Mom is getting very slowly weaker...

It's not something you see overnight but during the past 3 months we've only gone out once ... and that was to the foot doctor and then we did a little shopping at rite-aid next door. What is happening is her short term memory, 2-4hrs, has developed into a delirium as to "where is Mom?" (her mother), Grace will ask. "Where are the boys (Nathaniel and Joel)?; did they leave? Boy, they didn't say goodbye! ... and don't tell me they're in Texas!", she retorts. I have to remind her that she just got off the PHONE with them and that's why she thought they were here in PA!

She is currently taking 10mg of Arricept and Carbadopa /Levadopa combo for her Parkinsen's desease.

Hopefully after breakfast when we watch "Hour of Power", that will cheer her up a little bit so she won't feel so depressed and "wish she could die". I told her she needs to be able to get up and around so that if next year her GREAT-Grand children visit we'll be able to go out to lunch!! Oh, gotta go she's ringing the bell... I'll see if she want to "walk the hall"! More later ...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Grams is still in bed Friday as the Meals-on-wheels Lady stops by to check up on her. This service is a God-sent as it help me so much to have a meal for Mom ready to go. How you Mom's do it - three meals a day seven days a week - WHEW, whata job! Although, breakfast is easy for Grams: glass of warm PRUNE juice and a bowl of oatmeal ... MMmmmmm!

However, Grams is sleeping more but enjoying it less! Her circadian rhythm is all bent outta shape! Needless to say we have to check the newspaper to see what day it is! When she wakes up she's disoriented very little and still, all in all, in good spirits.

Remember during the depression they sold roses on street corners ... well Grams has a hobby of making roses outta kleenex! So, if things get too bad I can wheel her out the door in front of the apartment and we can sell "paper roses"! (OK, cue Tammy Wynett to hum a few bars!)

Weather's gettin' cold here ... going down to 46°F tonight ... Brrrrr may have to turn on the heater as they don't have the apartment heat on yet with the NEW boilers ... Oh Boy! "...lions and tigers and boilers, Oh My! ..." - Wizard of Oz

Our bank Wachovia is going under and being bought out by one of the two squabbling banks, Citi Group or Wells Fargo. If anyone wants to know why the BAILOUT just click this link >> "Fractional-reserve banking" and sit down BEFORE you read it! DON'T GET ME STARTED! Gotta go Grams is ringin' the bell. Brian

Mrs "B-u-c-k-e-t" (pronounced "bouquet")

Well Mom finished the week with "a candle light dinner with riparian entertainment" in 2 side splitting episodes of "keeping up appearances" on Sat Night on PBS! Good for the brain to get thoes endorphins going!

Brian

Mom hit the Matress early tonight

We had a new "Home Care Atendent" to "break in" to day to help Mom bathe and get the laundry done while I went to the store for Rx and groceries.

So, she went to bed at 7:45 - well, I better take advantage of the "down time" while the "kids" are asleep and catch 40 winks. Woke up at 11:30pm to give Mom her night meds and heard noise in the bedroom. There was Mom struggling with her cane between the bed and the wheelchair! I carefully pulled the cane out for her and started pulling her up off the bed to go to the bathroom (she's on a water pill so she goes ALOT!) when she started pulling back. "Come on Mom, wake up, let's go to the bathroom!", I pleaded. Well, this went on for about a minute and finally when she got her breath she said, "I'm TRYING TO GET BACK IN BED ... NOT trying to get out!!". Oooopsie! Sorry!
--Brian

Mom is now "working" the night shift!

Mom enjoyed all the photos on the "To Mark Time" blog to the point that we didn't get to bed til 3:30 AM! Arrrgh, Mom can't I just read you a bedtime story tonight?
--Brian

WOW! My 1st "BLOG" ... that word sounds like a disease! "You've got the BLOG, sorry there's nothing we can do for you ... just go home and write incessantly on your computer and you'll get better!" Aaaarrrggghhh! It takes me 2 hrs just to send a note to Dr. Phil!
BUT, seriously folks, I just flew in from Scranton, and, BOY ARE MY ARMS TIRED! (rimshot).

However, for those who are instersted in how Grams, Grace Irene (Bright) Saylor, is doing as she passes the 90 year old mark "stay tuned and we'll be right back, after this commercial break! ...".