Monday, June 30th

Remember last week I described my food tray for the evening meal? Here's a picture.  What do you think?  

Tracy knows I don't care for brussels sprouts (yes, those are cooked-to-death brussel sprouts), so I didn't eat those.  

There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to food trays.  Sometimes, there's enough food for a farm hand; other times, a scant three or four bites.  Enough about the food.

My weekend included an additional visit with my son.  What would happen to me without my children who keep a sharp eye out for me?  There are many people here who don't have visitors.  Some of them eat very little and fail to prosper.

If you have a loved one in a care facility, please look out for them.  They can't look out for themselves.  They may not be able to ask for help or to thank you for caring.  Go, anyway.  Do, anyway.  Many of them (most, really) are as vulnerable as babies and completely dependent on their caregivers.  And some caregivers don't care.  

Thanks for stopping by here.  Come see me.

(Tomorrow we'll discuss a daily routine for Addie and when the best times are to visit.)

Friday, June 28th

Dinner tonight was interesting.  Ham again (probably left over from last night - but that's okay, I like ham.  I'd just like more than four bites.)  Another resident's tray contained a whole piece of ham (he's on a soft mechanical diet like me which means everything is supposed to be chopped or pureed if it's difficult to chew or swallow) but his ham was NOT chopped and they pureed his SWEET POTATO? Sometimes some things around here just don't rate a comment because I can't think of one!

Tracy was surprised at some of my responses today.  I actually answered some of her questions with total clarity and diction.  

Plus, another visitor had a humorous story to share with her.  This visitor accidentally stepped on another resident's foot while trying to maneuver a wheelchair into position, and she apologized profusely. It's always been my nature to look out for people around me so I took the towel I like to hold in my hand, snapped it sharply at the offending party and said, "You leave her alone!"  

(That's the spirit, Sis!) 

I've always loved company.  Come see me!

Thursday, June 26th

Today was Greg's day!  He's usually here on Thursday and Saturday.  It's hard for my children to know if I recognize them, but sometimes there's a reason to think perhaps I do.  I was in a good mood for him and enjoyed the dinner he fed me.  

This past week I developed small blisters on my inner arms and thighs, and on my back.  One small eruption on my face.  The nursing staff is convinced it isn't a staff infection, but I have an appointment in two weeks with a skin doctor. The doctor on staff thinks it has something to do with the auto immune system. Another thinks it's the combination of aspirin and Plavix that I'm on.  Anybody's best guess? It's difficult to get into dermatologists so, hopefully, by the time the appointment date arrives, I'll be all cleared up. 

Thanks for stopping by and staying in touch.  No one wants to be forgotten!

Wednesday, June 25th

Hello!

Well, here we are halfway through another week.  I hope yours is going well.

Dinner tonight was pretty good.  Chopped ham (meat is always chopped for my soft mechanical diet), mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.  Always get my side items of magic shakes, cottage cheese and fresh fruit.  Sometimes I have jello, and almost always a dessert.  My appetite was good tonight.

Here's a picture of my new haircut.  Notice:  No more color from a bottle.  Au natural!

That pretty girl on the left is Susan Everett.  She's Tracy's hair stylist and now I guess she's mine, too.  She did a great job and I STILL love getting my hair done.  

If you're looking for a stylist in Roanoke, she's your girl!

Tuesday, June 24th

Today was pretty much a normal Tuesday, if you can call anything about living here normal.  Dinner tonight was edible - pinto beans, cabbage, potatoes, which Tracy fed to me.  Of course, I got my regular cottage cheese with fresh fruit and my "magic shakes", which are packed with protein. .  Most meals include some kind of meat.  The cook must have been on vacation today?

After I broke my hip at Carriage Hill in Bedford on December 31, 2012, I was moved to Friendship Manor in Roanoke for treatment in a skilled nursing facility.  I was making fair progress recuperating from that surgery but I was allowed to become dehydrated and spent a week at Roanoke Memorial.  I lost a lot of weight simply because I couldn't feed myself and no one was feeding me.  The nursing staff kept sending me for blood transfusions; I was losing blood, but how, where?  Tracy finally began bringing chicken livers (which I love) and my blood began to rebuild.  I lost a lot of my ability to communicate after the broken hip episode and I have been wheelchair bound since then.

Tracy is usually pretty satisfied if I eat 50-60% of my dinner.  She or Greg are here every day to make sure I receive the nourishment I need.  The staff supposedly feed me breakfast and lunch and Tracy has raised such a fuss with the staff that now my food is adequate and I stay hydrated. I've regained all the weight I lost, so no more forced feeding.  Thank Goodness.

This Picture was taken when I was living for a few months at Pheasant Ridge in Roanoke before moving to Carriage Hill.  These were difficult decisions with little choice, but my children have been devoted and dedicated to doing what's best for me.  I have to trust that.

I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-ck!

Hello, Again!  

Did you miss me?  I've been busy - lots of company lately.  And, yes, I got that haircut.  How do you like it?

Tracy's hair stylist came to Friendship Manor to cut and style my hair.  She did a great job at no charge.  Can you believe that?  I'll have to ask Tracy for her name so I can pay it forward. 

Saturday, June 14th

(Author:  If you have a loved one or friend in a nursing home, please visit them.  It really does make a difference in the treatment they receive.  Addie is at Friendship Manor in Roanoke. Sometimes the care is good, sometimes it isn't.  Future posts will include both.)

I was in fairly good spirits when Tracy arrived this evening, just a bit sleepy and non-communicative.  Dinner was pretty good; spaghetti and a green vegetable mixture, but I wish I could show you the video Tracy shot of the BREAD.  After Tracy repeatedly banged it on the edge of the table, not a single crumb broke loose.  Hard as a brick.  Now, I've had hard rolls, but never had a ROCK served to me before.  That probably wouldn't have gone over too well at Frank's Cafe in Rocky Mount.  Maybe somebody will figure out how to transfer the video so it can be uploaded here.  It's pretty funny (not).

I'm thinking I'd like for Tracy to bring me some of her homemade spaghetti.


Time for a haircut on Monday. 

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