Grossed out and need to vent—I just caught Mom using my toothbrush to comb her hair!

night bob

going to need a night's sleep and then coffee to vacuum the Cat.

hard to sneak up on a Cat with a vacuum.

that's right Ted! glad you pointed that out.
BOAT!!!

nighty night to all the beautiful caregivers and
Kuli!!! Merry Christmas to you! i kept thinking and thinking and I know there's a few out there I missed previously. I am so sorry.

lovbob

A Christmas boil! I love that idea! Excellent! I'm sending out two of them; one to each sibling. Did they call their parents today? Nooo..... Did they know that both their parents cried in church today? Nooo.....Will they see them any time soon? Absolutely not!! Selfish things......

I had a great day with MY aging parents and I like the Christmas boil idea!! It's WAY better than coal!!
Ho! Ho! Ho!!

B-oils O-n A-ll T-hem!

Vacuum the Cat? wear all the safety gear you've got!

Ted!

A big fat Christmas Boil to all those who are jerks!
That's the second boil reference today.
I wonder what the universe is trying to tell me....

Wish me luck:
I'm going to try and vacuum the Cat.

lovbob

Hi everyone. We're expecting an inch of snow which should pretty much shut everything down for days and and hypnotize everyone into driving straight for whatever ditch they can find.
Today was a difficult one of course, but mom wsn't really aware that her other children or grandchildren haven't called, and so I've just kept up the same old happy face that I always do.
i sincerely hope it was only me who felt so bad about it all,
It's just plain rotten, Mom never did anything to make them be so hateful towards her, niether have I for that matter, but again, I have to chalk it up to thier guilt and thier own bitter lives.
As for me, it's just another day, but when they treat this fragile old women like this it tears me up inside.

Hi Rip. No, I was not. That's awesome!! In a couple months this thread will be one year old!!

Merry Christmas Miz!
Glad you're home safe!
Were you here when Lil Tenny hit the 7,100th post???
Poetic ~

Yikes, Austin. I hope you don't have to go anywhere.

We are expecting a ft. of snow tomarrow and wind.

Jam, if you are able and the weather is not bad, I would go to her.

love,
miz

Hey!! We're home!! Merry Christmas, Everyone!! We had a very nice time with hubby's family. I got some gifts in memory of Mom and that was very sweet I thought. I got emotional but I know that is normal. I'm having lower stomach pain so I'm gonna lay down for awhile. Love and comfort to Angie. Love to all of yous!!

miz

Spoke with the nurse taking care of Mom today....she said Mom is pretty out of it. Keeps crying out and they can't understand what she is saying....sounds like daddy, could be jonny (my brother's name), nurse is Jenny.....she has peripheral vision but doesn't make eye contact. We all know pneumonia is not easy to get through in the elderly...I just hope if this is mom's countdown that I can be there for her. I'm only 30 min away....but could make it 20 if needed....:).

I had a decent time today with my daughter and family. We had a nice Ham dinner and the little ones were lots of fun. It is the First Xmas without Mom and memories kept coming in and out but in all it was a nice day. Sad and happy all rolled together--hope everyones day was good.

Angie-I am so sorry and hope God gives you an extra measure of strength for the next few days and thereafter.

Bobbie: very nice Christmas letter. You make us feel loved and cared for... Hope that someone who has not written for a while reads your letter, too, and comes back. I had a nice Xmas at my brother's house in Rome, we were very few (his family, my SIL's mother, my mother and I) and I was glad to spend 2 hours with them, mostly with my nephews who are two nice boys. If I was able to deal with this day with good mood and tranquillity (in spite of my problems with my bro) is 100& because of the people of this thread who give me strength every day, and, which is most important, PERSPECTIVE! If you listen to yourself only, you lose perspective. That's why I hope our old friends come back.
Angie,, you are very strong and you are facing the situation in the best way. When it happened to me, immediately after leaving my father to the cemetery, I took my youngest nephew (who was 2 years old) and we went to the village's square and we played football until "he" was exhausted (you know that it is almost impossible to get tired "after" a toddler) (I guess it was my nerves which gave me an incredible strength) but it helped a lot anyway. Children can help you to face very sad situations. I remember perfectly what this nephew said to the cemetery: he saw everybody crying and with very sad faces, so he said "Eto butto potto" (((Questo è un brutto posto))) translated: "This is a ugly place" ) And I said "you are right, this is a very ugly place, let's go play football!"
JAM I hope your mom is better. And I hope your MIL is cooperating for a few days... Maybe she will...
Selfishsib, my mother has the same problems as your dad but she is calmer. I don't know how I would handle a situation like yours. Sure your mother can't take it alone - she must not be young.... I would ask for advice to a specialized centre!
Elizabeth True: you had a very nice Xmas! I'm glad for you.
And to everybody else, have a good rest of Xmas!

