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Spike, those poor kittens!! That's traumatic to find at any age. Glad the mink was caught and disposed of so no more harm to kittens.

Slept in and woke up as it was time to get ready to leave. Helped Mom out to the truck. Pulled the hay out of the back of the truck to feed the cows. I hollered for them when I put it out and heard one of them moo back at me.

Took Mom to her urology appointment. Already knew where the office was from taking my friend. Found out she'd had acute renal failure along with dka. She wasn't feeling well enough to eat. Ran into Walmart to get RX but it wasn't ready. They had Dexcom G6 on the list instead of G7 so I went to the doctor's office and requested G7 RX and gave cpt code. Left the message for the diabetes expert who can also prescribe it. Tried to go to the bank but they were closed with a sign that city water was off (only on that street apparently) so the bank was closed. Went to the post office and nothing but spam mail. Went back to Walmart to get RX.

Drove Mom home and got her to the living room. Checked her sugar, got her some potato soup and a banana. She ate about half of both. I finished the banana and put the soup back in the fridge. Checked her sugar again and it was in 200 range (before she ate it was under 200 so she took half a dose of insulin per doctor's instructions). We sat in the living room for awhile and then she wanted help getting back to her room. Checked her sugar and it was 109. Put her to bed and I went to my room & literally fell asleep at the keyboard. Woke up with it still on my lap, mouse still turned on, etc.

Got up and checked on her and got her evening meds for her. She asked me to set up her laptop for her and asked for more water. I took care of both and she's happily watching Dimash videos. She'll call me when she wants help putting the laptop up, if she needs help with it.
Ate some potatoes with chicken and watched Holiday Cookie Challenge (or something like that).

Watched some videos on ICF and LiteDeck forms and how they are installed (about to watch some more) before I go to sleep.
 
Dang, @zannej I can't keep up with you. I don't understand how some of y'all start typing and it doesn't stop, after everything any of you do then you sit down and type up mini articles, your day-long ordeals. I hope you're feeling some hope and support from the folks here, you are working your butt off trying to get things right for your mom.
@Amish Heart makes me tired as well. I guess I went through my share of all that kind of stuff when I had a newborn baby 20 some years ago and was trying to help take care of my mom as she had stage IV cancer. And a couple few years ago with my husband. It is not easy, but you just keep moving ahead because that's what we do for those we love.
 
Taking a break from my meetings.. Working on EU time sucks... But the day may end early.

I'm working on some personal thermal-management projects and I ordered some stuff online... I got notified that my order was being shipped directly from CHINA? I thought wow, now that's going to be a while getting here. It arrived 5 days after I placed the order, it must have been shipped by plane!

Well the break is about over...
 
I'm fighting- and maybe losing- a bug. My ear and down into my throat have been sore on and off, and last night was rough, feeling sick etc. Had to drag myself out of bed to take son to work. Now I'm up I feel better, the paracetamol starting to work, and I'm taking vit c. Made a few day's worth of soup for me, and some spag bol for the lads, and other than work drop-offs and animals don't have to go out. It doesn't help that I realised last night I had a due date wrong on one my essays, lost four days I thought I had 😭 on the good side, it will all be over by the weekend :D and last night finished a hat for a gift, so got startered on another one.
 
Up and at em. Husband in the shower. I'm drinking coffee. Have about an hour or so before we leave for the hospital for the day. We used to come to Denver often and always stay in a Marriot Hotel. Mostly because it's the only credit card we use, and the points on it always let us stay in a suite at no charge at all while we're here. Noticed changes since covid. Right after covid started when we came, they stopped doing maid service. Throw your dirty towels and garbage in the hallway and someone picks it up. Request towels and garbage bags at the front desk yourself and bring them up. No breakfast was served, just grab and go junk food. So now, there is breakfast served, but maid service is every three days. And we'll be here three nights, so I guess that means none, and get our own towels and such. Hmm. Maybe lack of employees wanting to work? I don't know.
 
