ddidrectly????

originally? misspelled?

corrected.

magic shit combined the two!

From Jerry

Got home yesterday evening and called mom to remind her not to feed pepe at the regular time since she fed him as I was leaving (3:00pm). Response was: "I did?". Richard you will have to insure pepe has his (moms) favored food (chicken) available as he will run out the week you are
there.

I took mom to see Dr. Smith Friday morning for her shoulder pain, and to voice our concern's about her failing memory. Turns out they do have a neurologist on staff in their clinic. Dr. Smith will arrange an appointment and call Judy to inform of date and time. I asked Dr. Smith about the mental agility tests you mentioned Richard and she said she knew what they were and that is most certainly something they would probably want to do. During the course of her exam she (Dr. Smith) was able to see first hand Mom's difficulty in carrying on a coherent conversation, as I got a couple of covert winks of understanding. X-ray (of shoulder) will go to Radiology for official screening but Dr. Smith said she could see no fractures and no evidence of anything arthiritic, only inflamation (stress related). She and I both concluded that the source of the stress was more than likley the exercise machine that was to strengthen her legs. The anchor point for lifting your body on its seat is up through your back and down through your shoulders and arms to the horizontal arm bar. Needless to say, she won"t be using the machine again.

When she recovers from this Dr. Smith said that simple exercises that involve only joint movement (non-load bearing) would be sufficient to keep her flexibility. I will devise some things that we can lead her through that should be fun for her and keep her flexible as well. Dr. Smith told Mom the same thing the nurse at the cardiology office did; "hydrate your body daily, drink water often!" Carolyn's mother is practically immobile from arthritis to the point that getting out of bed and dressing herself is difficult.

Garage/Estate sale: Based on mom's place on the H/B waiting list it's looking like the two
may have to be done together but I'm certainley on board for the 18th either way.

Richard, I had no luck getting the tree trimmers to respond to our request for a limb removal.
Maybe because I called them back at 5:00 pm and told them to just put it off till the next day.
Give them another call (A+). I've used them before and they were efficient and friendly.
Mother said she has money in her checking account to cover it. It is the limb ddidrectly above the patio door, there is a split completely through the limb where a branch on the top side has
departed. If you have better luck than me, just have them remove the limb and put it on the ground. I'll take care of it with Mothers little electric chain saw the following week.

Mind going (gone) blank, can't think of anything else right now. Bye.

Jerry

Bank Account....AKA Dave's Long Post

I have now changed Mom's account for Horizon Bay over to a checking account that has mine, Jerry's, Judy's, and Richard's name on the account with full access and privileges.  Checks with all our names on them have been ordered and should be delivered by US Mail to Mom's house either right before or right after the Memorial  Holiday weekend.  I guess the best place to store them would be in the Red Bag where we already have other Horizon Bay related stuff.  Hopefully everybody agrees with me that this money should be used for Horizon Bay expenses only so don't let Mom con you into using it for other purposes. I plan on tracking deposits and withdrawals very closely for 2 major reasons, one being the obvious -- to repay those who have contributed to the account, and secondly, for tax purposes...I think there could be tax breaks involved with this for anyone who participates.

 I spoke with Marilyn  this morning and she let me know that Mom's name is making progress coming up the waiting list.  I think she said 3 above us but all of those may not be "takers" as she put it.  I guess from what she said it is not uncommon for people to "take a pass" when they are offered a spot.  Not sure why, could be a multitude of reasons.  I also asked her about how much time we would have between being notified and actually moving in.  She said that once someone's stuff is moved out we have 5 days to make the move, however she stressed the fact that we will have plenty of notice because she usually has a pretty good indication 2 to 3 weeks in advance before someone is going to move out.  In other words she will call one of us with maybe just a message to "get ready" because someone will be vacating in a couple of weeks, therefore we will not be rushed and should have ample time to plan and everybody work out the schedule to make it happen.

