Up at 6 a.m. this morning, so I could help Mother get a shower before breakfast. I skipped my exercises today...kitchen duties called. Mother wanted to help, so after she was seated at the kitchen table, I gathered baking dishes and ingredients for putting together lasagnas. Mother enjoyed this project.
After she'd finished carefully layering the ingredients in both dishes, she went back to her rocking chair in the den to rest, while I finished lunch preparations...slicing and buttering French bread, cutting up vegetables for salad, and opening cans of green beans to be heated later.
Son, Daughter-in-Law, Grandson and his wife and three children (including a newborn) arrived a little after 9 a.m. Son, Grandson, and Hubbie set to work right away building a ramp to Mother's porch.
Around 10:30, I put the lasagnas in the oven to bake, and while they cooked, I enjoyed the great-grandkids, especially the newest edition, a two-month-old little girl that looks like her dad.
Lunch was ready at noon, and we all came to the table with our appetites on go. Even the two youngsters ate heartily.
The guys didn't dawdle after lunch, but went right back to work. They completed all they could by around 3 p.m., and then spent a little while visiting before heading home around 4 p.m.
They'll be back next Saturday to complete the task...installing a rail on the right-hand side of the ramp. On that day, Granddaughter and her boyfriend will also come, and we'll all enjoy a second round of Thanksgiving dinner.
Later, we watched a Hallmark Channel 2005 movie, "Silver Bells," starring Anne Heche. A young man, whose father owns a Christmas tree farm, decides not to return home after a trip to Manhattan to deliver trees. The young man, a photographer, bonds with a woman museum director. A year later, the father, who has never ceased looking for his son, returns to Manhattan and crosses paths with the museum director.
While we watched this movie, we had a sandwich supper, followed by slices of dark chocolate cake. The cake, one that I'd bought last April at the Scottish festival, has been in the freezer all this time.
When the movie ended, Hubbie and I watched our favorite college football team play to a wide-margin win. The game began at 2:30 this afternoon, but I recorded it on DVR.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday, Nov. 18
Up at 6:30 to help Mother come to the den. Once we'd had breakfast, I got ready to go to water aerobics. Br-r-r, cold morning. Needed my coat and gloves.
I was a little late getting around this morning, so by the time I arrived at the college, all the parking spaces were full in the lot I usually visit. Besides that, one section of the lot was blocked off for some reason. So I headed up the hill to the lot near the student union/dining hall (that burned months ago), where there were three parking spaces left.
The pool was very warm today, at 88 degrees. The lap swimmers complained about it, so it will probably be chilly on Monday. I thought we would not be meeting on Monday, but learned this morning that we will, though there will be no aerobics on Wednesday.
The lady I stand next to in aerobics, who did not attend on Wednesday, was there today. Wednesday, several women asked me where this lady was. Why would folks think I know? I don't socialize with the lady outside of aerobics.
This morning, I mentioned to the lady that I'd been asked about her absence, and commented that apparently she has been laboring under the misguided notion that it's none of my business what she does when she doesn't attend sessions. She laughed and explained her absence.
Today, then, the lady that I swim with in the deep end of the pool before aerobics was absent today. Naturally, several folks asked me where she was. I don't know, but I'll have to chastise her if she attends Monday, and remind her that I'm to know when and why she might be absent.
Back home, after warming up with a hot cup of coffee, I got ready for the day. Around 10:30, the nurse came to take Mother's vitals and make sure she wasn't in pain, was eating sufficiently, etc.
Following lunch, around 1:30, the therapist came and spent a half hour helping Mother exercise. After he left, Mother opted to watch a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, while Hubbie and I ran errands.
We started at the Caring Hands office, where I dropped off the stack of Christmas cards that our scrapbook club had made. While there, I was given a flier announcing the home medical services Christmas party, scheduled for Dec. 9.
From there, we went to the hydroponic farm to buy tomatoes. Then to the art gallery, where I retrieved the Christmas ornaments I'd painted Tuesday night. I'll remove the designs and try to paint something more appealing (with Sis's help).
At the gallery, I picked up a flier announcing the Christmas cookie house workshop that I'll be leading the first weekend in December. We dropped the flier off at the Caring Hands office, because several of the ladies have children who attended last year and might be interested in attending this year.
Our last stop was the WDCS to get last-minute groceries for the weekend. Back home, Mother went to the kitchen to chop onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms for Ziplock bag omelets. Hubbie peeled and sliced potatoes to be sauteed in onions. After that, I cooked the omelets and the potatoes, and baked a can of biscuits for supper.
