Wednesday 29 June 2016

Gate is open!

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016
Had dinner with mom and the girls.  We had fish tonight.
Mom hardly ate anything.  She ate her strawberry tart.
She refused to let me cut her fish up for her.
She was having difficulty putting the fish on her spoon.
Then she tried to break up the fish with her spoon, but a sinew made it difficult to separate the piece.
She hardly ate her rice or beans.
Then she excused herself to go to the washroom.
She came back in about 5 minutes.
Ailene asked if she could eat mom's fish, so I gave it to her.
I offered mom some of my milk.  First she refused and then she drank it all.
Jackie came to join us at the end of the meal.  She poured a lot of sugar in her coffee.
She said she had been out all day and needed a rest.  She said she was going to go on a cruise to Hawaii with her daughter and grandchildren.
We went back to the room so Donna could use the washroom.  I checked the gate to the park while mom and Donna walked back to the room.  It was fixed.  I think they must have greased it with oil.
While Donna was in the washroom, I went over mom's photobook with her.
She couldn't say my name or tell me who I was, but she recognized me in most of the photos.
She recognized herself.  She smiled when she saw my brother's photo, but she couldn't say his name either.  She enjoyed looking at the photobook.
 I gave mom a jacket to put on, but while I was signing the girls out in the book, mom had taken her jacket off and left it in her room.  I had to go back and get her jacket.  Once we were outside, she was ready for her jacket.  We walked over to a bench outside the dog park.  We ate blueberries and sang songs.  Mom and Donna sang along.  We sang Oh my darling, Clementine, You are my Sunshine, She'll be coming round the Mountain, If you're happy and you know it.  I forgot words, but Donna remembered some.
Mom said she was cold so we decided to go back.  We sang along the way.  We sat in the FV room and watched a bit of Vacation.  Michael joined us.  He thinks I work at St. Michael's. 
When I was leaving I bumped into my brother.  He said he was having trouble getting in.  I had walked by the door several times, but hadn't noticed.  Santa had been trying to let me know, but I didn't understand why she was pointing to the door.  I think my brother couldn't get in because one of the residents with an ankle bracelet was probably near the door.

Monday 27 June 2016

Gate still closed

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Went to visit mom after supper.  It was only 5:45 but the cafeteria was deserted.  Mom was sitting with Donna and Michael in the FV room watching the news. 

I went to mom's room to sort out her laundry and drop off clean clothes. 
The stained clothes are easy to identify, but the worn clothes not so much.  My sniffer is not so good.
Recently, someone is putting clothes in the dirty clothes bag, I have left in mom's closet.
Mom is hoarding napkins and towels. 
Her brush disappeared some time ago, but she has her red comb and a new slightly damaged pink one.

I joined the gang in the FV room.  Michael said he didn't want to walk today.  Donna asked my mom, but she didn't know.  They probably wanted to rest after a big meal.  They had stuffed pork roast, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Dessert was pumpkin pie.  Donna remembered the pumpkin pie.  Mom agreed that the meal was very good.

Donna and mom went back to the room to use the toilet before they went out for the walk.  
While Donna was in the bathroom, I went through mom's photo album.  I asked mom if she knew who I was.  When I showed her a photo in the album she knew who I was and who she was.  When I showed her my baby photo, she didn't seem to recognize me, but she recognized Chris.  

Donna put on her sunglasses and her sun visor.  I signed the girls out at the nurses' station. 

We got outside to the beautiful sunshine, but the gate was still locked!  I'll have to remember to report that to administration.  I already asked a nurse to report it last week. We sat outside in the courtyard outside mom and Donna's room and blew bubbles.  They enjoy that.  Sometimes they only get one bubble and sometimes they get lots of bubbles.  The roses are fading. 

After the walk the ladies sat briefly with Michael.  We were talking about the resident garden just outside on the veranda.   Mom said she didn't want to go and see the garden.  Michael went outside to sit on the veranda.  Mom and Donna went back to their room where I said good-bye, but then they followed me back out.  I sat them at a table and said good-bye again.

Saturday 25 June 2016

Friday Night at the Races

Friday, June 25th, 2016

Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes and carrots.  Dessert was cake.
When I arrived shortly after 5:00 p.m., the meal had already been served.  I got myself a tea while I waited for my dinner.  Mom gets anxious it my meal is not there because she feels she has to share with me.

They celebrated Jackie's birthday this afternoon at tea.  She was wearing her blond wig and going by the name Betty.  She looked great. She was wearing lots of silver bling.  She said the cake was strawberry shortcake with whipping cream and because there weren't so many residents, there was a lot of cake to eat.  They celebrate all the birthdays for the month on one day each month.  There is a singer/guitarist who entertains the residents.

Mom accepted a banana from the fruit lady today.  Usually she doesn't want anything.  She now has two bananas and an orange in her collection on her night table.  When her collection gets too big, I turn it in to the nurses' station.

