Gee I don't even know where to start! Dad is back at the nursing home and seems to be doing okay. I went up yesterday morning (Tues) and he was back already and when I first got there he was in bed, sitting up and eating lunch. He was doing a good job with his fork and had eaten quite a bit. You could tell he was tired though and struggling to eat. Mom was in the dining room with Jeanie helping her to eat. Jeanie was saying Mom was having a really bad day and had been upset. When I went into the dining room she acted really excited to see me though and definitely knew me. I took over for Jeanie and stayed with her to help her eat. She did pretty good and maybe ate l/2 her food but she did drink most of her ensure and did eat some. After she ate I took her in to see Dad (she hadn't seen him yet) and HE had a blank look on his face like he wasn't going to recognize her! I was sick! But then he said "there's my baby" and reached out for her hand. It was so sweet! I went back for their supper meal and was totally surprised to see them in the dining room in wheelchairs and waiting on their food! It was good to see Dad up and moving around. They both did really good too! Dad ate everything except had l/2 glass of his milk left. He was drinking coffee before I left. Mom ate a whole tuna sandwich (I cut it into quarters and she does much better with finger foods and smaller pieces of things), she also ate all her peach slices, a couple bites of her potato soup and her crackers. They were good when I left after that. This morning I went back around 10 and asked what Dad had eaten for breakfast and they said 50% of his liquids and 25% of his food. I told the nurse and nurses' aide both that he HAD to eat! I brought he and Mom both a ice cream sundae (they LOVE those little dollar sundaes from Sonic which is right before you get to LNC). Dad was sleeping when I got there but Mom was sitting in her bed and fully alert and talking to her imaginary friend I guess!LOL I told her that I had brought her a sundae and a Hershey candy bar and she was sooooo excited! She hugged her candy and said "I love candy and I'll hide it so no one gets it". I fed her the ice cream and she ate it all. She's pitiful though cause she kept asking "What do I do, Where are we going, what do I need to do, are we ready to go, let's go, look at that person over there, etc, etc." She said today and yesterday both that she needed to pee but of course they got her up and she doesn't go. Dad finally woke up and I told him that I had ice cream for him and did he want to eat it and he said yes he did and that was just what he had been wanting to eat. I fed it to him and he ate it all plus a half glass of cranberry juice. I called this afternoon after lunch and asked how he had done at lunch and they looked and said he had taken 100% of his liquids and ate 50% of his food. That's not bad I don't think. She also told me that speech had done an evaluation on him and they were going to give him speech 5 times a week for 2 weeks. They had been there and helped him with lunch. I'm glad they're going to do that! She said that Medicare pays for that when they come out of the hospital. I suppose because of being deconditioned. Whatever the reason, I think it's good! That's all for now. It's really sad to see them in this condition but I realize that it's as good as it's going to get. I think I thought being in the nursing home was one step below the hospital but now realize it's only 1 step above being home alone together. It's at least better than it was when that's where they were! Love to all, Judy

Well he didn't go home yesterday or today but is suppose to go back tomorrow morning. Jeanie stayed with him from 5:30 or so Sunday and is spending the night again tonight. I'm driving up in the morning and going to make sure Dad gets back to the nursing home and everything is ordered correctly on his chart, etc. I also plan on checking on Mom of course too. Jeanie had a long talk with Dr. Hodges today (she really likes him and trusts his opinion as does Pam) He said that he was going to check his labs again today and then send him back tomorrow. He said he thought that in order to prevent this again, Dad needed to be monitored as far as eating and drinking and that if he didn't eat for a day, that LNC should do a Urine check and send blood for a potassium level right away and not wait for it to elevate. He also said that he was going to give him a Rx for Theraquil?? for bouts of anxiety and Jeanie says that is the exact thing they have changed Mom's too instead of Ativan. His creatinin was down today to 1.6 and Jeanie told his nurse "yea!" and she said it wasn't normal still cause they like it at 1.2~! HELLOOOOO!! This is a 90 year old man with diabetes for close to 20 years!! Get over 1.2! Jeanie, Pat and Pam have all told me that it was unbelievable how Dad's mental state has been and that we who haven't seen it couldn't imagine! He was significantly improved today though and ate all of his breakfast, dinner and supper. Jeanie said he ate with his fork by himself and ate every grain of food! That's all good. He's still agitated some though because tonight I called to talk to Jeanie about how he was and she said he had told her to turn the light off and not nicely either! heheh I told her that it could be worse and he could be fighting her! Let's hope that is OVER! Okay, that's it from 2nd hand for now! Love to all, Judy

Jerry went to the hospital early this morning. They had put Dad's IV back in because he was slightly dehydrated again. I got there around 10:00 and they changed his bed and put his gown back on and he went to sleep. He woke up around 12:30 and I fed him his lunch. He ate a lot! He also drank half of his tea. When I left about 1:30 he was calm. I haven't talked to Jerry yet about how he's been this afternoon. Pam and I had them write on his chart that he was not to have any more Ativan. I really don't think the Ativan is the whole issue, but I think it makes everything worse. I'm assuming they'll send him home tomorrow. We'll see how the rest of the day and night goes. love you, pat

Yes and Pam went by to see Mom and she was much better too!~ She was in bed at first but was awake and looked good. Pam cried because she was so precious! I know it's so hard on all of us having them like this but we all know we have no choice. Mom told Pam that her husband was missing and had been gone a long time. Pam tried to explain he was in the hospital but would be back soon and he was doing good. Mom got up and was waiting on supper when Pam left to go to the hospital. Mom said to go and take care of him--meaning Daddy. The bad news is that they gave another Ativan in the applesauce Jerry got him to eat and he went uncontrollable again. Pat was so sweet and went to be with Pam so she didn't have to deal with Dad by herself. I called Pam around 9 tonight and Dad had finally settled down a lot and was sleeping off and on. About 10 Pam called me again because the nurse was in to give him his cholesterol medicine and Pam wanted to make sure it was ok. Pat, Pam and I have decided the Ativan is the culprit for these out of control moments Dad is having. They told the nursing staff NO ativan for Dad. We'll see if he stays ok without it. Hopefully he will. Pam wondered if they were giving Dad Ativan at the nursing home and THAT was why he was having those bouts of agitation??? Which could account for the dehydration too since he doesn't eat or drink during these times. We'll see! Love to all, Judy

Okay, better news! I left the hospital around 1:30. Jerry came to relieve me and I desperately needed relief! Daddy was absolutely uncontrollable until he finally went to sleep around 12:00. Jerry just called me and said Dad was much better. He had eaten some applesauce and graham crackers. They also got him dressed. They took off the heart monitor and all the wires. I told Jerry to tell them NOT to give him Ativan again. I think it just reversed what it was supposed to do. Anyway, as of now, he is much better. Hopefully, this will continue. love you, pat

Okay I'm going to post at least a quick note but there has been SO much go on since Thursday I'll never get it all! Good news is that Dad's kidney counts are all back to normal range. They dc'd his IV since he kept pulling it out. His kidney ultrasound showed normal looking kidneys, evidently CT scan taken in ER was normal. The kidney doctor said today that he could go from his standpoint but of course with it being Sat he hasn't gone because his Internal Medicine guy that admitted him would be the attending physician and would be responsible for discharge. The bad news is the mental state of Dad since he's been totally OUT OF CONTROL as far as his actions. He was pretty good yesterday till around 9 p.m. or so and I think he was out of control all night (Jerry spent the night with him) and has been out of control almost all day. This has been in spite of Ativan given to him in at least 2 doses. Pat is currently with him until Pam gets there today. Jeanie has company from St. Louis for the weekend and I worked at the hospital Friday, going to take Brittney's kids to Frank's Mom and Dad tomorrow to spend the night and then Brittney and I are going to see Dean's brother and sister. I'll be back Monday and will drive up either Monday or Tuesday and stay a few days. Dad's actions are way out in left field. The doctor today and Leisa both think that it's because of an environment change for him and he will go back to his normal but when I talked to Pat last, he was naked, sitting in bed and shaking his bed rails! He has been talking out of his mind about bootlegging, red wine, jail, etc. Just totally NOT Dad stuff. Let's hope this clears soon! Love to all, Judy

I stayed with Dad tonight until about 10:00 when Jim got there. He seemed fine until about 9:00. We watched the ballgames on TV and he talked a lot. I couldn't always understand what he was saying, but I pretended I did. He also ate 2 cookies. About 9:00 he got really restless. He started trying to get out of bed and taking his gown off and stuff. I finally asked him if he wanted to go to sleep and he said yes and he wanted me to turn out all the lights and turn the TV off so I did. He then settled down and I covered him up and sat down in the chair and all of a sudden he said , "night, night, Patsy". It was so cute! I wanted to cry! Anyway, when I left he was sleeping. I do know that they gave him another dose of that stuff that causes him to poop out the potassium. I figure Jim is in for a fun night! I asked the nurse to look up and see what his last potassium reading was, but he never did come back and tell me. We'll find out tomorrow. Anyway, I'm off to bed! love you, pat