Mother ate a generous portion of the food. But since she'd been up all day, she was ready for bed by 6:30. Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including our favorite college basketball team as they played to a disappointing loss.
I was a little late getting around this morning, so by the time I arrived at the college, all the parking spaces were full in the lot I usually visit. Besides that, one section of the lot was blocked off for some reason. So I headed up the hill to the lot near the student union/dining hall (that burned months ago), where there were three parking spaces left.
The pool was very warm today, at 88 degrees. The lap swimmers complained about it, so it will probably be chilly on Monday. I thought we would not be meeting on Monday, but learned this morning that we will, though there will be no aerobics on Wednesday.
The lady I stand next to in aerobics, who did not attend on Wednesday, was there today. Wednesday, several women asked me where this lady was. Why would folks think I know? I don't socialize with the lady outside of aerobics.
This morning, I mentioned to the lady that I'd been asked about her absence, and commented that apparently she has been laboring under the misguided notion that it's none of my business what she does when she doesn't attend sessions. She laughed and explained her absence.
Today, then, the lady that I swim with in the deep end of the pool before aerobics was absent today. Naturally, several folks asked me where she was. I don't know, but I'll have to chastise her if she attends Monday, and remind her that I'm to know when and why she might be absent.
Back home, after warming up with a hot cup of coffee, I got ready for the day. Around 10:30, the nurse came to take Mother's vitals and make sure she wasn't in pain, was eating sufficiently, etc.
Following lunch, around 1:30, the therapist came and spent a half hour helping Mother exercise. After he left, Mother opted to watch a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, while Hubbie and I ran errands.
We started at the Caring Hands office, where I dropped off the stack of Christmas cards that our scrapbook club had made. While there, I was given a flier announcing the home medical services Christmas party, scheduled for Dec. 9.
From there, we went to the hydroponic farm to buy tomatoes. Then to the art gallery, where I retrieved the Christmas ornaments I'd painted Tuesday night. I'll remove the designs and try to paint something more appealing (with Sis's help).
At the gallery, I picked up a flier announcing the Christmas cookie house workshop that I'll be leading the first weekend in December. We dropped the flier off at the Caring Hands office, because several of the ladies have children who attended last year and might be interested in attending this year.
Our last stop was the WDCS to get last-minute groceries for the weekend. Back home, Mother went to the kitchen to chop onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms for Ziplock bag omelets. Hubbie peeled and sliced potatoes to be sauteed in onions. After that, I cooked the omelets and the potatoes, and baked a can of biscuits for supper.
Mother ate a generous portion of the food. But since she'd been up all day, she was ready for bed by 6:30. Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including our favorite college basketball team as they played to a disappointing loss.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, Nov. 17
Had one of those nights when I suddenly woke up at 3:30 in the morning feeling as though I'd slept a full eight hours. Took a while to drift back off, and then I awoke again around 6:30. Mother was ready to get up and come out to the den by that time.
After breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower before I did anything else, because we expected a nurse to stop by sometime today, and we wanted to be ready in case she came this morning. Checking the calendar later, though, I discovered the nurse isn't due to come until tomorrow.
Once Mother was settled, I changed from my swimsuit to my exercise clothes and did a session on the treadmill followed by weights exercises. Before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I suggested Mother use her resistance bands to do some exercises.
I also called the Extension Services office to let them know our scrapbook club would not be meeting in their conference room this month. The Extension agent said that worked fine for them, because they had an in-service training session this morning that was to go on until noon, so in case it went overtime, they wouldn't have to worry about occupying the space when we needed it.
Then I called the college where my ESL student and I meet on Mondays to inquire if the library will be open that day. The college where I go to water aerobics will be closed all next week for Thanksgiving break, and I figured this college would be, too, but it's not. They will be closed only Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday.
Once I was ready for the day, it was close to lunchtime. After lunch, I finished getting things ready for the ladies to come and make Christmas cards for Caring Hands Hospice.
We had a great time with the project, and by the end of the two-hour session, we had 21 cards. Not all of the cards were created today...the two other ladies had made some at home to bring with them...but each of us did make three or four apiece today.
An hour into the session, I served the ladies cups of homemade chai tea and ginger snap cookies. They enjoyed the treat so much that they requested the recipes. In exchange, one of the ladies gave me the recipe for easy pumpkin muffins using a cake mix and canned pumpkin.
Mother really enjoyed the activity of creating a couple of cards, and socializing with the ladies. She needed this diversion. She did not, however, need to strain her back reaching down into the tote that holds the scissors and glues. After she did that, she had to ask me to help her out of the folding chair and into the rocking chair.
