Good Sunday morning to everyone. It's so nice to wake up to a beautiful new day. The Lord is good, and His mercies are new every morning.
Yesterday Mom had a bit of a hard time in the morning, and when her friends arrived to cheer her up she really needed cheering. Seems she may have been trying on her own to get to her drink, perhaps, and her glass had spilled all over her and then fell to the floor and broke. On top of that, she was very uncomfortable and needed medication. When friends and family come in, Mom has an advocate who can go ask for help. The nurses look in on her whenever they pass her doorway, because her sweet face is in clear sight of everyone who walks by. So, I imagine the spilled and broken glass must have happened shortly before the friends walked in. Of course our hearts ache thinking of Mom being by herself now when she is too weak to use the call button, and even if she could push it, she can't reach it because it is off to the side or may have fallen off the bed.
As the days go by, we will appreciate more and more having individuals who can just sit with Mom and watch over her. Please do not hesitate to call if you feel prompted to join in with the many who are already coming to sit with Mom. So far, the Lord has orchestrated who comes when, but we would be happy to try to help put people in different slots so there is a good coverage of care. Do not be shy and think that Mom can't have visitors. On the contrary, she thrives with company. However, being around her when she is in distress is not for the faint of heart, so we trust the Lord to prompt those who want to come.
Kathy is feeling a little bit under the weather so I told her to stay home last night; our children are at home with Daddy and I was so glad to sit with Mom all evening.
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Back to yesterday:
Mom wanted to go outdoors, so her nurses took her out to the patio in her wheelchair where she visited with Sharon, Pat and Missy, and later Brad and Colleen. Everyone helped with needs and encouragements. While Mom was still outdoors, the hospice nurse visited and assessed Mom. She wanted to check on Mom's morphine patch that is on her back, which is changed every few days. No patch. She searched all over Mom's back, and I was startled to see how bony my dear mother has become on her back. Clearly, the patch was not there. The nurse explained that it is harder for it to stick to bone, and since Mom has very little fleshy areas on her back, it may have come off inside her shirt. So, a new patch was put on her upper left arm. Later in the afternoon, after a rest in bed, Mom wanted to go outdoors again with Kathy and me. This time, however, the nurse asked for a rolling recliner for Mom. She got her all cozy on it with a blanket tucked around her, and wheeled her outside to the pleasant patio. Thankfully the fall days in the Bay Area have been warmish and very lovely. Mom was very sleepy and her eyes kept drooping. Kathy read Scripture to her until she left for the evening, and then after a short while I asked the nurse to take Mom back in and she got tucked in for the evening. Mom was drowsy all evening and of course could not do anything with her supper that was brought. She woke up briefly and wanted a few tiny spoonsful of Ensure. She could not hold a glass at all so I put a little liquid in her mouth with a spoon. Apparently it went down her throat. She was simply too sleepy for anything else. Each time she stirred and opened her eyes during the evening I asked her if she would like more, and sometimes she took a tiny bit but by around 8:30 she shook her head. So, it was time to say good night. I prayed for her and headed to the McBirneys who live quite close by. I miss my family this weekend but am glad for a place to "flop" with our relatives. I'll probably go home today and come back again soon, unless things are much changed when I go in today.
Yesterday Mom had a bit of a hard time in the morning, and when her friends arrived to cheer her up she really needed cheering. Seems she may have been trying on her own to get to her drink, perhaps, and her glass had spilled all over her and then fell to the floor and broke. On top of that, she was very uncomfortable and needed medication. When friends and family come in, Mom has an advocate who can go ask for help. The nurses look in on her whenever they pass her doorway, because her sweet face is in clear sight of everyone who walks by. So, I imagine the spilled and broken glass must have happened shortly before the friends walked in. Of course our hearts ache thinking of Mom being by herself now when she is too weak to use the call button, and even if she could push it, she can't reach it because it is off to the side or may have fallen off the bed.
As the days go by, we will appreciate more and more having individuals who can just sit with Mom and watch over her. Please do not hesitate to call if you feel prompted to join in with the many who are already coming to sit with Mom. So far, the Lord has orchestrated who comes when, but we would be happy to try to help put people in different slots so there is a good coverage of care. Do not be shy and think that Mom can't have visitors. On the contrary, she thrives with company. However, being around her when she is in distress is not for the faint of heart, so we trust the Lord to prompt those who want to come.
Kathy is feeling a little bit under the weather so I told her to stay home last night; our children are at home with Daddy and I was so glad to sit with Mom all evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back to yesterday:
Mom wanted to go outdoors, so her nurses took her out to the patio in her wheelchair where she visited with Sharon, Pat and Missy, and later Brad and Colleen. Everyone helped with needs and encouragements. While Mom was still outdoors, the hospice nurse visited and assessed Mom. She wanted to check on Mom's morphine patch that is on her back, which is changed every few days. No patch. She searched all over Mom's back, and I was startled to see how bony my dear mother has become on her back. Clearly, the patch was not there. The nurse explained that it is harder for it to stick to bone, and since Mom has very little fleshy areas on her back, it may have come off inside her shirt. So, a new patch was put on her upper left arm. Later in the afternoon, after a rest in bed, Mom wanted to go outdoors again with Kathy and me. This time, however, the nurse asked for a rolling recliner for Mom. She got her all cozy on it with a blanket tucked around her, and wheeled her outside to the pleasant patio. Thankfully the fall days in the Bay Area have been warmish and very lovely. Mom was very sleepy and her eyes kept drooping. Kathy read Scripture to her until she left for the evening, and then after a short while I asked the nurse to take Mom back in and she got tucked in for the evening. Mom was drowsy all evening and of course could not do anything with her supper that was brought. She woke up briefly and wanted a few tiny spoonsful of Ensure. She could not hold a glass at all so I put a little liquid in her mouth with a spoon. Apparently it went down her throat. She was simply too sleepy for anything else. Each time she stirred and opened her eyes during the evening I asked her if she would like more, and sometimes she took a tiny bit but by around 8:30 she shook her head. So, it was time to say good night. I prayed for her and headed to the McBirneys who live quite close by. I miss my family this weekend but am glad for a place to "flop" with our relatives. I'll probably go home today and come back again soon, unless things are much changed when I go in today.
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