It's been a very interesting day. Dad is still better but not totally out of the woods. He had times of combativeness(sp?) again but then times of being okay. The Nephrologist (kidney doc) talked to Pam when she was there and she really liked him and trusted him. He thinks that Dad will more than likely come out of this at least even to where he use to be. Of course he doesn't know that for sure. He also thinks that this was a combination of the new medication they started Dad on when he first went there that is a medication actually for blook pressure (dad's has always run and NOT high but is given to help with kidney function too) plus the antibiotic they started him on in LNC that starts with a B--Pam wasn't sure. When I asked Leisa about it she said the only one she knows that is routinely given for a Urinary tract infection is Bactrim DS which has been around for a long time and she herself prescribes this routinely. She said she was anxious to find out what it is because the Nephrologist said he has seen lots of cases where this causes renal failure! YUCK. Those 2 medications plus the dehydration he believes is the cause. They hadn't gotten any more results that I know of on the Potassium level and the last was 6.3 I think. (These may not be totally accurate but I've talked to all sisters that were in the hospital at different times!) They will tell us tomorrow about what level he is now and go from there. He is not a candidate for long term diaylsis if it came to that but would be one for 1 or 2 times IF needed to finish flushing out the potassium. Lets hope it doesn't come to that! Jim is spending the night with Dad tonight and Jeanie will go back up in the morning. As for the nursing home--we found out that Craighead count has no openings for now but we can put them on the waiting list where they could go there when an opening happens. Looks like for now he'll have to go back to LNC. Jeanie will check with the lawyer to make sure it's fine to change homes but she thinks it will be fine. Craighead county costs more so not sure how that will be done but if we have to put our $10,000 back in the pot--so be it! It's their money anyway! Okay, long day, going to bed. I volunteer at St. Joe's tomorrow so I probably won't know anything more till afternoon. Love to all, Judy Oh and any sister---feel free to correct me! I'm doing this second hand! LOL

Jeanie called and said Dad was doing better but he's started the combative actions again--fighting with anyone and everyone. He did eat his lunch though! Jeanie asked the nurse if his potassium could be going back up and she didn't think so. She called the doctor and they will check his level again tonight. They wanted to give Dad Ativan! Jeanie, Pat and Pam refused at this time. I asked Leisa about it and she said that probably .25 wouldn't hurt anything but there were lots of other drug choices. He will stay again in the hospital tonight--thank goodness!! Pam is going to recheck on Mom on her way home later today. Love to all, Judy

Dad is sooooo much better Jeanie says today! Yeaaa! He was starving around midnight and Jerry got him crackers and applesauce and he scarfed it down. This morning he ate all his breakfast except for his bacon and he would have eaten it but couldn't because he doesn't have his lower teeth. Pam is going to the nursing home this morning to get his teeth and glasses and check on Mom. I figure she's still out of it from the Ativan!! Dad's last report on his potassium was 6.5 which is down from 7.9 in the ER! We thought it was 7.5. As I understand it 8.0 will cause your heart to stop. If they had given the ativan as they wanted to Dad at LNC yesterday morning, Dad would probably have gone to bed, gone to sleep and gone into cardiac arrest. Can we scream SCARY any louder??? Jeanie said the nurse said that if his level gets to 5.5 (I'm sure it will be lower than the 6.5 this next report since they gave him more of the brown nasty liquid to get it off which caused the diarrhea) that they would probably let him get the rest off by himself. Not sure if that means with medication or just let nature do it. Ona as for some of your questions in the previous blog, yes the nursing home has a doctor on staff. Why wasn't he watching his levels is a darn good question from my standpoint. Same as why wssn't someone catching the fact his blood sugars were way too low! Jeanie said she would call me after the doctor comes in this morning if she's there and if she does, I'll post on here. It's going to be hard to "catch up" with all the stuff happening yesterday but hopefully this gives you enough info to "fill in the blanks" or call one of us. Thank goodness Dad is much better is all I can say. A few hundred prayers were answered! Loved to all, Judy

Okay, I just got home from the hospital. Jerry's going back to spend the night. Dad seemed to be resting pretty good. Every now and then, he'd make some sounds and I'd just get up and cover him up good and he'd go back to sleep. They came in to do an ultrasound on his kidneys right before I left. They also took some blood. They told Pam and I that it was to check his heart and kidneys, but not his potassium level. I don't know! Anyway, we should know more tomorrow. love you, pat

Dad has been admitted to the hospital and is in room 3012. The phone number is 870-972-4100. The pass word to talk to the nursing staff about him is "duffelbag". Ona I'm mainly writing this for you since Jeanie called me today and talked to me about Dad. Pam went to the nursing home to visit and found Dad leaving for the hospital, Pat called to see about going to visit and I called Jamie about seeing if she wanted to try to come home sooner. He's better at the moment but his Potassium level got up to 7.5 with 8 being lethal. His creatinin was 5.1 which means his kidneys were working at half. They gave him medication to lower the potassium but unfortunately it works by moving it out of the body through diarrhea. He has had massive amounts of poo so far but hopefully his levels have dropped. We should know more by tomorrow. Pat is at the hospital with Dad till 10:30 or so, then Jerry will stay with him till 5 or 6 tomorrow morning and Jeanie will go back up there. Mom on the other hand got another dose of Ativan today which is a whole other story. That's the drug that zoned Mom out. We are all livid with the nursing home that they let Mom and Dad both get to this point. I'm thinking they'll be moving to another facility if we can get them through this ---yet another---crisis! I'm not swearing to the total accuracy of these numbers but close enough that you get the picture! Love and prayers to all, Judy

Ok, sisters. I called this morning and Dad isn't better. His blood sugar was like 94 and then 120. I told her that this was too low, too! Dad isn't eating. He was VERY agitated, and when she called him over, in, whatever to ask if anything was hurting him: his reply was hurting all over. They were going to get a urine sample and check for the uti. Ok, they just called and are sending him to st bernard's! They did the cathater (sp?) and got no urine! I'll keep you posted. Love you all, Jeanie

This whole thing is just such an emotional roller coaster and I see no end! I don't want it to end because that means we wouldn't have them to worry about, but geez this is a killer! Literally! I can tell the stress is getting to me at times and I try to control it but it sure is hard! I hope that tomorrow is a good report day because those literally MAKE my day! I find myself worrying, thinking about them more now than I did before because it's hard to "bury my head in the sand" when we have someone watching them 24/7. Talk about between a rock and hard place!!!LOL I'm planning on coming up next Tuesday and Wednesday and hopefully it will be good days for them! Love to all, Judy

Ok, Jamie that's probably the nurse Pat was referring to in her blog about not to friendly nurse! Today she (her name is Debi or Debra) called me about 11:00 to tell me there was a med error with Dad last night. They'd given him his stimvastatin(sp?) for his cholesterol yesterday morning and again last night. The orders had changed as to the time to give it, and he had gotten it twice. She said it was for his blood pressure--I told her it was for his cholesterol. Anyway, she then asked me if he had had trouble drinking water at home. I told her that I didn't know if he drank much water because they drank coffee 24/7. Well, she said she was going to check him for a urinary track infection (is that the right track? LOL!?!) and that he'd been acting really kind of out of it the last couple of days. I asked her if she'd checked his blood sugar. Yes, it was 70! I'm like---OMG! His always ran around 150! That's TOO low. Yesterday it had been 90. I told her that that was too low again and she was going to check it out. Well, I went down there today and they were both in bed sleeping. Dad roused and I said how are you doing, and he goes --as good as you. I'm like well that's probably not too good. I couldn't understand him at all. Anyway, he goes back to sleep, and I go see the nurse. I asked about his blood sugar--she'd taken it after talking to me and it was 40 something! They gave him a big glass of oj with two packs of sugar in it, and she said it downed it! She'd also told me he had eaten nothing for breakfast but had consumed 25% of his fluids. At lunch he ate nothing, but his sugar was up to 136. Dr. Parten had told her to skip the insulin tonight and give him like a half does tomorrow. I called back down there after supper to check his eating and his sugar. He'd eaten between 25 and 50% of his food and his sugar was 167 (I think, 7--160 something). The young girl that's worked there the whole time told me he'd raised his fists at her today and that he and Mom had a big fight in the cafeteria. The other lady said he'd not been himself the last couple of days. I told her what Pam said about not being able to eat the cookie Sunday and asked that she check that out at supper. He was already back in bed sound asleep at 7:10 when I called! I said well he's been in bed all day! The girl said he'd been up between 4:00 and after supper, but that he was tired and wanted to go back to bed. I just don't know. If he doesn't eat better tomorrow, then something else will have to be done to find the cause. I haven't talked to Mom since she's been asleep everytime I've gone lately. They said today that she'd fallen asleep at lunch and they'd put her in bed after that. She was sleeping like a log! Ok, enough for this blog. It's bogging me down! LOL! Love you all, Jeanie

I was so glad to hear Pam's report, too! It was one of those 'about time' things for sure! YEA! Ona, I know you're right about the good and bad days----that part isn't anything really new. It was the bad, then bad, then bad again that was getting to me. The tv does bother Mom. She thinks they're there in the room with them. Dad quit watching sports because of that! I wish there was something to help occupy them, although from Pam's report, they're fine! Anyway, I'm anxious to see them again tomorrow. It may be later tomorrow afternoon when I make it down there. FINALLY Bruce has a day off and we're heading to Memphis to look at stone for countertops! Double yea!!!!!!!! I'll write when I can tomorrow after I get back from LNC. Love you all, Jeanie

