40 days...hard to believe. Today I got a little done in my own house which felt good...I wish laundry would do its self. So I arrived at Windsor about 11am. I had called my mom earlier to let her know I wouldn't be there as early that I was doing some laundry including some of hers so she was fine as she was in need of the clothes I was washing.
I went in looking for Josephil who was still in the meeting and I let the desk know that I wanted to talk to her before she left...they said they would give her the message. I talked to mom a little and helped her get dressed. She is still unsteady but able to stand and move from chair to bed with little help. I asked her how she slept and she ok but she took the mask off a few times. About then Shirley arrived with In & Out Burgers and milkshakes. My mom ate a cheeseburger and talked about how slow she is eating these days - she has always been a slow eater but now it was even slower. She finished about half and I the other half. We all sat and talked about my moms dislike of the mask and again Shirley and I repeated how important it was and my mom got frustrated with us and said that we had no idea how bad the "bastard" was...we both agreed that it may be annoying but many people that we all knew used one. I told my mom that I would sleep in one to see how bad it is. She seemed to be having a hard time coming to grips with the changes that have occurred (her battle scars). We kept telling her that is a matter of life and death that she wear it or one day we would find her unconscious and then what?? She asked if we would wear one - and I said ABSOLUTELY that if that was all I had to do to stay alive I most certainly would wear one...to get to be with my family....YES no problem. Shirley said YES as well. My mom seems to be in a bit a pity-party again....after the initial surgery I heard her say many times how hard it is and how big of a deal she had.....There is no doubt that it all sucks.....BUT, as I told her, the alternative is much worse. I was really frustrated and kind of hurt thinking that she didn't want to live bad enough to wear the f'en thing. We shall see what happens. I am concerned about how she will handle it at home when she takes it off in the hospital at least there are nurses making rounds every 2 hours and can put it on. I am hoping that she gets used to it before she goes home.
Overall she seems pretty clear although she does get confused off and on...and sometimes when she is trying to explain something I can see that she knows what she wants to say she just can't get it out correctly and get frustrated when I ask for clarity.
I talked with Josephil finally and she told me that they decided to continue their work with my mom and that there would be a "care conference" on Thursday that would include me and they would talk about her needs and how they can be met at home....that she would probably be discharged Monday or Tuesday of next week. Wow...there is a lot to do before she gets home....I am going to get LifeAlert hooked up and equipment will need to be delivered, a care person figured in, friends to come and go and someone to sleep there at least for awhile. I really believe that much of this will be temporary....I just hope that my mom wants to live bad enough to wear the mask but it is ultimately her decision.
Well tomorrow I will try to return to work so any visitors in the morning would be great....I will be there in the afternoons. Thank you
angels angels everywhere....Kathy and Steve, Virginia and Darryl, Shirley and the staff at Windsor
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