Catch Up - September 18, 2012

Today is September 18, 2012.  Happy 74th Anniversary to Momu and Popa.
To catch folks up - last week Mark and Max flew up from Florida and spent 2 days in Connecticut.  Dad also arrived in CT. They had nice visits at MB, although Momu is still feeling crappy and looking pretty bad these days.  However, seeing Max cheered her up which was great even though it was temporary.

Last Friday and Saturday Lysbeth and Mark Kennedy visited from Michigan.  I met them both there on Friday afternoon.  I arrived ahead of them and told Momu they were on their way and she said tell them not to come. I said, too late, they will be here in about 5 minutes.  Momu welcomed their visit.  They looked through lots of photographs and spoke about good stories from the past.  Momu starting dozing during the visit, which was a first for her, or at least the first time I had witnessed that.  Popa stayed in bed, but was not sleeping during their visit.  They came back Saturday morning and spent most of the time with Popa since he was awake and Momu was in bed and did not get dressed.  Lysbeth left me a nice voicemal message about their Saturday visit and I am glad they made the trip.

Dan and I will continue to visit as often as our schedules allow, which lately has been only about 1-2 times a week.

Lastly, this Friday marks the one year date for when Momu was admitted to Meadowbrook (Popa followed just 2 days later).  I have  made the decision to bring the blog through to the one year mark and then end the blog.  For those of you who read this, which unfortunately are not many, please feel free to reach out to me if you want to check in on how they are doing.  Or better yet, you can call or write them letters.

Tuesday September 4, 2012

So my blogging has been lax of late.   I haven't blogged about my last few visits...

Dan and I went over today around 4 - every time I walked into Meadowbrook this past year I always said to myself at least my grandparents are able to be in their rooms and don't have to sit out by the nurses desk - well today was that day.  Momu was sitting by the nurses station and quite honestly looked pretty bad - she was shaking and groaning loudly.  She was trying to make herself throw up for some strange reason.  Her eyes were closed and for the first time in a year she said she did not feel like herself and actually felt like dying.  This was a hard day for me.  I stood next to her and got her some ice.  The nurses pulled me aside and said she was in the hallway because she was driving Popa crazy.  Momu told me she has been having nightmares.  But she could not tell me what they were about.  The nurse overhead and told me Momu has been up late because when she tries to sleep she dreams about something happening to someone in the family.  I will explore this next visit.

We went to the room to see Popa who was pretty good today. He was talking to Dan a bit and asked about the kids.  He again asked about his financial situation and Dan told him everything was being taken care of and he said good.

Their weights have both gone down.  Popa is 111.6 and Momu for the first time in a long time has lost quite a bit of weight and is down to 106.6.

I told them of some upcoming visits and Popa was happy and Momu said she did not want to see anyone.  But we all know that changes daily!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

They were both awake when I arrived so that was good.  But Momu wasn't dressed.   Both of them asked me to get the nurse so I did.  Momu wanted Xanax - she was not feeling well and it looked like she was really uncomfortable - damn side pain.  Popa said he was waiting for his medicine but told the nurse he did not know 'what he ordered' and proceeded to ask Momu.   She asked him if he ordered an egg cream and at that point I just had to silently laugh to myself.  Popa then got angry with her.   Popa said he hasn't been feeling well lately and it looks like he may have lost a bit more weight.  The nurses were busy delivering dinner some did not have a chance to ask for his last weigh in. 

Momu than told me some of her clothes were missing again and she asked me to bring her checkbook because she wants to call a lock smith and have a lock put on her closet door.

I gave Momu an individual wine and she was happy with that - on my way out I made sure to tell the nurse.  I also spoke with Amy the social worker and told her about the clothes.  She will talk to Momu tomorrow and walk her down to check the laundry. 

That is all for now - to be continued .... Next visit should be Thursday 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I am done with my long distance triathlon and will be getting back to a more regular schedule that will include MB visits.

I went over today - Popa woke up when I said hello and Momu was in the bathroom.  She is still having pretty significant side pain.

