Mom Update No. 5? (maybe more, ... or less)

Mom got a bath today!!!! We walked in and she asked me if I thought she smelled better. She probably does but the house still stinks. Don't know what the odor is, she has a housecleaner, and the air cleaner isn't helping either. She may need a bigger air cleaner cuz the one she's got ain't cutting the cheese.

She said 2 ladies showed up this morning, neither one expecting the other, and she knows the one that will come weekly to do the welfare check and bath. One of the Jermanne family members. Ed's sister I believe.

The guy showed up right on time to install her phone set up. He explained it to her and showed her how to work it. Even had her use the button to see what would happen. The alarm goes off for 15 seconds before calling the operator, that is in case she activates it by accident. There is a cancel button and HELP button on top of the box. If she activates the alarm, the people on the other end will speak to her thru the box, and call the hospice people first, then us. There is a lock box (like they use for real estate) just outside her door on the porch light. The number for the lock box will be available from Mom or me and will unlock the slide door on the side of the lockbox and the key will be in there. But not until I get one to go in there. He tested the button everywhere in the house, bathroom, bedroom and it is good to go even just outside the door.

Now you are updated too.
Later
AMF
RB

1958 Ford F100

I bet you didn't know the King of Letha now Lives in Ford country.
It even has Cadillac seats and the steering wheel rubs my belly.

Powered by a small block Ford 302 and three speed automatic with overdrive.

Gotta Get me some bib overalls to go along with my straw hat and irrigatin boots.

All ready put the shovel in the back.

I didn't have enough projects so I added this to my list.

on the news

On the news two nights ago, was a story on the Bombing of Wake Island. MK got a contract to build and air strip on the island for the army air force , they hired 1100 men from this area and shipped them out to Wake and a short time after the work started, the Japs bombed Pearl and the war was on. Wright after Pearl the Japs started Bombing Wake and for 114 days the Marines and the MK workers held off the Japs before they had to give it up. Everyone was rounded up and marched out onto the beach where they were held for four days with out food or water in the hot sun. The Japs picked one hundred men from this group to stay on the island to finish the air strip, and sent the rest to a prison camp in Japan. Where they spent the next four years. Being torchered and starved and used for slave labor. The one hundred who finished the air strip were made to dig there own graves and were shot. When the war was over only six hundred came home. The news people were interviewing some of the people who made it back. Glenn Newell was one of them. They were talking about there time in Japan and showing some really ugly pictures. The news people were interviewing the CEO of MK which is now URG and he said that the men that made it back were given jobs for life with MK. He uses there story as and example and a motivator from time to time to keep his people fired up and moving forward. This was and interesting program and there is going to be another one soon, it will get taped. Glenn i believe is Jodys uncle. Well happy trails to you, until we meet again. I always was and always will be a Roy Rogers fan, Dale wasn't bad either. I think Bullit and Rin tin tin were twins. And there was Pat Brady a dam cowboy driven a frigging jeep. WTH!!! And don't forget Gabby Hays or Frog and no I'm not getting my side kicks mixed up. Frog did at least one western with Roy. OK movie buff I'm checkin out.

AMF
RB

Mom Update

Just got home from Mom's, had a sit down face to face with the social worker from hospice and Mom. Unruffled all the feathers and smoothed the wrinkles. Mom has agreed to accept their services and knows what is expected from her and from the caregivers. She is set up on the schedule for personal services so she will be getting a weekly visit for her shower and general check on her well being. Social worker is gonna check on her a couple times a week to make sure everything transitions okay and she will call us, too, to keep us updated on any changes etc. Mom is also getting the hospice hot line with a wrist button, to be installed on Monday afternoon. I'll be there for that to learn how it works. The hot line is for her to use in case of emergencies. They will respond first and I am called next. Hospice can also provide a hospital bed that is fully adjustable. Mom wants to try one, but doesn't want to get rid of the old bed yet, just in case. Another problem being, we have nowhere to store the bed. The hospital bed is provided by the hospice with no out of pocket expense. Future updates will be on the blog. I'm not wasting any more of my precious phone minutes.
Later
Your Cheap Ass Brother Richard

Mom's condition

Just got off the phone with mother's care giver. Janeice. Mom has finally given the dr. permission to talk to me about her medical condition. This what I found out. The reason for the weight loss is that she has an erratic heartbeat, and her heart is getting weaker and weaker, thus the shortness of breath. This is not fixable. She is adamant about no more testing, and the doc isn't sure they could fix anything if they found anything. So from here on out, it is just a matter of time and the only thing we can do is keep her comfortable and happy as possible. Hospice is still in the picture, and they will work with her, she just has to let them in the door. Hospice will also work with us should any of us feel the need, as we are all in this together. The doc was concerned about her skin condition from sitting around too much and developing bed sores. I'm thinking that the recent outburst aimed at the hospice people was because she is scared. She has refused any kind of spiritual help, which we all know that she would do anyway. So I encourage all of you to give her a call, be nice and try to encourage her to accept hospice back, she really need these services. I will talk to her later this morning. So that is it for now.
Later
RB