I called LNC today and had another interesting interaction. After about 6 rings a less than "happy" person answered. I identified myself and said I was calling to see how my parents James and Margaret Shelton were doing today. To which the woman pulled the phone away from her face and said to a woman in a tone, "Can you take this? SHE wants to know about James and Margie Chilton or Skelton something". A very pleasant lady named Donna came on the phone and said they were doing fine today. "Your Dad gets agitated at your Mom sometimes,but today they're pretty calm." I asked if they were adjusting okay to their new room and she said "Oh Yes! Your Mom gets a little turned around and we have to help her remember where it is, but they're doing good." Said they'd eaten good today as well. I don't mean to be sensitive, but this is the 3rd time I've gotten Nurse Cranky...not the same Nurse Cranky either! Maybe I just seem to call at the wrong time. Has anyone else had this happen? Maybe it's just me?!! :) After that I went to the medicare.gov website and checked on LNC's current star rating....I don't know why. It has dropped a star in the Health Inspections area...it is now a 2 out of 5, but the other areas have stayed the same. I don't know when this current rating was posted, but the health inspections are done once a year. You can check out the site and get tons of info! Love, Jamie

Okay, I've been doing some research on declining health and nursing home admittance. It seems to me that there are many factors involved..preexisting health problems, heart and diabetes were both mentioned specifically and what the practices of the nursing home are. Restrained patients..like legit restraints for people who can't hold themselves upright in a chair for example...tended to increase the rate of decline. Heart disease and diabetes were also factors in increasing rates and if the patient is taking a combo of meds for both dementia (like Aricept..which was mentioned specifically) and incontinence. One report I read talked about as mobility decreases(bedridden or wheelchair bound) so does mental and physical abilities. One sight that has a lot of great info on a wide range of topics is www.seniorjournal.com From alzheimer's to dementia to general health issues to erectile dysfunction...I know...EEEEEE!!!! But I guess for some that's important too....check it out! Love you, Jamie

I second that on the good report! It just totally MAKES my day when the report is good! I called Jeanie about 2 to see if you had reported yet and then she called me after your visit to tell me it was good. Then of course I called you to get details! As for Jamie and the "south" ghetto kids, I can totally understand! At least they're/ we're not ALL like that! LOL I think I hear a chocolate bar calling my name since I can breathe for the moment! Good job Pam! I love you guys!!! Judy

Good news, sisters, Mom and Dad were awesome today! I can say that I truly enjoyed going there and that's something for me. They were pleasant, happy, clean and alert. Now are they perfect? NO--- Dad mumbles alot, and is having some problems with his hands and Mom talks and talks and doesn't always make sense, but Mom knew me and Dad and they both seemed satisfied where they were. Dad never has anything negative to say, in fact the opposite. He wanted some tabacco, so I found some in the snack box, and there was some in a drawer. His tv was on with a ballgame on, but he didn't want to watch it. They both seem to love those wheelchairs and they just go all over that place. It really was a great visit. If they could all be like today, I would feel so much better about everything. I'm just such a weeper, and I can't help but cry when I leave them. I just pray that they are always well treated when we're not around. Surely Dad would tell us if they weren't. I'm planning on going back on Wed. Love you all....Pam

I don't like that the blog has been a downer the last few days either, but I know it is reallity. I'm just hoping that Pam gets a good feeling about them today when she goes. As for the head nurse not being as approachable, that is where the Administrator could intervene. We can't let her intimidate us, as we are the ones in charge right now since Mom and Dad can't be. Jamie could always call in Jerry!LOL Maybe this is just the "settling in" period. At first it was new and exciting in a weird sort of way maybe to them and now it's the norm. I just hope Dad is getting his tobacco and coffee and the tv on! That should be all the stimulating Dad would want. Mom on the other hand could never participate in a group!~ She loves the one on one attention too. I wish a staff member would "adopt" them and spend time with them like that. Time will tell I guess. I know how hard all of this is on all of us~ Makes me want to hurl!!! As for snow, Pat it snowed at church this morning! It was beautiful to be in church with the awesome windows and see the snow falling. Weird it's spring and almost Easter though! And better yet, NO accumulation! Be careful driving home! Love, Judy

You're right Pat, Mom and Dad have to be somewhere like LNC...unfortunately, none of us are capable of taking them into our home and giving them 24/7 care....they need more than we can give. I just don't want the staff of LNC (or any nursing home, but this one especially because of Mom and Dad) to give up on their patients...not just our Mom and Dad, but all the other Moms and Dads, Grandmothers and Grandfathers, etc. that are residents there. As a society we throw away are elderly anyway, but a place that's suppose to specialize in elderly care should be advocates for them, not follow society status quo. If there is a problem with the head nurse...attitude or otherwise, then we have an obligation and frankly a right to speak up. And furthermore, I think we have a right to ask and expect...of course within reason..that they do what's right for Mom and Dad individually. It's kind of like teaching school...if all your students were on the same level and progressing along at the same level and had no learning difficulties in any area, and they all came from super families that were major supportive of education and on and on, then teaching would be ALOT less work and so much easier, but we know that's not how life is...The same should hold true for LNC...sure not all patients would like to listen to music and beat on a drum, but some might. Not all would want to play cards or even be capable of playing cards, but some might. They should offer lots of different things, stimulating things and calming things. Okay who's the dreamer now!!:) I've read a lot about music and what it can do for the elderly and especially alzheimer's patients..it's really remarkable. Jerry and I have a friend out of New York who works with the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes and the inspirational stories he tells will bring you to tears...he told me about a woman suffering from alzheimer's who was bed ridden and didn't speak or really communicate with her family much anymore. Frank went to see her and asked if he could play the harmonica for her and sing her a song. He began to play "My Bonney Lies Over the Ocean". He noticed a spark, a sudden awareness in her eyes, so he stopped playing and began to sing...my Bonney lies over the...and the woman said ocean right before Frank did. He continued to sing and she continued to chime in right on cue....her daughter cried and said it was the first time she'd spoken in over a month. We all want what's best for Mom and Dad and therefore it will be a struggle, but one worth fighting for...as I've said before, because we give a crap, it's hard work. Love, Jamie

Well, the blog has not been a very uplifting experience the last couple of days! I have no clue to what the solution to any of this is. I do know that the only choice we have is LNC (or another similar one) or living with one of us. I don't see the latter happening and truthfully it wouldn't work anyway. I know where they are in their life is not a good place, but we're all going to be there one day if we live that long. I agree that there should be more interaction between the patients, but then again I don't work there and I have no idea how you arrange all of that ideally. I know that there would be many patients who would not want to participate and many who would sporadically want to participate and some who would always want to. I can see how that would create difficult situations. At the same time, there's got to be a happy medium in there somewhere. We definitely need to consult with someone there to see what the problem with Mother and Daddy is. Jeanie and I were not impressed with the head nurse in charge on their new wing. She did not seem very approachable or caring like the nurses on the other wing had. On an even stranger note, we had about 5 inches of snow last night here in Aubrey, Texas! Yeah, it is crazy and it is COLD! Welcome to Spring Break!! Okay, we're heading home in the morning . Go U.K.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love you, pat

You know Jamie, I don't know any statistics about health and its decline when entering a nursing home, but I think that's what the nurse there today was trying to allude to when I was talking to her about Mom. She didn't SAY that, but there was implication and eye signals, etc. that made me think she was trying to tell me something along those lines. I don't know. I guess I thought EUREKA we've found it when we put them in LNC. It's not the facility at all, although I have wondered about mental stimulation there. I know they take very good care of their physical body----I wonder how much care is taken of their mental health. Does that make sense? I would love to walk in and see them all sitting around talking, watching movies, playing games, etc! Am I just a dreamer here!?! Probably. That would make ME happy for sure! Dad looked good today. He was sitting out in the common area when we got there (Bruce went with me today). His shoes were up on one of the little couches. I'm like what's with your shoes? He mumbled something about waiting for the big payout or something. I just have the hardest time understanding him. He doesn't speak as clearly and then he adds stuff in that makes no sense, too. Bruce asked him if he'd read the newspaper. Dad was reading last Sunday's church bulletin from a church there. He said he had the latest addition right there! It was a church bulletin!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, he never mentioned Mom. I finally went to check on her, and she was sound asleep in bed! I went to the nurse's station and asked how long she'd been asleep. About 15 or 20 minutes. She said Mom kept falling asleep in the wheelchair and they were afraid she'd fall out, so they put her in bed. I asked if they'd given her something. No. None since the dose on Wed night. This lady had given it to Mom then. She said Mom was so upset, crying, talking, etc sitting out there in the common area. They gave it to her to calm her down. I told her that Mom was still bad on Thurs at lunch, and she was surprised. I told her that it took very little for Mom. I asked about the sleeping aid for night----Mom had flatly refused to take it last night--so no. I asked about the wheelchair. She said she was surprised, too, that Mom was still in it. She remembered the day she got in after complaining about her leg----she has continued ever since. When I said how much I felt she'd declined in these 6 weeks, that's when she gave me the looks, etc I was talking about. She said it happens. Anyway, for me, it's been a hard week. I've gone 4 times and wasn't happy with them any of the 4 times! It's just such a helpless feeling about the whole thing. It seems the more we do to help---it doesn't improve their lives in the same amount. I talked to Pam this afternoon, and she's going to try to go tomorrow after church. I'm really counting on a good report from that visit. I mean Pat's with Mom and Addison was very good! Mom may have been fine today-----I just didn't see her. Dad was tired, too, and said a couple of times he was going to go take a nap. Hey, I needed one, too, so maybe it's just me! Let's all hope I'm super paranoid!!!!!!!!!!! LOL! Love you all, Jeanie

Has anyone read any articles or have any statistics on declining health and nursing home placement? I wonder if there's any information out there on whether there's a link between the two? And I'm not talking whether it's a super facility or a crap hole, but just is there some correlation between being admitted into a nursing home and overall health? You'd think that "health" would improve...I mean patients are being fed regularly, kept clean, watched over by staff, etc. You know Mom and Dad's environment there is cleaner than they were living at home and THEY are much cleaner. I too somehow thought they'd go into LNC and just be "new again" and instead I'm just more aware of how bad things are. As we've all said before it's the indignity of the whole situation that is so horribly sad. Mom and Dad were always such proud people. It is good that they don't "know" how they are now....Love you, Jamie

