I haven’t been getting around to visiting all my blog pals and finding cool new sites. Mom has been poorly, and I’m her caregiver, so my messing around time is less than it usually is. When I have time to chill, I play Love Nikki Dress UP Queen, because it soothes me.
Mom has C. Diff, which is a nasty gastro bug that has to be fought with bleach and hot, soapy water. PLUS, she’s just been started on oxygen 24/7 and nebulizer treatments twice a day (I give them to her). PLUS, she’s got 6 weeks or so of Home Health, which means a nurse, an OT, a PT, and a grooming aide. Lot of paperwork and intake that I need to handle, because Mom has mild dementia. I wanted this to be permanent, but they tell me they’re only temporary. Hoping they can put me onto somebody who can help me ALL THE TIME, not just for a few weeks. The problems will still be here in a few weeks.
In case you wonder why I don’t take her in to live with me: Dementia gets worse in unfamiliar surroundings. She wants to be in her own home, and I’m dedicated to seeing that this happens for her as long as humanly possible.
ANYWAY, don’t stare at the sun, even during an eclipse, ‘kay? Here’s why.
If you want to look at a disk so bad, how about a 78rpm record? The Great 78 Project is digitizing as many 78 records as they can, which is totally awesomesauce. Have fun!
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character experiences a solar eclipse.
MA
Dan Antion
August 18, 2017 at 7:38amI hope you’re able to get this sorted out. Being a caregiver is demanding work. Take care of yourself, too.
Marian Allen
August 18, 2017 at 12:05pmI’m doing what I can when I can. Trying to get a line on some long-term assistance. The visiting nurse and therapists are great, but I’ll only have them for a few weeks, and they don’t work on weekends. :/
joey
August 18, 2017 at 1:08pmYou’re a good daughter and a good person. I hope as you need it, assistance is available. I’m sure it’s difficult for all of you right now, and I’m wishing you the best.
Marian Allen
August 18, 2017 at 6:04pmYou are very kind. Thank you for the good wishes — it helps more than you know.
Jane
August 18, 2017 at 5:26pmOh, gosh!
Infections are a real bitch. I know you’re doing everything that can be done. Please don’t wear yourself out.
Sure hope you can find tha extra help.
Marian Allen
August 18, 2017 at 6:10pmI’ve got a spectrum: The nurse is like, wrap the house in plastic and fill it with bleach — with you and your mother inside. One of the therapists is like, “I ain’t afraid o’ no c.diff. You’re doing great.” The doctor is like, “Soap and water. Don’t worry.” Mom is a trooper. The nurse had me thinking my only option was to send Mom to rehab care, and Mom said, “You do what you have to do. I hope I’m not one of those who say, ‘I want to go home.’ I hope I always know that, wherever I am, it’s because you think it’s the best place for me to be.” GOD, I love that woman!
Jane
August 18, 2017 at 9:58pmWhat a good Mommy!
I recall telling Mom just that: not to worry because wherever she was that was where she belonged and where I would be. I like to think, whether she understood that or not, that she KNEW it, eh?
Marian Allen
August 19, 2017 at 7:52amShe is a VERY good Mommy! I’m hoping we can recover some lost ground, if we can get rid of this infection. The visits by the nurse and therapists seem to be pulling her out of her funk. The nurse had me convinced yesterday that my only hope of getting rid of the infection was to put her into rehab for the course of the antibiotics, but Mom’s doctor is like, “Eh. Start the antibiotics again.” I talked her into prescribing something for the nausea that came with them so I wouldn’t have to drag Mom to the ER again. So I’m locked and loaded and ready to knock ol’ Mister C.Diff on his ass.
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
August 19, 2017 at 4:25pmThat’s tough for both you and your mom. Hope the temporary care lasts long enough to get rid of the infection, and you can find more permanent care without that hanging over you.
Marian Allen
August 19, 2017 at 4:27pmThanks, Alicia. That’s what I’m hoping.
A.C.Flory
August 19, 2017 at 7:06pmMy Dad had mild dementia too so I know exactly what you mean. A small change of routine can cause an upset that lasts for weeks. 🙁
I hope your Mum gets over her infection as quickly as possible, and I hope you’re giving yourself some ‘me-time’ because if you go down, everything goes down. Stress relief is critical. You may not recognize it now, but I’ll bet you’ve been living with low grade, chronic stress for quite a while now.
Okay, here’s where you may think I’m some kind of whacko, but iodine is the ‘food’ your immune system needs. If you’re not getting enough from your food, your immune system may be a bit run down. Do not drink iodine. Simply ‘paint’ a 1-2 inch diameter circle on an unobtrusive part of your skin [it will stain clothing while wet so be careful].
If the circle takes 24 hours to disappear, you don’t need iodine. 8 hours or less and it means your body is absorbing every scrap of iodine it can get in order to use it for something. Like healing.
Iodine is no silver bullet, but it may help to keep both you and your mother in tip top condition.
-huge hugs-
Marian Allen
August 20, 2017 at 8:24amWe use iodized salt, so my iodine is probably okay, but I’ll check it. Thanks! Mom and I had a talk about how confusing and upsetting all the changes are, and that we’re working on setting a NEW routine that includes the changes. That helped ME, and I think it helped her.
A.C.Flory
August 20, 2017 at 8:38amI’m sure that having a measure of control over his life helped my Dad, and I’m sure it will help your Mum too. From reading the other comments you’ve made she seems like such a lovely woman. Big hugs to you both.
Marian Allen
August 20, 2017 at 10:23amShe IS lovely. I get her up when she doesn’t want to get up, give her meds that make her “queasy,” make her sit in a chair and take a nebulizer treatment, stick her hands in hot, soapy water to disinfect them, give her more meds, finally stick her back in bed, and she says, “Thank you.” Thank you for the hugs. They help.
A.C.Flory
August 21, 2017 at 8:59amI never got on with my mother. I envy you the love you share with yours. Look after yourself too. -more hugs-