2025!!!!! Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, winter again.

[blessedw2]

March 28, 2025 Friday
dd older is taking d mom with her for her appointment

I sat too long this morning
YouTube can pull me in.

it's beautiful outside - we had thunder boomers this morning but the rain has stopped. I can't work outside until later bc I have to take dh to the dr. at 11 am.

I want more than the status quo today - I need to work on my garden ideas - use my creativity today.

ready start : 9:45 am
mom went with dd older and they came home -
dh I think may not be following what he needs to do - his blood pressure is 85/65 - they couldn't get blood easily - not sure if he is hydrating himself well.
I am having lots of ADHD distractions. I can't seem to focus.
I wanted to work outside but having yet.
it's already 4:21 pm how?!

[blessedw2]

March 29th

being positive this morning. Needing to do things for myself - physically more than mentally or creatively.

mom is not moving this morning - she is tired - but she is dressed, had her meds, and hair brushed. I find having her near me when she is dressing helps refocus her on the next step of dressing.

dh - he was reminded that he can't play dr. I unfortunately have to take over but I am kind but firm.
he has taken his blood pressure and has had his meds - he didn't take his one blood pressure meds bc his blood pressure was still low but not dangerously low (per his dr.).

found out that I have multiple appointments for Mom and dh :
Mom Monday at 3:00 her heart dr.
Tuesday April first: pulmonologist at 10 I will have to bring mom with.
Wednesday I thought there was something - I think it's his nurse
also: Here at house. pt, speech, nurse again - don't know when they will come but they are coming for dh.
I need to call heating company on Monday
see if dh's blood pressure is still low
pick up boxwoods that I paid for during the week
pick up from vets office


I have birds in the woods playing on YouTube - mom likes it. as she sleeps on the chair in the kitchen.

wrote dr. re: my meds not filled.
texted the garden shop for the hortsman silberlocke Korean fir - I need 2
ordered a new grill - small one - I have tried to stay with dh's choice for a regular weber but I am like a gas grill.
paid for my boxwood -mom came with to get her walking.
stopped at donation place

I have to keep my energy going as sometimes it's hard with everyone is moving slowly and no energy themselves.
More laundry done
sink is spiffy
I have to do a put away
I am tired.
dd went with out with her cousins.

[blessedw2]

March 30, 2025 Sunday - I still love Sundays!

dd older went out with her dear cousins yesterday and had so much fun!!!
so happy for her and all of them.

I will call dd younger - I am trying to think like our d lady and help her forward without taking over. Goals to have her move out of mom's apartment in Florida. (not a shock - all at once type of thing. by 9 months)
see if she is paying fica taxes
she needs an accountant I believe.

I have to make a list of what needs to be done in the near future for the back room to get torn off.
Garden list - ask for help.

Mom has made it a struggle morning - she is not moving - refuses to move - at noon I finally was able to convince her to change her cloths - brush her teeth. Boy she is a stubborn thing today -not mean- at least dh hasn't been stubborn and has been doing what he should be doing. He looks good today - he did get confused about the meds but that was easy to confuse.

now that she is dressed - she has left the behavior behind.

12:34 pm
I am going to see if I can get mom to come outside and help me with some pots
1:43 finished marking seeds for what I need to plant.
2:25 pm8
4:06 pm
worked in the garden
tossed some tulip bulbs that I couldn't plant last September
mom did some yoga with mom - she did it!!
feeling cranky - no one's fault
set up 4 pots of dahlias - next week another set and the next week another set.

What has to be done:
sweep and rinse off the kitchen floor -
5:17 pm dh fed the dogs
dh drove today for the first time in in a month and half. his blood pressure was perfect and no fever - he looked good
dd older made salmon and kale.

[blessedw2]

noon
took dh to his dr. - draining for me, probably bc of being worried over and over, but very positive appointment for dh.
he took too much blood pressure meds this morning - he didn't realize that he had to cut them in half.
Mom is still in pajamas - hey she wore pajama's yay
problem mom is talking about getting back to her place all of a sudden - she just wants to lay down all day.
she is pretty set on it. once I loose her focus in the morning (to get dressed) then the whole day is piggity wiggly
All but dentist appointment set for dh
mom is set as well.
found out dh is not using is saline solution at night
took care of landscape company - I didn't get a contract this year

okay I can sit here being stuck or grab a card

2:37 pm mom is frustrated that I want her to move around instead of sitting in her pjs and watching tv. I tried turning it off but she is not happy with it. She wants to do nothing and she said some days are like that - it's not like the dementia but more like a I can choose what I want to do. it's hard for me to watch that.
Mom: large burp - "did you hear that - just for you" with a smile - better that I burp than holding it in" she does have a sense of humor.

dh has been falling asleep in his chair (this morning and this afternoon). his sodium is balanced now even though it is on the lower part of normal. he is taking sodium pills.

