Mother

<font color="blue">My mom is in the hospital, having surgery for a clot in her leg. I'm sure she had a stroke first. She will be 88 in January.

I'm battling bronchitus (though feel better) and also a pain flare (brought on by muscle spasms from the med for bronchitus.) My pain level is rather high.

Pray that my mom will do well. Pray that I will be able to do good self care as I manage this crisis for the family (who is spread all over country )

Thank you.

it hurts us all when the health of another is failing... i hope yourself and mom get well soon Sky..

prayers are on the wind as I type
Heavenly Father help Sky and her Mom through this time of need
send them the strength they both need today and all year round
Amen

praying for you and her hon.

<font color="blue"> Thank you all. Mom came through surgery fine. She had two clots. While the doctor worked on one, the other broke off some particles and it flowed right into where he was working, so no extra surgery needed. She'd lost blood flow to her feet, and had had rescue out last Monday first...and then again Friday when they told her again that she needed to go to hospital. (But she didn't go either time.)

Now to work on good self care, and not doing everything that family should (oooo did I say should ???) be doing together.

She'll be in hospital 2-3 days, and then home? I don't think so. She lives alone so I will see about them sending her to a nursing home for a week first.

I am so happy your mother is feeling better. You really
have alot on your plate. Are you feeling better?

Please take care and God Bless.

Sassy

Update on mom: she continues to heal. The surgeon is very pleased with the bloodflow to her feet now (is probably better than she's had in a long time he thinks.) They will have her up and sitting tomorrow. There's no other room for her to be in at the full hospital, so she might be discharged straight from ICU I am pushing for rehab for her. The medicine the surgeon wants her to add is coumadin. With her falling issues though, that means she needs someone 24/7 with her so she doesn't fall. Family needs time to get that arranged anyway.

My self care included leaving the hospital when I became fatigued, and cutting short a phone call from my sister when she began to second guess my decisions. That's twice in 2 weeks that I haven't allowed her to rant on me. (Must be driving her nutty! lol)

Another self care item is that I did NOT rearrange my schedule to accomodate any one else's. I will still go to physical therapy tomorrow (very much needed as I come out of this pain flare) and pain and stress management session (like I need to tell you why with all this family stuff going on? ) You see, just because someone is a professional doesn't mean that family and life is any different from everyone else's. Take care folks!

{{{{{{{{{{{{Jeannie}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

What are we going to do with that family of yours??

I'm happy that you're doing as well as you are.

Mom is still in ICU She had two units of blood given to her last night. I hope that helps.

She looks and sounds much better (even before the units, so I'm eager to see her today.)


With regards to my self-care issue of not giving up my PT and T for meeting the housekeeper at mother's.... I went to PT and T and it helped greatly. When I arrived back home there was a message from the service saying that mom's housekeeper was sick and wouldn't be in today! God worked that out well, don't cha think?

I did miss another Christmas dinner with singles at the church last night. But was able to hold chat last night, so that's good!

Thanks for caring!

Prayers for you and your Mom, Sky.

It sounds like you are making a lot of good decisions. It's still hard though I know. God bless you and keep you.

Please do continue.

I have to check and see if they are giving mom her antidepressant. She has become very depressed and won't eat unless she's encouraged or fed. I've twice now admonished the staff for allowing the food to just be put on her table and left, and not fed to her.

She doesn't watch tv during the day. I supposed she is dwelling on all the bad stuff going on and her worries about future. I keep trying to get her to focus on one thing, that she has control over... and that is the clothes she will want to wear during rehab. She LOVES her clothes and to dress nicely... alas, she hasn't thought about it.

Please do continue to pray for her. She can be a very strong person if she gets her mind around it.

You and your mom are in my prayers, Hon.

Mom is slated to go to rehab center today She's off all IVs and they've had her sitting up and taking a few steps each day for 3 days I think. My sister finally drove over and will be leaving today already, but that's ok. lol

She can orchestrate getting mom clothes for rehab, that saves me bunches of energy.

I hope mom stays the whole 3 weeks at rehab, I've been trying to get her to PT for years, as she's been healthy, just not active.

Thanks for the prayers! I'll keep you updated.

I'm feeling better too...almost have the bronchitis fought this round.

Thanks for sharing the good news. I hope they take good care of her there, and that you can relax and enjoy her company when you visit rather than have a million things to do.

((((((((((( Sky & Mom )))))))))))))

I hope that things continue to improve for the both of you.

Jacq

She's finally at the rehab center...it's one of the "best" around...yet ??? No phone in her room $10 deposit, cash only, no receipt. Have to pay in advance for grooming (hair, nails) and in cash, no receipts, (in advance means a day before or more.) She usually comes on Mondays or Tuesdays.. so when? Wait wait wait... Wednesday, Pay now?