Donna ate all her dinner and her dessert before mom was finished.  I told Donna to go ahead to the room and use the washroom first and me and mom would come to the room later.  Mom lingered over her dinner.  She only ate half of everything including her cake, but she drank all her milk and juice.

I notice there are what look to be food stains on mom's pants.  She wears a bib at meals, but sometimes she spills on her tops as well.  It seems to happen more often now.  I noticed a pulled piece of thread or fabric on her pants.  I told mom I would cut it off, but she was adamant that I needed to fix it a different way.  She knew that she wanted to pull the thread inside, but she couldn't figure out how to do it.  If I had a needle, she may have been able to do it.

I told Donna we were going to the races.  She asked if we had to pay and I told her it was free.  Donna's horse won a race so she got a chocolate which she shared with mom later.  The girls had a fine time at the races.

After the races, the girls went to sit with Santa and Anna by the fish tank.  Michael came and joined the girls.








Tuesday 21 June 2016

Visit from a friend

Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Mom didn't eat very much again for dinner.  She ate a little more than half, but the portions were quite small today.  She ate all the Greek salad, some of the chicken and some of the rice.  She ate all the fruit cocktail.  It was really good.
I asked mom if Aunti Sumi had visited her today.  Mom wasn't sure, but there was a glimmer of recognition.  She thought maybe Sumi had come to visit.
Dinner was on time today.  My dinner was already on the table when I arrived at 5:05 p.m.  Usually we have to wait until 5:20 p.m.  Anyways we finished earlier than usual so had half an hour to kill before Card Bingo.  I got Donna and mom dressed in their coats and we went to sit outside for a bit.
We came back to play Card Bingo.  Donna wanted to know if we had to pay so I told her it was free.
While we sat at the table, mom grew anxious and decided that she didn't want to play.  She only wanted to watch.  I played for her and won twice.  How embarrassing!
After we got back to the room I phoned Aunti Sumi.  She had visited with mom and brought some snacks made with peas for her.  She talked to mom briefly on the phone and mom was all smiles and responded well.
Then we went to sit in the lounge with the fish tank.  The girls sat with Santa.  They were waiting for their hot cocoa.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Father's Day

Sunday, June 19, 2016
Today we had a roast beef dinner with roasted potatoes and boiled beans and carrots.
Dessert was apple pie with ice cream.  Mom ate 2/3 of everything.  It was a large meal.
After dinner we went back to the room for a pee.
I mentioned to staff that I wasn't able to unlock the gate to go to the dog park on Friday.
They checked the gate and sure enough, it wouldn't budge.
We just stayed in the courtyard and enjoyed the nice, warm weather.
Yesterday it was pouring rain.  We blew bubbles.  Later, Donna and mom went to sit with Michael in the Fraser Lounge to watch television.

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Card Bingo?

Tuesday, June 14th, 2016

Sat with mom and her buddies for dinner.  Staff had set up a separate table, but mom wanted to stay with her group.  Mom ate all her food.  We had breaded baked white fish with tartar sauce, mashed potatoes with gravy and mandarin orange sections for dessert.

Jackie joined us late, but she sat and chatted for a while.  She used to be a nurse.  She had spent one year in Greece.

After dinner we went back to the room to use the facilities. Donna asked me what we were going to do.  I was surprised.  I had already talked about card bingo and we do that every Tuesday after dinner.  She asked if there was one card.  I told her there were six.  She asked me if we had to pay and I told her it was free.  Then, she asked me the same questions again.

Anyways, mom was confused as usual, but she followed me and Donna to card bingo.

We didn't win, but Irma won 3x.  The lady across from her accused her of cheating, but I don't think Irma did it intentionally. 

Sunday 12 June 2016

Sunday dinner with mom

Sunday, June 12, 2016
I didn't see a place setting for me so I went to inquire in the kitchen.
Jackie was eating in her room so I could have her spot at the table.
Mom was upset.
It was out of the routine.
I moved to sit beside her.
Again she had drank all the juice, the Creamos and most of the milk.
She didn't want me to cut her chicken up for her.  It was a drumstick.  I cut some of it.
She only ate half the chicken, most of her mashed potatoes with gravy and hardly any of her beans.
She ate most of her apple pie with ice cream and a couple of orange sections.
She told me that she was old and didn't need to eat too much.
I pointed out that Ailene and Donna had both cleaned off their plates.
Mom said that some old people eat a lot.
I gave her my Creamos.  She thought that they had just appeared on the table and happily drank them.
It was overcast and a little chilly, but I took Donna and Mom out to the dog park.
Donna really enjoyed it, but mom soon said she felt cold so we didn't stay long.
There were a lot of dogs today.
I invited Michael, but he declined.
After our short visit to the park, mom and Donna joined Michael for some television watching.

