SUN., MARCH 9 & MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014

March 9, 2014, Sunday. I went to the NH about 1:40 PM, fed the birds, blinds closed. I spoke with Nurse Jessica about Mom. She said that Mom had just gotten her 2PM pain meds and that she was doing well, today. Jessica said that the special triangle pillow had not arrived yet. The pillow between her legs that I saw yesterday was not the triangle pillow for hip fracture. Mom was sleeping. I straightened her covers, brushed her hair, and got some hangers out of the closet to bring home. I put some cookies in the bottom drawer. C.N.A. Mary and another C.N.A. came to change mother and I suggested more help. They went and got Nurse Jessica. It looked like a 3 person job to me. Mom whined and yelped but it went pretty smoothly. I changed the DVD to American in Paris. Mom dozed off and I left about 2:15 PM. I went back by the NH about 5:15 PM. C.N.A. Selfena was feeding Mom in her bed. Mom was eating well. When I walked in, Mom said “Hi Melanie!”. I greeted Mom and visited with and Mom and the C.N.A. for a few minutes. I saw Nurse Steve and talked to him about Mom, too. He reported that Mom seemed to be doing well today, eating well. I gave Nurse Steve the cookies for staff. I left about 5:30 PM.

  March 10, 2014, Monday. Brooks and I went to the NH this morning about 9:30 AM. We went in the front door and greeted staff on the way to Mom’s room. I introduced Brooks to Nurse Steve.  We met Hospice C.N.A. Wendy at Mom’s door and talked about Mom. Three Staff were changing Mom. C.N.A. Sandra was in charge of Mom this morning. They left and we went in. Mom was sleeping and I opened the blinds. Med Nurse came to give Mom some Boost and Mom was not swallowing the liquid. I got a chocolate and gave it to Mom rather forcefully. Once Mom tasted the chocolate, she swallowed. I showed Brooks around then left him there about 10 AM. I returned to the car and got some feed for the birds and added some birdseed to the feeders. I talked to Brooks on the phone about 3 PM. He was having lunch at La Mancha. About 4 PM he called and asked if Mom had any eye drops. I said no, not in the room. I returned to the NH about 4:30 PM. and added birdseed to the feeders. Brooks said that the staff gave Mom eye drops and Mom seemed more comfortable. When I came into Mom’s room, Mom seemed agitated and was saying “blah, blah, blah…” Brooks reported that staff had arranged the three pillows around Mom to brace her in position. Still no sign of the triangle pillow for this type of injury. I played clap hands with Mom and got her to participate then recited “peas porridge” until her “blah, blah” started to follow the rhyme. Then we played and sang a bit. Brooks reported Mom sleeping most of the time with him today and showed me his sketches. C.N.A. Selfonia brought Mom’s tray and Brooks and I together persuaded Mom to eat fairly well. Brooks said that she ate a few bites of each food at lunch. Mom finished the dessert then Brooks gave her a chocolate. Riley came by briefly on his way to teach Dutch. Mom seemed comfortable and fell asleep soon after eating. I left about 6 PM.  Brooks left shortly thereafter.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2014

March 8, 2014, Saturday. I responded to an email from Regina, Hospice nurse. I called the NH about 11:55 PM and spoke with Jessica on Unit II about changing Mom’s diet from “mechanical soft” to “puree’”. She said that the change would be made for lunch today. We discussed the change continuing as long as Mom is on pain medication. I went to the NH about 4:15, fed the birds, blinds closed. Carl was in the room just finishing up changing Mom’s flowers. He said Souhange gave some of her flowers to Mom’s arrangement, the orchids and the green mums. Carl left about 4:25 Pm. Mom was sleeping. I gave her the pillow from Helen and Mom smiled. She likes it. Mom had on a shirt instead of just a nightie. She has a triangle pillow between her legs that seems to add to her comfort. I have clean clothes but didn’t bring them. I need to reevaluate her clothing. I brought home her teeth. Mom slept until the food came. I played slap hands with her some and she had moments of being alert and waved her hands around a bit. There was no indication of itching today. She ate about 1/3 of her food. We channel surfed a bit. Mom likes some of the commercials. She looked out the window. I gave her a chocolate, closed the blinds and changed the DVD to Carmen. I left about 6 PM. Mom seemed better today, less sad.

FRI., MARCH 7, 2014

March 7, 2014, Friday. I went to NH about 4 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed.  Mom was sleeping on her bed, O2 on, no teeth, no glasses, in a nightgown, a sheet over her and the new air mattress in evidence. It looked like one of Mom’s lap blankets were under her as a pad. The room was warm so I opened the window for the duration of the visit. Mom was still scratching, itching. She has a sock on her left hand. I took her hand, stroked her, wiped her face and brushed her hair. The distractions did help reduce her scratching, plus put cream on her face, hands, neck. I went to Nurse Sandra and requested puree’ food rather than try to fight with Mom about putting in the teeth. She was licking her lips, too, indicating thirst. I gave her water. I put a denture cleanser tablet in her teeth water. Her teeth might come home for awhile. A C.N.A. brought Mom’s tray and she ate about 1/3 of the food, which is pretty good since she was nodding off during the eating. A Med nurse brought her some Benadryl for the itching and some Boost drink. Mom drank about 2/3 of the cup of Boost. The birds came and Mom did see them at one point. We channel surfed then I put the TV back on the DVD. Mom fell asleep and I sketched her then closed the window, the blinds and left about 6 PM.

