Hi to all...This is Kate.
Please make sure you read through all the below posts and comments. Jason has added some old family pictures, as well as pics of Lita and Bob's new condo... and Tish, Fran, and Margaret have all added their own info under comments. Lots of good info.
Let's see...Friday, I wrote that the nurse from hospice had called with an update. Papa does now receive oxygen to help him breathe eaiser. That will explain the tank in his room if you visit. The increased Lasix that was ordered on Friday seems to have begun lessening his swelling.
We went for a visit on Sunday and had a good visit with both Mom and Pops. We saw Papa first. Lita and Bob were there already with Josie. Papa was sitting up in his chair and was very alert. His face was much less swollen than the last time I had seen him, and his hand was also much less swollen. My biggest relief was to see how alert he was. He was interested in hearing our conversation and was very interested in Josie. He wanted to pet her and kiss her. It was very sweet. He laughed at some of the things we said, and overall it was a much better visit than I have had with him in a long time.
He walked down to the dining room with his walker, and said he felt "pretty good". When we left him to go visit Mama, he said to tell her he loved her. I told him that we would try to get her over to see him today if he wanted...and he said yes definitely. I will work on that with Sandy, director of Mama's place.
Next we went to see Mama. She was having a confused day, but a sweet day. She was out in the main room with the other residents, visiting with Lita and Bob. There was a resident that was trying to get in her personal space...and she told him to "go away!" very emphatically and then moved herself away. It was like watching two toddlers trying to interact. I was happy to see Mama use her spunk to stand up for herself. She ate a good dinner with my assistance. And then when I suggested going to her room, she told me she didn't have a room anymore. When I walked her to her room, and opened the door, she was amazed. I showed her where her name was, she likes to read 2-3 word phrases...she is always proud of her accomplishment when she does this. She also asked me where her clothes were...could she get them back? When I opened her closet for her, again, she was amazed. Like I said she was confused but sweet.
We visited with her for about an hour. She loves to hear that we love her, and always responds very sweetly. After awhile she was beginning to fall asleep so, I left her laying down in her bed.
The nurse aide told me she would go in shortly and get Mama ready for bed. I witnessed many very kind interactions from the staff to the other residents while I was there. The nurse was wonderful, and did check on Mama's window repair for me. It should be taken care of by tomorrow morning at the latest.
Lastly, some of you have heard the fun news from the Albers...Jena tried out on Saturday morning for Dublin Idol...(similar to American Idol). She sang "Somewhere over the Rainbow".
She was in a group of 7-12 graders, so she was one of the youngest ones trying out...and she made the Top 10!!! We found out Saturday afternoon and the competition was Saturday evening...so not a lot of time to call all the in-towners to come watch...but it was quite an event. She sang beautifully and the pride I felt was beyond words. She didn't make it to the top 3...it was by audience vote. But, let me tell you, if it was based on true talent...she would have come in 2nd or 3rd for sure. She was wonderful. She loves performing, and comes alive on stage. Imagine her beautiful big blue eyes, with those long eyelashes, and then you add her incredible smile, comfortable stage presence and such a sweet voice. It was amazingly fun to see my child do something so far from my own comfort zone. What was even more amazing is how much she loved it! Performing is definitely her passion, so watch the blog for more Jena Albers updates...I'm sure you'll be hearing from her soon.
I will not be visiting Mama or Papa today and maybe not tomorrow...so if anyone else does, please update!
Love to all.
Kate
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4 comments:
Hi from Fran. While I was distressed to read Margaret's comments about mama, I was encouraged to hear Kate's comments
about both mama and papa on Sunday.
I was also glad to hear that Tish
had gotten them together on Saturday even if only for a few minutes. I was also glad to hear
that Debbie and Michael had been by to see them.
I loved looking at the pictures Jason posted and was glad to hear
that Lita and Bob are moving ahead with their move...I hope everything plays out ok with the closings and actual move.
Of course I am proud beyond belief of Jena...Top Ten!...incredible. That must be the Cabrera blood in her!
I plan on coming into town on Friday afternoon. Hopefully I'll
see some of you this weekend.
Love to all
Hi everyone -
First of all, thank you so much for the blogspot. It's nice to be able to read up on how everything is going. And Jason - thank you for the pictures. I looked at them with Michael, and I know he appreciated them so much!
We did go to see Mama and Papa on Saturday. We went to see Papa first. He was eating his lunch and when he was finished he was able to walk across the hall with his walker and visit. He seemed pretty alert, and when I told him "I'm Debbie" he said "I know you are-" and he asked me how the children were. We teased him a little bit about the Michigan jacket he was wearing. It was very sweet to watch Michael with his dad. Papa tired out pretty quickly so we walked with him back to his room and helped him lay down.
Then...on to see Mama. She was sitting in the commons area when we got there. Even though I'm not sure she knew exactly who we were, she knew we were there to see her, and her eyes lit up. She was wearing one gardening glove on her hand, and when we asked a nurse why she had it on, she said they didn't know, but that Mama would not let them take it off. I think - maybe a closet Michael Jackson fan??? Anyway, when we got there Mama seemed disoriented and alot weepy. One of the staff came to tell us there was a flower arranging demonstration beginning, so we took Mama to that. On the way, one of the staff told her there were cookies - would she like a green or a yellow one. Mama barely answered - yellow, but a few steps later announced, YELLOW!!!! So...she got a yellow cookie. She also seemed to enjoy watching the people at the flower show, and was more alert after we were there for awhile. It was sweet to watch Michael with Mama, too. He kept finding flowers for her and sticking them in her walker.
Jessica, too, went to see Papa Saturday afternoon. She has been wanting to visit with him and speak with him in Spanish. She talked with him for awhile, but he told her he couldn't remember any words. He tired during the visit and so she helped him lay down. When she went to leave he asked her to tell him a story in Spanish. She's funny - she said she didn't really know a story, so she talked about the subject she knows best - herself! She said it was actually very sweet, too.
I will try to come with Michael again soon to visit. Thank you again for all of the updates. I know that it's hard for all of you to make these visits, but I also believe that you are storing up memories that will bless you for a long time.
love to all,
Debbie
Congratulations to Jena! That is awesome!
Side note: Its pretty cool to see the family interact and communicate, as they/we are. Makes me feel proud of my family.
-Jas
It's Margaret again. I saw Mama and Papa today (Monday). When I arrived Papa was getting ready to go visit Mom; he was alert and looked much less swollen than he had. Also the chaplin from hospice was there.
It was very sweet seeing Mama's reaction to Papa's arrival. She jumped up from the chair she had been snoozing in and hurried over to him. Papa was laughing and kissed her about four times. We sat in the little living room with the fish tank as Mama's bedroom window is still broken. I found out today that the staff have Mama sleep in a spare room until the window gets fixed. I think that is why Mama thought her clothes and furniture weren't there any longer. I cannot begin to imagine how confusing this must seem to her!
Papa was able to stay with Mama from 1 to 3pm. He sat on the loveseat with Mama and they both snoozed while holding hands. The nurse and aide from hospice came and met Papa while he visited with Mom. The nurse will be contacting Papa's doctor to clarify some questions about his medications. The hospice aide said she could help get Papa over to visit Mom on the days she is there.
I expected Papa to be ready for bed after the visit, but he wanted to sit in his chair and joked around a bit. His appetite was back too as the staff had baked cookies and he wanted two diet ones.
I told all the hospice staff about the notebook for direct communications between the family and their staff in Papa's bedside stand.
I would say this was the best I've seen Papa in about 3/4 weeks! Amazing. I am so glad that we got hospice involved as I feel his quality of life has already improved!
Love from your favorite
Margaret
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