While the ladies were here, the building supply business decided to deliver the lumber for the wheelchair ramp. Hubbie understood when he called the business this morning that the deliver would be after 3 p.m., at the end our meeting.
Since there were three cars and a truck in our driveway, the delivery guy had to park his truck and long flat-bed trailer across the road, until Hubbie could get keys to the ladies' cars and move them and our vehicles out of the way.
At 3 p.m., the ladies left, and I spent about 30 minutes clearing stuff away to the appropriate totes and taking it back to the storage room.
For supper, I heated the veggie soup and bran muffins...easy meal for a busy day. Later, we watched a Hallmark Channel movie, "Cancel Christmas," another family feature suitable for Mother.
After breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower before I did anything else, because we expected a nurse to stop by sometime today, and we wanted to be ready in case she came this morning. Checking the calendar later, though, I discovered the nurse isn't due to come until tomorrow.
Once Mother was settled, I changed from my swimsuit to my exercise clothes and did a session on the treadmill followed by weights exercises. Before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I suggested Mother use her resistance bands to do some exercises.
I also called the Extension Services office to let them know our scrapbook club would not be meeting in their conference room this month. The Extension agent said that worked fine for them, because they had an in-service training session this morning that was to go on until noon, so in case it went overtime, they wouldn't have to worry about occupying the space when we needed it.
Then I called the college where my ESL student and I meet on Mondays to inquire if the library will be open that day. The college where I go to water aerobics will be closed all next week for Thanksgiving break, and I figured this college would be, too, but it's not. They will be closed only Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday.
Once I was ready for the day, it was close to lunchtime. After lunch, I finished getting things ready for the ladies to come and make Christmas cards for Caring Hands Hospice.
We had a great time with the project, and by the end of the two-hour session, we had 21 cards. Not all of the cards were created today...the two other ladies had made some at home to bring with them...but each of us did make three or four apiece today.
An hour into the session, I served the ladies cups of homemade chai tea and ginger snap cookies. They enjoyed the treat so much that they requested the recipes. In exchange, one of the ladies gave me the recipe for easy pumpkin muffins using a cake mix and canned pumpkin.
Mother really enjoyed the activity of creating a couple of cards, and socializing with the ladies. She needed this diversion. She did not, however, need to strain her back reaching down into the tote that holds the scissors and glues. After she did that, she had to ask me to help her out of the folding chair and into the rocking chair.
While the ladies were here, the building supply business decided to deliver the lumber for the wheelchair ramp. Hubbie understood when he called the business this morning that the deliver would be after 3 p.m., at the end our meeting.
Since there were three cars and a truck in our driveway, the delivery guy had to park his truck and long flat-bed trailer across the road, until Hubbie could get keys to the ladies' cars and move them and our vehicles out of the way.
At 3 p.m., the ladies left, and I spent about 30 minutes clearing stuff away to the appropriate totes and taking it back to the storage room.
For supper, I heated the veggie soup and bran muffins...easy meal for a busy day. Later, we watched a Hallmark Channel movie, "Cancel Christmas," another family feature suitable for Mother.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Up at 6:30, and once I got Mother settled, and we'd had breakfast, I got ready to go to water aerobics. Br-r-r, it was quite chilly this morning, so I was very glad to find the pool toasty warm.
Back home afterward, I enjoyed a couple of cups of hot coffee before getting ready for the day. Then Mother and I watched the elimination episode of "Dancing with the Stars, while Hubbie went to a building supply store to order the materials needed to build a ramp to Mother's porch. Son and his family will be here Saturday to begin the project.
That took us up to noon. After lunch, about 1:30, Mother's therapist came. This was a different therapist from the one who came Monday...a young man this time, who exercised Mother more strenuously than the woman therapist did. He wrapped two- pound weights around Mother's ankles (that felt like five-pound weights to Mother). He had her extend and lift, then bend and lift her legs, ten times for each leg. After that, he accompanied her as she made two loops around the house, using her walker. It was rather amusing to watch the two of them, since Mother is only 4 feet, ten inches tall, and the therapist is around six feet.
Finally, he wanted to see how Mother was getting in and out of bed. When I started to lift her legs so she could lie down, he exclaimed, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I don't want your daughter helping you into bed. I want you to do it on your own." And then he showed Mother how to lift one leg, then the other onto the bed, then roll onto her side and help herself up with her arms. While she was reclined, he had her do leg lifts.