THURS., MARCH 6, 2014

March 6, 2014, Thursday.  Carl called from the NH about 3 PM saying that Mom was in a good mood. I went to the NH about 4 PM. I talked to Nurse Steve before I saw Mom. He said that she got itchy from the pain meds which is not unusual so they are changing her meds. They have ordered an air bed for her and some special wedge pillows to hold her leg in place. Mom was sleeping with O2 on, no teeth, no glasses. I cleaned her glasses and Mom awoke. She was rubbing her upper left arm with her right hand and mumbling “ouch, ouch…”. She awoke and seemed happy to see me but was also agitated and uncomfortable.  I had difficulty getting her to put her teeth in. I got a coke from the vending machine and she drank some. C.N.A. Roxanne brought her food. I talked with Roxanne and she explained to me about the strategies they are trying to keep Mom clean and comfortable. She ate some but rather sparingly; a few bites of veggies, a few bites of the rigatoni, and all of the strawberries and whipped cream. A med nurse brought her some milk of magnesia. I cut her fingernails. I noticed some swelling in her L leg and told Nurse Steve. He came to the room and brought some ointment. There is no discoloration and the swelling does not seem inappropriate. Souhange asked me what was wrong and I told her that Mom had broken her leg. I think she was concerned that it might be something contagious. Mom and I saw some birds. I changed the DVD to White Christmas. I had difficulty getting her to give me her teeth but I got them and cleaned them. Mom fell asleep and I left with dirty clothes about 6 PM.

MARCH 5, 2014 FRACTURE

March 5, 2014, Wednesday. I didn’t go to the NH today. Carl says he will see Mom today. When I got home from work, there was a message from Regina, Hospice nurse for me to call Dr. Maxwell. As I was listening to the message Carl called and said that Mom has a hairline fracture. Carl assisted Mom with supper  and stayed with Mom until she fell asleep. I called Dr. Maxwell and we discussed the treatment options. I said “no” to surgery. We are going to try bedrest for up to three weeks and see how Mom does with that. If pain increases or any of several indications of complications we can discuss those. Another X-ray will be done in 10 days. Dr. Maxwell indicated that bones can and do heal in elderly patients with bedrest. I called Carl back and he said that Mom seemed comfortable and the meds she is getting do seem effective. 

MON., MARCH 3 AND TUES., MARCH 4, 2014

March 3, 2014, Monday. I did not go to the NH today. I talked to Riley and he said he planned to go see Mom. I got an email from Regina from Hospice saying that she saw Riley today with Mom and that they both agreed that Mom was having a good day!

March 4, 2014, Tuesday. Riley called from the NH this morning saying that Regina from Hospice was there and that Mom is complaining that her leg hurts. I went to the NH about 3:20 PM. Mom was asleep on her bed. I cleaned her glasses. Nurse Steve, Regina, and another woman came into Mom’s room to examine Mom shortly after I arrived. They determined that Mom is having some pain on her left hip, thigh area but doubt that it is a fracture. A C.N.A. came and assisted getting Mom up, unsuccessfully. The C.N.A. also changed Mom. They left and I talked with Regina for a bit. Mom fell asleep. Nurse Steve returned with some medicine. Mom slept. I hung up the clean clothes I brought and cleaned Mom’s nails a bit. I sketched Mom sleeping. I woke up Mom and we ate a few Cheetos. Then Mom fell back to sleep. I sat with her a bit then left about 4:30 PM. Mom knew me and responded to me appropriately but was very tired and sore.  I gave Steve some pecans and a Teddy Bear from Sharon S. to the Nurses station for another resident.

SAT., MARCH 1 & SUN., MARCH 2, 2014

March 1, 2014, Saturday. I went to the NH about 3:15 PM. The feeders were full, blinds closed. I noticed Riley signed the visitor’s book about noon. Mom was resting on her bed, watching the DVD, sound low, O2 on but cannula out of place, glasses off, teeth in.  We hung up some clean clothes that I brought. I got Mom’s pants on her and helped her into her chair. She did not have on leggings so we put those on. We played “peas porridge hot.” I cleaned her glasses, wiped her face, cleaned her hands and noted Mom coughing. I changed the channel to TCM. Then we went to the entertainment. I got Mom a coffee. We clapped hands but Mom put her head on the table so we went for a walk outside. It was a warm day so we went around the back and sat by the pansies and the begonias. Mom was very interested in the begonias. We went back inside to her room and Adam came and took Mom vitals. I gave Adam a bag of pecans. We discussed Mom’s leggings and I mentioned the leggings to Nurse Sandra, too. I put in the new DVD, High Society, looked at the card from Brooks and also at her 6ht grade report card which Bonnie sent. I took Mom to the big TV room and left about 5:15 PM. Today Mom was able to follow and recite “peas porridge” with me after three rounds. She was attentive to hanging up the clothes and noticed when it was wrong. She knows who she is.

March 2, 2014, Sunday. I went to the NH about 3:20 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, no O2, teeth in, glasses off, DVD playing, sound low. Mom needed changing, no pants on so I called for assistance then went and asked Adam. He changed Mom and we got her into her chair. I brushed her hair, cleaned her hands, cleaned her glasses, wiped her face and we played ‘peas porridge’ but Mom could not say the words. After three times through she managed “hot”, “cold”, “old” on cue. We went to the dining room for the Episcopal service. Mom nodded and wanted communion today. She enjoyed looking at the music but didn’t sing. We returned to her room and channel surfed then I changed the DVD to Singing in the Rain. She ate a tangerine, carefully chewing up each section then spitting out the pulp. Then I gave her a caramel.  I tried to coax her to color today unsuccessfully. We looked at photos. She correctly identified her sisters but mixed others up. She could identify Carl and Brooks but not her other children. Today she could not remember her birthday and I could not get her name out of her. I gathered her dirty clothes and took Mom to the big TV room. I left about 4:50 PM. Mom showed affection to her stuffed dogs today and was out of sorts and grouchy when I first got there. She got happier during the visit. She did not speak out loud until I was leaving then she asked me to stay.