 I also asked her about paying initial costs.  She said the remaining $500 deposit along with a prorated partial month is due not when we are notified but when we actually move in.  Also payment by personal check is accepted and does NOT need to be a certified cashier's check or money order.  After the initial check is written by whoever, I will then set up recurring payments to draft out of the account automagically  ;-).  In anticipation of Mom's continuing deterioration of memory, I spoke with Marilyn about their added services to help with memory loss.  She will be mailing me materials detailing their offered services and their cost.  When I get them I will scan and post them here for all to see rather than making them available at Mom's house as I'm afraid she may or may not be upset by that.  AT some point in time probably sooner rather than later, Mom will need this care and we'll have to make sure we have the funds for it.

Everybody please let me know what you think about having Mom's garage sale on Saturday June 18th.  I will be back in town from Italy and that gives us plenty of time (if we start now) to "cull and tag" as Judy put it.  I think I like that term...it almost sounds military. ;-)  I guess I'll go ahead and make another poll out of it at the top of the Blog Page.  I guess it's not necessary for everyone to be there but the way I see it is the more people we have working it, the more merchandise we can move and therefore have less crap stuff junk shit in Mom's house and therefore more $$ than Mom can put into Her Own Account to pay credit card bills.

Feel free to comment and let me know what all of you think about all this and let me know if there is anything else I need to do before my trip.  Except typing.  I'm tired of typing.  my hands are cramping....;-(

About that Garage Sale thing . . .

Are we still going to plan on a Garage Sale sometime? Mom keeps talking about it. I know everyone is busy and Dave, you are going to Italy, so I might could do this myself with her on Saturday, June 4th. She mainly just wants to sell clothes. Dave, if you'll be here for Memorial Day, maybe you can help us tag some other things. Katherine & kids will be gone from May 28 to June 10, so I'll try to cull out her kitchen stuff a little and maybe some Xmas stuff for the sale. Also, Jerry since you'll be here next week, maybe you can help me cull & tag too. I will also be looking for a part-time job a little more aggressively while Katherine is gone, so hope I can get this done and over with until we have the "Estate Sale".

More info

BTW, I did some more work around the house. I installed new electrical outlets in the tool room and put the big light fixture back on a switch. Same place, just no plugging and unplugging. The freezer is still plugged in, but NOT under control of the switch. I also installed a light in the attic with a pull switch.

I should have done all these things four years ago....

Judy, see if you can get Chad to go get the freezer. I emptied out all the out-dated things, but not what I couldn't identify. There is still lots in there, but NOTHING is tagged.

Update

If you haven't seen Judy's post and comments, please read them.

Well, after another week with Mom, here are a few impressions and thoughts.

I think her memory is worse. I can jog it by being playful and directing her towards what I'm talking about. She just can't handle conversations out of the blue, even when it took place minutes before. I've found that she gets this 'what the heck are you talking about' look on her face unless you steer her towards the subject you want to discuss.

Bubba, I forgot to call Kroger's to renew the two prescriptions that have run out. There was enough to load next weeks dailys'.

Judy, the empty bottles WERE on top of the day/night boxes and I don't remember which ones they were. I think one of them may have been the 'digoxin' (sic) but can't be sure. Why the heck does she need that if her heart rhythms are okay?

Fatigue! I believe her extreme fatigue is lack of exercise, that is, sitting all day in that damn recliner. She only used the exercise machine once the whole week, but will tell you she does it a couple of times a day. I really think she thinks she is doing it. She told me that she did it while I was working in the attic!! I'm pretty sure she was asleep, but then again when I was out front once she locked all the doors and turned off all the lights I had on and was back asleep when I forced the back screen door open......

Pain! Of all the moaning and sighing I have ever heard. She seems to dwell on it and use it as an excuse to not do things she needs to do. I know that this is hard sounding, but I tell her to take Advil if she hurts. Her response is usually, "I will in a while" or "I already did", when you know full well she hasn't.

Extra curricular! Has her Bingo changed to Monday? She says it has when I asked her if she wanted to go Tuesday. Also, she didn't want to go play cards Friday because she didn't have a way home!!! When I told her that Judy would, she just dropped the subject. Bottom line here is that she doesn't want to go do those things if any of us are there....

