June 28, 2010

Mom is still in the Red River Behavioral hospital trying to get her medication straighten out. She has been having a tough time being aggravated and recovering from a fall. She fell this past weekend and goose-egged and blackened her eye as well as scraped up her forehead, nose and cheek. Apparently she tripped on her shoestring and fell face first. She is healing up pretty fast from it though. I had a rough day today bc I got told by another Dr. (her new main Dr)that she will not get any better than this. It takes a toll on you to hear these things and thankfully Johnny was there to help me say "screw what the Dr's say"! We choose to have high hopes and pray. Plus, not long after I told him what her Dr. had to say to me.....he received word from the adult daycare waver people....they will be coming to access Mom THIS Thursday! This is great news and timing bc the current nursing home that is holding her spot gave Johnny Mom's notice to vacate bc 'they don't have room' (whatever) and bc she is a handful. After the assessment, the time frame is VERY SHORT to get approved to go the daycare! We are almost there guys!!!!

June 15, 2010

Sorry I have not been keeping up with this very well. Keeping up with my toddler has been keeping me busy when I get off work lol. Mom was moved back to the nursing home a few days after being at the Red River behavior bc she was doing so well. However, we think they let her go a little prematurely. We say this because only a day after going back to the nursing home, she seemed super confused and agitated again (and still is some of the time). We think, and the nurses agree, that her medicine should be constant and never a lull in it. About 3pm every day she seems to get extremely agitated until she gets her medicine and she seems to level out. She also is pushing her jaw out and in (almost like grinding) which seems as a result of her medicine. So, we are in the process of trying to get her back in there to get her meds correct.
Last Thursday she had chest pains and numbness in her left arm. They rushed her to the hospital and luckily it was just an anxiety attack (not that an anxiety attack is good....but it is better than a heart attack). Again, she should not be having anxiety attacks with proper medication.
She is doing great in therapy when she is in the therapy room and focused. However, she has big problems when applying this logic to outside the therapy room (like her room etc). She is going around to others rooms...taking their things like stuffed animals, dentures, food and clothes. One wife of a patient got onto Johnny for Mom taking all his food. She thinks that is her house and all those rooms are hers. She can't hardly be swayed from this. And it is super frustrating to walk in and see her in clothes I have never seen before and have her argue blue in the face that she brought them from home that day. SIGH.
Other than this, she is still sweet as anything and has moments of clarity. She has come a long way and will continue to in her fight.
We are still trying to get her into adult daycare....what a SLOW PROCESS! It is amazing to me how we are trying to save medicare money by wanting her at home/adult day care $70 (monday-friday) a day=$1400 a month vs. round the clock nursing home probably ~$4k a month and they are still not approving it.

Anyways, this is what is going on. Please continue with your prayers.

June 5, 2010

Ok, this couldn't wait til tomorrow.....Mom had a fantastic day today! Yesterday and the day before were hard bc she was arguing with us a lot. Her brother, Tony, came into town along with Michael and kiddos. She was happy to hang out/talk to Tony but was still arguing that she was in Amarillo and seeing Dr. Jenkins(her Ama Dr.). Not sure if her medication is getting straightened out and making her less cloudy, if today was an earlier visiting time making her less tired or if she is just finally clearing up. We don't know but are certainly celebrating this fantastic day. She was not arguing and was listening to what we were telling her. She was asking questions about her surgeries and understanding! She would say things like, "Oh wow....so let me ask you this...." and the answers were getting in! Actual conversations without random talk thrown in. She is clear on her JOB....which is to get better and not worry about Amelia (which is a HUGE difference even from yesterday. We are not saying that tomorrow will be as clear as today....BUT we are celebrating today's clarities.

OMG Mom, we are so proud of you and how far you have come!!! What great conversations we had today (me and you and you and Johnny). We love you sooo sooo much and hope to get you home soon!

June 2, 2010

Things are the same as in we visit every day (with the exception of me taking a break being gone for 2 days to Amarillo) and Johnny he goes everyday. Even when it is our girls night, he will go in the beginning of the evening to see her :). She is doing fantastic physically but still chugging along in getting better mentally. Johnny spoke to the head nurse and she suggested Mom go to this place called red river behavioral hospital to get her medication straightened out. Mom has been talking to Johnny about how she isn't quite right and wants to be. She seems a tad cloudy and aggitated these recent days. Johnny spoke to me about the place, I spoke to my friend Heather (who works for a branch of Red River so is very familiar with them) and he told them to evaluate her yesterday. They took her yesterday and Johnny said she seemed very at ease and okay with it. They will take keep her for a week-2 weeks depending on how quickly they get her medication straightened out.
We are still waiting to hear back from the state on the approval for the adult daycare (SIGH) Praying that won't take much longer.
Will keep you posted.