Test at Crestwood

I had to be at Crestwood hospital at 9 AM today for my bone scan. Trudy met me there. We had to wait about 45 minutes until they were ready for me. I got a shot of nuclear medicine in the vein of my left arm and then had to wait 3 hours until I could get the scans. We went to Shoe Carnival and I got a black pair of boy's 6 1/2 New Balance shoes. I wanted two pair so I could change back and forth and not wear the same pair of shoes all the time. Shoe people know this but I have never been a shoe person. On his way home, Frankie and Mariam had stopped at Chick-fil-a where Sadie works and had lunch. Frankie had been working on the VA stuff for me and had made lots of progress. He couldn't see the VA person in Athens for he had a Dr appointment in H'ville, so Frankie saw or talked to someone on the phone in H'ville. They have to see Dad to get him into the system. The last time they saw him was in 1997. The VA in H'ville didn't have a rhumatologist and Frank had to have one. He got permission to go outside of the VA system to get treatment. Now, we need to be back in the system so we can see if we can qualify for any benefits for disabled vets. He's 100% disabled. We could use some help with the Home Instead sitters. We are paying them ourselves and that's quite a chunk of money but they are so worth it. It gives me free time away from home.

Trudy had to go grocery shopping so she didn't go back to the hospital for me to get the scans. I was through in about 20 minutes. Before I had to be at the hospital, I went to Stein Mart that was near the hospital. Their clothes were costly but I found a cute jacket I can wear at church. It's so cold at church, I'm amassing a stable of jackets and cover-ups. I have three now. The jacket I got today is very colorful. It's got black and white, red and blue, navy and green, in various patterns. I got an aqua and black and white jacket at a consignment store and I have an aqua shirt that will match it. No matter how hot it gets outside, it's still cold at church.

Family Time

Frankie and Mariam came today after lunch. I had lunch already and we did eventually eat. Trudy, George and Sadie came for a visit and we had a good time. The Walker family left early for there was an historic Relief Society meeting which included girls 8 and up. This was the first time the girls were included. I forgot about it especially since Frankie was coming. Sadie wanted to go to the meeting so they left so she could go.

We watched the new Ray Stephens DVD I ordered and we hadn't watched because we didn't know how to run the DVD player. Frankie made it play and we enjoyed the old favorites of Ray Stephens. Frank would play and sing the songs and the kids and I would join in. It was fun watching it.

Frankie cleaned out some in Dad's room. He put the Direct TV box and the one the plays the DVD's on top of the dresser and we were going to put some stuff downstairs but Frank saw us and wanted everything put back in his room. Maybe he'll let Frankie take off some of the old things.

It's 10:45 PM and I like to get in bed by 9:30 PM. I'm not going to church in the morning so I can
 spend more time with Frankie and Mariam. Mariam is 11 and Josh is 9 years old. I took Mariam to Walmart and bought her a doll and some doll clothes and a brush and things. She was so excited about it. I don't see her much so I wanted to splurge on her.

Using some new floss, I popped the crown off the last tooth in the left side of my mouth tonight. I hope it won't hurt when I eat. We have dental appointments coming up but I might not be able to wait 'til then.

Good Day

I have had a good day. Jennifer came to stay with Frank while I went to exercise. I was happy to get out of the house. After exercise, I got a drink and sat in the parking lot of The Shoe Dept. waiting for it to open at 10 AM. I needed a new pair of shoes. My toes reach the end of my shoes before the shoes wear out. Out of three pair of sneakers, I can only wear one because my toes are crammed up to the end. I tried a boy's shoe this time because they are wider. I tried a 6 1/2. I only paid $32.00 for the pair. They are comfortable so far. They are grey and silver with white laces and bright orange soles. I wasn't too crazy about the colors but I wanted a shoe today and the colors are fine. Comfort over looks.