What I have done: moving the columbines to a 4" square pots - planted 8 and got 8 - I should start these in January next year along
started in end of February -
started Mexican daisies - planted 4 but got one- on 2-19-25 I will see if this will be the same next year
feverfew planted feb. 23 - maybe start in January
I don't think my verbena is coming up.

I think I have to take mom's blood pressure and oxygen - mom is sound asleep again
she had asked me if she was to go to school tomorrow and then realized that it was wrong - not frustrated - she meant her place in Florida
4:00 where has this day gone - not much done
put away the meds for dh/me/
I need to write my old dr. and say thank you. but that I had to change.
I want to change my mom's meds to my local drive through pharmacy.
went through the mail.

Next: empty clean dishes
wash the counters
vacuum the floor - swept already - rinse
I need to rinse the powder room toilet - dh has been pouring his g tube into the toilet and it is spraying all over - He shouldn't be having anything to pour out.
moms blood pressure was high - I gave her the meds early - tomorrow morning I will check her bp again.
she is not happy with me -
it's what it is.

[blessedw2]

April 2 Wednesday
waiting for dh's pt person
He is cranky - He decided he didn't need something and I mentioned to his nurse that his pulmonologist suggested it. a draining and saline for his trac. Not happy that I also set up a dentist appointment - he told me that his dr. doesn't clean the teeth - they do.

Mom has done well today bc my brother came - she got dressed and no argument on pt. work

Mom meds check
her bp was high so I gave her valsartan - we are trying to balance her bp again after one dr. took her off of it all together. mmmm
breakfast check

dh: saw the nurse and is now waiting for pt
he checked his blood pressure - got new orders for that.

mom was great this morning with brother was here - he leaves and the stinker came out - per mom:
nope and nada"

almost 3:00 pm
I am getting tired - no reason
we had lots and lots of rain. lots of thunder boomers
4:54 dh fed the girls too early but I am happy he wanted to do it.
mom has sat again the entire afternoon - she tried to push me into turning on the tv but I know her brain with go blank for the rest of the evening.
paid to bills.
more laundry flip flopped
did laundry room work
new faucet is working well. looks pretty
swept/vacuumed/rinsed kitchen again and did the laundry room.
counters and sink still look nice
stove ok surface clean

I need to vacuum the front room
start cutting up cardboard for recycling

[blessedw2]

I have been working here to help me through balancing*, trying to get back to routines, my mental care, and now trying to get back to physical care.
I really have to work on some sort of routine - even if it's only 5 minutes at a time.
I feel like it's too messy to work on PWYC and I can't seem to get back to having time to post there as well.

(* trying to balance is more like it).

this morning I even locked the dogs out of the kitchen.

I got a nice compliment from my brother yesterday - that's big.

I have been up since 6 am - dogs fed,
I relaxed and watched my garden shows
ate breakfast

time to start.
s2s me done
meds mom and me done
breakfast for mom and me done
ordered some plants
told the one company I didn't need 2 trees I was looking for on April 1 - found them local
i fed dogs
changed dogs water
dh picked up his meds

leaving mom alone for a bit bc she is trying to push me re: changing her cloths.
I already mentioned it so I will walk away for a bit.
found she is beginning to forget some words in her language when she spoke to her cousin in France yesterday. probably better than her forgetting English for me.

be positive!

12:53 pm home
ran some errands

mom- its been a very rough go with mom this morning.
she hasn't moved all morning - hasn't gotten dressed - etc. I can understand that she doesn't want anyone to suggest her anything.

dh- super frustrated by his g tube - he can't problem solve - I used more water in it and it went down.
his eye is super red - the eye dr. may be able to see him today - may -
waiting for speech

angrily and finally mom is getting dressed. I am a big girl I can handle it her words. she wanted to cut her tags off and I asked her what size it was so that I can write it down - she was pretty angry : "I have been getting dressed all my life - I know - I want the tag cut off bc it itches me. - I can see her feelings. she told me the size. right now she is sitting cutting the tags off. her pants at her knees. Clean underwear.
1:17 pm - writing this down to see her progress. over the next few weeks.
she is choosing not to move - it is making her weaker over the last few months - she can't be on her own - but she is not moving. I will have to add a get out part that she has to come with - I know it will hit on my home time but I think it's necessary.
she keeps saying "tomorrow, I will..."

