I'm tired of cooking/preparing 3 meals a day. It's just the two of us but boy oh boy can that woman eat!! She stays slimish, I get fattish. It's bad enough I do everything here much less start making her one thing and me the other. At times I feel guilty when I buy her fast food cuz of the nutritional value....not to mention I eat it too.
I actually have bananas in the freezer and was going to try her on the banana "ice cream" idea to see if that's acceptable to her. Crossing my fingers.
Mom's been in an odd state for a few days now - she normally has a very odd sleeping cycle anyway - has for years. But just lately, she's sleeping 10 mins, then back up, then down again an hour later for 10 mins, then back up again for an hour or two, then down for maybe 30 mins or an hour, then back up. Her "sleep time" is the only chance I get to have something like a small break, so I find myself getting a little irritable when she's down for 10 mins, then right back up again - and I know I shouldn't be.
Oh, and FreqFlyer - guess who wished me a happy birthday today and apologized for forgetting? LOL I knew I was making too much of it, but it just really bothered me at the time. Still no word from the other kids, but at least one of them finally remembered.
That sleeping pattern *is* odd. I don't know what to make of it. Is anything hurting her or worrying her, in particular? Has anyone else come across this, is it just a treat in store that I've got to look forward to?
A belated happy birthday to you! Mine has just been, too. I don't think the kids forgot, exactly, so much as each of them thinking the others were planning something, sigh… But after last year's fiasco nothing can bother me any more. My perfect birthday, in the unforeseeable future, will be just me, a half bottle of good Champagne, fresh croissants with cold butter and strawberry jam, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, with HOT milk (I haven't worked out how all this is making its way to my bedside without my having to get up and fetch it, by the way - a specially trained assistance dog, perhaps?) and a pile of crisp newspapers and extravagant magazines. Then popcorn and my top five films on DVD - and NOBODY interrupting. Sorted!
I had to throw the bedspread into the washer as it had the certain smell that tends to develop in elder homes. The washer didn't like the bedspread on the spin cycle, sounded like a wrecking ball was busy in the basement. I was ready to call a tow truck to get that wet bedspread out of the washer.... threw it wet into the dryer and hoped for the best. It came out pretty good :)
Goldengirl, you need a few days away to get some really good rest and re-charge yourself. It really does help.
ff... sounds like the washer was off balanced? LOL, does indeed make a loud racket like a wrecking crew!! Mine does that when I wash jeans. I detest doing laundry....wait, I don't mind doing laundry, I detest the folding and putting away part!!
No whines for me today. I love Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays!! Those are the days my caregiver comes and I get to leave and do whatever I want :) ahhhh...... ok, something cute... you know how I've mentioned mom's perception is way off, this afternoon we went for a little walk and there was this sunbeam going across the driveway.... she stepped HIGH over it!!....also when we walk into the grocery store, she steps HIGH over ALL the yellow lines :))) tragically cute!
Countrymouse your birthday idea sounds ideal, cept Id probably have the whole bottle vs half ;)
Yes, the washer was off balance, it's one of those "he" high spin thingee, and sure enough once I got brave enough to get near the washer and open it, the bedspread was huddled on one side.... had to push the washer back into place, reset the bedspread, and stand guard for the spin cycle. Whew, at least that spin was panic free.
You fold so things tuck away nicer. gives you more space.
My son leaves all his, wait, used to leave all his clothes in the dryer, he'd de-wrinkle every morning before work. I'd come along, do laundry, pile his on top of dryer, when I took mine out, he would put his back. HA!! Why do I miss him so much?!?!
btw , screw spell check ..
I gave up years ago, so now I don't have extra sheets for the beds... what's on the bed gets washed and put back on.... of course, there are those times when it is around midnight, you're dead tired and you forgot to make the bed :P
In all honesty, this is showing huge inconsideration of me. She has wasted another chunk of my day. But if I say anything, she say "You're fussing at me." And if I tell anybody around here what I go through I'll be guilty of violating the Family Caregiver Code of Silence.
I stopped awhile ago. There is just no point in it anymore. Life is easier. I know they care and love mom, they just don't want or can't witness her decline.
I was thinking about taking mom to the coast again to visit her brother. He's in his 80's, but decided not to. She doesn't know who he is and I think it was hard on him. Maybe I should just call and ask permission first?
Jessie, two words ... Cattle Prod :D JUST KIDDING!!! (or am I) funny, my mom is the opposite. I say we are going somewhere and she's up walking around all in a tither until we go. I'm the one that's in no hurry and need the Cattle Prod :)
Mom has almost always had a weird sleep cycle for as long as I can remember. She's always napped during the day or pulled all nighters or some odd thing. (I have a childhood friend who arrived one morning to walk to school with my brother, only to be met by a chair flying out the front door as he came up the sidwalk. Just Mom re-arranging the furniture AGAIN...lol)
To be honest, I really do think it's the change in her diet that I'm working on. She hasn't had potatoes, her normal amount of bread (she does have bread, but it's a low-carb bread, and only every other day or so - so far less than she used to), or sweets like she used to - so her carb intake is WAY down from what it used to be. She still eats fruit, but for the most part, her sugar and carb intake is far lower than before - so I believe that's affecting everything, including her sleep cycle.
She's pretty happy with the weight loss - down another 3 lbs in the past week, so a total of about 5lbs in 2 weeks - all without any sort of exercise, so that's pretty good. If we keep this up, she will be under 300 lbs for the first time in about 25 years by next week. :-) I think we'll have to have a celebratory (low carb) dinner. LOL
Dad on the other hand still hasn't gotten out of his work-around-the-house clothes, can't find his shoes, oops he has the wrong eye glasses on, oh he needs to go back to his desk to get his wallet, then comes the huge hunt for his cane.... [sigh]. Whenever I need to take Dad for an appointment I tell him 10:30 when it is actually 11:00, and keep my fingers crossed we get there on time.
You see my husband has been in Hospice now for about two weeks. One at home and one in the facility. The emergency trip there came a day late, since I pulled my back muscles turning and pulling him up in the Hospital bed they provided the day before it was decided he had to go..
But he just won't let go. No liquid for over a week, a deep cough and a whole lot of figetting and grimacing most of the time with no speaking nor real moving.
It is so sad for him and his children who have been here around the clock since he left home. A wonderful bunch of kids we raised. Now, they have both of us to worry about - Dad about, "Will it be today or tonight?" and me, " When will she get herself to the Dr. to take care of her back pain and nausea?"
They have become quite close even with their dissimilar personalities. It's a time to 'get along', no matter what.
I wondered what it would feel like and now I know! For me, it is numbness and wonder about the kindness of those Hospice folks and "Where have these wonderful neighbors been all these years?" Mowing our 4 acre lawn and sending brownies over for our pleasure... A warm feeling to go along with the numbness.
'Could use some prayers from you very understanding folks who have pointed me is the right direction many times before..
Maybe tomorrow??
Bless you and your family..