I started drafting this blog tonight while watching the Hallmark channel. So it looks like it will be published early. Probably not a bad idea since I never know these days what time I'll get to it on Sunday.
It seems to me that the last week flew by. I could not believe it when I realized it was Saturday. I thought where did the week go? I did manage to drag my butt out of bed every day to go to the gym - which I needed to do and was glad once I was there. I'm finding it harder to wake up in the morning which I presume is because it's darker. Saturday morning I woke up and thought ok let's just go to the gym. I then had to sit in the parking lot waiting for it to open as I did not realize that on weekends it does not open until 7. There were about a dozen of us waiting for the doors to open. I just felt good that I was there. I truly need motivation to work out on my own. I definitely miss Frank (trainer) and how he keeps me going and changes it up.
My dad is not loving the fact that I am saying "no" to going out to breakfast every day. I'm trying to keep it to every other day, but it's hard. He told me the other day, I would go out every day if I could. I responded with I know, yet I think it's best if we switch it up and eat at home once in a while. If I say we are eating at home (we decide the night before), as soon as I walk in from the gym, he has oatmeal on the table. If we eat breakfast out then I try to have lunch/dinner at home. I keep telling him there is food in the freezer that needs to be cooked. Some days it works out and some days it does not. I cleaned out a few things from the freezer the other day that were just too old. How would you like to eat crab cakes that expired in January 2013 - yes 2013? Once in a while I open the cabinets (when he's napping) and check dates and as needed I throw away. Dad took my sister and I out for a very nice lunch on Friday - I should have taken a picture of the appetizer he had as it was almost as costly as the entree, but it was good.
My mom had mostly a good week. Every day can bring about something new. I spent the beginning of the week trying to track down her shoes. I brought in three pairs of shoes on Monday because last week she lost two pairs of shoes and one slipper. I marked all shoes with her name - and by Tuesday shoes were missing. I know it's because patients just walk away with other patients things or mom kicks off her shoes in the dining room and they don't get put back in her room. I try not to make a big deal out of it, but my dad gets upset when he sees her without shoes and only the tread socks. I always approach the nursing home with an open mind because you don't know what the day will entail. Some of the patients were having behavioral issues this past week. I feel horrible for the CNAs and nurses as some of the patients are strong (both men and women) and when they get stubborn they can be hard to maneuver. I watched a couple of times when the majority of staff had to focus on one patient only to handle the situation. My dad goes back and forth over the schedule we are trying to keep for consistency. We usually go to the nursing home by 10 and leave as soon as lunch is done. My mom seems to know that when lunch is done it's time for us to go. As consistency works best with Alzheimer patients we usually sit at the same table and such. I think this is just as much for my dad as it is for my mom. I say this because if she is not sitting in a certain spot at the table, he will move her into it as soon as possible.
This past week I finished reading a couple of magazines, newspapers and a murder mystery (love these). I also read: "What I Know For Sure" by Oprah Winfrey. Interesting book about Oprah's learnings and thoughts over the years.
I have finally chosen a new picture for the website. Hopefully next week you should see an updated look when you review the website. I might post both old and new pics at least once so I can see the difference myself. I guess it's time to let go of the old me. My LinkedIn account will also be updated.
Thank you to my friends and family that have been checking up on me and my parents. I am grateful for all of you and appreciate your thoughts and prayers.