I had to hide the garden magazines bc she would read them all day and wouldn't move. I will put them out for an hour - but I can't have her sitting all day.

dh he is starting to get angry of little things (not with me) but people doing work in front of our house, simple stuff. Anything that inconveniences him. To me that is always a worry if he starts going that way bc it can continue into other areas.

[blessedw2]

April 4, 2025 Friday:
this would have been my grandfathers 114th birthday. gosh now I know I am getting older
every year my grandfather would put a flower in front of his mothers picture on her birdie.
I try to do the same.

yesterday was better than Wednesday with mom and attitude. I am trying to figure out the mom puzzle. I think I might join the dementia/alzheimers support group to get some ideas to help mom embrace life.

yesterday turned out to be errands and taking dh to an unexpected eye dr. appointment.

I did wake up thanking God for a new day!!!
mom is sitting in front of me - listening to the hourly bell - and saying ding each time and smiles at me. she grew up in a small village where someone rang the church bells - it was beautiful - I have been to my mothers village where they ring the bells (probably no longer by people)

Mom: meds at 9:00 am her blood pressure is still high for her

Me: meds at 9:00 pm
watched garden answer

dogs: dh fed them

got a call from dh's glaucoma dr. - had to run him to dr. bc they were told by the eye dr. said he must be seen - he has pink eye and thought there with something wrong with his surgery from 2014 being swollen. He went to two different specialists. Left at 10:05 got there at 10:30 am and he came out then had to go to another building. done at: 1:40 - now home at
I hadn't planned on today! sigh. turned out to be nothing. I waited in the car during that time bc I wasn't in good cloths.

decision made: dh can not be alone for his appointments bc he doesn't either remember or doesn't want to tell me what is happening.

so I had 4 hours taken out of my day. You know what it is okay - it could have been an emergency for dh or mom. This was small stuff.

where I feel I am loosing (I need to force myself back into some routines).
walking dogs around property
play with them
me exercise
finish dailies
yard work

3 pm played ball with dogs for about 1/2 hour - they are officially tired.
I want to get in the routine of walking them - to get them to the woods again - I miss it.
mom has been in the bathroom for over a half hour - don't know why - she says she is ok. she had an accident - she took care of it. I feel bad when that happens - she said I am getting old. it's all okay.

start a 15 min round robin. I don't want to and would rather stick to one thing at a time until finished.

put on my list: get dogs nails cut
say a prayer over the two kitties ashes and put them in the flower garden with the rest of the animals.

things that need doing"
empty clean dishes from dw
wash sink
wash counters
dust walls
sweep, vacuum, rinse floor
put away in kitchen
empty fridge - a must soon

wash the powder room down

put away the dining room
vacuum and rinse

put my cloths upstairs - bring mom's downstairs - I wish I could get her to get dressed on her own upstairs - I don't know but I have to think about it. mentally taking her upstairs would be good - time wise for me It would mean an hour at least - me sitting there.

front room:
put away
vacuum
rinse glass table

laundry room : keep on washing and putting away

garage 15 minutes
three season room 15 minutes
cars 15 minutes
groceries put away

dinner: chicken cilantro rice (brown for me) (white for mom) Mexican salad
we ordered one piccata and split it three ways - she had asparagus. - boy they give a lot of food. I made fruit salad too.
mom wanted coffee ice cream - she asked with a smile- almost fluttering eye lashes.

I am beginning to feel like mom is just giving up on everything. she doesn't say it but doesn't try anything anymore.
I was going to have her walk with me - I told her in a half hour - just as soon as I was going to go for a walk in front with her - it started raining - lucky woman. she was very happy.

[Harriet]

Wow, blessed that was a lot. (dh's sudden appts) So glad it was nothing, but you needed to be two places at once! I don't see how you have the oomph to play with the dogs as they want, after so much going on.