Enough for now, things to do.....

I'mmmmm Baaaack !

Richard got me back on with a new never-to-be-forgotten password. (seriously). Update - Rich took Mom to cardio doctor today. Ran EKG. Everything looks good. We need to talk about Mom's current finances when everyone gets a chance. She's wanting to get some of her car $'s to pay on her Discover card bill. (!!!?)

Mother's Day

Thanks Rich for doing all that stuff despite the fact that you were not feeling well.  Hope you get better.
I know we all just spent the day at Mom's house for her birthday, but let's not forget that tomorrow, Sunday, is Mother's Day.  I know we cant' be there again but let's make sure and call and give some love.  Jerry, maybe you can get a nice bouquet of flowers and we can pitch in on the cost?  One card also,  from all of us since I have managed to brain fart and forgot to get one to make it on time in the mail?

Also an update for anyone who didn't know...Mom's car has now been sold and the $$ is in the bank.  This means that she is entirely dependent on family and friends to get her where she needs to be.  Thanks to everybody who has already been providing that, and my apologies for not being able to do MY part in that area.

I'm glad to hear that Mom is feeling more "chipper" now.  I guess that she still has the ability to bounce back although it takes much longer now for her to do it.

On another note I plan to email Marilyn @ Horizon Bay again to ask how much notice time we will get from the time they call us with an opening till the move in date.  If anybody else has pertinent questions to ask let me know and I will include it in the email.

Dave

Update

It took almost two hours to get my last post saved.....who knows

I forgot to add that Momma has a busy week next week with Senior Olympics, but Betty(?) says she will pick her up if they are going to be in the same place.

BTW, she only needed gentle reminders to take her pills/vitamins. Ans she got on the excersize equipment a couple of times a day. So, I didn't get her to drink much. She always insists on iced tea. I did suggest that she take her pills with a bottle of room temp water. We'll see. I left that case of water next to her pill trays.

Bye

Updates and Observations

Mom has left to go bowling with Betty and seems pretty chipper. I could NOT get her to eat, but did manage to get her to drink a Boost. We went out last night to Appleby's and had a steak dinner, which she consumed 90% of everything.

She has been feeling pretty good and constantly watching me work, but I can't get her to do anything in preperation for the move. I make suggestions about clothes, articles that need going through, etc. but she either says ' in a while' or tells me what she has already done......

Jerry, that bath tub support device did not come in until yesterday afternnon, and I had two projects under way already, so I did not get to that. It's in the kitchen by the carport door.

I was able to get the wash room lavatory fixed, after much ado. The hot water faucet stem was broken at the area where the seal attaches, so it would not hold a new gasket/seal. After going to 5 places in Bossier City it was pretty well determined that that particular stem is no longer made/available. Sooo, with a bit of ingenuity and luck, I was able to fashion a seat for the gasket and now all is well. Just don't anyone force it real hard. Sounds shaky, I know, but it is NOT dripping or leaking in any way, so....

I have purchased some supplies to finish fixing the laundry room ceiling and plan on giving that a coat of paint when Mom is out of here.

Dave, I also pulled Mommas washer out of the tool room and found a HUGE amount of rust on the bottom of it. Between a wire brush, naval jelly, and a spray can of 'rust reformer' it's now fairly rust free. I also purchased a couple of spray products that should fix the timer on that washer. My experience with that type of trouble has always been corrosion on the contacts of the timer. We can get to that when we swap them out. I'll put it back in the tool room before leaving today.

I also collected another bag of trash from the tool room, and managed to get it vaccumed, but only up front and on the side. We may have to pull out some of the shelves, as there is a lot of rot and looks to be unsteady especially towards the right rear corner.

I have stacked all the potential garage sale items back on the porch/patio along with some more stuff. Momma was going through it and declaring that she still used some of it.......Still a lot of stuff to sort through for 'garage/estate' sales.

I'm going home now and try to kick this allergy/cold/sore throat/blagh....