We were up early this morning, at 6:30 a.m., so I could get ready to take Mother to the clinic for a fasting blood work test. She hadn't eaten anything since before midnight last night, so she was hungry by the time we arrived at the clinic at 8:30.
We were fortunate to find a handicap parking space in front of the clinic, but things sort of went downhill from there. We were called back pretty promptly, and the nurse weighed Mother and took her blood pressure, and said her pressure was really high. Come to find out that despite my advise to Mother yesterday that she take her blood pressure medicines this morning, she did not. I guess I should have called her on the intercom this morning to remind her to do so.
Anyway, once the nurse completed her tasks, she announced that the doctor was at the hospital dealing with an emergency, but she should be back at the clinic presently. She was not. Mother had been complaining of hunger since we arrived at the clinic, so when the nurse stopped by again, I told her that Mother really needed to eat or risk crumbling.
The nurse escorted us to the lab for the blood work. However, the nurse there said she first needed a urine specimen from Mother. This required us to sit and wait while another patient finished with the bathroom. In the meantime, the nurse whisked someone else to the lab, which required us to wait some more until she could take Mother to the bathroom and instruct her in what to do. I accompanied her.
Finally, the nurse did the blood work, and we left the clinic to find breakfast for Mother. The nurse had advised us to let the receptionist up front know when we returned, so that the doctor could see her promptly.
I took Mother to a fast food restaurant for an egg and muffin breakfast with coffee. Mother missed her coffee almost as much as her breakfast this morning. As the nurse told her, though, she could have had coffee at home, as long as she didn't add sugar or cream.
A little while later, with Mother well fortified, we returned to the clinic. As promised, we didn't have to wait long before seeing the doctor. The doctor was very apologetic about her tardiness, and we assured her we understood and hoped her patient would recover. The doctor commented that she didn't think that would be the case, as he or she had sought medical help too late. Part of the reason she was so late, she explained, was that she felt obligated to stay and talk with each family member as they arrived to be with their loved one.
The doctor wanted to know if Mother was still taking her medicines as prescribed, and Mother said yes, and showed her the bottles she'd brought along.
One of Mother's prescriptions was missing, and the doctor asked about it. Seems that while she was taking her meds, or filling her pill carrier, or something, her cat knocked the bottles off the coffee table, and they rolled under the couch.
Mother used her cane to pull the bottles out, but apparently missed one, and then didn't realize she hadn't been taking her full complement of prescriptions for the past week or so.
Since we don't know where that bottle is (even after Hubbie searched for it later) the doctor ordered another prescription for her.
At last, we were ready to come home. It was 11 a.m. by this time. Later, after lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to the pharmacy, to the farmer's market, and then to the WDCS for groceries.
At home, Mother had boiled eggs, and cut up apples, onions, celery, and pickles for for an egg salad and tuna salad sandwich supper.
Before supper, we watched the Boston Pops July fourth show that I'd recorded on DVR, but that we hadn't had time to watch until today.
After supper, Mother went home, and Hubbie and I went back to the WDCS for bread and bread rounds, and to another grocery store for cottage cheese, all of which I'd forgotten to put on my grocery list earlier. It's just been that kind of day.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched the 2008 movie, "Surveillance," starring Julia Ormond and Bill Pullman. A couple of FBI agents investigate roadside rage killings on a remote highway, but when they question witnesses, they get three different stories. Even local police seem be suspiciously involved. The only one who appears to know the truth is a young girl traveling with her family on vacation. Surprise ending.
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