Popa told me his appetite was getting better.  He asked me what I was cooking up lately and I said nothing - too hot to cook in the summer.  But I told him I would make whatever he wanted and he asked for potato pancakes and promised to eat them if I made them.  I will make them this week.

Momu was happy for the company and chatted about random things.  She really loved watching the Olympics.

I told both of them that I swam in the Hudson River and ran across the George Washington bridge.  Momu told me to make sure I took a lot of showers.

Momu told me her cell phone was broken.  I checked and the volume was turned off.  She was happy.

I gave her the DVDs that Dad bought and she said she would watch tonight when Popa was awake.  I made sure she knew she can ask the staff for help with the DVD player!

I also spoke to a nurse and learned that the doctor told them to keep the blinds up to keep the room bright and get fresh air - they both sat outside today after lunch!

I reminded them Christopher turned 20 yesterday and Momu said she was going to call him tonig.

Wednesday August 1, 2012

Dan and I went over today. Momu had bad side pain and by the smell in the room I will bet she is a bit stopped up.  The nurses gave her something. She also was complaining about her right shoulder and I told her to tell the nurses after dinner.  Popa was awake and a bit confused.  He kept asking me what channel he needs to put on to get his money.  I said you can't get money from tv.  He was getting so angry with himself because he could not express what he was thinking.  About 5 minutes later he was asking for all his financial paperwork and again asking which tv channel he needed to get his money.   Then he finally said msnbc and then we realized what he wanted - to watch the financial numbers. We watched the Olympics instead.

So he wasn't sleeping but he wasn't really clear either.  Momu kept saying he lost his mind and he was getting angry at her.  It was almost amusing.

I forgot my phone and will show them pictures of the Haas grandkids another visit - Momu was so happy to hear that lysbeth and mark were grandparents and then went on to talk about her very fond memories of her best friend Helen.

Contact Info and Sunday July 29, 2012

Momu and Popa
Keeping Family and Friends Updated
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Meadowbrook of Granby Residence
350 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, CT 06035
860-653-9888Meadowbrook
860-653-8995 Room #108
917-675-2747 Momu's cell phone - speak loudly

Dad visited Meadowbrook this weekend but first stopped off at the Pittsfield house to meet the realtor.
He received an offer for sale and then the CT Department of Social Services approval for the sale. A week/weekend will be scheduled in late August to review and dispose of furniture and things in the house.

I had told dad that Poppa snapped out of his sleep mode on Friday and when he arrived Saturday it was another day that had both Momu and Poppa alert and interactive. He showed them photos of Christine, Christopher and his vacation to Prague, and after Christopher left viewed photos of  Vienna.

On Sunday Poppa was back in his sleep mode and Momu was enjoying watching the Olympics with dad. He also showed her a DVD of two concerts from Vienna. Poppa woke up towards the end of the concert and when I stopped by was semi alert again. I brought them peaches and candies and stuff, also hair dye for Momu.

Friday July 27, 2012

Went over myself at 4 and was shocked to arrive to an awake and alert Popa.  Momu wasn't dressed again (3rd time this week) - oh yeah, I missed a blog entry - went over 2 times this week to find them both sleeping and Momu tired, sending me away.

Anyway, this is all about Popa today - Dementia is a fucking crazy ass disease - excuse my french.  Today Popa was totally clear - he talked the entire time I was there and he even understood that he hasn't been well, lost about 25 pounds, etc.  He knew where I worked, about Phillip's surgery, about Samantha graduating in December, about Dan's job.

Popa kept saying he needed to get to 109 Mountain View drive to get some things.  Then Momu chimed in and said she wanted to go home - she hasn't said that in quite some time, I think because Popa has been so silent.  In any event, I ignored them both.  I know Popa's clarity is temporary, but it was nice to be able to talk to him.  He actually cracked a few jokes with me.

Dad visits them tomorrow and they were both excited.  I made sure to remind Momu a dozen times to get dressed.  Her hair is in desperate need to color so I will buy that and make her hair appt next week.

Time to watch the Olympics