Channeling my inner sealion

We got up after 9 and took a shower together.  When we came out to the den, Alfred was watching a show on sealions.  I added fermented coconut milk to a prepared breakfast and ate that while watching the show.  I had to look away when the commercial with the sad dogs and cats came on.  Then I checked my e-mail quickly and packed up my laptop.  Chris moved everything out to the car, and we said good bye to Alfred.  Cecily had business at the church so we did not see her.  We stopped at a gas station to fuel up, and then put on the last CD of the book called The Third Gate.  I wasn’t wild about the ending.  Then we listened to Naked Heat by Richard Castle.  It must have been based on the show.  We listened to it until we got to Bristol.  We checked into our hotel and read e-mail.  I took a walk outside for fresh air and saw the remnants of snow.  I had to take a pic.  At 5 we went to a Japanese fusion restaurant.  I ordered something called chirashi, which was 5 or 6 kinds of raw seafood plus rice with roe on it.  I was channeling my inner sea lion with all that fish.  When we got back to the hotel, we went  back to our laptops.  The internet connection faded in and out.  Finally Chris went to the front desk, and was given a card with a number on it.  He called that number and spoke with someone who diagnosed the problem and reset the router.  The connection was perfect after that.  We tried watching TV, but there was nothing we wanted to watch.  In addition to catching up on e-mail, I researched Kwadulein and Fort Leonard Wood.  We turned in before 10 EST.

*  Notice the led light at the back of the food.  It changed color every 2 seconds throughout the meal.  *

No shopping on Black Friday

I got up about 9:30.  Kurt was sleeping on the couch in the livingroom.  He used his coats for blankets.  I was so tired last night that I did not check to see that he had proper bedding.  Dad was getting his tea and Mom was sitting the in the bathroom.  He and I got her dressed and out to the den to watch Kelly & Michael until he had her pills ready.  I used the time to stitch up a hole in his t-shirt so it wouldn’t show when he used it as an undershirt.  The whole thing was in sad shape. I wondered if he would wear new undershirts if I bought them.  I juiced romaine lettuce, a green pepper and carrots.  Most of it went to Dad, with some for me, Kurt and Mom.  Then I made three breakfasts: for today, tomorrow and Sunday.  I fed Mom, got dressed, and packed up my belongings in the bedroom so Kurt could move in.  I had to pack up belongings around the rest of the house, too,  including from the food box.  Kurt and I swished with hydrogen peroxide.  I fed Mom again, and helped Dad write checks to charity, which I put in the mailbox. Chris came at 2.  The bunch of us talked.  At the last minute I remembered that I forgot to wash the juicer.  I did a rush job, then we said our goodbyes and drove to the house of one of Chris’ college roommates.  I was struck by how uncluttered his house was.  We talked to him for awhile, and then his wife came home to join the discussion.  She told us that she usually puts up three Christmas trees, but is only doing 2 this year since she will be visiting her daughter who is due on Christmas Day.  I hoped Chris would let me put up just one tree.  Around 6, we left for his parents’ house.  Cecily was cooking prime rib, asparagus, roasted tomatoes, cheesy potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings for supper.  We got to talking, as usual.  Long after supper, Cecily remembered to hand out Christmas presents.  Chris got 2 belts and lots of socks.  She gave me a pair of pearl earrings.  Conversation resumed.  Cecily went to bed.  Later, the remaining three of us checked our e-mail.  Then Alfred went to bed.  Chris stayed up until I finished my blog, and then we went to bed.
*  I owe my blog two pictures now  *