I went downtown to a consignment store called Garnet. I got 2 broaches, a necklace and a pillow for the couch. They had clothes, too, but I couldn't find anything. There were three jackets I liked but they were too big. It will be a place to take Mary Kate and Trudy. After that, I came home. It was about 11:15 and Jennifer left a little before 11:30 AM. That was the 4 hour minimum we have to pay for. This service, Home Instead, is very good and gives me time away from home 3 days a week.

Frank had PT and OT today. Hopefully he will get stronger from it. He hasn't been as intense in writing notes as he was a couple of days ago. Then he insisted on writing everything down and insisting on me keeping a notebook, which I never did. I have to note everything he does or he's not happy. He still recognizes everyone and most of the time, he's in a sweet person.

Frankie and Mariam are coming here today sometime. Trudy was coming over but never has. Our phones gave a busy signal because one of the phones was off the cradle and the battery was almost gone. We found it and they work fine now. 

??

Don't know what happened to yesterdays blog. I wrote it. I didn't do anything except take care of Frank. He had gotten up very early and then we went back to sleep.

I got a real letter from my friend, Kathy. It was delightful to get a letter. Email is such the rage. My hand writing is so bad now, I try to type anything I have to say. Plus, it's a whole lot faster.

Tomorrow, Jennifer will come to sit with Frank while I go to exercise. Trudy is coming over sometime. Frankie and Mariam will be here sometime tomorrow. I want to stay out some of the morning. I think Trudy will want to stay, but maybe I can entice her out to go to Kids Mart and the new consignment shop. I stopped by Kids Mart to pay the $4.00 we owed them, but DeLonda wouldn't take it. She said she wouldn't take if because I was honest about it.

Good News

Good Day

Trudy came over around 10 AM. She got into cleaning and looking in Dad's chest of drawers and I went to town. I went to Kid's Mart with a $4.00 ticket for a jacket Mary Kate and I weren't charged for. The lady said for being honest we didn't owe anything. I went to Walmart and bought some food and some graph pads for Frank to write his notes on and some small hand sanitizers. I went by the pharmacy and then came home. Trudy and Dad are watching a movie together-Red, something. I don't care for movies so I'm blogging and face booking.

I go see Dr Alexander tomorrow. I hope he will give me a pain pill to stop the pain in my right femur. It really hurts everyday. I'll get my left hip x-rayed to see the shape it's in. Maybe this is a good time to get a new hip for Dad isn't too far into the Alzheimer's that he's unmanageable. If I have it done in the summer time, it will be easier on the girls to help me. The Home Instead ladies could take care of Dad and give the girls a break and then they could help me. I don't look forward to another operation but it may be for the best (Hi, Kathy!)

Frankie and Mariam are coming this week-end. He can help us with all the computer stuff, wires and the like that we find in Dad's room. It will be fun seeing them. I'll buy Mariam another doll if she wants it. I'll get Josh something too. He couldn't come because he has his first flag football game this week-end. I think Mariam is 10 years old and Josh is 8.

Sweet Monday

 Today was the first day I had a sitter come from Home Instead. Her name was Lakisha and she stayed from 7:30 AM until 12:30 PM. I went to exercise and then to the various drug stores looking for sock with skids on the bottoms. Athens Pharmacy was the only place that had diabetic socks with little rubber dots on the bottoms to help grip the floor. They were $7.50 a pair and I got 3 pair. Frank likes the yellow socks he got at the hospital best but they need to be washed. After I got the socks, I drove to see Wanda and Mike. I didn't have a chance to call before I went but they were home. Tina and one of her sister's baby were there and Charlie, too. I had some clothes for her but I forgot the glass casserole she brought my birthday cake in. I've had it for months and this is the first time I've felt free to go visiting. It was a nice visit and I left and got home in time to fix Frank's lunch. Trudy will be over tomorrow.

I have an appointment with Dr Alexander to have my left hip replaced, no, to have my left hip x-rayed to see what it looks like. If I don't take Arthrotec, the hip has horrible pain and I'm afraid I have another bone on bone hip situation. I don't see how I can have it replaced with Frank needing all the help he needs and as long as it doesn't hurt, I can get by. Trudy will go with me. Lakisha will be here with Dad until 1:30 PM and he will only be alone an hour or so until we get back.