Ona your email made me cry too because you're right in they would HATE what they" have to have" at this time in their life. Can you imagine how the old Mom and Dad would feel/think about diapers and wheelchairs? I'm sure Dad thinks he is still young and able to drive and take care of himself. I'm sure all of us see ourselves always as independent which can certainly be a curse! LOL Jeanie called me today and she was really upset with the situation today because Mom was in bed and never woke up while she and Bruce were there and Dad was rattling to the point she never understood much at all about what he was saying. It's just so scary to me to think about where I thought they were and where they really are mentally/physically today. This past 6 weeks I see so much change in them. I don't think they hate where they are or anything like that but Mom walked in there and now she's in a wheelchair/bed in just 6 weeks? That's rapid decline! I know Jeanie will post later today and hopefully whoever sees them next will have a different opinion because hopefully Mom is up and at least awake enough to ramble! I hate all of this!!!Love to all, Judy

Mom & Dad

Hey, from Texas Bob Herring emailed the pertinent phone number for the Missouri teachers retirement information. *All Missouri retired teachers now have a $5000.00 "Death Benefits" provision. The lady I talked to stressed a distinction between the five thousand dollar "Death Benefits" as opposed to a five thousand dollar "life insurance" benefit. Am not sure what the difference is since one must "pass away" before the spouse or heirs receive the the five thousand??? This is the toll free number that I called. (1-800-392-6848) I have a website & email address that I will forward later.

Mom & Dad spent an independent lifetime working, providing, guiding & being great role models to each of us sisters. They would never have taken or wanted any help in that most important of parental obligations. They will never again be the independent, loving Mom & Dad that we all have known throughout the years. The old James & Margaret would be so totally mortified concerning their situation today at LCN. *Their mental states being somewhat of a blessing at this stage of their lives. Dad always loved this "March Madness" time of year and would especially enjoy seeing Murray State & Kentucky advancing past the first round. (Randall & I have been keeping tabs on all the teams.) Am now sitting here bawling, so must close...Love, Ona

Well, gee whiz and holy cow, am I glad I decided to update about my visit today! The whole world has turned on this sucker today! LOL! 1st about my visit. It's weird talking to Pat after her visit because it was Mom that was awful today when I went! Dad was not himself, but he looked fine. He was so edgy---like he was fixing to have a fit---about anything. He was complaining about lunch not coming, and that he wasn't hungry, and that he'd already fixed himself a chicken sandwich, etc. He kept rolling away from the table and just seemed so agitated (sp?). Jon went with me and we rolled them back to their room. We got Dad some tobacco and Jon put the tv on the ballgame, and he seemed better when we left. Mom was so sad. She was like major drugged acting. She was sitting at the table all slumped over and cryed when I started talking to her, etc. I left Jon with her and Dad and went to talk to the nurse. I asked what med they'd given her today. She said nothing but her heart med. I said then why is she acting like this---has she been this way all day. The lady looked back and said they'd given her adivan (sp?) last night at 6. It's for anxiety. I've wondered all day what she was so anxious about last night at 6! Anyway, I told them I did NOT like how she was today! I didn't. She was pitiful. After we talked to her, she began to perk up and act better. Another one of the nurses came in to see if she wanted a nap. She told me Mom had been up since 6:30---by that time it was nearly 1:30. Jon and I left not long after that thinking maybe she DID need a nap. Anyway, they were very clean as was the room. Neither ate much of anything for lunch. Both drank their nutrish milk and Mom ate about 1/2 a roll. Dad I don't think ate anything. His blood sugar used to run around 150. 103 would have been low for his norm. I know they want it around 100, but his wasn't. As for the DNR stuff---I think of it as when they go in the room and they've stopped breathing, etc for whatever cause and have basically died. I cringe writing this it is such a sad topic. In my opinion, if they've died---let them be. I'm sorry, but there is very little quality to their life. I believe that everything that should be done to treat them should be done, but not to bring them back if they've gone. Give them meds for whatever they can have meds for. It's definitely something that needs to be discussed in person and not in a flat front like this blog. We need to think about this----no matter how hard. Jamie is so right in that if we didn't give a crap, this would be no big deal---any of it. Because we do, the hard just keeps coming. Leisa thank you for your honesty and caring. You definitely have a different perspective on it than I do since you deal with it in a professional way. So much heavy stuff. I will be SO glad for us to all be together to talk and try to come to some understanding about all of this. It's just never going to get any easier dealing with/caring for Mom and Dad. I wish it was. Bruce told me today that the emotional part of putting them in was just the beginning. He said he was afraid that we all thought that by doing this it would make them better and well. He's right in some way because we all wanted them to be safe, taken care of, etc. Maybe I did think that this would turn back time and help. Hey, at this rate, I'm going to need the help! LOL! Love you all, Jeanie

Pat, do you think he'd just had a really bad night and didn't get much sleep and therefore just seemed out of it? Or do you think it was more than that? Did he need to eat because his blood sugar was a little low? I'm assuming they check his blood sugar daily, right? You didn't notice if his breath was fruity smelling did you? Bad sign for a diabetic person. Wow...it sucks being so far away...I feel really helpless and useless. This whole thing is just making me have the big D...and I don't mean Dallas! It is so hard seeing them old and fragile...I'm just so glad I have you guys...I couldn't go this alone. Love you, Jamie

Jerry , Addison, and I went to LNC this afternoon. Jeanie had been to see them earlier and was not happy about how they were. I'm sure she'll post later about her visit. Anyway, Mother seemed okay. She was sitting in the waiting area with some other women . She absolutely loved Addison and just talked and talked to her. It was so cute. Addison is so precious, so she just smiled and smiled at Mother. On the other hand, Dad was not good. When we were walking down the hall he was at the end in his wheelchair and I yelled at him, but he acted like he didn't know who we were. He was not alert at all. He thought another lady was mother. He just sat there and then he said "I'm going to bed". It was about 4:30 at the time. He did not know where his room was. I took him in there and had Jerry come help him in bed. There's no way he could have done it on his own. Anyway, he went sound asleep. I talked to the nurse to see how he'd been today and she seemed to think he was fine. I don't know - he may have just been really tired. Jeanie, it was kind of like that day that Dorothy called and said she couldn't wake him up. He was zonked! I thought his color was not good, but then that may have been exhaustion too. Who knows. I know they're going to have good days and bad days and you never know what you're going to find when you get there. It's just a very hard situation, but at least they're not alone! It's just sad for them to be so old and not active. I just think they should still be like they always were and they're not. Of course, none of the rest of us are either! Maybe I should just speak for myself! hee hee! Okay, got to get to packing. Love you, pat

Gee I hope you weren't thinking that I was like "well if anything bad happens, let them die!" I was just talking that if they were already basically dead from a stroke or heart attack, that I don't think we need to be heroic in trying to get them back. We talked and I think we did, a living will in Mr. Mooney's office that day, didn't we? I know the living will covers a lot of medical decisions if they were in a hospital setting and on life support/ventilator and if they had a terminal illness that was going to take their life. I just don't want to do more damage in a given situation than help. Just to even think about one of them dying, absolutely makes me ILL, but I do know that it will happen at some point to either them or myself first. Okay, enough from me on that subject!LOL As for the nursing home, it's as good to me as any that I've ever been in and I hope you like it enough to be satisfied Jamie. It's never going to be an ideal setting I don't think, but this is just so much better than they had. I'm so ready to get the house stuff done so I don't have that ball to juggle anymore! See all of you soon! Love, Judy

Ona I'm so glad you went to see Mom and Dad and agreed with everyone that LNC is so nice. It makes me just that much more hopeful that I too will like it....well feel comfortable with it is probably more accurate. It seems as if they are getting super care and are really cared for which is so much more important than the place...for this I can exhale at night!! Here are my thoughts on the DNR order...I'm not ready to put that in their chart as things stand today. Right now, if something was to happen, I'd want them to try and save them...heart attack, I'd want the medical staff to shock them and/or do CPR. If it's a stroke, I'd want meds given and oxygen given. A DNR to me would be appropriate now only if Mom had terminal cancer or Dad's organs were failing and he was on life support...for all their ailments, I feel that they are too healthy for a DNR at this time. Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of a DNR if there's no brain activity and no chance for recovery, absolutely. Jeanie, you and I signed a Terminally Ill/Permanently Unconscious Act medical form from Mr Mooney that probably does need to be copied and put in their chart so that LNC is aware of who legally can make medical decisions for them in case an emergency arises. I talked with Jerry about this to see if I was off base or too emotionally connected. He said he too felt it was too early to issue a DNR because neither Mom nor Dad have a terminal/long term illness..alzheimer's is terminal as is old age, but you don't die from alzheimer's itself, but a complication of the disease..usually pneumonia. Diabetes can be fatal and I know there are complications that come with that as well, but he's being monitored much closer for that now and on a couple of meds for that. Jerry said something more like a living will with specific instructions on what we do and don't want done and the ability to deny heroic actions or undo heroic actions...ie ventilators, might be more appropriate for today. This might be something we need to sit down with Michael Smith and discuss in detail as a group...a good activity for April...I'd like to know more specifics before I'd feel comfortable with a DNR at this time. Love you all and Pat have fun in Texas with Molli!! Jamie

