it on. Forgot it was a 1PM game, and anyway, we lost. But if it is on rerun tonight, I'll just turn it on and let Nannie watch it. Last night she was soooo tired, but would not go to bed until the game was over. She could barely make it to her bedroom. She would not go into the bathroom first. (as I suggest every night before she goes to bed.) So, after she got into bed, she had to get up and go get a drink of water. Then she went back to bed and had to get up again to go in and pee. All the while staggering, and not using her walker. Plus she does all this, but won't get into her pj's. Will have to tell her to change her clothes tonight, as they have been on her for a number of days.

Hubby is just like her in not taking suggestions. I said to him, there is no need for you to try to carry in everything I got at the store. Yet, he will load himself up and struggle, dropping a bag or a 6-pack, and looking miserable in the heat and being short of breath. I would be glad to tote the stuff into the house in 2-3 trips, without complaint, but he just can't get over the fact that he is OLDER now and he needs to be easier on himself.

Now the both of them are crapped out in their recliners. I am tired, too, of the both of them!

Hey, my birthday flowers, the crazy daisies, are still looking "might pert" and it's been 13 days since I got 'em! Had to include some good news in this post!

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2022

Hope you haven't been too busy at work with someone gone this week, Joe.

Tweety, best to you as you figure things out for your parents. Enjoy your PTO.

Stars, that sounds like my days! There's always a big mental list and yet so many things go undone. Gma can't follow more than one-step commands (and has to be reminded of that one step) so I often come home to find her dressed but still with her nightie under her shirt. I think Hubs just gives up. He has to direct *every step* of toileting, dressing, etc.

Twin A and Twin B are good about helping bring in groceries. They're good at eating them, too. Today they got to do some of the shopping. I think they plan for us to watch Lightyear (the Buzz Lightyear movie) tonight.

I might have to find my old yoga mat and bring it to the office. Thanks for the suggestions for exercise for my achy back.

We are back to hot (103) and sunny days.

No Stars In My Eyes · Aug 4, 2022

Hubby and I were sitting outside on the patio and he said to me, "You may want to go upstairs because I am about to start an argument with Nannie."

He told her she has to wear her PJ's to bed. She said she doesn't HAVE ANY pajamas. He also told her she needs to wash up at her bathroom sink more often. She said she already does. He told her that he hasn't seen a wet washcloth in her bathroom for weeks. She took exception to being told she needs to bathe and to wear her pj's: "You can't tell me what to do!"

Now, if she wets her pants, she will take them off and hang them up on a hanger to dry, but unless I tell her to put them in the washer, she will wear them again! I have to scan the room to see where she's put her dirty clothes; Some of them she folds back up. I had found a pair of white pants with a visible pee-ring on the seat and crotch; that surprised her, and hubby being in the sterling mood he is in, said, "Don't worry, you can wear those white pants again because nobody will see your yellowed pee-butt, because all you ever do is sit in that chair. But, now when people start complaining of the way you smell, I'll tell them you refuse to clean up or change clothes. If you go to a nursing home you can bet your bottom dollar they will MAKE you shower 2-3 times a week and they will make sure you wear pj's to go to bed!"

She said she isn't in a nursing home, he said, "But you could be very easily." --Nannie: "No you can't make me go anywhere if I don't want to." Hubby: "Don't push me, I have your Power of Attorney, and the doctor won't have any trouble writing an order that you should be in a nursing home." I don't know when she quit bathing herself at her sink, but I told hubby if *I* have to start doing it, she's going to pay me the going rate. On the other hand, I shouldn't do her personal care to the detriment of MY health.

And so on and so forth....

I went in her bedroom to look for her pj's, but I don't know what she's done with a lot of them. I found one pair, is all. She got a lot of PJ's the Christmas before last and two pair this past Christmas, but there's not any of them that I can see! She did have 6-7 pairs!

She got up and went slamming into her bedroom. Don't know if she has gone to change or just get in bed or what. I had started a wash with her clothes that I did find, that needed washing. Tomorrow I will look around to see if she has a stash of pj's hidden somewhere.

ARGH. I don't know if we can afford an HHA to come twice a week and bathe her.

OK I am tired of this subject. Over'n'Out!

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 4, 2022

Hello all!

Hang in there, No Stars! One day at a time. Have you heard this one: "I try to take things one day at a time but lately several have been attacking me at once." ?

Joe, good that your trip to visit your aunt is taking shape. She will likely be very glad for the visit! Good that J is doing better.

Tweety, enjoy your days off!!

Hello Ado and nursej22!

I made a quick trip to the grocery store, for items to make the cabbage "crack slaw." Then, dh texted, asking if I would bring home something for lunch. I checked at one place, and it was pretty crowded, then chose a Chinese food spot we hadn't eaten at for awhile. So got food from there, good for 3-4 days. Then when I got home, I realized I can't make the "crack slaw," for we now already have 3-4 days' worth of food!! Will have to make it in a couple days.

I did bake a "Black Magic Cake." Baked it in two smaller, glass pans, rather than in the 8" round pans. The glass pans have lids with them, and my thought was, once they are frosted, put the lids on and they will keep better in the fridge rather than a layered cake (there is limited space in the fridge, yanno).

Recipe called for 30-35 min baking if the round pans are used, 35-40 min if a 9X13 pan is used. Mine were smaller than 9X13. When I checked on the cakes after 35 min of baking, they promptly FELL in the middle! Just FELL -- ooooomph! I closed the oven door and baked for another 10 min but the damage was done. Hmph. That'll teach me to open the oven door too early. I'm sure they will taste OK, it's just that the middle is lower than the outer perimeter!

Ah, yes, first world problems.

We just finished the online jam. Tomorrow is dh's banjo practice day. Friday and Sunday we will go up to Oak Glen and help with music for their Western Days.

Have a good evening!

No Stars In My Eyes · Aug 4, 2022

dianah, Put some small plastic toy or something in the middle 'sinkhole in the cake, a curled up dog or cat... (Doesn't have to be edible) It would be so cute!

? One day at a time for 5 years equals 1,825 days! ? Hmmm.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2022

I hate when those days gang up on me!

Anyway, Lightyear was fun. Even though Gma was mad at us and we had to pause a couple of times so she could gripe. It was just an angry evening for her. She thinks we're talking about her or making fun of her. She will say that one of the boys "just takes everything". (Food). The guys made their own creation of "chicken cordon bleu mac and cheese" and steamed some broccoli. Hubs mopped the kitchen floor today. It needed it badly.