Things have been peaceful here since I've learned how to deal with Frank. I just agree with him and help him up and down and get things for him. I can never argue or reason with him. I just agree to write things down and to look things up on the computer.

What Day Is It?

I got my  days mixed up and thought it was Saturday, yesterday. We have one more day with Mary Kate before she has to go back home.

The Home Instead lady came and consulted with us about having a care giver come M-W-F at 7:30 AM so I can go to exercise and grocery shopping or do anything else I need or want to do. She will stay 6 hours or a shorter time depending on how long I want to stay out. We have to pay for this service but we feel good about it. My sister-in-law said to call Medicare and see if they offer any services we could use.

The PT came today but she didn't know about Dad's hip being dislocated and she had to call the Dr's office and get details. She couldn't do any PT but we got to meet her anyway. She is a nice black girl.

We took back $31.00 of adult depends and got a soft toilet seat and some socks with grippers on the bottom. We went to Walmart and got a trash can for Dad's room. We looked in Maurice's for MK some pullovers but didn't find any.

Jersey Boys

I met Ruth in H'ville for lunch at Newt's and afterward we parked across from the Civic Center and walked to a picnic table and talked until it was time to go into the Center for the musical. We had great seats, not too far back and not to close up so the music was too loud. It was the story of Richie Valli and the band he had. They sang all the songs he made famous. The acting, singing and dancing was great.

Afterward, as I was driving home, I called Mary Kate to say I was coming home and she said Frank was in the hospital. OT had come today and discovered that he had dislocated his right hip. That was the reason he couldn't walk and was in so much pain when we tried to move him around in his bed. I drove straight to the hospital and met Mary Kate as she was coming back. They put him to sleep to put the hip back in place. He had a knee brace on his right leg and he was wheeled to the car in a wheel chair, but he walked into the car and when we got him home, MK got the wheelchair from downstairs and wheeled him up the ramp. The wheel chair is too big to go into the house, so with MK's help he walked into his bedroom and got in bed. We are so relieved that he can walk again! There's light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow, someone is coming over from an agency that can help out with caring for him and it will give me time to go to exercise and grocery shopping and the like. All in all, it's been a great day.

Bad Days

Trudy came yesterday and spent the night. She cleaned Dad's room and it looks better. Mary Kate is coming back to help set up help for me and Dad. He can't walk and can't get out of bed. It seems like last week he was going with me to the Drs and now he can't walk. I have to bathe him and do everything for him. Mary Kate is looking for agencies that might could help us and take the load off of Trudy. I can't lift him and neither can Trudy with her bad back. I don't think it's time for a nursing home. We can't afford a nursing home. They will take the house if he has to go into a nursing home. But he has to have care. Mary Kate and Trudy have been a life saver for me. Moral support mostly.

Saturday

Mary Kate was like a whirlwind in Dad's bedroom. She went through his shelves and got about 10-12 large black garbage bags of stuff out of his room. The Sleep Number men came and set up the bed. It's a long twin. We didn't order a long twin but that's what we got. I had ordered a set of sheets for a long twin so I was ready. I need to get another set for later. I hope it's comfortable for him for thhis is the end of the line in beds.

He's getting crazier and crazier. He has rituals that he goes through and they are mind boggling and senseless.

Mary Kate is helping out with him and I'm so glad she came. She and Trudy will be the reason I get through all of this craziness. It's hard on him but it's doubly hard on me.

Busy Day

Trudy was here when Mary Kate arrived. After we got Dad some supper, MK and I went to Khol's and Walmart. MK got a new purse and we got some jewelry that was on sale. I got two pull over blouses. We got some pens for Dad at Walmart.