It was quite a workout for her, so she was plenty ready for a nap afterward. While she slept, Hubbie and I ran to a couple of grocery stores, a pharmacy, and the WDCS. While at the WDCS, we found sweet potatoes on sale at 33 cents a pound, so we bought several pounds.
Back home, I checked on Mother and found her still snoozing. So I gathered card-making supplies, stickers, rubber stamps, punches, etc., for making Christmas cards tomorrow afternoon during the scrapbook club meeting at our house.
By now, it was 4:30, so I checked on Mother, who was ready to get up...and she did it by herself. When she was settled in the den, I went to an arts council meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. Only two of us showed up, and the council director promptly put us to work painting Christmas designs on clear oval ornaments.
Free handing designs is not my strong suit, so mine look like a first-grader did them. I really don't think they're fit to be offered for sale. Thankfully, the designs can be removed, so someone else, with actual artistic ability, can paint them.
I brought six clear ornaments home with me in hopes Sis, who is an artist, will agree to design them for us. I also bought an ornament designed by a friend...it features a Woodstock-like yellow bird in a snowstorm.
Back home, Hubbie had heated our supper...leftover leftovers (the remainder of the chicken casserole), a side of coleslaw, and French bread.
Afterward, we watched a Hallmark Channel movie called, "The Town Christmas Forgot." This was certainly no Academy Award winner, but it was at least family fair fit for Mother to watch.
Following the movie, Mother was ready to hit the sack. She was tired after a pretty strenuous day.
Back home afterward, I enjoyed a couple of cups of hot coffee before getting ready for the day. Then Mother and I watched the elimination episode of "Dancing with the Stars, while Hubbie went to a building supply store to order the materials needed to build a ramp to Mother's porch. Son and his family will be here Saturday to begin the project.
That took us up to noon. After lunch, about 1:30, Mother's therapist came. This was a different therapist from the one who came Monday...a young man this time, who exercised Mother more strenuously than the woman therapist did. He wrapped two- pound weights around Mother's ankles (that felt like five-pound weights to Mother). He had her extend and lift, then bend and lift her legs, ten times for each leg. After that, he accompanied her as she made two loops around the house, using her walker. It was rather amusing to watch the two of them, since Mother is only 4 feet, ten inches tall, and the therapist is around six feet.
Finally, he wanted to see how Mother was getting in and out of bed. When I started to lift her legs so she could lie down, he exclaimed, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I don't want your daughter helping you into bed. I want you to do it on your own." And then he showed Mother how to lift one leg, then the other onto the bed, then roll onto her side and help herself up with her arms. While she was reclined, he had her do leg lifts.
It was quite a workout for her, so she was plenty ready for a nap afterward. While she slept, Hubbie and I ran to a couple of grocery stores, a pharmacy, and the WDCS. While at the WDCS, we found sweet potatoes on sale at 33 cents a pound, so we bought several pounds.
Back home, I checked on Mother and found her still snoozing. So I gathered card-making supplies, stickers, rubber stamps, punches, etc., for making Christmas cards tomorrow afternoon during the scrapbook club meeting at our house.
By now, it was 4:30, so I checked on Mother, who was ready to get up...and she did it by herself. When she was settled in the den, I went to an arts council meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. Only two of us showed up, and the council director promptly put us to work painting Christmas designs on clear oval ornaments.
Free handing designs is not my strong suit, so mine look like a first-grader did them. I really don't think they're fit to be offered for sale. Thankfully, the designs can be removed, so someone else, with actual artistic ability, can paint them.
I brought six clear ornaments home with me in hopes Sis, who is an artist, will agree to design them for us. I also bought an ornament designed by a friend...it features a Woodstock-like yellow bird in a snowstorm.
Back home, Hubbie had heated our supper...leftover leftovers (the remainder of the chicken casserole), a side of coleslaw, and French bread.
Afterward, we watched a Hallmark Channel movie called, "The Town Christmas Forgot." This was certainly no Academy Award winner, but it was at least family fair fit for Mother to watch.
Following the movie, Mother was ready to hit the sack. She was tired after a pretty strenuous day.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Up around 7 a.m. this morning. After we'd had breakfast, I helped Mother take a shower. She's doing more for herself, now...undressing unassisted, and dressing with a little assistance. Today, she was able to lift her own legs into the bathtub without my help.
After I got Mother settled in the den, she did a session of exercising with stretch bands, while I put on exercise clothes and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. I was ready for the day just about in time for the visiting nurse to drop by.