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I'm going to see Mom and Dad tomorrow afternoon. We are leaving for Molli's Friday morning and won't be back until Monday. Anyway, I want to see their new room. I'm on Spring break next week so I can go again on Tues. or Wed. Love to all, Pat

Ona, I am SO glad you got to come see Mom and Dad. That is priceless! It really means a lot to me that you came! YEA for you! I think that no recliner is good, too. I also agree with the DNR orders. They asked the day Pat and I filled out papers, and that was a decision we couldn't make. It needs to be all of us in on that. We can think about it until April. Geez----that's not far off, is it! YIKES! LNC called tonight to say that the doc had ordered some blood work for Dad because of some med he takes. The doc also had prescribed seraquil (don't have a clue how this is spelled! sorry!) for Mom at night---25 mg. I told her that that was fine. I had no problem with them helping her sleep, but that I don't want her zombied all day long. Judy checked with Leisa and said Leisa said it would be fine. They also told me that the doc had added a new diagnosis of 'dementia disorders' for Mom. Well, DUH! Didn't we already have/know that! LOL! Surely they're not just now figuring that one out! A tad slow in the observation field if that's the case! Anyway, I'm so glad we're doing this blog! It is so awesome to communicate with all of you on this about something that matters so much to us all! Love to all, Jeanie

I'm so glad Ona that you got to come and see them and liked the place. I love the fact that they seem to care so much about Mom and Dad. Dad called Mom "motormouth". heheheh Kinda like when he called me Wendy hundreds of years ago (seems like it at least!~) Glad you made it home safe! We'll talk in April! Love to all, Judy

Hey, from Texas

We are back from Louisiana. Were so tickled to see Mom & Dad and their new place. Pat, it was good visiting with you and Jerry...loved the grandbaby pictures. As soon as we walked in we could hear Mom's voice so we knew we were in the right place. Walked in and she was talking about cooking and told us to get a sack and fill it up with all of the good things that she had cooked. She was really wound up....really talking and waving her hands all around. Pat told us that she had been trying to take this lady's blanket...thought it was a tablecloth for all of her food, I guess. We thought the place was nice...loved the smallness of it, the way that they were treating Mom and Dad, how clean it was and I didn't think it smelled. You all really did a good job of finding a good place for them...they seemed to be happy there. Dad said the food was good and you got plenty to eat...and good snacks. We stayed until they were about to eat. The worker put a bib around Mom's neck...she looked up at me and said isn't it pretty...he gave it to me (pointing to Dad). I like the idea of just using the love seat instead of getting Dad a recliner....both can sit together. As we were leaving she called my name and asked was I going home. (The last times that I have seen them she has never called my name or acted like she knew me.) Randall said he had to go take care of Ona and Dad looked up and grinned and said that's a full time job isn't it and grinned. It broke my heart just walking out and leaving them there...cried and cried. It will be sooooo sad cleaning out their house!!!! See you in April...Love, Ona (I remembered to sign it this time!!!!!)

I think with Jeanie and I, a lot of it is "laugh to keep from crying" which we will all need while cleaning out their house. I dread it! As for the recliner, in order for Dad to sit in it and watch tv, it would have to be in between their beds and I don't think they would let them do that from a safety point, and Mom would be able to watch tv (if she even wanted to) from anywhere but the bed. I personally think that Dad is fine without it and the loveseat makes more sense for them. We can decide on that when we're all together though. Another thing we all need to be thinking about is a DNR order for their charts. They currently do not have one and I personally think they should. If something happened and one of them didn't have a heartbeat, I wouldn't want them to pound on their chest and put them on a ventilator. I talked to Leisa about it since she's the closest I have to a physician in the family, and she totally agreed that they didn't need any heroic measures because it's SO hard on the patient to ever survive anything like the measures they would take without the order to Do Not Resusitate and at their age, even more of a challenge to "get over it". They currently don't have any orders for that and if something, God forbid, did occur, they would do everything to bring them back and keep them alive. We need to come to an agreement on this and just wanted you all to be thinking what you would want. I hate to bring this up, but it has to be done if we don't want them to let them go peacefully if it's their time. Hopefully this is a LONG time off! Jamie would love to know Jerry's thoughts on this since he works in a hospital and has to deal with these issues I'm sure. Love to all, Judy

Okay Judy and Jeanie are scaring me!! :) I'm so glad that Mom and Dad got moved into their big room...I know it's so much nicer....and now there's room for the aforementioned sisters to move in if needed!! :) You're probably right about the recliner...although there are recliners out there for the patients with limited mobility...we have them for our wounded warriors. They would have to be ordered from a medical supply?? company maybe....just a thought. Glad you got lots accomplished...Way to go!!! Love you, Jamie

Ok, I'm going to post mine before I read Judy's! LOL! Where do I start! Yesterday (Monday) we went to get a tv and THOUGHT we'd get a recliner before heading to LNC. Well, Judy picked out a tv (which is great!), and then we went to a lot of places looking for a recliner! Finally, after much talking from Judy, we passed on the chair. She's right about Dad not being able to work it and/or trying to climb out of it! The little loveseat in the room works fine for sitting and watching tv! Their new room is great! It has natural light from the common area that's right outside their door + you can see through that room out the big windows! It's SO much better. Mom and Dad? Well, yesterday Mom was asleep and unfortunately woke up! LOL! I'm sorry, but she was out of it and kept talking and talking and talking while I'm trying to figure out the dern tv! She also did NOT smell good and laying her head on my shoulder and talking and talking and talking! Dad wasn't much better! It was a freaking zoo in that room yesterday afternoon! LOL! Geez Louise! We were going to go back to their house and get some pics, etc to take back down there today (Tues), but we were both pooped by the time we got home and ate! This morning when we went back Mom was asleep in the wheelchair out in the common area. The young girl had just put Dad in bed, too. He'd asked to go back to bed. Mom had had a bath and was MUCH better today. Judy clipped her fingernails and said something about polish---Mom was like yes, she'd like that. I really believe there's a lady there that does that, but one of us can polish her nails for her! Judy just kept talking about how horrible her nails were yesterday! It was gross! Anyway, their room looked so good today and they both looked good. I didn't think Dad acted as good, but Judy did. To me he's just not with it like he should be although he did ask and responded well to some of the conversation. I don't know! Trust me, after yesterday ANYTHING would have to be an improvement! LOL! We did take a lamp today which looks good in their room, and I have some artificial flowers I washed and am drying to take Thurs. Jon wants to go with me on Thurs. Ok, I've got to see what Judy wrote. Probably didn't mention in the whole insanity thing yesterday that she stuck INDUSTRIAL tape in my hair which I nearly never got out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a nutty time 3/15/10! LOL! Love you all, Jeanie

I'm so glad they got moved!!! I can't wait to see the new environment. It's going to be so much better than their other room. Good job, Jeanie and Judy!! Love you, pat

Good News!! Mom and Dad got moved to the bigger room yesterday! Jeanie and I drove down around 3 (the nursing home had called and said that they planned on moving them and wanted to know if we wanted to be there). We bought them a new flat screen 26" tv and it's awesome! It was a nightmare to get set up (Jeanie lost a few gray hair!LOL) When we first got there they were both sound asleep but Dad woke up pretty fast and said "Hi Judy, when did you get here?" I was glad he still knows me! I'm always paranoid he won't!LOL He looked really good to me but he definitely has moments of mental lacking! He asked us if the tv cost a dime! He also told me that he had fixed a sandwich (has he EVER fixed one???Haha) Mom finally woke up and she's always a little "staggering" when she does. She had only a diaper on the lower half and she didn't smell too good!heheh Jeanie said it smelled "yeasty" like cheese and I told her thanks for destroying one of my major food groups!heheh She got dressed though and we took them into the dining room to eat. The atmosphere of coming in the front door, down a wide lit corridor and then the big sunny waiting room outside their door is SO much better~! They never said a word about leaving or anything and in fact today when Jeanie and I went back down before my coming home she kept saying "it's so nice here, it's so pretty here, I love it very much, etc, etc. She was more with it today too. Dad was in bed today with his hat on! Mom said "look at him in that bed with his bonnet". I cracked up! Dad said that Ona had been there and she looked so good==way to go Ona! heheh Jeanie and I also took a lamp down and put it on one of the nightstands and it looks much more "homey" in there now. We talked about getting Dad a recliner but realized he couldn't work a regular recliner, which is why we bought the electric and he couldn't work it either. So we don't really know what the point is at this moment. They do have a small love seat in this room and we put it between their beds so they can sit together and watch tv. The people there seem to love Mom and Dad. They had a great girl yesterday and again today. I cut Mom's fingernails too because the girl said that Mom fought her the last time she tried and she was afraid she'd rip a nail off. She let me without a problem and said she would do Dad's. All in all it was a great visit. I am so thankful that this stage is done and they seem genuinely happy there! Well maybe not happy but certainly not afraid or worried about things. They were so afraid at their house before they went down there--Mom of everything and Dad of worrying about Mom leaving. Dad looks rested which is good. I do think they have both gone down physically as far as neither is really walking now at all. Jeanie thought Dad's motor skills weren't as sharp either. He couldn't figure out about his spit cup a few times and spit on himself instead. They were both eating snacks when we left around 10 today. Will see you all soon! Love to all, Judy

Hello, sisters! Jerry and I went to see Mom and Dad this morning. We also got to visit with Ona and Randall who arrived about 15 minutes after we did. It was nice to see them and Mom and Dad were happy to see them too. Mom and Dad both looked very good. We could hear Mother "talking" as soon as we came in the door. She was really wound up today! She was going on and on about setting the table and eating and on and on. She tried to pull this poor woman's blanket off several times. I think she thought it was a table cloth! I went down to the new room they are to have and it was totally empty. Jeanie and Judy, you might ask tomorrow when they'll move. It will be a lot better when they do. Anyway, all in all, not an eventful visit which is good! Dad had some tobacco and I reminded the nurses to be sure he gets it especially after he eats. Love you all, Pat

You are right about the time since it says I posted last at 12:01 and I don't get through voluteering at the hospital till noon~ Surely I didn't drive home, change clothes and post a note all in 1 minute!~ I'm fast but not THAT fast! LOL I'm so glad that Mom and Dad are not screaming and shouting"I want to go home"!! Talk about a nightmare! Geez~! I like a good normal Mom and Dad. I like it a LOT. I'll be up early week and will post after I visit. Love to all, Judy

I'm glad to see Jeanie that you have AD moments and can remember to tell us about them! LOL I have them and then forget that I did and can't even comment on it!~LOL Jamie, yes good questions! Good thing you're on top of all of this with your head cause I have a tendency to "drop those balls" and just leave all of the intelligent stuff to someone else!heheheh Love to all, Judy

By the way, what's up with the time on this blog? The posted times are way off. I just posted the message before this at 1:55 and it says 11 something. Maybe it's Mountain time ! hee hee!