Thanksgiving Day

I got up about 9, I think.  Mom was watching the Thanksgivingday parade, Dad thought it was too commercialized and rushing Christmas.  He asked me about using denture cream to hold his overlay in.  He hasn't worn it since the new dentist pulled 4 of his teeth. Since I know nothing about that, I checked on the internet, with no luck.  I fed Mom some ensure after Dad gave her pills.  I juiced broccoli, romaine and carrots.  That got split three ways.  Then I made breakfast.   Kurt arrived after breakfast (about 1).   Dad ate all morning  to see if the denture cream was holding.  Then he slept on the floor of the den.  Mom was ready to go to the Damours for Thanksgiving dinner.  She dictated a Christmas letter, which I typed into my computer.  Then we addressed Christmas cards.  Kurt helped me put the Christmas letter on a thumb drive for Dad.  Then he found and downloaded a really cool free piano app for my tablet.  I combed Mom’s hair with baking soda to freshen it.  William showed up around 3:30.  He and Kurt left together.  Dad put Mom in the Oldsmobile and I drove the three of us to the Damours.  I had to drive with one hand as the other was needed to shade my eyes from the brilliance of the sun.  We were the last to arrive.  We sat in their den talking while Cecily jumped up every few minutes to check on things that were cooking.  Alfred carved the turkey.  Then Faye and Dad and I were asked to go through the line first to fill our plates.  Mom got to sit at the end of the table.  Faye brought her some food and Cecily had pureed some beef stew for her.  Sadly it was not a good night for swallowing.  Dad more than made up for it, though.  I had a plateful, but could not go back for seconds.  Chris assured me that I could come back next year anyway since I had borne them a granddaughter.  Dad went back for seconds and then had dessert.  Chris got Michele on Skype and brought her to the table.  We had a good time talking to her and seeing the things she bought in Japan.  The party broke up about 10.  I guess we all left about the same time.  I drove Mom and Dad home.  I hoped he would sleep on the way, but I guess he only sleeps when he’s driving.  He brought her in the house.  We tried to feed her, but she still wasn’t swallowing.  I laid on the floor while Dad managed to get another Ensure in her.  Then we took her to the back to clean up a mess we hadn’t suspected.  I read to her from her book.  Dad came back to brush her teeth, and then we put her splints on and put her to bed.  I came out to blog and hopefully Dad went to bed.  

* Getting ready to go after the celebration.  *

Mom and Dad

I guess I oiled the bathroom door too well.  I did not hear my parents get up.  Having been up late, I woke up late.  Dad already had Mom dressed and sitting at the table, taking her pills.  I called Chris right away, as he asked.  I fed Mom Ensure, yogurt, applesauce, and coconut oil.  I took her to the bathroom, but nothing happened.  I started reading her a book.  Dad came in to say Chris had arrived and that it was time to leave.  So we got her ready and put her coat on.  It was raining so Dad gave her a very large umbrella to hold as he wheeled her out to the car.  I tried to take a picture.  After they left for the fitness center and her physical therapy appointment, I had time to get dressed, and juice kale and broccoli.   Chris got Dad’s security software working by reinstalling it.  Then he left.  I threw the pulp in the garden, along with some carrots and celery that were turning brown in the frig.   I cleaned up the juicer and countertop.  I fixed breakfast.  I sorted the laundry in the hallway into three piles.  Their bedding and my bedding was included.  As it washed and dried, I read e-mail and listened to audios.  The one by Donna Eden was great.  She knows a lot about how to work with the body’s meridian system.  As I was getting load #2 out of the dryer, Mom and Dad came home.  He asked me to hold the umbrella while he wheeled her in.  Just as we reached the back door, Faye arrived.  We chatted as we folded laundry and put it away.  We also dressed both beds.  She has their clothing and it’s storage organized.

When we came out of the bedrooms, we discovered both of them lying on the floor between the den and the kitchen.  If they wanted us to get coronaries, that was the way to do it.  He said she fell on the floor while he was out getting the mail.  So he dragged her toward the den, and lay down beside her to take a nap.  We discussed that story.   It was dark when Faye and I decided to go to Cosco.  On the way out, we ran in to Patrick.  At the store, I enjoyed walking around and looking at the items for sale.  She had me pick out a few things for my birthday.  They closed at 8:30, but we didn’t know.  So it was almost nine when we got back to the house.  Dad wanted Mom to have a bath, and none of us could put her in the tub and get her out again safely.  So Faye and I took her to the bathroom and Faye demonstrated how to give a sponge bath on the toilet.  We got her dressed for bed and put her in.  Dad came back to see that everything he needed in the morning was in place.  Then Faye left and Dad went to bed.   I sat in the den to blog.  Dad came back out for something and then left again.   

Feeding Mom is an all day job

Dad turned the heat on in the bedroom I slept in.  He must have turned it pretty high because by morning I had tossed off all the covers.  Getting out of bed was easy, but facing the rest of the house was not.  It was like living in his refrigerator.  I have a new found appreciation for the weather in Alabama.

I started checking  e-mail in bed before 8.  Then I got up to help get Mom ready for the day. i juiced carrots and celery for  Dad and me.  I fed her Ensure until she stopped being able to swallow.  Dad gave me a list of things to do.  I wrote a check for him, and got two cards in the mail.  I darned 3 socks.  I was on hand to feed Mom whenever her swallowing reflex came back.  Kevin came over to make cruciferous juice using the juicer.  He also made a casserole and vacuumed the house.  I oiled a bathroom door, and helped Dad get Mom ready for bed.  I hemmed or patched 3 pairs of his pants. I listened to an audio which ended before I finished the 3^rd pair.  Finally I posted to my blog and went to bed around 1.

*  Haven't taken any pics so here is one from show-n-tell  *