Merry Christmas To All!!!! Dad is now with the angels in heaven for sure. Although this is sad, I know that he is at peace with no suffering and I am so glad that I was able to be at his side with mom and of course I know all of you were/are here with me too..... Thank you all so much...... Today is quiet for mom and I , funeral will be on wednesday so the next few days will be rough...... Lots of Martini's for me lol..... Just getting through the next few days will be somewhat robotic for me. Just trying to keep together ........ Papa's dog is so sad, crying all the time, he misses him too..... merry christmas and love to all

Love and best wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all of my AC family! Thinking about all of you today and hoping you all have lots of good food, laughs and relaxation. Love ya, Kuli

merry christmas bobbie ! . hope ure having a good day .
amen to everything you just said , wow u remmy everybody ! gosh ! half of em i dont even hear from anymore . hope they do still come and ck us out .
going to take a nap . xoxo

We're having snow flurries - won't amount to anything(they say). Our 3 children and most of the grandchildren will be here today. They know it's important for Pop. So far he's having a good day (thank God) Hope we all have a bright spot in the holidays.

Ahoy, Captain!
Amen to everything she said.

Cheers from Sir, the SignPets & Rip.

Good Christmas Morning Caregivers,

Jam, what a day already! You are truly an angel.

Linda! give your Pa a hug and kiss from all of us!

Love you Miz and love to your husband!

Tennessee and lil Tenny! congrats on the 100 point club! love you guys and may all the people who try to hurt you get a boil in an uncomfortable area.
Y'know lil Tenny: everybody's crazy.

True! aka Elizabeth! Have a wonderful birthday and thanks for being here on the thread.

Christina! whassup and love you.

sskape1! happy you are here and love that you are a great voice on the thread!

SelfishSibling! you're going to go through some crappy stuff and just remember to breathe and keep venting here. It will make you feel better and make it a little more tolerable to deal with what's coming. You are a good daughter.

Rossella! you are a genius. love your writing and point of view. You mom is lucky and YOU are a good daughter too!

Pamela and Kelleybean and Miz! I read the very beginning of the thread yesterday and there we all were planning and provisioning a boat trip. Sweet. Love you ladies.
Maxine! When you coming to the boat? eh? You showed up pretty much at the start and Secret Sister! where are ya?
PirateGal, merry christmas to you. I know it's a rough time and I am so sorry. We miss you and whenever you want to drop in it will be like you never were away.

Nance! glad you're posting with us. Merry Christmas and try to stay positive. I know that you're hurting because of your mom, just like Miz is and I am and many others. sux I know.
Make sure you eat a good dinner so you don't get too skinny!!!

Rephill! love you and miss you. Whassup?
naheaton! one of the funniest writers on the site. read some of her early stuff on the thread. I was grabbing my sides last night.

Rip the Stitch! thank you for the most wonderful phone message. you are so sweet.
Deef!! Hey Stuff! whassup? you get some time to lay around or are you still a manufacturing operation!
Flex! where are ya?

Castoff! I know it's really really tough right now but that's the time you want to get on here and say what's on your mind. C'mon and check in with us. we worry.

GeorgiaPeach! love to you and Larry. You have got to be one of the kindest people. can't wait to meet you both and have a good time. (no wine for me)

Ted! not too much longer and you and the boat and I will make an appearance together and then Pub Time.
(do NOT let me order wine!) thanks for being here and being a good brother to all of us.

Speaking of brothers, Crowe!! where are ya, pal?
Hope you're ok and having a good day and wish your family and Merry Christmas from those of us here that are all Grossed Out....

Jen! how's the pug pup? you are a tremendous spirit and a terriffic writer. so glad that you're here and really want to meet you one day. West Coast Tour!

There's Lilliput and lach and ddotal and those of you who do read us and a bunch of others... if you have time, say hi today and let us know how you are and what's new.

Ruth1957, that was a funny story and we hope to see from you again! Little Jack Horner, indeed. lol
CarolJones hope to see from you again.

Senior Advocate, AmberJane and Sissy, hope you all are doing well and having a good Christmas.

Merry Christmas to the growing numbers of people that I am learning read us but stay in the background.
You guys like boats?

I know I missed some, but please forgive me and chew me out with a hug!

Merry Christmas to Carol and Joe, of the Aging Care site and all of the people responsible to giving us this forum to save our sanity.

angie! we love you and you know how many people here are sending angels your way and love and prayers. I hope you have a stuffed animal to hug because that would be us hugging you back.
Just think, your daddy is meeting my daddy and mom and Miz's mom and dad and Rip's mom and linda's mom and everybody! and they're talking about their crazy kids banging away on computers and how that is so wonderful.
Because we have each other right here and right now.