Thursday 9 June 2016

Dr. Cottle

Thursday, June 9, 2016
When I arrived, mom was still eating breakfast.
She had eaten an egg in its shell.  She was working on her oatmeal and toast.  I spread some peanut butter on her toast.  She drank all her milk and all her juice.  She drank one of the Creamos and I saved one for later along with her yogurt.
I was watching the clock because I was expecting the Handydart to arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 am.  Mom went back to her room to use the toilet and brush her teeth.  She put on a jacket and then we went to sit in the entrance hallway.
I gave mom some bubble wrap and she was content to pop the bubbles.  We also did some exercises to pass the time.  9:35 and the Handydart had not arrived.  I called a taxi which came in 5 minutes.
It cost $25 including tip.  We got stuck in a construction zone along the way.  Mom was anxious so the bubble wrap helped.  I think the taxi driver took the route with the construction on purpose and then sped up a bit later so that he looked like he was making up time.  I hate taking taxis.  And I hadn't bothered to bring taxi savers because I trusted the Handydart to show up.
We arrived at 10:10 for mom's 10:00 appointment.  The bubble wrap helped.  Mom was calm.
I asked the doctor if we could once every two years instead of once a year and he said okay because everything looked stable.
I took mom back to my place.  I put some Japanese music on the stereo and gave her a photo album to look at while I prepared lunch.  I ordered the main dish from the Malaysian restaurant.  I had to step out for a few minutes to pick it up.  Mom was lying down on the couch when I came back.  She was completely relaxed.
I served rice, miso soup, a salad and the rice noodle seafood dish from the restaurant.
Mom enjoyed the meal.  She had no trouble remembering how to eat with chopsticks.  She had a little trouble eating the squid.
I gave mom a glass of milk after lunch and she thanked me.  I also gave her the other Creamo from breakfast.
On the way back, we only had to wait 10 minutes for the Handydart.  The ride was relatively smooth and mom was calm.  She was happy to get back to St. Michael's.  When we got back Donna and Gerrie were playing balloon volleyball.  Mom wanted to play so they put a seat out for her.  Everyone was having a good time. 
Mom has a lot of towels in her drawer.  She also had a pair of someone else's underpants.  Someone had written her name on the pants.  They looked like nice pants so I just left them in the drawer.

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Dieting

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Mom had already finished her apple juice and milk.  She was working on my apple juice and milk.
No wonder she's not hungry.  She really likes those Creamos as well. 

Mom only ate about half her meal because she said she wasn't hungry.  She ate all her dessert.
I pointed out that everyone had eaten their whole meal, even Ailene.

Mom insisted she was not hungry.  She thought she was too fat.

Mom and Donna enjoy playing Card Bingo and occasionally they can even figure out which card is being called.  Mom understand numbers but suits not so much.

I told mom that I was taking her to see the eye doctor on Thursday for a check up.  I hope she doesn't worry.  I told Donna too.

Saturday 4 June 2016

Kindness

Friday, June 3, 2016

Ailene poured a glass of water for mom.  Mom seemed anxious that Ailene was going to spill, but it was okay.

Jackie showed us a photo of her daughter and grandchild.  There was a short video of her grandchild singing Baa Baa Black Sheep in the bathtub.  We passed around the smartphone to see the video.

Jackie collected flowers from neighbourhood gardens to adorn their dining table.

Jackie noticed that mom ate her dessert halfway through her meal.

Although mom enjoyed her lasagne and garlic toast, she only ate about half of her meal and all her sherbert.  I pointed out to mom that everyone had eaten all their lasagne, but mom said she wasn't hungry.  She also seemed concerned about the size of her stomach which indeed seemed quite round.
Mom likes to drink milk and apple juice.  Donna likes to drink coffee.

Jackie called Diane over to our table.  Diane is the hairdresser.  For some reason, Diane prefers to cut hair on Tuesdays when mom gets her hair washed.  I prefer Friday because mom could use a hair wash by then.  But her hair does seem to get less oily now.

At the horse races, tonight, mom's team won 3 times.  She got 3 chocolates which we shared.  Last time mom put the chocolate in her pocket and it melted so this time I kept them.

Mom likes to roll the number 6, so I think I will choose 6 to be her horse for now on.

After the horse races we went for a walk to the dog park.  The weather was great.  There was a slight breeze, but mom and Donna had light jackets and didn't complain.  Donna was concerned about forgetting her sunglasses.  She did mention them, but I thought it would be fine because it was after 6:30 in the evening.  I reported to the nurses station that I was taking mom and Donna to the dog park.  The doors were already locked when we got back just before 7:00 p.m. so we had to cut through the staff room.

Hot chocolate is served at 7:00 p.m.  Donna and mom enjoy this.  Tonight we sat with Anna and Santa.  Anna is very boisterous.  Santa is very quiet, but she is alert.  She may be the most intellectually intact in the group.