Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I stopped to see you today. You were sitting at the dinner table...sleeping. You opened your eyes. I showed you the flowers that I brought you....my favorite....gerber daisies...and your favorite color...red. You had no reaction. I gave you the card. You did repeat...Happy Mother's Day. I had Kate give you my red carnation that I got from church today. You smiled at her and said, "for me?" I forgot my camera...I was so disappointed... I gave you a few bites of food. You would probably have eaten more, but we had to leave. We left you sleeping.
Hey Mom....
...You've been a mother for 70 years!
Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

I Wonder....But God Knows

Was it just last week that Mom had such a good day at supper when I was there and I wrote a fb note about it? It seems weeks ago. Yesterday, I went to see Mom twice. It's always a sad time when I walk into her unit and she's not sitting in the dining room....then I know she's in bed. When I went yesterday at noon, the CNA said that she hadn't been up yet. I went to her room. Sure enough...she was in her nightgown...and that's another thing....it's a hospital gown....they won't put a regular nightgown on her cause this is easier to change her.... She was supposed to get a shower that morning. Sara switched it to Wed morns since she works every Wednesday and can help with it...and now they give her a shower instead of a whirlpool bath so it's less traumatic for her....except Sara hasn't been there for over a week...her own mother is in ICU at Roch hospital. I don't know when she'll be back. So...back to yesterday noon. Mom opened her eyes when I went in there. Her lips were so dry. I went and got her a glass of water and a straw. She drank 3/4 of the glass and I put chapstick on her lips. Then I left. I stopped at suppertime....she wasn't in the dining room. Yep..she was in bed, telling the CNA to leave her alone. She had clothes on. The CNA said that she was up in the afternoon, ate some but then was going in everyone's room, so they gave her night pills and put her to bed. I waved goodbye to her and she asked me where I was going. Home? Can I go home with you? Then...tell my dad to come and get me. Today I stopped at noon....not in the dining room. She was in bed sleeping. Same CNA came into the room when she saw that I went in Mom's room. Said Mom was up and down in the night, had her shower about 10:00 this morn (cause I had asked about her shower yesterday)...wanted to know if I wanted her to get Mom up. Mom was sleeping so peacefully...I said to just let her sleep. She is so messed up.....she's never up at mealtimes lately. And...it was 68 degrees in her room...heat was off...many times the heat is off...I always turn it on.... I wonder....but God knows... what kind of care she gets....really.... A few days ago when I went there, she told me that she had to go to the bathroom and said that they won't take her. She was taken...I know since I was there....but it wasn't a convenient time...right when supper was being served.
You know...you'd think I would be used to this by now...It's been 10 years....even though she's been worse the last 2 1/2 years.
They have signs...two of them...posted on the doors to Mom's unit..The Garden... something about being quiet in the unit and speaking calmly so that the residents don't get upset. Oh my....that unit is not quiet....it would be quiet, except for Marcella... Oh my....She is yelling ALL OF THE TIME!! I know she can't help it. That is the only reason that I'm glad Mom can't hear. But you know what???? Quite awhile ago...someone there said that Marcella was yelling out...HELP ME! Mom said...I will help you. Now you know how loud Marcella is....a deaf person can hear her...