A Busy Week

Monday morning (after the snow slowed), I went to Mr. M's to feed the cats and do a little cleaning up. I did laundry and dishes, swept and mopped the kitchen, cleaned out the litter box, took out the trash, etc. I went from there to the local grocery store to get some milk. I had just parked when the phone rang. It was the hospital--they were discharging Mr. M and how soon could I get there. I told them I had just gotten to the grocery and would have to go home, eat, and then come down there--about 2:00.

I got home, called the doctor that Mr. M had a 1:00 appointment with (I'd been trying to find out whether to cancel this appointment ever since he went into the hospital and had just cancelled it that morning) to see if they could work him in after all. They said they could. I drove down to the hospital--arrived shortly after 2:00. I thought they wanted to know when I was coming so they could have him ready--wrong! I got to his room and he was still in his gown. He said he was still sick. The nurse said the doctor had discharged him and he had to go home. She helped him get dressed. Then we went to his doctor appointment. After that, I took him home, tried to get him to eat, had him take his meds, and left.

Tuesday morning he called me--sounded confused. He said he didn't feel good--I told him to take his medicine and I'd check back with him. I tried during the middle of the day to reach him and kept getting a busy signal. After lunch, I went to check on him. He was fast asleep with the phone off the hook. I replaced the phone and left. I had to go to town to get some bird seed. I called him before I came back to see if he wanted me to bring him something to eat. In the course of our conversation I found out that he had not taken his morning meds--he had taken the sleeping pill from the night before. I got the chicken he wanted from KFC and got to his house while the home health nurse was still there. We were both concerned about his confusion about his meds and his not eating much of anything.

Wednesday was phone calls between Mr. M's grandson, the social worker, and myself. The assisted living facility where he went last June has an opening and plans were made to move Mr. M there.

Thursday, I picked up some meds at the pharmacy and took them to Mr. M--scooped the litterbox, took out the trash, etc.

Today, I went to Walmart for Mr. M to get cat food and some other things he wanted.

I managed to do a few other things this week--but I don't remember what.

Catching Up

We got home from our Florida trip to find out that Mr. M had signed himself out of the assisted living and was returning home. He has someone else that looks after him now, although I have taken his cat, Pepper, to the vet since he doesn't have a cat carrier.

T went to summer camp in Georgia the first week of July (more in a separate post).

L decided to move to the Chattanooga area. I went down with her the last week of June--she found a room to rent in someone's house. It seems like a nice place and the lady she'll rent from seems to be really nice too. We went down again the week T was at camp for a job interview with the same company she works for now, but in Cleveland. She has not heard back yet, everyone seems to be out of town when she calls, but she figures it will be easy to get a CNA job somewhere if this one doesn't work out. She'll be moving down there next week.

I finally went to the Dr. about the dizzy spells I've been having (started with a real doozy of one in April, lately became more frequent). She said it sounded to her like BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). She gave me some antihistimine which stops the vertigo--said to take it four times a day--it made me so sleepy that I slept all day. I may be getting used to it though. If that doesn't work, she gave me some other allergy medicine to address sinus buildup. And, if that doesn't do it, some antibiotic in case of a sinus infection. I also have some exercises to do. Hopefully, one of the treatments will work and the vertigo will end soon.

An Eventful Week

Sunday--After returning home, I did six loads of laundry at my house and two loads at Mr. M's. Mr. M's son,D, and daughter-in-law,T, cut their Florida vacation short and drove up here.

Monday--I called Mr. M at 8:00 for medication reminder--called again about 9:15 and he still hadn't taken his meds--he took them then. D and T came by and I gave them the information I had typed up regarding Mr. M's medication, doctors he's seen, appointments already made, etc. They started working on tying up loose ends regarding moving Mr. M to assisted living. I did six more loads of laundry.

Tuesday--I called Mr. M--he had a Dr. appointment. He said he wouldn't be ready--I went over and gave him his medicine--tried to talk him into getting ready--finally cancelled the appointments. I went home after D and T arrived. They moved Mr. M down to the assisted living after lunch. The kids and I had gone to the library and stopped by the assisted living just as they were moving Mr. M in. We visited with him in the common living area while D and T got his room settled. Went home and fed his kitties.

Wednesday--M went to work. L came in and announced that the stray dog she brought home a week or so before campmeeting had just had puppies--seven of them. I made flyers and put them up at two vet offices and advertised on freecycle. Also fed Mr. M's kitties.

Thursday--Fed Mr. M's kitties. Gathered up a load of stuff to take to Goodwill. Fixed lunch. T and I went to town and dropped off the stuff at Goodwill, got heartworm medicine for Snoopy and Doobie, some food at Walmart, some corn for the squirrels, then stopped by and visited Mr. M for a little while on our way home. Fed the kitties again--checked on the puppies--did dishes--put away groceries.

Campmeeting--Day 8--Friday

I spent about an hour on the phone talking to the social worker, etc. and missed the 9 a.m. meeting. I went to the 11:00 service, it ran late so I had to leave before it was over. I went to the Snack Shop and got some lunch--T arrived from the 11:00 service just as I was finishing lunch. I left about 12:30 to go to Mr. M's to meet with the social worker.

The social worker pulled in right behind me at Mr. M's. She explained his options--hire a sitter (out of pocket at $12/hr.) or go to an assisted living. She said there was a good assisted living place in Gallatin that had an opening. I asked if he wanted to look at it. He said he did--so the social worker left and we got ready to go.

We got to the assisted living--very near the hospital and doctors' offices (they would take him to his appointments). It is small--only 20something residents. It was very clean and attractive. We were shown the two rooms they had available. Mr. M said he would do the paperwork right then and signed up. We stayed for supper--quite acceptable. I took him home and got him settled for the night--pills, cats fed, etc.--then returned to campmeeting.

I had to stop at the store for perishable food for Sabbath meals. I got back to the tent just as the sun was setting and put things away. I got to the auditorium at 8:10--the preacher wrapped up his sermon at 8:20.

Time spent with Mr. M: 7 1/2 hours
Meetings attended: 1+