Saturday, October 8th

Samantha here...

I went over this morning at 10:45 am to play Bingo with Momu and Popa. Went upstairs to find Popa sleeping in Momu's bed and Momu sleeping in Popa's bed. Both were sound asleep. Decided to leave and not disturb them.

I went back around 2pm with Papa Peter to visit. Popa was wide awake sitting in a big chair next to the window sill. Momu was awake lying in bed. We talked for a few minutes and Momu believes she has a brilliant plan on how to live in their house again. She says she can charge 15 dollars for a college boy to live in their basement. Her friend is a plumber and they can put a bathroom in the basement. That way she can make all her money back to be able to take care of popa. I didn't want to have momu cry again so I just nodded along. The nurses say we should continue to tell her she is not leaving but I'd rather not say anything and just let momu talk. I finally heard the Milk story!! And many other stories that I've heard before.

After Popa asking more than 12 times, Popa's egg salad sandwich finally came. When it came he asked what it was and why its here. We decided to take it outside and go sit on the patio. Momu sat in the sun and read some of her book while Popa sat in the shade and ate his sandwich. Half of which was spit onto the floor. We sat outside for an hour or so and then Momu said its time to go lay down. At this point I left.

Papa Peter is taking them out to a restaurant for dinner. Goodluck to him!

It sucks to get old.

Friday October 7, 2011

Today was an important day - the long term plan was presented to Momu and Popa.  Dad (aka Peter, son) arrived at Meadowbrook around 9:30 am, met with the entire staff and then brought Momu and Popa into the discussion.  The message to Momu (Popa is passive and will go along with anything) is that it is Unsafe to be at home without 24/7 help.  She is unable to take care of Popa, let along herself.  At Meadowbrook all their daily needs are being taken care of and addressed.  They are getting 3 square meals a day, the meds are being monitored, their activity/therapy is being given daily.  This was NOT happening at home and as a result, Momu ended up completely overwhelmed and stressed, resorted to some extra beer and gin and ended up in the hospital.

The day progressed nicely, Samantha and I AND DAISY arrived around noon.  Everyone was so happy to see Daisy, but Momu was very happy to see Samantha, as was Popa.  The other great thing that happened today is that Momu moved into a private room, right next door to Popa.  Not yet together in the same room, but a HUGE step in the right direction!  Relief that helped with the delivery of the Long Term Plan.  Momu and Popa fed Daisy some of their lunch, thankfully it was baked chicken.  Samantha, Daisy and me left around 2:00.

Samantha and I went back to Meadowbrook around 4:00 pm, Popa was in Momu's bed in her new room.  We started talking about stuff and were watching Dr. Oz having a nice visit.  But then somehow a 'chair' from the house was mentioned and Momu sort of snapped.  She said to keep stuff in their house for when they come home.  Dad then had to remind Momu of the meeting in the morning about how it was unsafe to go home, Popa needed to be here, etc.  She then started to cry. She went into the bathroom.  Dad then proceeded to tell Popa that Momu was upset because we want her to stay at Meadowbrook.  Again, Popa is passive and will go along with whatever.  Momu came out of the bathroom, still sobbing and sad.  Samantha went to the liquor store to get her some Beefeaters Gin and olives.  We gave her a small amount.  We all ended up leaving about 5:50 and she was still crying.

It is sad, it sucks to get old, but for whoever is reading this - the social workers and staff at Meadowbrook all agree we all have to be consistent with the message - "it is unsafe to go home, Popa needs to be supervised around the clock, and the most important thing is that the are together under the same roof".

Wednesday October 5, 2011

Arrived at Meadowbrook at 4:25 pm to find Momu and Popa sound asleep in their respective rooms. Turned in paperwork for my dogs so they can visit. May go back later but not sure. Nurse Dorothy said she would tell them we were there. And the dinner option for tonight looked good - Ziti Bolognese

Tuesday October 4, 2011

We arrived at 4:45. M&P were resting in the single bed together. They woke up right away and Momu warned us she was mad and very grumpy. She can't understand why she goes to the therapy room everyday and Popa does not. She is angry because 'he needs it more than me'. We need to check with PT and/or doctor tomorrow. It could be as simply as Popa being walked upstairs while she is downstairs and she may not realize this.  This coupled with not being in the same room is becoming a real point of contention with her.  she said, its stupid, how would he feel if he shared a room with someone and I was all alone, I bet he would like that " But a few minutes in, I convinced her to walk to the library cart w/me to get a book. She did and walked pretty well.  She picked one of my favorites - James Patterson's 'Cross'.  On the way back to the room, there was a milk carton on the dinner cart so of course she proceeded to tell me about how her friend Minna  who paid her a penny to drink her milk.

Dinner arrived and it looked quite good - chicken caesar salad, caprese salad, chicken soup and chocolate ice cream.  Momu ate very well, Popa ate just a small amount of salad but ate both his and her ice creams and then a piece of pound cake which was in the 'food drawer'.

As we were ready to leave, Popa asked if it was time to leave and if he had to leave and we said no, he was relieved. He looked a bit tired today.  I asked Momu if there was anything special she wanted and she said with a very large smile, yes, a big tall glass of gin.  On our way out we checked in at the nurses station and found out Momu can have a 12 oz beer a day.  Dan drove to the liquor store, got one can of Bud and brought it back to her - she was happy happy and said to Dan 'you are a doll, now I can sleep well tonight".  I think if they were in a room together and not living out of a suitcase there would be no issues.  We have to let Momu know that poppa is getting some kind of PT just at the same time as she goes down stairs, We feel she comes up and asks him if he had any excercise and he doesnt rememeber so he says no.  She feels if she turns down the PT they will give it to him.  She complained to the nurses that they are doing too much for him.  Maybe we can get Budweiser to use Momu as a poster lady, as she is a big fan.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Dan and I arrived at Meadowbrook around 4:45 this afternoon.  Popa was in bed in Momu's room and Momu was in the bathroom.  Popa asked if we were ready to go downstairs for dinner, at which point Momu asked him if he knew where he was and he did not.  He then asked us all where he was.  Momu told us that she was very busy today with PT and also was interviewed.  She was pretty sure she proved she was not crazy.  She chuckled when she said that.
Since it was close to dinner time, we walked down to Popa's room - Momu used the walker and did good, Dan wheeled Popa in the wheelchair.  Dinner was served.  Baked fish sandwiches and chicken noodle soup.  Popa said he was hungry but did not eat very much at all.  Momu ate well.  We watched more of the home movies and Momu repeated a different story to me 3 times w/in 30 minutes.  Then proceeded to tell us the same story about getting paid a penny by a friend to drink her friends milk - this is one she tells us everytime. It must be the milk on her dinner try that triggers that story.
Momu has requested a slice of pizza with everything on it - will deliver that tomorrow.
I was happy to know they did not realize I had not visited in 3 days.
Below is a collage of Meadowbrook:

October 1, 2011

Momu and Popa had lots of visitors today:  Christine, Christopher, Paul and Paula.  They spent about 4 hours at Meadowbrook and accompanied Momu to her PT appointment.  After 20 minutes or so, she was pooped out.  I think the scheduled amount of PT time was supposed to be for 45 minutes.  I will find out on Monday when I visit and talk w/nurses.

October 2, 2011

Feeling a bit under the weather today so no Meadowbrook Momu and Popa visit today.
Will visit after work tomorrow and report back then.