Today would have been my ddad's 107th birthday, too.

Today the kitchen spif got done. By the time another meal passes, it needs more of course.

Bathroom floor card still not done well enough and I may have to buy something else with which to work. HRH is driving this - worried about the surface not being smooth. Swiffer is always my choice because it's sanitary and doesn't require going into my washer. But if it will make him happy, I will go back (far back) to a sponge mop for that room. He admits all the vinyl flooring is fine.

[blessedw2]

d harriet, happy celebration for your sweet dad's 107th heavenly birthday - two good men born on the same day! Something to celebrate!
I too like the Swiffer for the floor - my own dh keeps buying sponge mops - they get used once - he is convinced it's the best - a year after he used it these mops become dust and spider egg ridden items that end up in the trash. He made my dh happy and I was okay with it too. it's all out of helping.

Yay on kitchen spiffing!!!

playing with the dogs helped my sanity

[blessedw2]

April 5, 2025 Saturday:

I keep working through the day - I am trying to figure out a routine that can work for me right now.
I am also trying to get outdoor time in for me and the dogs so that my brain and body can the benefits that only the outdoors can do for me.

mom woke up at 6:30 am but went back to sleep - cheerful
dh is up - Yesterday he took in the garbage - great to see him doing that.

mom up at 10:30 am - actually talking then falling asleep cheerful and with it.
dh looks thin and pale - he says he feels well but I am not buying it.
he went with dd older to the car dealership to get her oil changed - he loves it!!! sweet of her to do.

it's only 38 degrees and the yard is a tip from me and the dogs. The rain has put me on hold to get out there.

watched this weeks gardeners world with monty don. lovely - they are always ahead of our weather here by quite a bit.
my rhubarb is coming up.

it says that it is 46 degrees - I loved when I realized that every April since I was a teenager that I have been shocked by the cold of April - why do I expect it to be different. lol

so far: cleaned the tops of the counters, worked on watering and fertilizing, flipped laundry
put away in kitchen
just thanked God for today.

now 10:47 made mom breakfast.
mom breakfast and meds
chipper
me meds
washed mom's hair and she washed up her body
trimmed her hair as well

I have to admit I am worried that dh won't make it past next year - at least right now that is my thought. it means nothing but I am worried. He might surprise me again.

new card:
figured out how to handle mom picking out cloths to increase her movement and using her brain without me having to be with her for an hour while she gets dressed in the am. - one simple thing: have her come with me upstairs to her closet and pick an outfit after dinner - then bring it downstairs to be next to her when she wakes.

I think this will work. having her go upstairs and pick an outfit without me is not doable- too many decisions- she gets lost especially if I expect her to get dressed as well - she forgets that what she has on is not something she can wear for the day. . Having her get dressed upstairs - takes so much time out of my morning - at least an hour. Downstairs I can see where her brain is taking her - I can guide her into clean under garments and clean cloths

this coming week - start planning for the back room being torn off - I need to empty that room of furniture and curtains.
12:07 pm
I decided to sit here while mom gets dressed - she believes that she has changed her undergarments and I have to catch it before she puts on old items. I will never make her feel bad about it - guiding and not arguing. Sometimes she doesn't believe me but today I was able to refocus her to the clean pair.
it's actually interesting to watch where her brain leads her. I can see her thinking as she looks at her items. it may look like she is stuck but you can see her thinking as she feels and looks at an item.
she asked for help - she is almost dressed. (I noticed if I leave than she won't get dressed - people are here but without me here then she looses the routine).

1:39 mom finished lunch
I worked outside - terrible looking
came in hoping mom would be busy but found her happily sitting at the kitchen table - she took one of the dogs toys and booped my hand - and smiled.
worked outside to just now 3:10 - dd put the compost bin out in front for me.
mom and dd older had a taste for cake and pie - too funny - I ordered from bakers - Mom didn't want to go out but she has been busy folding laundry and sweep the dirt around me.

next: pot up some geranium seedlings that have been moving slow. - also potting something I have no idea what it is - I will find out.
I have played with d dogs a couple times today - happy muddy dogs.

I don't want to but will start dinner at 4:30 haven't started

started sungold tomatoes, basil, Bibb lettuce, xanthos cosmos ( I struggle with this one),
swept dirt from floor

now 6:39 pm how did the time go by so fast.
mom has been so pleasant and has been busy folding laundry etc.