Today, besides taking Mother's vitals, the nurse cut her toenails. Mother's nails are thick and difficult to cut, but I have a scissor-like clipper that the nurse was able to use. I would have cut Mother's nails myself, but she's so tender that I was afraid I'd hurt her. I figured the nurse would have more experience at this. And I was right.
Apparently, this is a routine part of her job, because she told us the story of a time when her husband came by to pick her up after she'd cut an elderly woman's toenails. Her husband looked at her with a very puzzled expression on his face. When she asked what was the matter, he asked what those white things in her hair were. Apparently, the woman's tough toenails had flown up into the nurse's hair! That didn't happen today thank goodness. But Mother sure felt better getting her nails cut and filed.
After the nurse left, and we'd had lunch, Mother was ready for a nap. While she slept, Hubbie and I ran errands. First, he dropped me off at the beauty shop, where I had a 1:30 appointment. I arrived early, but my hairdresser was ready to cut my hair.
While I was getting a haircut, Hubbie went to the bank, mailed a couple of letters for my at the Post Office, and delivered this week's word search puzzle contest to the newspaper office. Hubbie returned to pick me up exactly at the time my hairdresser finished with my hair.
While I was getting a haircut, Hubbie went to the bank, to the Post Office to mail a couple of cards (one a sympathy card to a high school classmate who recently lost her mother, and another a birthday card and chatty letter to my friend in Texas), and then to the newspaper office to deliver this week's word search puzzle contest.
From the beauty shop, we went to the store that has a sale every weekend, where I used a $10 coupon to buy three pairs of undies for Mother. These will become one of her 12-days-of-Christmas gifts.
That store must have a math genius working for them, because they've got it figured so that you can't really buy just one sale item for the required $25 (the amount a customer must spend to use the $10 coupon). For instance, today the undies were on sale three pairs for $24, which meant I needed another item in order to use the coupon. I ended up buying a washcloth for $4. I'll put the plush washcloth with the others I bought to go with the two thick towels for Mother for Christmas (she mentioned again this morning how thin her towels and wash clothes are). The undies are to replace some we had to discard during the worst of Mother's episode after returning home from the hospital.
From that store, we went to the everything's a dollar store for several items, and then on to the WDCS for a few groceries and incidentals.
Back home, Mother was awake and ready to get up. We spent the rest of the afternoon until suppertime watching Monday night's episode of "Dancing with the Stars."
At 4:30, I decided to make a batch of bran muffins to go with the veggie soup for supper. But naturally, I didn't have any bran cereal, so Hubbie had to run to the nearest grocery store to buy a box.
The soup and bran muffins were delicious, just the right meal for a rainy evening. Speaking of rain, our guage showed four inches today, even though the weatherman said we got three and a quarter inches. Whatever the accurate amount, we appear to be one of the counties that got the most rain this time round.
After supper, it was TV time, as usual, including a Hallmark Channel movie called, "The Ulimate Gift." The wealthy grandfather of a young man dies, and instead of leaving him a fortune in his will, he requires the young man to gain life experiences...hard work, finding a true friend, giving up his paycheck to help someone in need, traveling to a remote village in Ecuador to revitalize a library that is central to the residents. Along the way, he finds love, of course.
After I got Mother settled in the den, she did a session of exercising with stretch bands, while I put on exercise clothes and did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. I was ready for the day just about in time for the visiting nurse to drop by.
Today, besides taking Mother's vitals, the nurse cut her toenails. Mother's nails are thick and difficult to cut, but I have a scissor-like clipper that the nurse was able to use. I would have cut Mother's nails myself, but she's so tender that I was afraid I'd hurt her. I figured the nurse would have more experience at this. And I was right.
Apparently, this is a routine part of her job, because she told us the story of a time when her husband came by to pick her up after she'd cut an elderly woman's toenails. Her husband looked at her with a very puzzled expression on his face. When she asked what was the matter, he asked what those white things in her hair were. Apparently, the woman's tough toenails had flown up into the nurse's hair! That didn't happen today thank goodness. But Mother sure felt better getting her nails cut and filed.
After the nurse left, and we'd had lunch, Mother was ready for a nap. While she slept, Hubbie and I ran errands. First, he dropped me off at the beauty shop, where I had a 1:30 appointment. I arrived early, but my hairdresser was ready to cut my hair.
While I was getting a haircut, Hubbie went to the bank, mailed a couple of letters for my at the Post Office, and delivered this week's word search puzzle contest to the newspaper office. Hubbie returned to pick me up exactly at the time my hairdresser finished with my hair.