Amish Heart said:
Up and at em. Husband in the shower. I'm drinking coffee. Have about an hour or so before we leave for the hospital for the day. We used to come to Denver often and always stay in a Marriot Hotel. Mostly because it's the only credit card we use, and the points on it always let us stay in a suite at no charge at all while we're here. Noticed changes since covid. Right after covid started when we came, they stopped doing maid service. Throw your dirty towels and garbage in the hallway and someone picks it up. Request towels and garbage bags at the front desk yourself and bring them up. No breakfast was served, just grab and go junk food. So now, there is breakfast served, but maid service is every three days. And we'll be here three nights, so I guess that means none, and get our own towels and such. Hmm. Maybe lack of employees wanting to work? I don't know.
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The plandemic ruined so many things! We know y'all will have a long day, hope you find some hospital coffee! ♥️☕
 
Taking care of the animals first, have to trim some more hoofs, but I think I will do it in the afternoon when it warms up some
have a list of stuff to do that has been put off:
reorganize kitchen cabinet, now I open it and stuff falls on my head sometimes
husband needs to replace a wood post on the porch, he did the front last year, this year the back needs doing. The post is rotten and when it is really windy it falls down. Thankfully not the only support or the porch would cave in

we need to pick a day to drive to Sams but I don't want to drive anywhere again already, everything is at least an hour away

need to do some laundry if the hose isn't frozen

Bought a box of Christmas cards I am going to send to my Christian friends

need to order some stuff online ( like new swim goggles since I keep borrowing husbands)
need to find a replacement part for our wood stove that heats the water. It's a bend piece of metal and I suspect it needs replacing sometimes because the outside is very corroded already.
Need to finish digging up the septic and make an appointment to get it cleaned
( none of those things have been done since we moved here)
need to clean the bedroom
need to plant some more ginger , forgot to bring in my plant and it died
 
Another busy day, today. Already walked- It was cold!
Next take Aninja (Chihuahua) to vet for rabies shot and nail trim.
Speak to a different lawyer about will.
DH gets released from therapy today at some point.
Go to Lowes for a new kitchen faucet.
Handyman will be here later to install.
Make Buffalo style chex mix.

My prayers are with you two @Amish Heart !
 
I nodded off a bit early last night, about 2 AM something was wiggling my toe, I opened my eyes to see Roscoe and two of his cubs sitting on the foot of the bed just staring at me, Roscoe was standing up like he does with his head cocked just looking at me, then he reaches out and wiggles my toe, looking like his best buddy died! (Maybe I am?) I say, "Sorry I missed dinner pal, I'm coming." His cubs split, but he waits until I get my slippers on and walks beside me to the kitchen where I feed them, Smacks his kids out of the way, and then gets first dibs on dollar store dog food.

Side note, I discovered I'm not feeding seven dumpster bandits, I'm feeding Twelve! Maybe after the Apocalypse or COVID Mk_666 kills off humanity, they'll build a statue of me. LOL.

That actually happened when I was testing on rats, I had this one rat who looked different from the others, he would take walnut hulls and carve a kind of smiley face in them and pile them right in front of the cage door where I'd find them! (No, my name isn't Willard!:mad: )
 
Magus, I am sometimes almost as bad as you....been feeding the barn pigeons after I felt bad for trying to get rid of them, and there was only 1 left.....now there are 8
Yesterday, we closed the top hole in the sheep area of the barn ( the hay is up there) to keep it warmer when it gets really cold, and it's open in summer. So 2 little baby pigeons fall down with a nest....husband just pushed the door closed with a shovel from the bottom and the poor little things were on it. So I picked them up with a towel, husband got a big ladder, and I put them up into another nest I knew was there but unoccupied. This morning I hear beeping up there, and the momma pigeon was feeding them. They must be pretty smart for birds. Usually if you move babies or nests, the mother won;t feed them anymore
 
Saw Vivek Ramaswamy today, here in Spencer, Iowa

Former Iowa Congressman Steve King was there too.

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Okee Dokee, Jumped up and did 6 months of past-due laundry, and a washing machine ripped me off for 5$, then the restaurant next door has new hours, so no breakfast, then I got the bright idea of some Wendy's, Amazingly they didn't screw up my order, but then I went to the car wash and I ran out of quarters half done and the changer had a chisel stuck in it, Now my back is whacked and I'll be in bed for three days like usual.
 
I'll sing, "Shall we gather at the River" for you, Ben.
Finally back at the Hotel. Busy day at the hospital. Lots of pulmonary tests done. Saw the sarcoidosis specialist doc and she is a waste of time in my opinion. Husband used to like seeing her, but I think he's changed his mind. The infectious disease doc, though, spent hours with him, and she's pretty good. Got the first set of labs done, too, and his CT scan. So no cafeteria food for us today....missed it. Got out of the doc office after it closed, so it was grab and go junk food. So far today....a chocolate croissant and a latte for breakfast, and late afternoon I ate a small ice cream cup and a small bag of Smart Pop popcorn. I think we're ordering in grub hub for dinner, am liking the Cheesecake Factory menu and needing something substantial at this point. Do not like what I end up eating when traveling. So I hope they get all the junk done to husband they need to tomorrow. And I hope they don't mess him up, either, as that's happened before. Tomorrow they are scheduling a new to him inhaled (in a booth) concentrated med, and I hope he doesn't react to it. Plan on going home Friday morning, so I hope it's so.
 