After supper, Mary Kate started in on cleaning part of Dad's room. The Sleep Number bed comes tomorrow between 3-7 PM and she wants to get the one mattress off the bed and downstairs and have the room ready for the new bed. She cleaned 6-7 black trash bags of papers and stuff off of his shelves. There's still lots of old computer books that need throwing out but that will be for another time.

The weather is nice. Got into the 60's today. The mornings are cool but the day warms up nicely. Spring must really be on it's way.

Late Riser

I really slept in today. It's a get away from Dad for if I'm there he talks and sometimes is nonsense. He wanted a new voice recorder and some colored Sharpie's so I went to Staples and got them. I also got him some colored ballpoint pens.

I called about my touch phone. It was chirping and I didn't know what it was. It's when I get a text message or a voice mail. The people are very nice when you call. I guess they figure they are talking to a bunch of old people!

I can't see how I can get another hip replaced when my right leg hurts. Of course, I haven't even been to the Dr to have it x-rayed but I'm pretty sure I've got bone on bone in that hip. I would be down 2-3 months. At 6 months, I went with Mary Kate and the kids to Point Mallard, a water park, and did okay, but I had one good strong leg to help the hurt one. It didn't start hurting until a year after the surgery. The broken femur had a lot to do with it I bet.

Trudy is coming over tomorrow morning and Mary Kate will be here around 1 PM. She's coming alone. I want to go to Khol's Friday for I have a 30% off coupon that I want to use. Mary Kate says she wants a new purse, a larger one. Saturday, the Sleep Number bed comes. They haven't called me to give me a time, so we don't dare go anywhere Saturday. I have a lot of things for Mary Kate to do that I can't or won't do, like vacuum and mop the floors upstairs. She can put a mattress cover and top sheet on the twin bed that's down on the floor of Trudy's room. The new mattress and box springs will be stored in that room until George gets his truck fixed and can come and get the mattress and box springs. Frank will still have a computer bed and the new bed in his room. If he complains of the computer bed mattress, we'll just get a topper for it.

Spring is right around the corner. I see buttercups everywhere (daffodils) and I see some green on some of the trees in the yard. Oh, yeah, I'm ready for Spring. It's been a hard winter.

Early Appointment

Trudy and I got up at 6 AM to be ready to go to H'ville for my Dr appointment. It was the spine Dr and I got x-rays of my spine done and he looked at my MRI and x-rays of my hip. He said my back was a mess with no cartilage between some of my discs. It doesn't hurt and I complained about my left leg more than anything. He said it was just the operation. He offered an injection but I declined. I don't even know where he was going to inject but I thought of my spine and said, "No thanks." We drove up to Trudy's house and she got this wax machine that heats wax and you can dip your hands or feet in it. Plus, she's loaning me a case of tomatoes so we didn't have to stop at Sam's.

Trudy slept a good part of the afternoon and I sat with Frank. I need more patience but sometimes it's hard to be patient. Got to work on that.

Mary Kate is coming up Friday. The kids aren't coming. We'll go to the bank Monday or Friday and put her name on the accounts. Of course, we'll have to do some shopping!

Apple Store

I met Trudy at the Apple store in H'ville at 12:30 PM. I brought Frank's  laptop to get a new battery. The laptop is 6-8 years old. Frank wants to fix it up and sell it. Trudy wants to buy it so we have to find out how much it's worth. I'll take my desk top any day. Of course, it's what I'm used to.
We came back to Athens to the Staples store and got a printer.

Frank was having cramps in his legs and feet, all afternoon, in fact. He kept having us  rearrange the pillow that he had his feet propped up on. That got old soon. He was wanting relief from the cramps and we wanted relief from the pillows. This morning he was on a sanitizing mission. He stayed in the bathroom for a long time washing his hands and various things. He said there were germs everywhere. I just left him along so I could have some peace.

My Dr appointment tomorrow is at 8:10 AM instead of 1 PM like they told me a week ago. Trudy will go with me and we will have to leave at 7 AM. I'm telling the Dr that the pain in my right femur is like a dull knife is being slid into the marrow of that bone. It's always there and I want to know why. Another hip replacement will set me back considerably. It's taken over a year for the last one to heal and I still don't have the energy I did before the operation. Of course, I had the operation twice since I broke my femur and that probably had something to do with it.

