I've kept everyone up to date in other posts but thought I'd put it all in one place.

Bill has had a very rapid decline since August. In Aug. he was able to play catch with two of our grandkids. He even walked outside and was able to "play ball" with them. it was a plastic bat and a blow up ball, but he managed to hit it every time.

Now he is barely able to stand up long enough for me to change him. Even then I keep his wheelchair right behind him in case he needs to sit down. He is still sleeping through the night although he is now waking up around 6. For awhile he he was going to bed at 6 and sometimes not waking up until 10 the next morning. Then he would also sleep after every meal. All together is was sleeping about 19 hours out of 24. No medicine changes involved. The only thing he is on is seroquel and ativan at night.

His appitite is still excellent, but he is losing weight. I had to remove is dentures because he wouldn't let me take them out or put them in without a big fight. It wasn't worth the hassle. They couldn't stay in without being cleaned so removing them seem the thing to do. I puree all his food, not because he can't chew or swallow, but because he will chew something for ever.

The reclining wheelchair has worked out great. Now I don't feel I have to pick him up and put him into the bed everytime he wants to take a nap. He looks much more comfortable reclining in the chair than he did with his head hanging down or leaning back.

Now that we're back home, I've been catching up on my own doctor visits. Doctor ordered a colonoscopy because I've been having a lot of problems. That takes place tomorrow at 7:15am. The eye doctor said I have the beginning of cataracts on both eyes but nothing to worry about. Dentist said my teeth looked good. Now I have the endocrinologist set up for Dec. 12. Have to make sure I'm good and healthy so I can continue my job.

Bill and I have the same doctor and he said he would be out to see Bill next weekend. I'll let you know if he shows up. I know he will eventually, but he gets so busy that he doesn't always make it when he says.

The doctor gave me the name of a facility to take Bill for respite. It's a very small place and he said that is what Bill needs. He doesn't need to be around a lot of people or commotion now. When I first contacted the place, email, they answered and said they weren't sure they could take him. I answered back and told them I was sorry about that because Dr. ----- said it was just what Bill needed. Their email came right back that they would be so happy to have Bill and they were sure they could have a bed for him. You think that by mentioning the doctor's name had something to do with their change of mind. Maybe because he's on their medical board?

Gotta go. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. It's going to be here before we know it.

Well, Granny Nanny is not coming this morning. Her daughter, from the surgery she had, is bleeding alot, and she really shouldn't leave her. Actually I called her this morning to find out how her daughter was feeling, as I felt really quilty that she would be leaving her daughter. So I lied, told her mom was doing fine, that things were progressing good, and for her not to come.

I had to do that for her. If were late, or we don't make it, then so be it. I would hate for Laura to be leaving her daughter and then something come up for a funeral service. Mom saw her sister last night, so what happens today, happens. I will not put her or I through what we went through yesterday.

So wish me luck, and hope I still have my brains left today!

Jackie

Jackie,
You had better hope I forget what you did before I get there in March. I had this long thing written and ZAP it's gone and up popped a new message from Jackie.

I had asked how everything went Friday, but you answered that so I don't have to write it again.

Bill awoke with only a small BM this morning so maybe it's ending. He has to be empty by now.
The nurse came last night and said he felt warm. I thought the same thing earlier and had taken his temp. We both came up with 98.8. Still gave him a tylenol. All I had was extra strength and those things are hard to crush. I ended up whacking it with the bottom of a glass before putting it in the pill crusher. He was restless all day and evening so maybe he was feeling a little under the weather.

The doctor is coming today after the office closes. We'll wait and see if he remembers.

I finally broke down and used the hoyer lift. I have been a little leary of using it, but it worked fine. I put Elmo in Bill's arms to hold for the ride and they were both very calm. The sling is still under him in his wheelchair so I can use it to get him back into bed. Hope it goes as smooth.

Joyce,

Oh that's so very funny! I zapped you out? As soon as we think we have this thing figured out, something like that happens. How could that be - Aitan?