Moms Health

Carla asked if there was something we should know about Mom's health. As far as I know she is not terminally ill. My personal observations are (and you all know your mother) she is stubborn to a fault, highly opinionated, does not take any kind of suggestion good, bad or indifferent, if it's not her idea, then it's not gonna fly. She has lost a lot of weight. Right now she weighs 101 lbs. A year ago she weighed 156. She's not eating right, she's not getting enough sleep. If she gets any sleep at all, it is in her chair. She told me yesterday that she didn't sleep at all two nights ago, then fell asleep in her chair and didn't wake up until dark. She won't consider any type of exercise and I'm not sure it would do any good, even if she did consider it. She is not taking care of her personal hygiene, because taking a shower wears her out and leaves her short of breath. Her pride won't let anyone assist her taking a shower. (Remember, these are my observations) She doesn't mind giving orders when she wants something done her way. She is still sharp of mind and tongue and I can only guess how much fight she still has in her. Another thing that I noticed is that personal observations are one thing, and reality tells it all. Mom's pride won't let her tell anybody what the truth is. Everybody gets a different story, and I have seen this when reading family blogs. Now, I want to remind everybody of something, if you remember back when Dad was sick, no body really knew how bad he was until he was in the hospital. It was like a big-ass secret or something. Because, I don't even know what the truth is where Mom is concerned. I have asked several times to be included in her doctor's visits, but have been told I am not needed. So if that is the way she wants things, all I can do is observe.

I spoke to Mom about 3 weeks ago about assisted living. Her reply was She wasn't going into assisted living because of who runs the place next door. (If you want more details about that, you will have to call me.) The only thing she would consider was the nursing home behind WK. A couple of days ago, when I talked to her, I asked her if she wanted me to check out the nursing home and the requirements. Her reaction was, "No I'm not going to any damned nursing home!" I reminded her what she said in the previous conversation, and she denied having said anything.


Now the reason Mom got signed up with hospice care was due to the following series of events.

First of all, I took her to her dr. appt. to have her oxygen level evaluated. That same day, the NORCO rep showed up to readjust the oxygen machine as the oxygen level was low. The machine was actually clogged up and not producing the right amount of oxygen, and that was fixed.
Sometime in the next couple of days, Mom added more water to the machine and didn't get the lid back on right, so the machine wasn't making oxygen, she was short of breath, and she called her dr. In the mean time, she completely forgot about the other 3 bottles of oxygen she has in the house. The dr. made a house call and she got a hold of the NORCO rep again, and fixed the machine again. At that time, her dr. recommended Mom sign up for hospice care. She did, and I read the paper work. It's true, hospice care is basically for the terminally ill. But it is also available for long term care. Case in point, Leroy Cutbirth was under hospice care over 3 years. So we will continue to make daily phone calls, stop by after work outs, and continue to monitor the situation.

One thing I am going to do, is check out the nursing home for their requirements
should she need their services. I will let you know what I find out. That's all I can do for now.

Don't get me wrong. I am not pushing her in any direction, only interested in information.

Love, Hugs, and Kisses
Your Big Brother Richard!!!!

Saturday Morning fun time.

Got up this morning and I am still sore from the last work out on Thursday. Went in to the gym and worked out anyway. Richard has lost about 15 lbs. Me? just a few but we are still going to keep at it. Gets us both out into the world. That is how we found an old pick up to look at. It was on the side of the road, Hwy 52, just east of Mill Rd. It has been sitting there for a couple of weeks with a for sale sign on it, teasing Richard unmercifully.We just had to stop and look, which turned into want. We got a price on it and the car sitting beside it too. We don't have cash, so Rich mulled it over all afternoon and evening. He decided on a plan.
We had already planned to go to Sam's Club for all the taste thingies on Friday, but stop first and see about the truck. So we took off yesterday going into town to make an offer on the old pick up. They took the offer and we are the proud owners of a 1958 Ford Pick up and a 1990 Caddy Fleetwood. The original papers are in the Caddy, and the price listed on the sale sheet about blew me away! over $36K!! We traded the 1999 Ford Ranger. Rich wanted a change. The pick up runs pretty well, but needs some TLC which Richard is excited to start. Got his blood moving. The Caddy needed to be jumped a couple of times, needs shocks but runs good and doesn't look bad at all. Lisa is going to buy the Caddy from Rich. That ought to be interesting.
After we got everything home and settled, we made it over to Sam's. Good stuff! Cheesecake, hot wings, ham and potatoes, hot cocoa, nuts, and pies. Almost didn't have to eat the rest of the day.

We called your mother this morning, and she wanted Rich to come in to read some papers. Yes, she is signed up for hospice care, but it is just to assist her for now. She will be getting a "panic button" to wear and a 24/7 call number for help. Rich will get a call if anything happens. You might want to call Rich for him to explain what he read in the paperwork they gave her. Not much about what they do, more about what they don't do and what the family responsibilities are.

She has decided to stay home this turkey day. We will take her in a plate, but she is not comfortable anywhere except her chair. She is down to 101 lbs. with little padding for sitting. We do keep and eye on her with phone calls and stopping in on her regularly. She has a house keeper on a regular basis, and Rich gets to take the garbage out. He reminded her she can call anytime.

So peoples... how was your morning?