Errands

I had some errands to run this morning. I got a wedge for Frank's bed and some other sick room supplies.

Tomorrow, I meet Trudy at the Apple store with Dad's laptop computer. It's 5-6 years old and I don't know why is going in the shop but Trudy know all the geeky stuff about it. She'll spend the night with us Tuesday night.

I have to make an appointment with Dr Alexander to get my left hip X-rayed. I feel I've got bone on bone going on in that hip. Trudy suggested waiting until the summer so that she and Mary Kate and Frankie would have more time to come and take care of me. They will be taking care of Dad, too. If I have it done, I can't wait too long for Dad is getting progressively worse with the Alzheimer's. When he talks he makes little sense and seems to get his feelings hurt easily. We will be a basket case for sure if I'm down with a hip operation and Frank in his state. Being 71 is not nice at all.

Funeral

I went to Steve Latham's funeral today. Bro Broadhurst spoke and Bishop Black did the announcements. I sat with Pat and Shelley. Shelley said that her dad who is the nursing home across the street from her, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia.

All morning, while I was waiting for the time to get ready to get dresses, I was bothered with 21 devils telling me I didn't want to go to the funeral. I finally had to say out loud, " I am going to the funeral!" before the feelings left me. It would have been a travesty for me not to have gone.

I had a small list of errands to run but I have stopped taking Arthrotec so I can get a true idea of how much my back aches for when I see the spine Dr. Well, a whole passel of aches and pains have descended upon me. My left hip now hurts and I have small aches and pains all over! I don't know what I would do if I needed another hip replacement. With Frank getting worse, I just couldn't do it. I'd have to have some pain pills and just make a go at it. So, I just stopped by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine and left the other errands for Monday.

I left at 12:15 PM today and left Frank's meal on his chair. It was still there when I got back. He's been in his room all morning making notes of whatever. I gave his a Boost to drink and he took that.  I've got sweet potatoes in the oven cooking. I should cook some goulash so we will have some supper, but I just don't feel like it. We'll have steak burgers, instead. They will thaw by then. 

No Bed

The Sleep Number bed didn't arrive today. They called and said they had had a driver mix up and that they would call again with a delivery time.

Trudy came over this morning and it was good to see her. We talked and she washed some clothes for me and we went to Walmart for some groceries and things. One of the things she does while she is here is to fix our ipads. Mine is okay but Dad's is always got some thing messed up with it.

I ordered a bunch of things from Amazon. Things that Frank said he needed. I need to get his credit card on file with Amazon so I'm not buying everything. Amazon is so convenient.

Today, Trudy saw how far down her Dad had gone. It's frustrating for everyone and especially him.

Mary Kate called and said that she would be coming down next week-end. She didn't know if it would be on a Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Monday. We need to go to the banks and have her signature put on the accounts with Trudy's in case something happened to Trudy.

Sinus Crud

My sinuses have been feeling weird and I think I have a little infection. We went to see Dr Walker this afternoon. Dad is getting more and more confused. I have too keep asking what he means when he talks to me. He forgets quickly and is writing down random bits of information on papers with the date and time on them. Only he knows what he's talking about. It's getting stressful on me and I know he must feel stressed because he can't remember things.

Trudy is coming over tomorrow and may spend the night. Dad's Sleep Number bed is arriving tomorrow between 3:30-7:30 PM. They know the have to arrange furniture when they come. They have to take the new mattress downstairs and put the other mattress on the vacant box springs and then take the box springs downstairs and then set up the Sleep Number bed where Frank's old bed used to be. I'll need to have the little vacuum cleaner out and ready for all the dust bunnies that are lurking underneath the beds.

Trudy just had another heart ablation and it was a success. I asked her if she felt like coming over and she said she could do nothing over here the same as at her house. It'll be good to see her.