Magus said:
Since when did Stephen King turn Republican? he used to be an anti-gun Commie.
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Former Congressman Steve King of Iowa and the Stephen King you are talking about are different people. This Steve King loves guns and is a real fighter for The People and that's why he was kicked off committees a few years ago.
 
Took wife to big town for appointment with ENT Dr. She is having trouble with food getting stuck in throat. Went to neck surgeon first, she had 3 disc replaced in neck. All the hardware was in the right place. He recommended ENT. The ENT inserted a flexible camera through nose into throat. Said everything looked good. Scheduled her a barium swallowing test. Allows them to see what is going on when she swallows. Will have her swallow fake pills,liquids, and food and see if they see what issue is. I think it is from neck surgery. Slit her throat and moved everything to the side, I don't think everything got back in the right place. Did manage to go to work for 4 hrs, I hate missing work. So many calls to return.
 
Amish Heart said:
I'll sing, "Shall we gather at the River" for you, Ben.
Finally back at the Hotel. Busy day at the hospital. Lots of pulmonary tests done. Saw the sarcoidosis specialist doc and she is a waste of time in my opinion. Husband used to like seeing her, but I think he's changed his mind. The infectious disease doc, though, spent hours with him, and she's pretty good. Got the first set of labs done, too, and his CT scan. So no cafeteria food for us today....missed it. Got out of the doc office after it closed, so it was grab and go junk food. So far today....a chocolate croissant and a latte for breakfast, and late afternoon I ate a small ice cream cup and a small bag of Smart Pop popcorn. I think we're ordering in grub hub for dinner, am liking the Cheesecake Factory menu and needing something substantial at this point. Do not like what I end up eating when traveling. So I hope they get all the junk done to husband they need to tomorrow. And I hope they don't mess him up, either, as that's happened before. Tomorrow they are scheduling a new to him inhaled (in a booth) concentrated med, and I hope he doesn't react to it. Plan on going home Friday morning, so I hope it's so.
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It took the water company about 35 minutes to shutoff the main. On and off utility workers showing up to mark underground lines. Saw a dump truck come and go. Same for a backhoe. But no digging yet.

The water company was able to shut off the problem main. I am just past one of the shut off valve so we still have water. The neighbors west of me are without water.

I hope they get around to fixing the line before I go to bed. I can handle the entertainment.

Ben
 
Neb said:
It took the water company about 35 minutes to shutoff the main. On and off utility workers showing up to mark underground lines. Saw a dump truck come and go. Same for a backhoe. But no digging yet.

The water company was able to shut off the problem main. I am just past one of the shut off valve so we still have water. The neighbors west of me are without water.

I hope they get around to fixing the line before I go to bed. I can handle the entertainment.

Ben
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Still more coming and going of backhoe and trucks. Fell like I am watching the Pink Panther movie.




Ben
 
It’s been an eventful 6 days. Mom was in the hospital for what was finally diagnosed as a cracked vertebra in her neck. She fell 2 wks ago getting out of bed. She’s in a hard collar now. Dad stayed with her, refused to come home, slept in a chair until I bribed the maintenance guy to find a cot. Official channels or family weren't getting it done. I gave a guy a $20 and had one in 15min. Simple, problem solved.

For me it’s been driving back and forth to the hosp and juggling a ‘dozen eggs’ at the same time. Making all sorts of arrangements, part time care was the big one. Still no final agreement but the plan is coming together. Folks have needed care for 3 yrs now but dad refused… that’s no longer acceptable. Thankfully I’ll have several relatives here in the morning to help me put our collective foot down… things are changing, period. I’m disabled, I can’t provide full time care for 2 90yr olds by myself. If i were healthy it'd be a full time job!

Well, tonight my folks are home, I got everyone fed, got their meds then came down and made myself dinner. Just went and checked on them. Dad’s asleep in his chair with the tv at full volume, mom’s asleep and every light in their house was on. I left it like that… I’ll check them a few times before I crash.

