Project Diversion

Diversion.. I need one... I was so stressed yesterday that I removed a chocolate Easter bunny from Bailee's upcoming Easter basket, ripped open the package and bit the ears right off.  They were so good, I gobbled up the rest and amazingly felt pretty good about it.  There must be something therapeutic about chocolate... at least for me:-)  The afternoon ended on a bit higher note when the director of nursing at Groton called and was truly sympathetic and seemed eager to help all she can...

                                               PROJECT  DIVERSION

We're gettin' chickens!!  A few years ago, Lee spent much of our time in Florida sitting in the backyard watching the neighbor's chickens pursue certain activities (some a little kinkier than others.) He disturbingly enjoyed it a little more than I thought was normal. He even mentioned on the way north that "we should get some chickens!" Now, I was worried! Thankfully we were still in the inaugural months of our new home and I intelligently explained why that wasn't the best idea at this stage of the game.  He agreed...or maybe he just didn't hear me !!  I've been able to stave off the poultry discussions for the past few years......until now.... We were in the HUT watching a few movies last week-end.  One of them was "Hop". A fun and entertaining movie intertwined with animation and real life actors......................and chicks!  We had a family meeting later in the day and decided maybe it was time to revisit the chicken discussion. Hey we DO live at EIEIO..and it makes perfect sense to have a chick, chick here!!!  We've had the offer of a few chicks and even a few laying hens... We decided we could convert our unused smoke house into chicken quarters. (That doesn't sound quite right...). When they're ready to leave the "house', we'll pen them across the creek.  Papa explained to Bailee that an occasional weasel or fox could inadvertently "get to" the birds and enjoy one for supper.  "That's OK Papa, that's just the circle of life!"  Excuse me, she's how old?    I heard Lee explaining to some of his male customers today that he was so old, the only way he could get chicks.....was to buy them:-)  After a laugh, one fellow explained that we'd need a rooster too.  I then explained that I was so old, the only way I could get a good..........was to buy one too!
          Stay tuned.... this should be fun fodder for some interesting, future blogs!

Grandma update

Not good...I'm going to vent a bit.. Remember the limbo?  Well that's where I am and I have a few places I'd like the pole to go!  First and foremost, government should stay out of personal decisions.  Secondly, medicare is a bureaucratic comedy act. Thirdly, when you become elderly and ill, you'd better have a damn good advocate, a million bucks, a long term care policy that cost you so much while you were paying for it that when you could do things you couldn't afford to or absolutely nothing but the clothes on your back.  Here's where "we" are today:

Mom is safety restrained and in the hospital
She is ready (yeah right) to be switched to custodial care from acute care...although she has a mystery rash covering her body, can't respond to any commands and has various infections.
There are no beds available in the nursing facility we have chosen AND if there were, it appears it's a NYS law that nursing homes cannot restrain patients and/or receive them if they need be.
There are also no beds available in the hospital's "swing bed unit" (is there a dance theme here or is it just me?) BUT as of tomorrow...she's out of acute care and into custodial care...which is NOT covered by Medicare..(Of course it's not...that's why she's ready for it)
Finally I was able to make the decision that we are at the end of our Walden Place stay:-(  I am sad.... It is a wonderful facility and she was well cared for, entertained and enriched by every single person there.  Never once did I have a concern about her well being in the past 2 years.
Now, she could lie in a bed in a hospital until.............................................! Where is the quality of life that everyone so richly deserves and has earned.....I am not ignorant, she is not destitute and still our combined hands are tied.  This is not a monetary issue BUT nursing homes are about $10K a MONTH...We all know that CNA's do the majority of the daily "work!".  They're not making that kind of money... I understand overhead...we own a business. What I don't understand is... Joe Blow is broke, may have killed someone, may have a drug problem and he needs care....The same bureaucrats who don't want Mom in a safe, care facility softly and safely held in her chair are more than happy to pay 100% of Joe Blow's care! 
Right now, I'm about as bitter as I ever remember being in the last (almost) 60 years!
I can tell you... I will go out with NOTHING! My dues have been paid and Uncle Sam or Uncle Andrew or whomever... is gonna foot the bill.  I don't know much, but I know that! :-(