I went to see mom and dad today and they were fine. Both of them were very clean and they seemed as always. Dad was talking about whether to join some club and he didn't know what he should do. I asked him if he'd had his tobacco and he said they told him there wasn't any. So, I asked and yes, there was still quite a bit and they would see that he got it after lunch. Mom was very calm and said she hadn't been "home" all day. I told her after she ate she could take a nap. Anyway, they seemed fine. Last weekend one of the girls told me that Mother talks about her "girls" all the time especially Jamie (go figure, little spoiled one! hee! hee!) I told her that Jamie was going to be here next month and she said Mother and Daddy would be so excited. All in all, a nice visit. Jeanie said yesterday that the big room they were going to be moving into was empty, so I'm hoping that means they'll move soon as in maybe this weekend or the first of next week. Love you all, Pat

Jeanie this new medicine that they put Dad on for his kidney infection is in addition to the medicine that he was on for his kidneys? I think it was a med that Dr Mulligan's office prescribed before they went to LNC....something about kidney damage and diabetes?? Did they say what caused Dad to have an infection? Not totally emptying the bladder or is it related to the diabetes? The Tetra...I'm assuming an antibiotic...short for tetracycline or did they say Septra which is an antibiotic with a sulfur base instead of penicillin base? It's a lot easier on the stomach and digestive system. Just curious! I too am glad that they are there...I think we acted just in the nick of time...still breaks my heart seeing them at this point in their life though. Getting old is not for the weak!!:) Love you all....Jamie

Ok, I went to see Mom and Dad today. They both looked REALLY good! They were just finishing up lunch. Mom kept saying, 'Are you ready to go home now?" I'm like, not just yet! LOL! Anyway, I pushed Mom around for a while. Dad was with us for part of the time, and then he'd go off on his own. I took them to sit in the two waiting areas, and then took them to their room for a nap. Well the next thing I knew, I was alone in their room! They'd both left! LOL! Anyway, they were ok. Dad said one time that this was the biggest motel he'd ever seen! YIKES! There may still be some home issues yet! Oh, I noticed that room 60 was empty today. Hopefully that means that they'll move to the bigger room soon! Love you all, Jeanie ( I guess I hadn't signed in on Thurs! AD for me, too! LOL! Anyway, this was in a 'draft' form and not yet posted-----so here it is! Sorry!)

Another quick post! Angie from LNC just called to tell me that Dr. Parten had put Dad on Tetra (I hope that's right for what she said! YIKES!)for a kidney infection. We had talked about it when I went to see them. Dad's urine is really strong. Anyway, they tested it and he does have an infection, so they're starting him on the med. Ok, I'm going to check on them tomorrow. Will write then. Love you all, Jeanie

Well after yesterday, if there was EVER any doubts about where they need to be, it should be solved! Can you imagine if they had just been left alone all night! Geez, I shutter to think of the nightmares I buried my head NOT to see! I'm just so thankful we have them in and someone is always with them. Good for us AND them! I'm going up to Jonesboro on Sunday to see them (it will be middle of the afternoon), then will see them again on Monday before I head to Tunica for the night!~ Go me! heheh Anyway, I'll come back to Jonesboro on Tuesday and see them that day and again on Wed morning before I head back. Hopefully there will be at least one day in there that they will both make some sense! Mom has always known me so far===I shutter when she doesn't. I'll be devastated! Okay, good job on those posts! I LOVE it! Judy

Quick post. LNC called me last night at 11:00 to tell me they found Dad on the floor by Mom's bed. He wasn't hurt, and they think he was trying to sleep there! Yesterday was a tough day for them mentally I'm thinking. Anyway, he was fine, but they had to let the family know he was found on the floor! Love you all, Jeanie

Ok, I went to see Mom and Dad today. I laughed because I told Judy did she want the good news or bad news first! LOL! The bad news: I was there for nearly an hour and a half and Mom never made sense one time! She even had on someone else's pants! At the least I'd never seen them before. Unless Pat or Pam took her some others, these were not hers! LOL! Oh, well! She was SO clean. She'd had a bath + her hair washed and dried! The one thing she did say that made any sense at all was that she was going to have to get rid of a bunch of this stuff. I just don't want or need it, she said! How ironic! Anyway, I cracked up once when she was telling me something about something she was going to do, etc---who knows. Anyway, this other lady coughed real big. Well, right in the middle of Mom saying that she had to do something with something outside, etc, she yells "SHUT UP" real loud at this lady that coughed. I cracked up inside. She also asked where's James. I said right behind you. Dad goes---I didn't know she was here! I'm like Dad, she was talking about you. OH, he goes and looks real funny! Neither of them were with it today! Dad told me they were fixing to check out because they'd just eaten. His speech was real garbled today, too. Anyway, he had on Mom's sweatshirt! LOL! He was really clean, but they were just not with it today! The good news: I asked about the bigger room again. Michael Smith (the administrator) said it would be the middle of this month----two weeks out. I told him it was already the 9th and the middle was coming fast! LOL! Anyway, they'll let us know when because they want us to help with the move! NO problem! I also asked about the rate they were charging Mom and Dad. He'd told Pat and I it would be $125 per day per person. Well, the bill was for $130 per day per person. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but that amounts to about $300 per month for the two of them x 7 months which would have equalled $2100 that we had not planned for in the financial part of this whole thing. Anyway, he went back in the computer and corrected the amount for Feb and Mar. They now each have a credit of $260 each on April's bill. That's good! I asked him about when to start the applications for Medicaid for them----told him the plan was about 2 months before the end of the seven months. He said that some of their patients wait 5 months before being approved for Medicaid! YIKES! I may talk to Chad 3 months before the end of the seven months penalty period. I did find out that they don't kick them out while waiting for Medicaid approval, too, because he was saying that they'd been carrying that amount forward each month for that resident waiting for the approval! Anyway, that's it Dude! LOL! Love you all, Jeanie

When Jeanie and I went to talk to the nursing/social workers a week or so ago, she told us that a room would be available she thought in 2 weeks. I'm hoping that in another week it's empty and they move. I don't think the move to another room will be hard on them but we'll see! Mom and/or Dad might be visiting with whoever moves into their room they have now!LOL Could be interesting! Love Judy

I love getting on here and seeing who has been to visit Mom and Dad and how they were doing. I'm like the rest of you...I think it will be hard to clean out their house with all of their things....but I think we did the right thing for their safety and health...cleanier and someone always with them. Will they be moving soon into their larger room? Keep up the good reports, Ona

I'm so glad that Mom and Dad are doing as well as they are and adjusting. It makes me worry a little less about them each day. As for the house, it was hard for me because I got the "they'll never be home again" guilt thing when I went in there last week. I know that it's harder on me than them since they seem fine being where they are. One thing hard for me is the fact that I called Mom every day for years and now I stop around 4 everyday and start to still call her. Even when she couldn't really talk to me, I called just because that was my normal. I don't like change very much and have a hard time adapting at times. I like normal and routine!heheheh We're all so lucky to have them and each other though and I'm so thankful for all of you! Seriously~! Love to all, Judy

I'm Back! LNC did call Bruce Fri night to tell him that they'd found Mom sitting by her chair. No injury, but they had to report. I also checked my answering machine when I got back, and there was a message that undoubtly came at some point from Sat morning until this afternoon. It said that Dad had tried to get out of bed (makes me think during the night) and that he got wedged between the rail and the bed. No injury, just some redness. I went by there today on my way home---it was about 3. Anyway, they were both sound asleep with the lights out and the covers pulled up. A man that works there was coming down the hall when I was coming out of their room. He asked me if they were asleep. Yes. I asked him how they were today. He stopped, turned around and said, "They've been really good today!" YEA! I didn't wake them up---just left. As for the tobacco, Pat and I both have told Dad SEVERAL times that all he has to do is ask! Hopefully, he'll get that down! I think they look good, act good, and are adjusting! That all makes me happy. I know Judy didn't feel about their house like I did when we went to get Dad some shoes (which we FORGOT! LOL!), but to me that house seems awful! I can't believe that they were living there! I listened to a long program on Sirus (sp?) radio about caring for the elderly. It was so good! One of the things that they were talking about was guilt. It's a NO! It is a tough decision, but I look at it like tough love. Sometimes it hurts to do the right thing for the right reason. This was the right thing for them-that's the important thing. For us, we'd rather it was different, but for their care and well-being it's the right move! Love you all, Jeanie

