It's Friday again already.....

It's hard to believe how fast this week has gone.

Mama in the hospital, John's colonoscopy, my two doctor appointments and taking Mama home from the hospital, getting things back in order here, and getting my hair cut..... I can't believe it all happened in just one week. I also cut out the pieces for the center of the quilt/bedspread I'm making for the room John will use once he is here more often. It has taupe fabrics on the top and blue fabrics on the bottom so it will be reversible.

Mama seems a lot better. Her speech is back to normal and she isn't using words that make no sense. She looks better but she is still very weak, especially her legs. She has a lot of trouble getting up from a seat.

Last night after dinner she was trying to get up with a plate in her hand. She tried three or four times. Finally I suggested she put the plate down, get up, and then pick up the plate. She was able to get up then but it was still difficult. She doesn't want any help. The only time she will let me help her up, is when she's getting up off the living room sofa. It sits a lot lower than any other seat in the house and is particularly hard for her.

Yesterday I went to get my hair cut at a place I'd gone when I was in grade school. Of course the lady who used to cut it wasn't there any longer but her daughter now owns and operates the Moon-glo Beauty Shoppe. Her name is Linda and she and Carol are good friends. She did a very nice job on my hair. She accidentally clipped the top of my ear and it bled for so long she was getting worried about me. After leaving there, I went to Wal-mart to pick up some aspirin for Mama and I got a septic stick and stopped the bleeding - finally! The cut was so tiny you could barely see it yet it bled profusely and for almost 1/2 hour.

I probably won't go back there to get my hair cut. Not because she clipped my ear, anyone could have done that; and, I really enjoyed talking to her. The reason I won't go back is that she smoked the entire time she cut my hair. By the time I left, I could barely breathe and my voice was raspy. I've got to find a smoke free beauty shop!

This was the same shop that MS went to after her shoulder surgery. She hated it because the lady tried to fluff up her hair and make her look better. MS has only one way she will allow her hair to be done. I think she should have appreciated the lady's efforts but she certainly didn't. Apparently she was rude and made the salon visit almost a nightmare. MS told me not to tell her she was related to me or she probably wouldn't agree to cut my hair. What nonsense! I'm glad I went and if it weren't for the smoke, I would go back!

Shae and the girls stayed with Mama while I went to get my hair cut and when I got back, JaLyn had a stack of books ready for me to read. I read until my voice gave out completely. I wish we'd had something other than left overs for dinner because I would have liked to invite them to dinner. I'm going to the grocery today so if Mama is up to it, I may invite them over tonight or tomorrow night (or maybe lunch on Saturday).

Tuesday night Mama went upstairs to sleep. After her bath the next morning, she was worn out and very weak. On Wednesday night she slept on the couch (that may have been unplanned - she probably lay down and went to sleep and then slept all night). She said she slept well on the couch and she has done it before. Last night she slept upstairs again.

Yesterday was another day of scrabbling. Things have been moved around, I can't find some things, and things have been gone through. I found a basket of old medications on the counter this morning. I don't know what she was looking for and she isn't likely to tell me if I ask.

She doesn't like to be questioned. If she is looking through things and I ask her what she's looking for she gets angry. (She has actually told me she doesn't want to be questioned.) The other night she had put the hammer on the counter and was looking everywhere for something else. Finally, I asked and she told me she was looking for a pair of pliers. She said she thought the plumber might have taken them. Episodes like that one make me nervous. She gets up in the night and there's no telling what she will decide to look for or through.

She doesn't want help even when she needs it! Do I let her struggle or offer to help and get fussed at? She's used to doing everything for herself but it's not safe for her to do that anymore. I guess I will continue to offer...I can take being fussed at, I think!

She won't be going back to PT for a while. Since she's been in the hospital, the doctor will need to write a continuance order before they can work with her again. She doesn't want to go back. Right now she is blaming PT for the episode she had last Sunday afternoon.

Last night after dinner she asked me what we had to do today. I told her we didn't have anything on the schedule and she told me I was to "take the day off". Then she asked me when I was going home again. I told her MS would be here on the 25th and that I would leave after she got here. I also told her I would leave her plenty of money in her black bag. I asked if $100.00 would be enough and she said that would be plenty. Then she told me I was to write myself a check before I left.

About a week ago she told me I was to reimburse myself for the money I'd spent on things for us. I said I didn't want to do that, that the money was to be used for us. John gives me money each payday to help with groceries or what ever. She understands that and seems okay with it. What she wants me to reimburse is "my money" that I've spent over and above what John gives me for food. She said if it were me, I would want the person to be repaid. I couldn't argue with her logic, but I still don't want to do it.

She wants to go to Wal-mart today if she feels like it when she gets up. I told her we could use a wheelchair if she wanted. She gave me a dirty look but I think she will probably agree to do that since she didn't argue about it. I think she just wants to get out and go somewhere other than a doctor's office.

Okay, I've rambled enough for today. Hopefully my "day off" will be a good one!