This reminds me… I need a household alarm, a button either of them can press and alert me if there’s an issue. We have no cell service here so that’s out, need a simple stand alone system with remote controlled light, horn, something.
 
zannej said:
Twice today I had to physically pick Mom up off the toilet because she was having trouble-- need to add something for her to really grab onto to get up that won't interfere with wiping or using the bidet.
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It may sound silly, but a rope (maybe with multiple handles) tied into a large eye bolt that is installed into a structural beam in the ceiling (no into just drywall obviously) might work well if you don't have convenient and secure places to install more standard grab bars (those need to be installed into wall studs). The rope could be swung to where it provides the best support for what is needed at the time. Front, back, to either side. It's not going to look terribly formal, but safety over formality wins. There may be a problem for older people to manage the mobile nature of a rope though. Placing the handle(s) at the highest point that is still easily reachable would help with that. A shorter length of rope means less swinging. I don't know - swinging around peeing all over the place sounds kind of fun.
 
LadyLocust said:
Ben. Is that your voice? If so, you sound about 25 years old you youngin you!
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Yup. That is me. I am often addressed as " mam" in phone conversations. The Princess's choir director asked if I sing tenor.

Well the chase scene culminated in a nice repair execution.



They had the line repaired in no time.

Ben
 
Peanut said:
It’s been an eventful 6 days. Mom was in the hospital for what was finally diagnosed as a cracked vertebra in her neck. She fell 2 wks ago getting out of bed. She’s in a hard collar now. Dad stayed with her, refused to come home, slept in a chair until I bribed the maintenance guy to find a cot. Official channels or family weren't getting it done. I gave a guy a $20 and had one in 15min. Simple, problem solved.

For me it’s been driving back and forth to the hosp and juggling a ‘dozen eggs’ at the same time. Making all sorts of arrangements, part time care was the big one. Still no final agreement but the plan is coming together. Folks have needed care for 3 yrs now but dad refused… that’s no longer acceptable. Thankfully I’ll have several relatives here in the morning to help me put our collective foot down… things are changing, period. I’m disabled, I can’t provide full time care for 2 90yr olds by myself. If i were healthy it'd be a full time job!

Well, tonight my folks are home, I got everyone fed, got their meds then came down and made myself dinner. Just went and checked on them. Dad’s asleep in his chair with the tv at full volume, mom’s asleep and every light in their house was on. I left it like that… I’ll check them a few times before I crash.

This reminds me… I need a household alarm, a button either of them can press and alert me if there’s an issue. We have no cell service here so that’s out, need a simple stand alone system with remote controlled light, horn, something.
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When we took care of my Mom, we lived in a mobile home across the property from Mom's house. We had handheld radios that had an alert button she could push. It simply beeped on our radio. That was the 'come now' signal, otherwise she would just talk in the radio. Faster and easier than trying to dial a phone, and she could keep it on/with her easily.
 
Peanut said:
It’s been an eventful 6 days. Mom was in the hospital for what was finally diagnosed as a cracked vertebra in her neck. She fell 2 wks ago getting out of bed. She’s in a hard collar now. Dad stayed with her, refused to come home, slept in a chair until I bribed the maintenance guy to find a cot. Official channels or family weren't getting it done. I gave a guy a $20 and had one in 15min. Simple, problem solved.

For me it’s been driving back and forth to the hosp and juggling a ‘dozen eggs’ at the same time. Making all sorts of arrangements, part time care was the big one. Still no final agreement but the plan is coming together. Folks have needed care for 3 yrs now but dad refused… that’s no longer acceptable. Thankfully I’ll have several relatives here in the morning to help me put our collective foot down… things are changing, period. I’m disabled, I can’t provide full time care for 2 90yr olds by myself. If i were healthy it'd be a full time job!

Well, tonight my folks are home, I got everyone fed, got their meds then came down and made myself dinner. Just went and checked on them. Dad’s asleep in his chair with the tv at full volume, mom’s asleep and every light in their house was on. I left it like that… I’ll check them a few times before I crash.

This reminds me… I need a household alarm, a button either of them can press and alert me if there’s an issue. We have no cell service here so that’s out, need a simple stand alone system with remote controlled light, horn, something.
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Sorry for what you’re going through that P but glad you will have reinforcements in the morning. Sometimes developing a plan is a huge relief in itself. Prayers it all works out and is easier on you for the duration. Take care of yourself too and get your rest when you need it.
(Yep mama bear at work)
 
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My favorite cousin whose husband just past is in her mid 70's, and her husband was 77, needing alot of care. He did have hospice coming in twice a week. They live in the small house next to the big house, where their daughter and family live. They did put in a buzzer they she could buzz their house in the middle of the night, if he fell out of bed, or if she needed help. It worked well. They found something battery operated at the hardware store, but were almost going to use a baby monitor. That would of worked, too. A cheap handitalki on simplex would of worked, too. And my cousin put in a "black box" phone (runs on a battery) in the house. That's normally not allowed, but an exception was made. Usually phones are in the shack outside. They don't have electricity, but have solar charged batteries.
 
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