While I was getting a haircut, Hubbie went to the bank, to the Post Office to mail a couple of cards (one a sympathy card to a high school classmate who recently lost her mother, and another a birthday card and chatty letter to my friend in Texas), and then to the newspaper office to deliver this week's word search puzzle contest.
From the beauty shop, we went to the store that has a sale every weekend, where I used a $10 coupon to buy three pairs of undies for Mother. These will become one of her 12-days-of-Christmas gifts.
That store must have a math genius working for them, because they've got it figured so that you can't really buy just one sale item for the required $25 (the amount a customer must spend to use the $10 coupon). For instance, today the undies were on sale three pairs for $24, which meant I needed another item in order to use the coupon. I ended up buying a washcloth for $4. I'll put the plush washcloth with the others I bought to go with the two thick towels for Mother for Christmas (she mentioned again this morning how thin her towels and wash clothes are). The undies are to replace some we had to discard during the worst of Mother's episode after returning home from the hospital.
From that store, we went to the everything's a dollar store for several items, and then on to the WDCS for a few groceries and incidentals.
Back home, Mother was awake and ready to get up. We spent the rest of the afternoon until suppertime watching Monday night's episode of "Dancing with the Stars."
At 4:30, I decided to make a batch of bran muffins to go with the veggie soup for supper. But naturally, I didn't have any bran cereal, so Hubbie had to run to the nearest grocery store to buy a box.
The soup and bran muffins were delicious, just the right meal for a rainy evening. Speaking of rain, our guage showed four inches today, even though the weatherman said we got three and a quarter inches. Whatever the accurate amount, we appear to be one of the counties that got the most rain this time round.
After supper, it was TV time, as usual, including a Hallmark Channel movie called, "The Ulimate Gift." The wealthy grandfather of a young man dies, and instead of leaving him a fortune in his will, he requires the young man to gain life experiences...hard work, finding a true friend, giving up his paycheck to help someone in need, traveling to a remote village in Ecuador to revitalize a library that is central to the residents. Along the way, he finds love, of course.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday, Nov. 14
Up at 6:30 this morning, so I could get Mother settled, we could all have breakfast, and then I could get ready to go to water aerobics.
What a warm morning for November! The water in the pool, though, was much chillier than it was last Friday. But once I got used to it, it was fine. Seventeen of us enjoyed the session.
Funny story from the pool: the lady who stands next to me during aerobics commented that her son has worked for a phone company for nearly 30 years. Recently, the company required all of its employees to have smart phones. The problem? Her son didn't know the first thing about how to use it, and had to get his daughter to teach him!
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I called the scrapbook club members to remind them of our Thursday meeting, and request that we meet at our house this month, because Mother is unable to get out right now and wants to participate in making Christmas cards for Caring Hands.
By the time I did a few other tasks and then got ready for day, it was time to fix lunch...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Hubbie and me.
While I was getting ready for the day, the therapist called. Hubbie took the message that she'd be here after lunch (but no specific time). I helped Mother change clothes, and then we waited, and waited.
By 2 p.m., I decided I'd put together a casserole for supper. I took my cue from Sis's casserole that she made for Mother and herself while Hubbie, Daughter, and I were in Branson. I used whatever I found in the refrigerator...chicken, rice, gravy, peas, green beans, and glazed carrots, and added chicken broth, baby Swiss cheese, and crushed salt-free soda cracker.
I put the casserole in the refrigerator until later. Finally, around 2:30, the therapist showed up. She assessed Mother as she used her walker to go from the rocking chair in the den to the front door and back. Then she provided her with a resistance stretch band and worked with her in exercising her arms and legs. This first session was short, of course, but the therapist provided Mother with print material illustrating the exercises, so Mother can do them between therapist sessions.
Mother, who has been unable to go to the bathroom for the past five days, finally got some relief today, and she felt so much better afterward. I've been diligently giving her Miralax daily, as prescribed by the doctor, but today I also gave her four ounces of prune juice.
Naturally, Mother got the urge around 2:15, and was going to hold off until after the therapist left, but I wouldn't hear of it. I felt that if the therapist could keep us waiting, then she could just wait until Mother was ready. As it happened, Mother was back in the den before the therapist arrived, anyway.
After the therapist left, Hubbie went shopping for groceries. I had planned to go with him to run a couple of errands for myself, but since it was nearly 4 p.m. by now, I decided I should stay home and get the casserole into the oven.