We weren't late for the funeral services, and actually got out of here much earlier than I thought we would be. Mom gave me a little trouble, but this time instead of trying to be patient, I just yelled right away. Not always the way to do it, but I was desperate. She had a small almost fainting episode in the restaurant, but I let bro and sister take care of it so bro especially would get a hint of what goes on. I knew she wasn't going to pass out fully, as I did wait awhile before going out for my cigarette. Brothers face was quite pale!

Glad Bill's BM's have slowed down a bit. I don't have to clean Mom too often when she has a BM in the toilet, but every once in awhile when she just can't, I clean her up. Not looking forward to what you have to do, but know it will be coming sooner or later.

I don't have a problem with it, but I remember one time, I must have been around 13 years old, I had to change a diaper on a young cousin of mine. I remembered that my aunt had clothespins, the spring type. So I went and got one, put that thing on my nose, and changed that diaper. I'm past that now, but seems the older I get, I still need to still gag occasionally.

Since Bill has slowed down with the BM's, you may want to in a few days start the Miralax in very small doses just to keep him going. Sounds like he just may have had a bug. Where does all that BM come from?

Maybe call the doctors office Joyce and have the nurse or receptionist give doc a gentle reminder that he's suppose to come? After this BM episode, it would be good if he saw him today to ease your mind a bit more.

Glad you finally used the lift. I don't know what the heck they look like, but seems that arm strength in the person thats using it would have to be really good. If you keep that up, you'll be looking like those woman body builders. I am so not looking forward to all this.

talk soon,
Jackie

The lift is so easy to raise up. It's almost like a car jack only Bill doesn't weigh quite that much so it's a lot easier than a car jack. I think I built up more muscles picking him up to transfer him. The hardest part was in getting the sling under him while he was laying in bed and as usual not cooperative in rolling over.

I'll give him one day without a BM before starting the miralax again. Then only start with half a dose. Just to make sure.

Hi Everyone!
Last month I resolved to come in her once a week...obviously I haven't been able to do that! We're still hanging in there. My mom is obviously advancing in the disease. She's walking less and they keep a wheelchair for her close by. Because of this her ankles and feet are swelling. The nurse at ALF said they have contacted the doctor about starting Lasix(sp?).

We're bringing her here for Thanksgiving. Pretty apprehensive about it but I know that even though it will be difficult this will be the last Thanksgiving she can come home. Her speech is becoming more mumbled, cannot follow conversation and just looks so blank. Part of me wants her to escape this body and part of me wants her to never leave.

I hope you are all well and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Joanie

Joanie,

So glad you came for a visit. We all know how it is to find even a few minutes to get here and read and reply. So whenever you have a chance, just update us and let us know if there's anything you need.

It is getting harder for my mom too to walk. Mom's main problem is her knees. The arthritis is so bad that I have to follow her around everwhere she walks. She refuses to use a walker, and I'm sure she'll refuse a wheelchair until she absolutely can't walk anymore. But I noticed also that her feet are more swollen then usual. I think one thing that helps her though is that most of the time she is reclining in her chair.

It is possible for you to have a recliner in her room at the ALF? I know elevation really helps with the swelling. I was going to ask the doctor also about something for the swelling, but many times if they don't have enough foods with potassium they become low. And I hate to have anymore problems. I take a water pill for my blood pressure called Maxide. It's suppose to be potassium sparing, so you may want to ask the doctor about that one. If not, make sure they give her bananas and cantalope and things like that. Also Aitan may be able to let you know more about that. I know if their potassium level gets too low, thats not good.

I know Thanksgiving may be harder on you this year than any other. Just try to keep things happy and calm, and you may even get a little different reaction from her with people around besides the ones at the ALF. Sometimes a little change of environment makes a difference if only for awhile.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and let us know how everything went. You'll see, everything will go better than you expect it to.

Jackie

We had a very peaceful Thanksgiving. Today when I woke mom up I let her know that today is the day she's going to visit my brother for the night. Immediately, she said she didn't want to go. I told her either she can go overnight once every 2 weeks to his house or I will sign her up for the senior center (day care) 2 times a week during the day and which did she want? She chose my brother's house.

Periodically during the day she would say again that she didn't want to go, but I just ignored it. My brother came and it was so evident she was reluctant, but I talked to him after she got there and she was fine, just as I knew she would be.

