Waiting room Monday PWYC

[Ramblinrose]

Sweetie and I just got back from his evaluation and running errands. No surprise and it’s official. he is in the first stage of dementia. Next step is to decide which dr or memory center we want to go to. The center we went to is sort of the first step in being evaluated. They offer caretaker and people with dementia workshops so we have signed up for new first stage dementia workshops.

It meets twice a month and involves both partners. First part of the meeting is for everyone and then it divers up in to a caretakers meeting and a meeting for people with the beginnings of dementia. We are both looking forward to it.

Hope everything goes well with Ken and Kathryn. Dee you sure have a lot to think about concerning your dh. Glad you dsil was there to help him get up and that he wasn’t hurt. Sounds like your dh future may not be what he wants it to be. Mine won’t be either.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Just talked to the doctor, just before 2.

It was a good day in the OR, dh's stable, no blood or blood products were used.

Doc took his time and tried a repair, knew it would not hold so then did an animal tissue replacement on the Mitral Valve. Apparently the tricuspid valve had a minor leak that 'fixing the door frame" took care of. That was a surprise.

The extra repair doesn't extend the recovery time. The tissue valve requires 3 months of blood thinners (I'm assuming shots) before switching to aspirin.

In other news, dgs is just starting to stir after a 2.25 hour nap.

I'm fighting a sore throat (assume he has one too) and both of us are losing our voices. It is cuter on him than me.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

He's really asleep, the fire alarm testing didn't wake him. He was making sounds about 5 minutes before it started.

[Lady Maverick]

I came here to see if there was an update about Ken. I am relieved to see it was a good day in OR.

DS14 thought I was being over cautious about his arm....until he went to work and discovered he is struggling to use it. I called our family doctor and got an appt for 2pm today. Dr K will take a look at the arm and most likely send DS14 for xrays.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

He's still asleep. I napped for ~40 minutes but was worried about missing the phone call so didn't sleep deeply. Plus my throat is really, really, sore.

Dgs woke at 4:30 and didn't go back down so we didn't get to sleep in until the alarm at 5:15. Not that dh slept much through the night. I woke often and each time he was awake and on his phone surfing.

Dd arrived just after the alarm (15 minutes early) and came up. Dgs knew it was bad news and attached himself to me. He at least let dh give him a hug goodbye (as opposed to fleeing in terror when his aunt tried to touch him) but he just wanted me. (BTW: he still calls me Mama, instead of Nana and we can't get him to learn the difference. I guess I should be flattered.)

Got to the hospital 7 minutes early so sat in the car cuz the doors don't open until 6. Dh knew exactly where to go (it was my first time inside) so he was the first person processed.

I was back home an hour after I left.

Dd ended up opting for keeping dgs safe since she couldn't keep him happy. He just played well away from her. She did lure him away from the door with the fancy battery operated train.

Currently, there is just one other person home in our end of the hall and she knows the situation well (and brought over a casserole for us last night.)

I took dd home and then came back here with dgs. He was clingy all morning. My sore throat was merging into laryngitis and both of us have started to lose our voices.

I got the bed stripped and the laundry started before lunch and since then the towels swapped and washed too. The sheets are ready to put away, the towels are in the dryer. And I've watered the plants.

I have an errand to run in the other building when dgs wakes up and getting him out in the sun is a good idea as well. Then we'll think about what to have for supper. I'm finding ice water is better for my throat than hot and my voice was stronger when the doc called. Oh, and dgs thinks gargling is the most hilarious thing he's seen in a long time. Later he gargled (but swallowed) with his milk until I made him stop.

LadyM: I'm glad that the arm is being looked at.

[Nancy]

Had my lunch it was yummo!
Glad to see a good report about Mr. K in C.
Got the last item in my order in today's mail.
I have a letter to write at some point thinking on it might be a great thing for my walk.

---
After lunch ci
Did dishes.
Walked got a free rocker to paint at the neighbors that is moving around the corner.
And a large dog food sack to make a tote out of my ddog was more than happy to carry it home for me
after I'd folded it up for her. Got home before the rain yea!
Got my steps in for today.

----
Had dinner & more dishes not very many.

[Harriet]

((Ramblin')) That group sounds promising especially in that your sweetie will be helping others as well as being helped, and he'll probably be happier about that. I'm glad you two are starting some proactive response together.

Kathryn, it's good news that the dr saw things so clearly in the midst of the procedure and did something wise and helpful right away. Sometimes changing gears without any wait-time is the most positive course. I hope you and dgs feel better soon.

Nancy, the music is loud but doesn't bother me - toe-tapping.

A phone call and I am postponed. Sigh. Finish is extended by a day, so maybe I can move that 100 percent sticker to Wednesday on my planner. The guy who called (and whose voice I recognized) said he was disappointed for me. "you're soooo close!" Oh, well.

[blessedw2]

D Dove - it's a great idea. I offered dh headphones but he said no.- I think he is more frustrated than anything! Totally understandable!

Hello to all of you.

took dh with me for the few errands I had - there was a tricky reason that I went on these errands. I need him to walk and he didn't want to walk in front of the house.
We went to the hardware store, grocery store for my meds, Wal green for distilled water bc the grocery store didn't have any today. dh even went into the cleaners. I was very proud of him that he went and didn't say no.

I am tired!

my brother is coming by soon for paperwork.

Sad thing happened. Mom's d neighbor's husband had a stroke in his sleep and now he is in hospice and they say it will be a couple days. Healthy active and very nice man!

[DeeClutter]

Glad to hear Ken is doing pretty well, Kathryn. Was it a cow or pig valve? or do they only do those on the aortic valve? Know I'm praying that when they did my dh's replacement (cow valve) they did not use that one spot in the heart that they would use for the Watchman procedure. One time while we were in ER here the ER Dr asked me what they did the replacement with. I thought for only a minute and remembered our handicapped neighbor asking how they put a "cow bell" in his heart.) So at least I was able to tell him which kind. How long does he have to stay in?

We got the first $1,500 bill from the hospital here today. I know there's another coming. I was trying to total all dh's bills for all this and know it's well over $7,000 out of pocket. Hoping I can pay it all a little at a time.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

They say 5 - 7 days. He was home on day 4 post surgery last time so intended to do so this time. He's been warned everything will take longer this time because it is a second surgery. So I'm thinking Saturday or maybe even Sunday.

I'm exhausted.

Dgs slept through the fire alarm testing and ended up sleeping 3 hours. Then another half hour to wake up. We had a quick snack and then went out for fresh air. Except the winds made the gorgeous day too fresh, so we came in and went out on the balcony to blow bubbles. He's below the concrete sides of the balcony so he wasn't in the wind.

I read to dgs6 for a bit after than and then we had dinner. Just reheated stuff.

I'm too tired to do anything but sleep right now, so I have dgs watching TV. I'll try for a bath (much needed) when this episode is over. We steamed before nap time so I'll try and steam him during the bath as well (running a kettle in the bathroom.)

Ice water is really helping our throats. I'm out of ice cubes now, though, so I hope they'll freeze by tomorrow.