1. Saturday I went to the Magnificat Catholic Women's Prayer Breakfast. Susan Popkin (I think that is her name) was fabulous. She touched my soul in places I didn't know needed touching. And I stayed and prayed with women for a long time after the breakfast. I stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up some more everyday seasoning on the way home. I packed and laundered the clothing both Hubs and I would need in the coming week. Both Hubs and I were headed out of town for parts of the week. (Hubs went on a White House Jesuit Retreat.)
2. Sunday we went to 10:30 Mass and exulted the Holy Cross. I love that feast. Our senior associate pastor always gives fabulous homilies and he did not disappoint. Then we lunched (Hubs and I) at McAlisters and I left for Quincy.
The barges on the Mississippi represent Quincy to me. It was cloudy and rainy.
3. Arriving at Quincy at my mom's place, I wondered what insanity I had wrought by allowing this carpal tunnel surgery. My mom seemed completely confused. I could not make her understand the directions and she argued with me that ultra-moisturizing was the same thing as antibacterial in soap. Fortunately I had brought the right kind of soap with me because she had bought the wrong stuff. I knew that the big issue was that she would have to shower and wash her hair and could not use hairspray or any lotions or makeup on her body until after the surgery. I told her at least 6 times--no hairspray. Anyway I was very concerned because my 93 year old mother seemed to have lost her mind.
4. Mom couldn't eat breakfast Monday morning and the surgery was scheduled for 11:30. She didn't want to take her blood pressure meds because she always took them after breakfast. Finally I got her to take the meds or at least tell me that she had. When her blood pressure went up after surgery I wondered. I also noticed that she was wearing makeup as they prepped her for surgery. I decided not to say anything because they were operating on her wrist not her face. The most touching part was that the doc asked to pray with her before surgery.
5. The carpal tunnel release surgery went fine. Mom took a long time to rouse and get ready to leave the surgery center and we were both very hungry by the time we ate at her apartment at 2pm. Mom wasn't in much pain to speak of. She refused to use the ice packs and wear the splint for her arm. Mom was still very confused which worried me a lot.
6. Tuesday she started to come out of the fog and started not repeating the same thing 6,000 times. I ordered refills of two of Mom's prescriptions that she had let lapse (because she was going to the doctor in a couple of weeks.)
I stopped by the cemetery to say a little prayer with my dad that the Lord would protect my mom. And I visited with the little angel who stands over little Anthony. Anthony is buried not far from my dad. I love his little angel marker.
I shopped for Mom and entertained my brother who is getting ready to move away from Quincy. He has purchased a townhouse up in Cary, IL. His leaving and Mom's increasing forgetfulness cause me great alarm. I wrote out directions for Mom for the post op--Don't get it wet and take off the dressing Friday and use band aids and Don't get it wet! I repeat--Don't get it wet. She ignored all the other directions like icing the wrist and elevating the hand. I left for home on Wednesday because I still had two work days and book club on Thursday this week.
7. On a very positive note, I was finally able to have a conversation with Mom about where she will go next. She lives in senior apartments that provide no living services for her. There are activities in the afternoon and she could take a bus provided by the residence to the grocery store with a group on Monday if she didn't drive. It is a Meals on Wheels location. No one monitors comings and goings, no one checks meds or blood pressure, no one (but me) cleans up her place. I am thinking assisted living is going to be a next step for her. I would rather move her sooner given her age and increasing frailty.. In Mom's mind the move will be 2 or 3 years from now. (Have I mentioned that she is 93?) With no family members closer than 2 and a half hours away, and Mom still driving, cooking, shopping, cleaning, washing her clothing, etc. I don't feel the safety net I used to feel when I could give my brother a call and he would pop over and check on something. So, Mom and I called an assisted living facility and they are sending information. Being old is not for sissies. I trust that the Lord has a plan, but I think that the leading I hear in all of this is to be ready, to get ready for changes.