House Bound

I haven't left the house today except to take out the garbage. I've washed a load of sheets and things and they are drying. I practiced the piano while they were washing. The three pieces are coming along. We will sing one of them in a couple of weeks. The choir director has been sick the last two Sundays but we have other talented people who can direct and we've been practicing each Sunday.

It's been hard today. Dad must be in a phase. He's making lists of everything. He's suppossed to drink 8- 8oz glasses of water a day and he has a list where he records that. He calls my name many times a day to help him with something. I'm glad to help but it gets stressful. Today the stress was building up pretty bad so I turned the TV off and studied my lessons for Sunday. That helped calm my mind down. What will I do when it gets worse? I have the name of an Alzheimer's support group and I may need to call the lady sometime. He doesn't want me to mention him in my blogs, but this is my life's story and I want to record what is going on. For my sanity if for nothing else. Plus, the children will like to know how I dealt with the situation.

Warming Up

It's in the 40's today. Went to town to deposit some money in Trudy's account. Went to Compass bank first to make a deposit and cash a check. Had the wrong deposit slip but the nice lady at the bank was able to handle it for me. Went to Big Lot's and bought some Graham crackers. They were $1.75 and at Walmart they are almost $3.00. I hope they taste as good.

Helped Frank take a bath-shower this afternoon. He can't take any more baths for it was very hard for him to get up out of the tub. He's unsteady on his feet. I got the rollator out of the trunk of the car but he can't use it in his room for there is a large container of his "stuff" behind the door of his room and the rollator can't get through the door. It's too big for me to carry downstairs so I guess I will parcel it out and take small loads down and find somewhere to put it. Our house is overflowing with stuff. I have de-cluttered some upstairs, but everything seems to get put downstairs.

He is in a list-making stage. I believe he realizes that his mind is going so he holds on by making lists and dating everything. Little things are getting to me. I know that things will get much worse but that thought doesn't help now.

Winter Weather Again

It was back in the 20's after a nice warm week-end. I didn't go to exercise. I guess I was too lazy.

Frank and I went to town to Staples for some things. The over to Lowe's. I forgot the paper with the water filter on it, so we just got a smoke detector and a toilet seat. Frank fell on the toilet seat the other day and bent the rod that holds the seat in place. It still works but he wanted a new one. His mind is shutting down some more. He even realizes it. We saw Martin in Staples and Frank asked about the shelves he was going to do for us. Frank wants a small shelf put in his bathroom plus the 3 shelves on the wall.

I drank a medium Coke for some energy and when I came home I washed two loads of clothes and practiced the piano. I didn't practice at all last week and I could tell at choir practice that I had not practiced. I enjoyed it today. If I could just discipline myself to practice each day, it would be good.

I paid 4 bills tonight. Not all of the bills have come in. Maybe it was because February was short a couple of days. Doing it online surely takes the effort out of bill paying.

Had To Go To Town Again

I slept in but Frank wanted some things from town so I went. I stopped by the pharmacy and they didn't want to give me the Rx again. It's time to pay the bill and the bill must be over $250.00 for they balked at charging it for me. The pharmacist okayed it so I got the medicine. It was $120.00 so I wonder how much the insurance paid. One of my meds cost me $80.00 and the insurance pays $ 2.002.04! If the insurance stops paying for my meds, I will stop taking them and will become a zombie. Thank goodness for insurance.

I went to Walmart to get a container for Frank's medicine bottles and to Staples to get an electronic dictionary, some yellow writing pads and a small clipboard. It's a nice store but expensive.

I came home and vacuumed the floors and cooked some kale. I had some broccoli and cauliflower to cook but I was too tired to do it. I needed to do laundry and practice the piano, too, but since I wasted half the day this morning, I didn't have time to do all that needed to be done.

Trudy had a spell with her heart, passed out and fell and got a black eye and a cut on her cheek. I might have mentioned this in my last post, I don't remember. She's wearing a heart monitor again.