My dad/papa and I seem to be passing the same cold back and forth only yesterday I went down like a ton of bricks. I woke up feeling horrible with an upset stomach. I took papa to church and breakfast (I had tea and half an english muffin) and then dropped him to visit my mom. I went back to the house and fell asleep on the bed curled up in the comforter with the dog at my side. I sweated and sweated. Then went back to pick up papa - stopped at the grocery store (I stayed in the car) and then home and back to bed. I sweated and sweated all afternoon and through the night. My niece and nephew came to visit and I was the worse hostess ever as I stayed in bed. I know I got up at some point last night and heated up some soup, but barely ate it as it was still sitting on the nightstand this morning. My dad had appts this morning so I took him and dropped him to visit my mom again. There is no way I want to go in the nursing home with something that I could spread. I've sprayed lysol everywhere, opened windows, and washed the linens so hopefully we can get rid of this awful stuff. I'm traveling this week and I definitely want to be better before then. What do you do to get rid of these bugs/viruses?
My mom has been doing great. She has mostly good days, but she is funny about the food and her sarcastic comments. They are starting some outings at the nursing home and she jumps at the chance for an outing. We had a quarterly family meeting last week and I think I shocked most of the seven nursing home representatives because as some of you know I say what I mean and not always in a diplomatic way. The meeting started and the social worker said we will all give you our assessments and I stopped her right there and said: "What is your job? Tell me what you do as a social worker because I never see you on the floor and if you base your evaluation on the 10 minutes you spent with my mother last quarter when I was here then I don't want to hear from you." The whole room stopped breathing I think as all heads dropped and I continued to look at the social worker. She said something about assisting patients when needed. I said so since my mother does not "need you" or is not a "problem" patient then you don't have anything to do with her. The social worker never said another word after that. She never explained her job or what I should expect from a social worker. The rest of the staff provided good updates and information about her behaviors. I asked my questions and we were done. The next day I walked in to the unit of the nursing home and I was the most popular person there. The staff said they could not believe I did it, but were glad because they notice it as well and can never say anything. I was asked the next time to give them a warning. They said the social worker went around to different people complaining about me and crying. Since then she has not spoken to me and the staff has noticed. I think it is unprofessional, but I leave that to the nursing home. I said I want to be sure my mom is taken care of and I don't need someone who is not doing her job around her. I may never have had children, but I definitely felt like a mother protecting her cub. When are you like a mother defending her cub? Did I do the right thing?
My parents receive more mail solicitations than anyone I have ever seen. Every charity had their names and in some cases they gave each time an envelope came in. I have been slowly clamping down on donations and we discuss the requests when they come in. As I mentioned previously they received 35 calendars from different charities this past year. One even provided a summary of how much they gave over the past couple of years and I was shocked. I have put their phone numbers of the "do not call" list and their address on the "do not mail" list so we'll see if any of this will work over the next few weeks. How do you handle solicitations?
We did have nice weather here over the weekend so it was great seeing people out working in their yards and such. My dad has a yard service so I purchased a few yard toys to put on the mulch. They look cute and bring some life to the yard. We have gotten a few things done in the house this month and have a few other things are scheduled. I hope you enjoy some time outside when you can.
Lady is making a big difference in papa's life. He is walking her at least five times a day. He always comes out to check on her. She is spending time with me since I'm here. I'm sure when I'm gone she will spend the time with him directly. She was owned by a woman previously so she's comfortable with me.
In the past week I watched: "Sinatra" All or Nothing At All" a four hour documentary. It was really good and describes his life and times. His last concert had 11 songs that he personally picked to describe his life. I also watched: "The Way" a movie with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. This movie was made in 2010 and it about a man who goes to claim his son's body, but decides to finish the pilgrimage that the son started. I really liked both. What have you been watching?
I read a book by Danielle Steele - I love her books, but they almost always make me cry. I also read "The Girl On The Train" by Paula Hawkins. Interesting book with many subplots. Took a bit to get into. What have you been reading?
I am going to end it here for today. I was supposed to be napping and instead I wanted to get something posted. Off to pick up papa and then I'll nap. At least Lady is getting a nice nap. Enjoy your week. Take care. Chat soon.
No quotes today, but I forgot I had the following put aside to post. Enjoy!
John Hopkins Health Review – Fall 2014, Volume 1. By Gerard Mullin. 10 Must-Haves for Your Kitchen Pantry
1. Beans – all types have antioxidants, are anti-inflammatory, high in fiber, and promote colon health.
2. Brown Rice – Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
3. Cinnamon – High in antioxidants, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and may aid weight loss.
4. Dark Chocolate – Reduces hypertension and boosts intestinal immunity.
5. Flax Seeds – May protect against breast and colon cancers, source of fiber and omega-3s.
6. Ginger – anti-inflammatory, helps with nausea, and may aid weight loss.
7. Nuts – Contain vitamins and minerals that promote heart health and lower cholesterol.
8. Olive Oil – Reduces risks for coronary heart disease, prevents bone loss, and lowers cholesterol.
9. Tea – Promotes cardiovascular health, protects against colorectal and pancreatic cancer and reduces risks of stroke.
10. Turmeric – Fights inflammation, has anti-cancer qualities, and may protect against Alzheimer’s and digestive disorders.