Thanks Pat for the good report on Mom and Dad! I love getting on here (about 3 times a day!lol) and seeing if any word on them is posted. This makes it so nice for those of us who can't go very often to get a report other than "they're doing fine" from the nursing staff. I'm from Missouri and you have to show me! heheheh Thanks for being my eyes! Love ya back! Judy

Jerry and I went to see Mom and Dad this morning. They were both sitting in the little waiting area in their wheelchairs. They were both clean and alert. In fact, Mother said she wanted to walk so I walked with her all the way down one hall and back. She goes really slow, but we made it. We wheeled them both down to the dining room and stayed there for a while. Jeanie, I did remember Dad's shoes today! I also took some ziploc sandwich bags and fixed Dad a few small bags of tobacco. One of the ladies said that he asked for it yesterday, so maybe he's figuring it out. Of course, Mother was talking on and on about whatever, but I just nod and say yes. Anyway, they were good! love you, pat

It's certainly not a perfect situation but we just have to keep reminding ourselves and each other how much better this alternative is over what it was. I like to bury my head in the sand and pretend that things are better than they are which I did all the time when they were home alone. Can you imagine the nightmares we would have all had if we had actually seen or known all that went on! I shutter to think!!! At least this way we can see them and leave knowing that at least someone is with them! Driving away from their house with just Dad there to look after Mom when he could barely watch out for himself was truly a nightmare! They are lucky that they have each other and all of us too, and we're lucky to have them and each other. We will all survive! Love to all, Judy

Cary Beth and I went to see Mom and Dad today. We got there a little before eleven. They were both sitting in their wheelchairs in front of the nurses station. I noticed Dad's alarm was on, but not Mom's. Mom seemed really tired. I asked her if she wanted to go show Cary her room, but she didn't want to go. Dad said he'd already walked about 500 miles, and didn't want to go either. Mom's bed was stripped but it looked like Dad's needed to be, too. It was not clean. Mom doesn't make sense all the time in what she says, but she does seem happy there. Dad just watches her and takes care of her. It's precious. I noticed that Dad had a paper cup in his hand, and I offered to throw it away for him, thinking it had been a coffee cup, but he said it was his spit cup. I asked him where his tobacco was and he said he didn't know. Well, the nurse overheard our conversation, and proceeded to tell me that she had taken Dad's tobacco away from him because he kept spilling it. I said, well can he have some, and she said all he has to do is ask. I told him to ask but Pat said he won't do it. Pat's going to check on that tomorrow when she goes. I know they're so much better there than when they were home, but it still makes me sad to see them there, and to see how old they are. I'm just so glad they have each other. Love u guys...Pam

Yes the alarm on Mom 's chair is new. Dad has had one for a week or so but not Mom. She needs it though according to the last visit I had with her! She couldn't have walked or stood if her life depended on it! I'm so glad that they are doing good and seem to be adapting to there. It's just SO much better than where they were and that's a really good thing! I like it a LOT~ Love to all, Judy

I called about 2 Jonesboro time and the nurse said they were doing great today! They were fed and down for their afternoon nap. I asked "So no falls today?" And she said that they found Mom sitting on the floor last night, but everything was fine..not sure if she'd fallen or just sat on the floor, but they did put an alarm on her chair which warns them when she gets up. Is that new or did they just do that since last night? Either way, I like the idea..the more they get checked on the better!! Love you....Jamie

You ARE good Pat!~ I had to have Brittney put mine on! It's funny cause those are the same pants Mom had on when I was there and took pics! heheheh Sure glad she likes those! They were some on clearance Jeanie and I got her the day they went in! LOL Love Judy

I am awesome!! Molli will be so proud of me that I got these pictures on here all by myself! Woo Hoo, I'm good! pat

I went to LNC to see Mom and Dad today and they were good. When I first got there, Dad was sitting in the little sitting area in his wheelchair, and he was very alert. He said he'd just gotten up from a long nap. The nurses said Mother was "roaming" so Dad and I went to look for her. She was sitting in one of the halls in a wheelchair talking to herself. She knew who I was though and I took them into the dining area. They ate in the regular eating area. I visited with them while we waited on their food. They both wanted some coffee so I got that and then Mother wanted some ice water so I got that. By the time they brought their food, Mother had fallen asleep, but I woke her up and she began to eat. They both were very clean and neither said anything about going home. Mother talked to herself some and I heard her say "Pat" so I looked at her and she said "she was always kind of lazy!" Oh, well, there's worse a person could be! hee hee! I took a couple of pictures that I'm going to try to put on here. If they don't appear, then you'll know I couldn't figure it out! love you, pat

Good morning, everyone! I'm going to see Mom and Dad this morning so I will report in later on how they were. love you, pat

I do say "Life is Good" a lot don't I? heheheh I know how you felt about Jeanie's post because she called me and told me all of this over the phone and I thought the same thing you did about being able to breathe for a few minutes. Jeanie and I were talking that maybe this is the "status quo" with them and that they've "turned the corner". We're hoping at least that's the case. Love to all, Judy

Jeanie, I'm so glad you gave us a super report today on Mom and Dad...I can exhale!! For today, life is good....as our sister Judy says!! I know once I've seen LNC, Mom and Dad and their surroundings for myself, I think I'll be better with the whole thing...you know being from Missouri you gotta "show me"!! As I said, I know they're cleaner and being watched after and that's a great thing!! As for my warp, twisted mind issues...now I know, it's Pat's fault!:) Love you guys, Jamie

Dad's hand is fine. When I went today, I really couldn't see anything but a little dried blood! Have seen MUCH worse MANY times on him! Mom's leg?---who knows! Today, I had her walk some. She's scared to death to do it! After we got started she did good, but didn't want to turn loose of anything! They both looked SOOOO good today! Yea! To me, it's the best they've been in nearly two weeks. All last week I did not think Dad looked good! Today, he looked good, acted good, the whole thing. They did cut Mom's hair. It's not quite like she used to wear it, but it's much better. I stopped and talked to the lady who cut it and told her it was much better. The next time I told her to put some layers in it to give it some style. They were eating/finishing up lunch when I got there. Dad was at the far end of the hall looking for Mom, but when I asked where she was he told me she was in the cafeteria. They were not in the feeding room today, which I liked!. Anyway, Dad's shoes were nasty, so I took him some others and have brought the ones he was wearing home to wash. I'll send them back with Pat this weekend because I'm heading to Louisville tomorrow! YEA! Anyway, it was a really good visit! I am SO glad! Jamie, what you're going to have to do is look past the nursing home environment and at Mom and Dad. It's probably going to be a shock, but today neither asked about leaving, their stuff, nothing. In fact Mom told me to come back again, etc, just like they were home. I knew it was time to leave because Mom started talking kind of goofy---I said I think you need a nap! LOL! She did, too. It was a good day and a good visit with both of them! I needed that!!!!! Love you all, Jeanie

Hey, to all of you again! I, too thought Dad looked like Mimi Shelton. Mom looks happy. I'm closer to 90 than any of you all...and it's looking younger all of the time:) Exactly what's wrong with Mom's leg and is Dad's hand ok?

Well, Jamie, you reminded me of something. When you were about 2 yrs. old you fell on the front sidewalk straight into the concrete and you had this huge bump in the middle of your forehead. After that, every time you fell, you hit the same spot! One day (this is before the car seat/seat belt requirements) I went to the grocery for Mother in that Oldsmobile car we had and I took you with me. You were standing up in the seat and I had to stop real fast and of course you went forehead first right into the dash. When I got home, Mother was not happy with me when she saw that huge bump again! To make a long story short, I believe that may be your problem!! hee! hee! love you, pat

Ok you're right 90 is gettin' up there. Yes pictures can sometimes make you look older (and fatter and like you've got a double chin even though you can't reproduce this look on purpose in the mirror after you've seen yourself in a photo....) But I guess in my warped, twisted mind I had this fantasy that once they went there, suddenly they would look so much better and be so much healthier and more back to their old selves. I wasn't thinking Fountain of Youth or anything...again just a mind that's slightly off center...maybe I WAS dropped on my head as a baby! They do look cleaner and clean is good...I'm clinging to that for now! Luv2u....Jamie

Hey, Jamie, I believe 90 might be considered old! hee hee! Sometimes pictures make you look older (that's what I tell myself everytime I look at my own pics!) Anyway, all in all they actually look much better than they did when they were at home. love you, pat

One more thing! LOL! That top pic of Mom does NOT have a blank look! If you look really good at that pic, she's got a little of the 'rath' look going on! LOL! Don't fall prey to thinking that she still can't bring it because I'm telling you she can!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL! Love you, Jeanie

Ok, Judy answered a lot! YEA! As for Mom's leg, she's compained about it off and on for a long time. There were times she'd be using Dad's walker and not Dad when they were at home. Dorothy mentioned it to me, too. The leg has been a long time thing. Judy made mention of the fact that Mom's leg kind of turns in some---I'd never really thought about that, but that's right. Last week when I went down there she was having a hard time with her leg. I got her up to walk, and she could barely walk! She was gripping my hand so tightly that she was cutting into my fingers with my rings! That's when they did the x-ray on her hip, leg and knee. Nothing showed up. As for the swelling, that's a good question if they are related. Both ankles would swell. Not sure about that. They're really nice anytime I've talked to them. Becky is head nurse during the day. She's really sweet. Today (this afternoon late) I was suppose to ask for Angie. She was really nice, too. They never seem to be in a hurry to get off the phone whenever I talk to them. Hey, if something bugs you, call! Trust me, I do NOT care what you ask or anything! You go girl! LOL! Love, Jeanie