While the casserole baked, Mother went to the kitchen and diced carrots, celery, and onions for a pot of veggie soup. She returned to the den after she finished that task, and I sauteed the veggies in olive oil, then added a couple of cans of sodium-free tomatoes, garlic and various spices...sodium-free seasoning, pepper, paprika, basil, bay leaves, parsley, and a little sweetener...and then let the mixture stew for a little while. To this I added a can of low-sodium chicken broth, and a can of low-sodium beef broth. Then I added a variety of leftover veggies I'd accumulated in a container in the freezer, plus a package of store-bought frozen veggies. I let the soup simmer for a few hours. There's enough soup for two or three meals.
The house became positively uncomfortably warm with all that cooking, so I actually had to turn on the air conditioner...in November!
The casserole for supper was very good, and there's enough for another meal. We have a busy week coming up, so I'm glad to have a few meals prepared ahead.
After supper, it was TV time, as usual. This was the first day Mother didn't nap in the afternoon. So she was ready for bed around 7 p.m. Hubbie and I watched the 2006 movie, "Net 2.0." A young woman systems analyst goes to Istanbul for a job, but promptly finds herself in mortal danger as she is chased by bad guys and then thrown in jail. Her identity is stolen, her bank account is drained, and her credit cards are useless.
In the middle of the movie, I remembered that Hubbie had received a phone call from the man who is advising us on building a ramp for Mother. I meant to tell him as soon as he got back from the store, but it slipped my mind. Hubbie, a tad annoyed, called the man immediately, and then went to his house (he lives in the neighborhood).
What a warm morning for November! The water in the pool, though, was much chillier than it was last Friday. But once I got used to it, it was fine. Seventeen of us enjoyed the session.
Funny story from the pool: the lady who stands next to me during aerobics commented that her son has worked for a phone company for nearly 30 years. Recently, the company required all of its employees to have smart phones. The problem? Her son didn't know the first thing about how to use it, and had to get his daughter to teach him!
Back home, after a couple of cups of coffee, I called the scrapbook club members to remind them of our Thursday meeting, and request that we meet at our house this month, because Mother is unable to get out right now and wants to participate in making Christmas cards for Caring Hands.
By the time I did a few other tasks and then got ready for day, it was time to fix lunch...Ramen noodle soup for Mother, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Hubbie and me.
While I was getting ready for the day, the therapist called. Hubbie took the message that she'd be here after lunch (but no specific time). I helped Mother change clothes, and then we waited, and waited.
By 2 p.m., I decided I'd put together a casserole for supper. I took my cue from Sis's casserole that she made for Mother and herself while Hubbie, Daughter, and I were in Branson. I used whatever I found in the refrigerator...chicken, rice, gravy, peas, green beans, and glazed carrots, and added chicken broth, baby Swiss cheese, and crushed salt-free soda cracker.
I put the casserole in the refrigerator until later. Finally, around 2:30, the therapist showed up. She assessed Mother as she used her walker to go from the rocking chair in the den to the front door and back. Then she provided her with a resistance stretch band and worked with her in exercising her arms and legs. This first session was short, of course, but the therapist provided Mother with print material illustrating the exercises, so Mother can do them between therapist sessions.
Mother, who has been unable to go to the bathroom for the past five days, finally got some relief today, and she felt so much better afterward. I've been diligently giving her Miralax daily, as prescribed by the doctor, but today I also gave her four ounces of prune juice.
Naturally, Mother got the urge around 2:15, and was going to hold off until after the therapist left, but I wouldn't hear of it. I felt that if the therapist could keep us waiting, then she could just wait until Mother was ready. As it happened, Mother was back in the den before the therapist arrived, anyway.
After the therapist left, Hubbie went shopping for groceries. I had planned to go with him to run a couple of errands for myself, but since it was nearly 4 p.m. by now, I decided I should stay home and get the casserole into the oven.
While the casserole baked, Mother went to the kitchen and diced carrots, celery, and onions for a pot of veggie soup. She returned to the den after she finished that task, and I sauteed the veggies in olive oil, then added a couple of cans of sodium-free tomatoes, garlic and various spices...sodium-free seasoning, pepper, paprika, basil, bay leaves, parsley, and a little sweetener...and then let the mixture stew for a little while. To this I added a can of low-sodium chicken broth, and a can of low-sodium beef broth. Then I added a variety of leftover veggies I'd accumulated in a container in the freezer, plus a package of store-bought frozen veggies. I let the soup simmer for a few hours. There's enough soup for two or three meals.
The house became positively uncomfortably warm with all that cooking, so I actually had to turn on the air conditioner...in November!
