My life has pretty much turned upside down since my MIL has moved in and I am taking care of her needs 24/7. I get up at 4 am just so I can have some time to myself and get some of the cleaning done in the great room where she hangs out during the day to watch tv/sleep all day. She loves the old western tv shows from back in the day, like The Virginian and Gunsmoke or WWII military. Our day begins at 7:30 if she doesn't wake up before hand. First stop is I wheel her into the bathroom for potty time and every other day a shower. Then I start washing her bedding. Yes, this is almost daily. . . At least with her padding under her, the top sheet and her quilt. I have two of everything so Once I get it stripped for the laundry, I can make it up. Granny sometimes soaks thru when wetting the bed at night but mainly it is due to her rolling. She has very thin skin at her age and old soars will bleed some. Once that is done, she gets wheeled into the living room for breakfast and coffee. With I or my hunny cooks breakfast. If hunny is in he sits while I go out to feed, water and clean out goat barn, troughs and medicate if needed. After she is done eating, which no matter what meal takes her at least an hour to eat to one and a half. You have to stay with her in case she choked on something. After breakfast is pill time. Which is 11 pills which 4 are divided into either 1/2 or 1/4s depending on the size which you hand give in her mouth in 5 different batches. Then lotion her body, chapstick for lips, then hair gets done. Depending on day, this means small curling iron. Granny does have a bald spot where she had skin cancer burnt off a couple years ago and it can be very challenging to get that all covered. By the time all that gets done, I have about 30 minutes before next bathroom break. Then maybe . . . Another 30 minutes before her lunch. . . Then another bathroom break. . . She will always tell me she doesn't need to go, but she does. I had learned the hard way if she isn't taken every 3 hours she will go in her pants and I get the oh I'm wet or I got a dirty butt. We still have some accidents but it is much better and it is easier on me to have her sit on the John to do her business and me just wipe than to have to clean her up caked on. . . Then I get a couple hours before I have to start dinner, only having to give a snack, unwrap a couple pieces of candy and refill water and ice in her cup. Once I get dinner done, it's another potty break then out to feed my goats. Come in to finish up dinner and serve by 6pm. 8:30 is another potty break for her and get her ready for bed. I normally take her back out to the living room to watch whatever football or baseball game she is watching with hunny and I get ready for bed and crawl in. Hunny puts her to bed, but she always wants to see me too so if I am still awake, I will go tell her goodnight. normally anywhere between 9:30 - 10pm. In my free time, I can clean, quilt or crochet. This is my day, most everyday except the two days a week I go to work. On those days, I wake up at 3 am to check and see how this be will be that morning. You never know what you walk into so I give myself an extra hour. I get her ready for the day Then put her back to bed and hunny takes care of her until I get home.
. Try and take some time for yourself even if it is a bubble bath while husband is watching granny and the social club sounds like a good idea to give you some respite too. Oh did I tell you I am a carer too so that is how I know.
