Gastroenteritis and pregnant with twins

Friday, February 17, 2017
I was wondering why I couldn't get in.  I saw a sign on the door that said we should only visit family and in fact not to visit at all unless it was necessary.  Yikes!
Suddenly, I heard my name.  It was Jacquie having a smoke and a coffee outside.  She said I couldn't get in because a resident was sitting too close to the door.  I hadn't seen him because he was in an alcove.  I forgot his name, but he is always trying to leave.  He is so happy when his son comes to visit him, but when he leaves, he always waits by the door.  I've never heard him speak, but I've seen him smile when his son visits.
Anyways, a nurse came to get him because it was time for dinner.  It's like herding cats.  The care aide rounds up the wheelchair bound residents and then they forget why they are there and leave.
It was taking a long time for the meals to be served.  Donna said that she and mom were trying to eat less because they were gaining too much weight.  Mom lifted up her bib and touched her stomach. Donna said she looked like she was pregnant with twins.  I told mom and she laughed.  Donna said it again.
I bought some rice and salmon rolls for mom, but she said she didn't want to eat them.  They weren't that good anyways.  She had honey pork, assorted beans and rice.  Everyone seemed to like their meal.  I had to tell mom to chew everything and swallow before she stuffed more food in her mouth.  I was worried she was going to choke.  It's ironic because she used to always tell me to chew more and wait before I stuffed more food in my mouth.
We shared mom's Jello.  She didn't even want to eat it at first, but I told her to try it.  She told me it was good, but insisted that I eat some too.
We had a couple of pieces of cut orange too.  Mom likes oranges.
We went back to the room so mom and Donna could use the toilet.  Mom had a lot of laundry.  There was a banana peel wrapped in a napkin, some rolled up tissue balls and a piece of banana.  I took the underpants that had poo streaks and even a pair of pants and put them in the communal laundry.
I trimmed mom's bangs and combed her hair.  Her hair was really matted at the back. I asked mom to comb her hair and she did it like a pro.
I thought there was horse racing tonight, but it turned out to be hand washing.  Because of the gastroenteritis, Ming was disinfecting the residents' hands and finishing with moisturizer.  He told us that Edward had died.  He had vomited blood.  Yikes!  His poor wife.  Ming says she knows something happened, but hasn't really processed it.
Anna was in the hallway talking to her family on the phone.  She motioned playing cards so I nodded in the affirmative.  I asked her to find Michael.  Shanta's son brought Shanta.  I guess Shanta preferred to play cards instead of spend extra time with her son.
Anna helped mom, Michael helped Donna and I helped Shanta.  Shanta knows her cards, but has trouble flipping.  Mom gets her cards right half the time.  Donna can recognized the card if you cue her.
A wheelchair resident had gotten caught escaping.  Michael wondered who would want to leave this place.  I think he genuinely likes it here as do the rest of the group except for Anna.  Anna misses her family.