The casserole for supper was very good, and there's enough for another meal. We have a busy week coming up, so I'm glad to have a few meals prepared ahead.
After supper, it was TV time, as usual. This was the first day Mother didn't nap in the afternoon. So she was ready for bed around 7 p.m. Hubbie and I watched the 2006 movie, "Net 2.0." A young woman systems analyst goes to Istanbul for a job, but promptly finds herself in mortal danger as she is chased by bad guys and then thrown in jail. Her identity is stolen, her bank account is drained, and her credit cards are useless.
In the middle of the movie, I remembered that Hubbie had received a phone call from the man who is advising us on building a ramp for Mother. I meant to tell him as soon as he got back from the store, but it slipped my mind. Hubbie, a tad annoyed, called the man immediately, and then went to his house (he lives in the neighborhood).
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, Nov. 13
Woke up at 6 a.m. this morning. Mother was awake, too, and had been for a while, I guess. Got her settled in the den, and then we waited an hour for Hubbie to come downstairs.
After breakfast, Mother used her walker as I walked behind her to go to the kitchen and slice onions and apples (that Hubbie had peeled) for a pork chop oven dish. She sat at a small table in the kitchen to do this. I gathered measuring cups, spoons, and ingredients for her to put the dish together. Then I refrigerated the dish to be put in the oven later.
After that, I peeled onions and washed celery for her to dice. These I sauteed in butter until tender. When the onions and celery cooled, I put them in a storage bag for the freezer. We'll use these in the dressing at Thanksgiving.
After that, Mother used her walker to go back to her rocking chair in the den to relax until lunchtime.
While she rested, Hubbie put color in my hair. I spent the 25 minutes while the color worked to do a few household chores, including gathering laundry to be washed later.
After I'd showered, I put on a swimsuit and helped Mother take a shower. Once I was ready for the day, it was time to put the pork chops in the oven. While lunch cooked, we watched a Hallmark Channel 2010 Christmas movie.
The pork chops were delicious served with leftover rice, canned green beans, and the last of the yeast rolls.
Following lunch, Mother went back to the kitchen, where she helped me put together a recipe of ginger snap cookies. We finished this project around 2:30, and decided to sample the cookies with cups of the chai tea I made yesterday.
Tummy full, Mother was then ready for an afternoon nap. Hubbie and I spent the afternoon watching TV, including a 2001 nature documentary called, "Winged Migration." This excellent film was shot over the course of three years and seven continents. The film featured many migrating birds, and spectacular scenery.
Mother was ready to get up and have supper around 5:30. She chose the leftover eggs in white sauce over toast, with a side of canned sliced peaches. Hubbie had a barbecue sandwich, and I had a fried egg sandwich.
Then we watched another Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. By 8:30, Mother was ready for bed again. She'd had a pretty active day.
After breakfast, Mother used her walker as I walked behind her to go to the kitchen and slice onions and apples (that Hubbie had peeled) for a pork chop oven dish. She sat at a small table in the kitchen to do this. I gathered measuring cups, spoons, and ingredients for her to put the dish together. Then I refrigerated the dish to be put in the oven later.
After that, I peeled onions and washed celery for her to dice. These I sauteed in butter until tender. When the onions and celery cooled, I put them in a storage bag for the freezer. We'll use these in the dressing at Thanksgiving.
After that, Mother used her walker to go back to her rocking chair in the den to relax until lunchtime.
While she rested, Hubbie put color in my hair. I spent the 25 minutes while the color worked to do a few household chores, including gathering laundry to be washed later.
After I'd showered, I put on a swimsuit and helped Mother take a shower. Once I was ready for the day, it was time to put the pork chops in the oven. While lunch cooked, we watched a Hallmark Channel 2010 Christmas movie.
The pork chops were delicious served with leftover rice, canned green beans, and the last of the yeast rolls.
Following lunch, Mother went back to the kitchen, where she helped me put together a recipe of ginger snap cookies. We finished this project around 2:30, and decided to sample the cookies with cups of the chai tea I made yesterday.
Tummy full, Mother was then ready for an afternoon nap. Hubbie and I spent the afternoon watching TV, including a 2001 nature documentary called, "Winged Migration." This excellent film was shot over the course of three years and seven continents. The film featured many migrating birds, and spectacular scenery.
Mother was ready to get up and have supper around 5:30. She chose the leftover eggs in white sauce over toast, with a side of canned sliced peaches. Hubbie had a barbecue sandwich, and I had a fried egg sandwich.
Then we watched another Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. By 8:30, Mother was ready for bed again. She'd had a pretty active day.
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