My mom is having her knee replaced

[gja1000]

Mom had a really good night - she used the bedside commode like she was supposed to and she is very clear this morning so I think we are past the troublesome times.

Home health is doing her intake assessment this morning and she qualifies for nursing care (for a little while at least). They will monitor her blood pressure - it has been fluctuating - low one day and high the next. We have an automatic cuff and have been monitoring it and holding her blood pressure meds when it was low. Now, the nurses will be responsible for doing that. Mom also has a bladder infection (just before she left rehab) and the home health nurses will do the repeat urinalysis and call the docs. YAY - we won't have to take her to the doc for that followup. They will also help her with a shower every other day and then physical therapy will work with her too.

YAY YAY YAY!! Things are looking up up up!!!

My daughter is much calmer today. They are planning to go to Luby's (a cafeteria) for lunch. Mom needs to walk some and it's too hot to walk outside, so they decided walking from the car to the cafeteria line, through the line and to the table and then back to the car would be good for her. Plus, both Brooke and mom will be able to get out of the house. Brooke has not been able to leave the house since mom got home and she gets really antsy when she can't get out. She'll be able to leave mom for short periods of time, in a day or so, when we are confident that the cobwebs have cleared from her brain!

Lynne, I know we are very lucky to be able to have mom at home and I know you would too, if you could. If not for my daughter, who is not working right now (well she is working at home - taking care of her two year old!), we couldn't do this. I work and could not take off enough time to do all this for mom. We are very very lucky!!!

[DianaB]

Good news!!!

[gja1000]

I was over there this evening, Gary and I went over for a good old cornbread, pinto beans & ham, and fried tater supper (yes, I said supper, not dinner ) Mom was really tired, but I think that is good because hopefully, she will sleep better tonight! She continues to improve and my daughter is feeling that she can handle all of this!

[lynne b]

so glad to hear things are looking up for you and your mom. It's hard to imagine how hard these surgeries are on older people, i know it has taken almost a year (hard to believe it's been that long) for mom to get to where she is now and she is still not a 100% back to where she was but so much better. I think if the Dr would have handeled it differently she would not have gotten as bad as she did, luckily you know more of the medical aspect of things, i on the other hand trusted the Dr and i really should have questioned the meds that he put mom on. Thanks to you i did take control of mom's care and things turned out better then i ever thought they would.
Thank goodness for your daughter also, i hope they both have a nice lunch together.

[gja1000]

Lynne, I'm so glad your mom is doing better. I just knew she would - I remember saying over and over to you - this is not right - things just do not sound right. Fortunately, you were able to get things changed and look at your mom now - so much better!

Mom was still a bit "off" early this morning - she asked my daughter when she brought her a new chair (it was the same chair she's had in her room for the last 2 years! ). I reassured my daughter that it was dehydration from overnight and sure enough after a big glass of water and another of juice, mom was clear as a bell.

Brooke took her to get her hair fixed at the beauty shop and she did great!

[judy]

Gayle and Lynne,

It is wonderful that both of your Moms are doing well!