Spring Ahead?
Last Friday my mother went to see her mother-in-law. She reported that Mee Maw was practically her old self. She was able to converse intelligently, and even seemed to be in less pain than usual.
My wife and younger sons visited her on Saturday before lunch. When they arrived, her son James was there with Dixie, Mee Maw's dog. Everyone had a good time, and Mee Maw was still herself. She insisted on walking her son out to the door with the dog, and as they walked down the hall she made sure that everyone there recognized her pet. The nurses have seen this before, so they were ready with their greetings as the convoy passed.
After seeing the first two visitors out the door, Lori and the boys sat with her in the sitting area in the front of the facility and chatted for a while. Lori gave Mee Maw a Bible crossword book that we had purchased for her. She seemed truly thrilled to have it. We certainly hope that she uses it and enjoys exercising her mind.
When our crew was ready to leave as lunchtime approached, Mee Maw insisted on getting out of the chair and walking them to the door also. She still moves slowly, but she seemed able to get around well. Her mind was as sharp as ever. She was even looking forwards to the afternoon Bingo session.
Then came Sunday. The "powers-that-be" in their self-described infinite wisdom have ordained that all clocks be turned ahead one hour. Mee Maw knew about this. James told her that he would return before her bedtime to set her clocks ahead. All of this fuss about the clock apparently confused her again, because when my parents visited her on Sunday, she did not know what day it was, what time it was, why the clocks had to be changed again (which they didn't) and which meal she just ate or was getting ready to eat. We don't know exactly why the time change did this, but we assume it is because she was finally becoming a bit accustomed to the routine, and then it changed.
The first part of this week was apparently OK. Mee Maw called my mother on Tuesday complaining about not being able to use the telephone. If she couldn't figure the phone out, then how did she manage to call? She called at least two others complaining of the same thing. My father wonders if she picked up the phone and tried to use it as the TV remote. That would make the phone begin to make strange noises, which she would cancel out by making a call. We will probably never know.
My mother was to spend part of this afternoon with her. We will see how it went and how she was doing.
UPDATE - 10:00 pm: Mom spent time with Mee Maw. She said she was "OK", but she continually complained about her back. This time, however, her pain is on the right side instead of the left. "I didn't sleep a wink all night!" she exclaimed. Maybe the moving of the pain to a different area is a sign of some kind of improvement.
Maybe something else will improve as well. One of the gentlemen who dines near her at each meal has given her the nickname "Ms. Grumpy", apparently because of her negative attitude towards most everything. Mee Maw probably doesn't know that yet. She may not care if she DID know. If you're 98 years old, you've earned the right to be grumpy if you want to be!
My wife and younger sons visited her on Saturday before lunch. When they arrived, her son James was there with Dixie, Mee Maw's dog. Everyone had a good time, and Mee Maw was still herself. She insisted on walking her son out to the door with the dog, and as they walked down the hall she made sure that everyone there recognized her pet. The nurses have seen this before, so they were ready with their greetings as the convoy passed.
After seeing the first two visitors out the door, Lori and the boys sat with her in the sitting area in the front of the facility and chatted for a while. Lori gave Mee Maw a Bible crossword book that we had purchased for her. She seemed truly thrilled to have it. We certainly hope that she uses it and enjoys exercising her mind.
When our crew was ready to leave as lunchtime approached, Mee Maw insisted on getting out of the chair and walking them to the door also. She still moves slowly, but she seemed able to get around well. Her mind was as sharp as ever. She was even looking forwards to the afternoon Bingo session.
Then came Sunday. The "powers-that-be" in their self-described infinite wisdom have ordained that all clocks be turned ahead one hour. Mee Maw knew about this. James told her that he would return before her bedtime to set her clocks ahead. All of this fuss about the clock apparently confused her again, because when my parents visited her on Sunday, she did not know what day it was, what time it was, why the clocks had to be changed again (which they didn't) and which meal she just ate or was getting ready to eat. We don't know exactly why the time change did this, but we assume it is because she was finally becoming a bit accustomed to the routine, and then it changed.
The first part of this week was apparently OK. Mee Maw called my mother on Tuesday complaining about not being able to use the telephone. If she couldn't figure the phone out, then how did she manage to call? She called at least two others complaining of the same thing. My father wonders if she picked up the phone and tried to use it as the TV remote. That would make the phone begin to make strange noises, which she would cancel out by making a call. We will probably never know.
My mother was to spend part of this afternoon with her. We will see how it went and how she was doing.
UPDATE - 10:00 pm: Mom spent time with Mee Maw. She said she was "OK", but she continually complained about her back. This time, however, her pain is on the right side instead of the left. "I didn't sleep a wink all night!" she exclaimed. Maybe the moving of the pain to a different area is a sign of some kind of improvement.
Maybe something else will improve as well. One of the gentlemen who dines near her at each meal has given her the nickname "Ms. Grumpy", apparently because of her negative attitude towards most everything. Mee Maw probably doesn't know that yet. She may not care if she DID know. If you're 98 years old, you've earned the right to be grumpy if you want to be!
posted by Richard | 6:20 PM
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