Hit and Miss

I think it's going to be a spotty blog week.  It seems my plate is more than full for the next few days (weeks.)  Mom is still in the hospital in isolation......MRSA.... I tend to use 4 letter words occasionally but this is one acronym I'd be happy to never utter again.  I enjoy music, I love dancing with the stars but I hate (the) Limbo.... That's where I am right now.  When will she leave the hospital? Will she be too out of sorts to return to Walden Place? Is the next step..a nursing home?  I did much research over the past few days... After perusing too many numbers about too many places regarding too many issues, I decided that going straight to the horses' mouths was the only true evaluation of a facility.  I got the personal info I needed. I have decided on Groton Nursing Home.  I toured this morning and was pleasantly surprised.  I was so hoping not to walk into a hospital....atmosphere.... I didn't.  It was cheery, friendly, bright, upbeat and clean.  Residents were smiling, occupied, dressed and attended... Staff was welcoming and rooms were spacious and homey.  I left there breathing a sigh of relief with answers to my questions.  My only thumbs down was being met at the door by a cat... I strongly dislike cats!!! AND.. they don't have a bed available :-(  I'm hoping by the time discharge is upon us, whenever the hell that is, they'll be ready for us. 
Not exactly the best start to my birthday week but I'm hoping things will look up as the week goes on.  Jess is such a huge help and Bailee brings me joy at the end of each day... For that, I'm eternally grateful!!!!

Blood is thicker

Blood may be scientifically thicker than water*... It stops there.  Just wanted to get that out of the way this morning.
In hospital world...as good as yesterday was, today is as bad.  Jess made the visit to see Grandma this morning.... She was greeted by an empty bed as Mom had been moved to isolation due to a staph infection:-(  Grandma was anything but a happy camper today (and last night per report.)  Yelling for help, screaming that they were breaking her arms and informing them that they'd be sorry when Dad got there....Yikes:-(  No one seems to be sure why the changes from day to day... They could be a result of the infection, the medication, the change of room or merely the progression of the Alzheimer's. One day at a time I guess.  Thank heavens for Jess... She is so patient and I'm so worthless.  I guess everyone has things they do well and this is at the bottom of my list.  I can plan, arrange and organize and I guess that's my mission for now.  I'm afraid that Walden Place may not be the place for too much longer... They are not a nursing home and cannot give any medical care... also, the residents need to be mobile and calm.... None of which Mom is right now... So, my research has begun for possible changes of residence.  Not liking many ratings from places and many conflicting reviews.  I have begun my lists of pros and cons (Dad) and will take each day as it comes.  Once again... I'd rather be ready and not go than to go and not be ready!!!!
By the way... * Give me a glass of water ...any day ♥

Coding

Holy "Never a dull moment!"  Jess and I arrived at the hospital to a Code Green... Thought it was a drill but it appeared there was a tornado warning and the hospital was under the "head between the knees and kiss your ass good bye" code.  It was thankfully lifted shortly after we arrived as I knew my chances of ending up in Oz were way better than getting my head in any proximity of my ass!  Calm was returned when the Code White was given. When Mom was moved to her bed on Monday night, she hadn't been settled for more than 10 minutes when the loudspeakers were announcing a Code Blue from 3 South.... we were on 3 South!!! Seems a street clothed patient had disappeared...hmmm good start to our stay.  They found him before he escaped.  This morning,we were anticipating a possible Code Brown or Code Yellow when we arrived and Mom was undepended. Jess remedied that and all was well.  It was a good morning with a relatively good report from the Doctor.  It appears that Mom will be staying through the week-end. Believe me, she's the only one who's wants to be there. The gal in the next bed was readying to remove her own IV and leave the building, the fellow in the next room was ranting about being placed in "this institution without being consulted" and he was "getting the @#*% out whether anyone liked it or not!" Inversely, The Dr. told Mom she'd be there a few more days and she replied, "Only two?"  We left on a Code Happy!