My sis who is driving back to Tampa tonight (long story about how I got her to finally show up here) says, bring mom her checkbook, she can write a check (patient can.) After she leaves huh? I already too mom her check book and it was an issue at the hospital...

They came to weigh her and they couldn't figure out how to help her get up out of the bed so they finally got her on this massive scale, and one foot on either side etc... ah! Can't weigh her, they "missed" the weight, have to sit her back down, off the scale and do it again. NO. So they bring in a sling to lift her up... have to get the sling under her... alas...crank crank crank, the lady lifts her (why not just put the bed down?) aaaahh OOOOOOOHHHH the scale isn't right, they have mom off center and she begins to swing to almost hit her head on the headboard... have to move her down in the sling... alas ! But they can't figure out how much she weighs, it's in Kg I know how.

and to all... a good night!

My mother is complaining about physical therapy and how hard it is! Perhaps a good thing will come from this: she will have empathy for my doing PT 3x a week still after 21 years of it!!!!

Please continue to pray for her. She is doing really well for an 87 year old who has nearly died from blood clots. ONe of my prayers was answered (well many but) a specific one concerning her going on Coumadin. I was against it, and she couldn't live alone while on it. Turns out my "nurse" sister went ahead and told the doctor to begin her on it (while she was still in the hospital the end of last week) and my mom had a terrible allergic reaction! Praise God! I knew this was NOT the right drug choice for her! I'm a little miffed but not surprised that my sister failed to discuss this with me. I found out from mom when I was discussing my concerns yesterday.

She only has 15 more days in rehab I think... but today she was wheeled down and ate with others in the dining hall,too!

How great that she is feeling good enough to complain about the hard work of therapy :-) My stepmother got her knee replaced and a younger woman was complaining about how hard the bicycling was because of her age and my stepmother lit into her :-) "Well, I'm xx years old, keep pedaling!"

Good she's eating with the others and getting into "stride" with the rehab. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers, Sky.

I WISH I could get my mom to MY church, as there are many women in the seniors group who are in their 90s and not even using walkers! She needs that kind of knowledge imo!

Thanks for your prayers. God has been merciful, even in that she delayed a WEEK in telling me she had a problem and going to the ER. If she had gone earlier, perhaps when the piece of clot broke off it would have killed her, instead of flowing right down during the surgery TO the surgeon. I don't believe in coincidences.



I so want to be able to spend time with her at rehab. She keeps her home so hot I can't bear it, but the rehab is cool enough for me (I took mom 3 sweaters!) and I can stand it..if I can walk that far and sit that long.

Did I ever tell you the story about our elderly neighbors and the senior group at church (they are Baptist). That group is called the "Senior Saints" and Billie, now in her 90's, then in her early 80's, refused to join them, insisted on remaining in the "Married" group because, she explained, "there is no where else to go after the Senior Saints, but up and I don't want to think about going there yet, no sirree!"

Thank you Perna, though my mom is a Christian, perhaps she is a bit fearful of death. I will have a nice talk with her in the near future. BTW my Mom's nickname is Billie. (((((hugs)))) (If that doesn't give you chills, something's wrong. )

My Billie's actual name is Avelda, so, hopefully, we diverge there, LOL.

I think a lot of people have a fear of dying rather than of death itself. It is kind of lonely I suspect. But I'm reminded of the preacher who was trying to whip up his congregation, gave a stirring sermon comparing Heaven and Hell and the delights and horrors that would be in each and finished up by asking, "How many people want to go to Heaven; let's see a show of hands!" and everyone raised their hand except for a boy in the front pew, looked to be about 10 years old. With his eye on him, the preacher then asked, "And how many people want to go to Hell?" No one raised their hand, including the boy. The preacher, puzzled and very interested, then addressed the boy, "Son, I noticed you didn't raise your hand when I asked about going to Heaven and you didn't raise your hand when I asked about Hell; where is it you want to go?" The boy spoke right up, "Preacher, I don't want to go anywhere, I like it right where I am!"

That does sound a bit like Mom!

After a lot of hassle for me, I have mom pretty much squared away at rehab. She has 13 more days before she begins to pay half... hopefully she'll be well by then. She is really doing great! I've discussed bad habits she's fallen into with her, and she agrees she needs to make some changes. That's just one of the things! LoL

But considering she nearly died 2 weeks ago, this is wonderful!

Please pray that she will continue to strengthen and be able to pull herself up by herself and also to walk steadily with her walker, removing the constant need for her motorized wheelchair! Thank you, all.

You've got my prayers.