Lakeside Nursing Center (hereafter---LNC!) called me today. Dad had hit his hand while in the cafeteria/feeding room, and his hand had a laceration. Nothing serious, but they had to call! Anyway, I asked her how they were today. She said they were sitting there by the nurses' station at the end of their hall. (It was about 4:30 or 5:00 this afternoon) I said something about Dad being so tired all last week. She kind of laughed and said it was because he 'walked' his wheelchair all day long chasing after Mrs. Margaret! I really figure that that is why he's more tired, too. If you think about it, Dad really hasn't gotten much exercise at all the last few years---practically none the last year for sure! He himself said he'd 'walked' 300 miles the day Judy and I were there! That would wear me out for sure! I also asked if Mom was in the wheelchair today or up on her feet. She goes, no, she's in the wheelchair. I guess that's kind of a permanent thing for Mom, too. I'm going down there tomorrow to check on them. Jamie, as for your questions. Hey, you feel free to ask all you want. I won't bother any of us at all. Let me reread your questions and I'll see if I can help you with any answers at all. I've been talking to Bruce right in the middle of this and have forgotten what all you asked! Sorry! LOL!, Love you all, Jeanie

Jamie your note made me laugh which is a good thing considering the circumstances! I know it's hard when you live far away and can't see them for yourself but I actually thought they looked pretty good! Maybe it's my camera~ You are right about Dad looking like Mimi Shelton though and I hadn't realized that. As for Mom, she does have blank looks but you'll be surprised I think because she still has moments where you'll connect to her. Like I said yesterday, she knows me still. She might not remember that I was there after I leave, but she knew at the moment. Dad will know you for sure because he knew Leisa and Katilyn, Brittney and boys, etc. As for questions you'll have for the staff--you go girl~hehehe I won't disown you!~ Promise! I'm sure that they eventually ate--talked to Jeanie about it today and she said the same thing. Yes Dad is in the wheelchair all the time now I think--they couldn't even find his walker for Mom to use yesterday. Mom is the one who isn't nearly as mobile! She's in a wheelchair too! Maybe it's temporary though. It's her leg she complains about and not her hip but Jeanie said it was her leg that she broke and not her hip actually that time when she was in the hospital. I'm sure she has arthritis in it and maybe not using it is making it harder when she tries now. Maybe she needs some physical therapy. We'll see how this week goes. Hang in there and try really hard not to stress too much. They are getting a LOT more care than they were at home alone! Just keep that in your mind! Love to all, Judy

Mom and Dad look so old in these pictures. It makes me sad. Mom has such a blank look on her face and she looks like a combination of Granny and Aunt Ernie. Dad looks like Aunt Anna Lou and Grandmother...I don't think I ever really noticed that before...and his skin looks so saggy. Wonder why they were in bed already? Did someone come and wake them to eat eventually? How long has Mom been complaining about her leg? Is it her hip? Is it related to the swelling in her ankles? Does Dad pretty much do the wheelchair all the time? Sorry...question overload!! I'm probably going to have lots of questions for the staff when I get there....you can tell them I'm adopted or was dropped on my head at birth or something... I'm trying not to get wrapped around the axle over things, but it's hard when you're a control freak and 2000 miles away!! I'm glad they're clean, safe and being watched..And I know it's harder on us than them...Love you, Jamie

I thought that they ate at 4:45, so why weren't they in the dining room instead of bed sleeping? Did anyone there seem to notice they were missing? I don't like that at ALL! Wonder if they had supper tonight? Dad looked pretty darn tired when Jeanie and I were there for sure like he could use a good nap. They were both sleeping in their chairs when we got there around 10 I'm thinking. We stayed till 11 or so but I know that the nurses went to their room because we had talked to them about Mom and her being unable to walk. Love to all, Judy

Judy, love the pictures! Thank you! I went over to see Mom & Dad this afternoon, after school, and arrived about 4:50 and they were sound asleep!! I mean, totally stretched out in bed, covers pulled up under their chins, sound asleep. Dad had his hat on! I was not about to wake them. I have no idea how long they had been asleep. Are they on any schedule that you know of? I guess not, since last week when I went over at this time, they were already sitting in the feeding area. All was quiet when I left, only seeing one woman wheeling around. A young lady came and got her and I heard her say it was time to eat. I'm going back on Sat., earlier, so hopefully I'll get to see them then. Love you, Pam
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Pictures from today

Yesterday when Brittney, the boys and myself first got there, Dad was sitting at the end of the long hallway directly in front of the door. He knew who I was though and even Brittney and the boys too. I asked where Mom was and he said she was around the corner in the other room. I said that their room was on the other long hallway and he said she was in surgery???!!! I told him that she wasn't and he said yeah that she was in room 2 and he was waiting on her! Anyway we had brought them ice cream sundaes and I told him that I was going to look for Mom but he wanted to eat his ice cream there! Okay, whatever!hheh Anyway he ate it all and to me looked good except for being hoarse. He made sense of almost everything else we talked about too. Mom was around at the nursing station and was carrying on a "not so pleasant" conversation with another lady patient there and the lady was just staring at her as if to say "what the heck!!!"heehheh I got mom to their room and she ate all her ice cream too. I brought Dad down then and she called him her angel. She knew me right away and called me "Precious" as we all know that is what she has called me for a long time. She said something to Brittney and called me Judy too, so she knew me which is always a plus! Today as Jeanie wrote we went back and Dad did look better today even than yesterday. Mom looks good too except for her hair which is too long. Jeanie asked the Social Worker about that today too and they were going to schedule her for a cut--not with water since Mom has a total hate for it!heheh Dad said today that Mom was in her own world most of the time though and that she complains about her leg and can't walk sometimes but okay others. I have no clue but Jeanie is right in that Mom would never have made it to the toilet today. Dad said Mom screams when they change her pants and things too but that they sleep good. Mom said their room was really pretty and she liked it a lot. She said she loves to clean her house too but that's really all she said about her house. Neither asked either day about home at all. It's kinda weird that it seems to them that they ARE home and never even worry or wonder about their "things" as neither has even mentioned it since they got there. You'd think they would ask how things were or where such and such was but they don't. I did take pics today and will get them posted as soon as Brittney figures it out for me. Leisa's thought is that Mom doesn't remember her things and Dad doesn't care. I guess that makes sense. Oh and yesterday Dad told me that Mom had 4 or 5 boyfriends too. He didn't seem to mind a lot but you know it bothers him! I asked him if it was good that he didn't have to worry about Mom every minute since she can't get lost or out the door and he said he guessed so but he still worries. Poor Dad. He needs a friend BAD! Love to all, Judy

OH! The social director also said that a lady was due to go home in two weeks that was in one of the larger rooms in the back! HOPEFULLY, they'll get to move into the larger room at the end of those two weeks! That would be awesome!!!!!!!! Jeanie

Judy and I went to see Mom and Dad today. Dad FINALLY looked better to me. He wasn't quite as hoarse, and there was some light in his eyes! He was sleeping when we got there--in his wheelchair (as was Mom!). He'd finished breakfast and was tired, I guess. His neck was better and he was just better in general. Mom was in a wheelchair, too, and acted like Mom does now. The only thing that was not good about Mom today was the fact that she couldn't walk! I swear if we hadn't been there she would have fallen trying to go to the bathroom! When we left, we talked to one of the girls and asked about Dad's walker for Mom and for them to check on her. We talked to the social director about Dad a 'friend', and she said that they'd tried, but that Dad didn't want to be away from Mom. She'd continue to try. We talked to Becky the head nurse about Mom's inability to walk today and her need for a walker and extra help. She said she'd do that. She also said something about an MRI on Mom's leg. I think I'm passing on that. I figure Judy's right about the arthritis and who knows in general what Mom's feeling, doing, etc. The fact she's not walking will only lead to further not walking which won't help her leg in general! Anyway, all in all they were better today!!!! YEA! Love you all, Jeanie

Any idea when Mom and Dad are going to be able to move into a bigger room? I've wanted to call to find out, but as I told Judy, I might not be a good one to call...I tend to let my mouth say what it wants and then the brain regrets it later. Is there anything they need...snacks or clothes..something I could send? Ask Daddy if he knows how well the Wildcats are doing this year? I wonder if he's watched any of their games? Tell him I'm coming to see him soon and that I love him....Mom too of course. Luv U Guys....Jamie


Hey, I was also wondering if Dad has watched any of the Kentucky games since he's been in there. Why are they in the bed sleeping so much? Is that normal?

Katilyn and I visited Grandma and Grandpa on the 19th and Grandpa looked great. He knew who I was and he talked to Katilyn about volleyball and ASU so he obviously knew her too. He told Grandma that I was Judy's daughter....so, I thought mentally he was great that day. He looked good too....much better than I had seen him the last few times. Now Grandma on the other hand was not having a good day.....she was just getting out of the shower and to say she was pissed is an understatement!!!! She shook her finger at Katilyn and scolded her for laughing....I have to admit it was funny. Anyway, she seemed to like me enough to warm up to me and let me dry her hair. She was clueless about where she was and what was going on and rambled about things that made no sense. She told us that she didn't like this school and she thought next week maybe she and her sister and mom would just go to the lake instead. The facility was clean and the staff was friendly and they seemed to be doing as well as could be expected.