Here we go again...

Let me see, where did we leave off? Oh yeah...still working on getting mom and dad taken care of.

As of last Friday, we were in Mtn. Home, mom was transferred to Life Care Center in Boise, and dad was transferred to Idaho States Veterans Home in Boise.

Here it is, Saturday the 30th, and not much that way has changed. Now, the rest of the story. Mom had to leave St. Lukes so was headed for the same place dad is, but because of the sedus colitus (spelling?) she had to go to Life Care as they were the only ones with isolation. She is now off all meds for the infection, so just waiting for test to confirm all is okay. Then she can get to where dad is. After this, who knows what will happen.

On the other side, dad is worried about going home. Not getting to, but having to. He is not ready to take care of himself (with help) so he has asked us to look into assisted living again. There is that facility at the VA so we are doing our homework.

We have been busy with fixing their house so they could come home, as that was the last thing we knew until Thursday. We took down the paneling in their family room, took out the old insulation, pulled up the old carpet (moldy) cleaned the floors, arranged for new windows, and generally cleaned it all up. 4 days of work last week. We bought the insulation to put in the walls, the windows are on order, and now dad doesn't think he can come home. So yesterday, I had my meltdown and West Nile reared it's ugly head again. I just lost all control and bawled all day. I feel much better now, thank you.

I am not looking for sympathy. Just letting out my frustrations on someone besides Rich. Poor man. He is absolutely wonderful to me and my parents. He has taken over running dad's rental properties, and been the foreman on this remodel. I thought he deserved a break, so, now you all are up to date. Going to have a heart to heart with mom today, so if you hear a loud crash, you know she threw something at me. It will not be pretty. I fully expect her to get extremely pissed off at me. I will let you know. Eventually.

We have had the last couple of days at home. It has been wonderful to have peace and quiet, if I could only stop my mind. Going back to Mtn. Home on Sunday to collect rent and put insulation up.

Going to the gym soon. Works off frustrations well. We hope to be able to get over to Phil and Jody's in September, but that seems to be up in the air yet. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Thanks for letting me vent. Later...Cathy

Another update

Mom went back into CCU for several days. Had low blood pressure, was incoherent and babbling, and developed an infection in her colon due to antibiotics. They transferred her to the floor last night. We all have to put on gowns and gloves just to go into see her, for our protection. Not sure how things will pan out. Not very optimistic at this point. Just hoping.

We get to find out about Dad on Tuesday. They are saying 24 hr care, but I don't quite see that. We'll see.

Have to work on our home now. Laundry, vacuum etc. Rich has to do sewer pond work tomorrow. These will be our last days together for a few weeks. CB

It's not tomorrow, but close enough

I know, several days have passed, but we really have been busy. Still unloading the trailer as we need things. Been into Elks several times to get business done for mom and dad and maybe visit a little. Had younger brothers go over to do some work at the house. Idaho Youth Ranch made out like a bandit. Can't tell mom. She would come unglued and be really pissed off. When she gets home will be soon enough. Looked in VA benefits for dad yesterday. Made 2 trips to Elks to get papers signed. Dad can get a modular ramp for the front porch, and help with redesigning one of the bathrooms to make it safer and larger, and several other changes that I can't recall right now.
Mom is on a lot of meds. Dad will recover close to where he was, not sure about mom. Free will, being what it is, they are going home. Date to be determined.

We are staying at our house until the last minute. Sanity issues, you know? Both brothers try to help but are limited as to what they can do. Middle bro works for UPS our of MH and puts in 12 hour days, then has to come home to take care of his "chores" and himself and wife. Youngest bro is in the National Guard as well as security jobs on the times off from NG. He also has 2 young children and a wife and lives in Boise, so he really cannot help alot. He brought the kids with him on Sunday, and put them to work too. So now the house is livable and mostly safe for the parents to get around in.

Yesterday, Mom's case worker called. We were on our way into Elks. She tells me the van is unable to take Mom to her Dr. appt. on thursday, and could I do it? I need to wheel her over to St Luke's for x-ray, then across street to dr. office. Could be fun. Supposed to be around 80 that day. Wish me luck.

Have to go now. Lawn mower is calling. Richard is working on the pumps. You all have a nice day. C

Home again...who knows how long though.

On Friday (week ago) Dad and I were getting ready to go to Boise to sign the lease agreement (2 yrs.) for the assisted living facility that we really liked. They would do an assessment of Mom to let us know what level of care she would need there. That is when fate stepped in. Dad fell and broke his hip. 8 am called 911. At Elmore Hospital until 2 pm waiting for a room to open at St. Lukes. There about 1 hr and into surgery. 40 minutes later, all pinned and screwed. Great way to start the holiday weekend. I got to BonAventure about 5 pm that evening, paid the first month rent, but did not sign the papers even though I could do that legally. Richard had a bad feeling about that. Turns out to be a very good thing. Got to the house Monday afternoon (4th) and started getting ready for moving on Tuesday. We had to tear the house apart in order to load the furniture they would need to have for their houseshold. Tuesday afternoon, the Masons helped us load a trailer, then we sat down to relax. I called the assisted living place to let them know we would be there the next day (6th) at 1 pm to take possession of the apartment and put the furniture in. Ok. Hang up and within a minute, they call back to tell us that we cannot take possession as we had not paid for the extra that Mom would need. They assessed her at a level 5+ care and that entailed more than $2200 each month. We had to tell them the deal was off. No way could dad pay the rent of $3385 and then more than $2200 on top of that. We changed horses in mid stream. Now everything had to be put back in the house. We accomplished that and cleaned at the same time. It appears to never end. The more we clean, the more we found to clean.
Time to go to bed now. More tales tomorrow. CB