lovbob

tennessee you have wonderful memories of your Dad....make sure you pass them onto your daughter.....and the brothers can take a hike! So there.....:) About the ER? Yes you are absolutely correct....it is a very stressful area and a lot of good nurses have gone onto other areas, i.e outpatient, med-surg, simply because of less stress. They are all over-run....the bigger hospitals in KC have more than one doc on shift at a time which helps but they are still full. This hospital has been open a year and now has 11 rooms in the ER...the old hosp had 3 rooms. There are times when all 11 rooms are full with 1 doctor....there are legitimate complaints and some really sick people, then come the ones with back aches, toothaches, etc. Why didn't you go to your family doctor? I owe them money and they won't see me...or I'm here on vacation and ran out of my medicine or they bypass several hosp in KC to come down here cuz they think they will get those little narcs they can go out and sell or take all by themselves. Hubby made the policy that all new pts complaining of pain must have a urine drug screen, done in the room...not allowed to go to bathroom. They fill the cup with water and think that will fool the lab results...duh. Most of them will leave the hospital immediately but there are a lot who sit there and the lab results come back showing narcotics, benzos, thc.....and then they get mad and cuss and yell when they don't get what they want. It's those scum bags who take time away from those needing the care for a legitimate illness or injury. Hubby comes home after every shift shaking his head and saying "i want out of there!!!!" And administration doesn't stand behind the ER staff....they leave them out to hang....they are employed by an outside group. Blind doggie is up and wandering around...time for outside trip. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jam,sorry to hear of all you are going through today! I hope you mom is resting now and your MIL cooperates with the daily care.
love,
ssk

Hi, I got a cute picture from my sons. They took a photo of us from out last visit and superimposed (?) it so it looks like a postcard from Hawaii and it says
Christmas--Waikiki Beach 2010. It cheered me up
ssk

Thank you for all of your thoughts for my mom.....rotten time of the year to get sick, but I don't think she knew last night what day or time it was. She wasn't focusing, couldn't follow simple commands such as hold still so they can get your iv started....and they were using a butterfly needle! She was sleeping soundly when I left....will check on her later today after I get mil bathed and ready to go visit with her granddaughters later. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Christmas Day!

jam , hope ur mom will get better . sad it happen on a wrong time of the year .
tenn , i changed the picture . i lost the one i had before of dad alone . but he and i are back on it .
your dad sounds like my dad , he too was a giver too but never a cook . always goes to a buffet somewhere . youre a speical girl to ur daddys eyes , my dad gave me a 1969 electri buick when i got married at 17 , he says u gonna need a car to get back and forth to doctors , ( i was preg ) .then he and mom zoom to fla , left me behind waaaa . i loved my car , it was a big car ! rode like a boat . smmooooth sailing . :-)
shame on ur brother ! he s got a rude awakin coming !
u shall have a will made out for ur babygirl to have the land , ur brother gets one penny . if something was happen to u he could fight this in court , i was told if u leave one penny to a sibling they cant fight it in court , a penny or a dollar means something .
its a shame that he turne dout like that . i was afraid that my sibling would turn out but nana , my brother has a big heart . hes following dad s footsteps , thank you jesus ,
hope u all have had a good day . love ya all bunches xxooxx

Santas' come and gone-don't see a tractor.Little ones still in bed.Jam, where I would take my dad to the emergency room they were always understaffed.The nurses would tell me they perferred to work the floors instead of the emergency because it was the same pay and emergency had alot more stress and you never get to sit and rest.I was shocked,thats not the way it is everywhere; is it? Then I was told that all the drug addicts coming in faking heart issues and different things really clogg up the ER and gives everyone there bad attitude having to weed out the real patients from the druggies.We were regulars there,so I observed a lot. Hardebeck I know it sounds dumb,but seeing your and Rips dads picture makes me feel better.I have a picture of my dad right here looking at me. I even miss his griping.Now,that the lawsuit is over and my brother is trying to sell my dads heart[the farm] I am hearing alot of talk about payoffs to people who refused to get involved-not sure what is true.MY brothers went to some extremes to get the land.I have had a lot of pats on the back lately reassuring me I did everything right.One guy told me the scarey part is that if it could happen to me it could happen to anyone.Atleast 95% of that lawsuit was based on lies.When I was little I would have never dreamed my own brother would be part of a crooked system-no honour-no integrity-got a sign for the barn yesterday-[don't judge me by my relatives] We haven't gotten our snow yet,I think ya'll decided to keep it up north.I feel very lucky to have had such a good dad and I am very lucky to have such a good kid and I feel fortunate that my dad lived long enough that he had influence on her and she can remember him.He was the greatest granddad in the world and she knows it.It was shameful the way the lawyers protrayed him.Every year he would give everyone a thousand dollars and homemade candy[he was a great cook] One year he gave me a New Grand Marquis-that is the year my problems started with my brothers.When my brothers left to go to college they never came back,they acted like they were to good for anyone around here.I THINK I actually miss his box of cookies and candies more than the 1000.00 dollars. He was always so happy cooking for people.He paid for a womans sons funeral because she couldn't afford it.He was a giver,he helped people as much as he could and never tooted his own horn. My brothers don't have a clue-I feel sorry for them-but I guess we all make our own choices.

Thanks for asking rip....I'm fine just tired. Had some excitement while waiting on mom's xrays. Some guy comes flying into the ER holding his left wrist.....blood dripping everywhere, clothes bloody. Tried to tell staff he was beating on the wall and hit a "conce"....you know those things on a light...:) One of the nurses said "I know what a sconce is but not a conce.....hehehe. doc starts holding pressure, they are trying to get lidocaine injected and this guy starts yelling and cussing and acting like a total ass......he actually cut it with a knife...hit an artery and cut completely through the muscle. Dumb ass!!! All I could think was I don't miss EMS at all!!!!!