Being Nice

Late again today:-(  Didn't sleep too well and was awakened by 4 tom turkeys 3 feet from my open bedroom window. They obviously didn't realize it was open or they'd have used their "indoor gobble."  Jess offered to go check on Mom and I caught up on a few things this morning.  Today's issue was a possible staph infection.. SH--!  The surgeon was called in to check things out.. Jess waited as long as she could (3 hrs) but had to head home to meet her daycare buddy.  Long story short, she left a message for the surgeon to call me.  I dreaded his call.. for many reasons... I was afraid he would be foreign and I wouldn't be able to understand him. I was worried that he'd be dismissive, which I could remedy face to face, and of course the obvious...that she would need to have a procedure done to drain and culture and they'd need my consent....  He called at 1 p.m. and his wonderfully, understandable, American voice was immediately apologetic that he hadn't met me personally (??)  He said he'd met many Hatfields and had we met?   He spent time with me explaining what he'd done, what to expect and asked about questions I had.  He said he hoped to meet me soon and not to fret.. she was "in pretty good shape for nearly 90!" Holy bedside manner....He was NICE!!!
I felt a little like a judge on "The Voice" listening and waiting to turn my chair.  I have a picture of him in my head and I'm interestingly anticipating meeting him tomorrow.  Most of my experiences in the medical world have not been nice.  I'm hoping to be as pleasantly surprised as I was on the phone.  It really isn't that tough to be nice.  You usually get what you give and this nice surgeon will be greeted by me with a great big helping of nice right back!

What a difference a day makes...24 little hours .........

Boy was Renee Olstead (the gal who sang this song) right on the money.  As the TV shows often scroll, "24 hours ago"............... Jess and I scooted to Cortland to take Mom to the Dr's for a sore on her leg....waited there an hour and we all decided that she should go to the ER. Mix up in transportation so we loaded her in and headed to the hospital.  No wait..in, registered, had an ER room and Dr. saw us all in about 15 minutes..... That's the end of the Good news!  There we sat (laid) for nearly 7 hours. One of the nurses mentioned that "this was not a good day to come to the ER."  Alrighty, when would be?  Because I'm sure that all heart attacks, strokes, illnesses and accidents are scheduled.  How silly of us to show up on the wrong day. Expecting to have a quick trip in and out of the Dr's office, I was totally unprepared.  I had minimal cash, no reading material, my cell phone was not charged (I had plugged it in over night but that was the only end connected (idiot), I didn't have Mom's insurance cards..(duh, on file at the Dr's) or her med list (what kind of daughter was I?).  You're getting the picture!  Now, Mom wanted nothing to do with any health care...or health care provider.  They took blood (3 vials) after Jess and 2 nurses held her down and she screamed "Help" in her outdoor concert voice.  They then returned to explain that it had hemolized (cells broke down) and they had to take 3 more vials! Jess tried to calm her and Mom's response was "Shut up!"....... I left the room!    Finally after a CT of her leg, that was NOT pretty either, and lying there 4 more hours, they brought her something to eat.  "Oh look Mom, mashed potatoes. Would you like some?"  She shook her head yes and opened wide!!  In went the spoonful of potatoes (or a close facsimile) and out she spat them....a very spontaneous critique of hospital food.  BTW, I look smashing in potatoes!  I did get her to eat all of her ice cream and drink her milk. Thank you dairy industry for identifiably packaged foods!   During this time frame, Jess had to cancel her daycare and get someone to pick up Bailee at school...of course, Papa, Grandma and Mom are the only ones on the pick up list. Finally, pick up was arranged, Bailee's teacher explained to her that it was "Ok" to go with Marcie and we found a ride back home for Jess at 3:30.  When I got home at 7:30, my FB status explained that I was home, exhausted and trying to remember the word that followed cluster.......  (Oh I knew it but I'd already uttered it so many times I would need a loan for the swear jar) Thankfully, my son... who didn't fall far from the tree... was more than happy to provide it for me in written word♥. 
Fast forward to this morning.  (24 little hours).... Arrived at the hospital and Mom was sitting in a chair, bright eyed (kind of) and bushy tailed.  She had managed to remove that pesky IV all by herself and was relatively proud.  She still rambled and made no sense (as usual) but  what most would think was a bad day..... was a wonderful day for us!  Every day is a new normal and we'd better be ready to go with the flow. (Oh yeah, that happened too!)  Dr. will keep her in till the end of the week and hopefully she'll head back home to Walden Place with a Spring in her step and a happier, healthier leg!