I want to thank everyone who reads my blog. I truly do not know how many people receive my blog either via email or FB posting. I am not and have not been a numbers person, but noticed last week on FB that I have 99 followers. I then realized my blog last week must have touched quite a few people because it reached 521 people...WOW was I in shock over that number. I do not pay for advertising and/or boosting on FB so it's all about your caring and sharing. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
It was a week of documentation and filling out forms as I am so apt to do when things in my world are not going right. There are so many issues at the nursing home right now that I'm documenting with the social worker and the state. I do believe the social worker is more concerned about her job and keeping the company happy than fighting for the residents (which I thought was her job). Because my documentation is so good, there is a lot of "CYA" going on and excuses like I've never heard. I am very sad about what we are going through as we have been there three years and I have truly not thought about moving mom as you don't do that to ALZ patients - too much disruption is not a good thing. I can't stand that the first comment from the social worker is "do you want me to help you find another place for your mother?" or "do you want to move her out of dining room?" Seriously, these suggestions sound to me like punishment when I believe she should be working at how to improve the conditions for all, not recommend moving people out. Many of the staff are caring and it's a blessing. But sometimes there are a few that need a few people lessons as the way they talk to the residents is so disrespectful - I would not talk to a dog that way - so I document. I am not hiding what I'm doing, I'm sitting right there out in the open. I am trying to hold my tongue and do what I feel is best. I feel horrible for those that have no one but the social worker to stand up for them. I try to be helpful and an advocate for all of the residents when I can.
There is a full moon coming and the energies truly impact the residents of the nursing home. Although the past few days, I felt the emotional energies big time. I felt my eyes ready to leak at any given moment. I felt my heart hurting. I must say, the energies sometimes tire me out.
I had a wonderful conversation with a neighbor about his wife's spirit and how she is keeping an eye on him and the family. Her spirit appears as a butterfly and appears at odd moments. He knows he is blessed and has told me a couple of lovely stories. I know my bff's mom appears to me as a bright red cardinal and will follow me on my walk. I hope you see signs of loved ones around you when you need them.
Papa loves Sunday family dinners - he wants us all around the table enjoying a good meal. I did not realize how much until today when I mentioned that I offered to cook next weekend as we are having a new visitor. He said, "yes we should have dinner every Sunday - I know they are family, but they are still company. So if they are coming I want you to prepare a dinner." I admit I stopped for a while, but I received my marching orders and I'm nothing if not an obedient daughter. Due to schedules and to celebrate my nephew being home we had a big dinner yesterday. Papa planned it all week - told me what to buy, where to buy it, but said he would cook it. So you know at o'dark thirty yesterday morning I heard him in the kitchen rattling around. I rolled over for a little while and when I finally got up he said you did not put the spices out I want. So we started right then and there to get ready. Papa had a revelation and I almost cried as he realized he did not have the strength to do all the preparations. So we worked together and he walked me through everything I needed to do. Papa has every kitchen gadget known to man so we had to break out a few of them. We served a 7.5 pound roast beef, 7 pounds of mashed potatoes (we are Irish after all), and two pounds of fresh green beans. We then had fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries and fresh cherries to put on top of angel food cake, sponge cups, vanilla ice cream, or vanilla pudding (also had cool whip). It was worth the effort and it made papa quite happy to see us around the table chowing down. He is already looking forward to his leftover lunch: open faced roast beef sandwich with gravy and perhaps some potatoes on the side. Can you tell we love food in this house?
Did not have a lot of time for reading this past week. I am going to build in a little reading time this week though as I want to get caught up a little bit. I always have a few books in the corner calling to me. What are you reading?
I am going to end it here. So many thoughts in my head that I'm beginning to feel a bit scattered. Lots to look forward to this coming week including a visit with a cousin I have not seen in about 45 years. I hope you have a good week. Take care. Chat soon. Marie
“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”– Albert Schweitzer
“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.”– William James
“Look at the sparrows; they do not know what they will do in the next moment. Let us literally live from moment to moment.”– Mahatma Gandhi