Judy,

Way to go Judy! Gosh I wish my brother and sister didn't have stairs at their homes. Sister lives in a 3rd floor condo, and brother in a bi-level. But I have to say, the day care is starting to sound better and better. But I don't think that would ever work out good with her passing out problem.

So glad you're going to get that much needed break every few weeks. Brother is coming through for you. Hooray!!!

Jackie

Thanksgiving went without a hitch.

Bill did well with all the company and has continued doing well with all the kids here. He hasn't been sleeping during the day (wonder why with three dogs, six extra adults and five kids running around) so he has gone to bed between 5 and 6 both Fri. and Sat.

We had our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday instead of Thursday. Our grandson marched in the McDonald Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Chicago. They couldn't get here until Thurs. night so that's why we were a day late. We only had 22 this year since Bill's brother's wife is in the hospital and I just didn't invite my SIL's sister and here family this year. Everyone had a good time and all the girls pitched in to clean up. We had to eat in the living room because Bill couldn't get downstairs. The boys (all close to 40, but still boys to me) brought the tables and chairs up and took them back downstairs right after we all ate.

The funniest thing that happened was during dinner. I pushed Bill's wheelchair up to the table. He was sitting across from my sister. I had pureed all his food and made up a plate for him. After he had cleaned his plate he sat for a minute and then took his fork and reached across the table and took a potato ball off my sister's plate and ate it. He started for more and I told him I'd get him his own. My sister said he could have anything he wanted off her plate. You couldn't help but laugh when he did it.

I told the boys when they first got here that I wanted them to clean my gutters before they went home. The next thing I knew one of them had the ladder out and was up there and cleaning them. I also had to have them pick Bill up and put him in bed one night because the sling for his lift had come out from under him in his chair.
My daughters helped me roll him in the bed to change him and they both commented on they didn't know how I did it by myself.

I can hear Bill moving around in his bed now so I had better go get him changed and up.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as much fun as mine.

Joyce, I am so happy you are delegating and asking for help when people are there to give it to you. It is so hard to ask but it seems as though they are eager to try to do what needs to get done to make things easier for you.

We had a great Thanksgiving with my daughter Tiffany, her boyfriend Drew and his family. We went to his families house again this year and had such a good time. They have a very nice house, a good sized crowd and we are always made to feel at home when we visit. The food was delicious too:)

The only drawback to this is I don't have leftovers to snack on at hoe. So yesterday I went and bought a small turkey breast and will cook it when it thaws this week. I will add the trimmings and create a mini-Thanksgiving for Dave and I.

Friday, Tiff and I went shopping and although I didn't spend any money as I had none to spend, we had a wonderful time being together.

I have a job interview tomorrow that I am excited about. It's for a customer service position at a supermarket here in town. It's not a dream job by no means but as some of you know, I am laid off and my unemployment check isn't squat. This job would be a Godsend if I were hired. With the economy being as bad as it is, a job is priceless right now so I will count my blessings if I am hired.

Well, I am going to get busy and take down my fall stuff and start in on Christmas decorations. We have about 2 inches of the white stuff on the ground today already and still falling. A perfect day to start decorating for Christmas!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving:) (((hugs))) to all!

Go Bill! Joyce, I'm glad you got so much help with things, especially those gutters!

Still floating around the forum, I'm sorry I haven't written more. I hope everyone is doing well!

Kat

Glad to see you still floating Kat. It's when you start sinking, we will worry.

Can someone tell me how I can have tonsillitis when I don't have tonsils???

I've been fighting a cold for over a week now, and it finally kicked my butt. I had to go to the Express Care clinic... still took 4 hours for the doctor to come in and check me over. Sure do hope they only charge for that 15 minutes he was in the room with me.

Glands from my jaw line down the rest of my neck are swollen, I have a major sinus headache and it's getting difficult to swallow anything.

Doc put me on antibiotics and tylenol with codeine. So far, that's the only thing that makes the overall pain.

Killer is that I have to call in as I can't be around my clients as long as I'm coughing and sneezing. Not so good for my already small paycheck.

So far, DH is getting away with only a minor sniffle.

Well, off to gargle again.