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Katie - from one 100 year old penguin to another.... Lousy winter, but better than yours, stacey.... Don't drive if you don't have to; maybe you can do it, but be sure lots of the others can't!
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StacyB,
How exciting! Bless you both and relax. Stay Warm!
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Mom is at Aunts for 2 weeks, I have a week off.. we paid for and planned a trip to Gettysburg ( not far away at all but a mini vacation at a great BNB),, and they had to cancel our first suite due to a burst pipe,, while we were dealing with daughters burst pipes in her condo. So they got us another room, we are all excited and plans made to go see some things we never see because we live so close ( you know how that is),, and now the weather is awful! Too late to cancel ( maybe they would not charge me due to the situation, but who knows?) and so we are just hoping the roads improve enough to get Chloe to daughters and still be able to go, even if it is cold and nasty. The inn is near great places to eat, and an easy drive to the battlefield. And it looked like we would only have one other couple in the entire inn.. so lots of space in the common areas to relax and refresh! So wish us luck! I would not really mind staying home with the weather, but I was so excited to get a mini vacay, and I hate to lose the money.
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Pam, your snow sounds like the storm we'll have tomorrow pm into Wed. Take care. You don't want to spend the night in car, stuck in snow.  
Good luck.
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Uggh
another atmospheric river is bearing down on us
the gutters are overflowing again

the Viking was a talking head 🗣 in a bed tonight and her roommate was hitting staff because she didn’t want to wash 🧼
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We went, and we had a great time even with the terrible slushy weather. On the plus side we had every attraction we went to, to ourselves! Nothing like a private showing of the Cyclorama and Diorama (yes I now know the difference) to ourselves with a private talk, and the information we now know was heartbreaking and so informative. Our room was lovely, and it was so very NICE to lay in bed and watch mindless TV together with no interruptions and on the way home we stopped at the library and got the movie Gettysburg, and watched it without any worries. We are now "Gettysburged out".. LOL but so glad we went. We needed this break!
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Mom is sick again-bronchitis, third time in 10 months. The doctor is on top of it and always has been but it's so disheartening. She's still getting up and walking with her walker at 96 and we've finally hit the right combination with the meds she's taking, so she's calm.

I guess I'm stressed out with this 1,350 mile move coming up at the end of the month. I need to take her to her new facility (beautiful) before we move and then fly home again to drive down. The stress is so thick you could cut it with a knife!

Because we live in Tijuana above the "checkpoint" of Sonoyita, everything must be listed in each box, all mayor appliances must have the serial numbers listed, I've got to get a sticker from Aduana to drive my California plated car into the interior of Mexico, the animals have to have their shots up to date and a health record testifying their good health, and on and on. It seems it's endless.

I know it will all be over within a month, but that seems like forever. Oh well, if I forget anything, I guess I'll come back.
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ms madge -but she is hanging in there!!!

pam -sounds like you had a wonderful time. Happy for you.

sue -so much work and worry about your mum at the same time. It sounds like a bit of a nightmare - serial numbers!!!
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Golden

Yes, Viking strong 💪

She was having trouble breathing today and looked miserable during a breathing treatment but seemed to perk up a bit by the time I got to hoca after work - I got some airborne, Tylenol and hot tea in her before bedtime - another fun Valentine's Day 😆
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Sue

what a rigmarole- will you replace your California plates ?

hope mom is able to travel by the move date
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Oh Sue, that does sound like a nightmare, but you are on top of it! One more month and it will be all over, welcome Spring!

MsMadge, you are Such a trooper, and so apparently is The Viking, bless her heart!

PammyZ, so glad you got your trip in and you had a relaxing time!

Me, Iv'e got cabin fever in this tiny (temporary) apartment, fron being snowbound, but its melting now, thank God!

Take Care All! Stacey B
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OMG, I just got off the phone with sis, she was calling about the continuing saga of BIL's healthcare. The poor man has only recently finished his IV antibiotics for endocarditis, he has a renal specialist because his kidneys are failing and he is waiting to meet with a cardiologist to decide about treatment for his valve defect and aneurysm so there is a lot going on - all of this since he was forced to leave work a few weeks prior to his retirement because he fell ill. Today they got lectured by a doc at their follow up appt that there were too many doctors involved and "I'm done" as he stormed out of the room... uhm, how do you think they feel buddy? So how to coordinate his care when each person they talk to points to someone else, and questions get them a tongue lashing?
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He's got an aneurysm and is "waiting to meet with a cardiologist"?????

Oy! Have they evaluated how big the aneurysm is? Is it aortic or abdominal?

Have they considered ER at a teaching hospital?

DH's aortic aneurysm was discovered entirely by accident. It was 5.8 mm. We were sent directly to a hospital to see a cardiothoracic surgeon. Surgery to replace leaking valve and aorta happened 48 hours later. They did not let him out of bed while awaiting surgery
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My Father died of a heart aneurysm and the Paramedic's said that even if they were right there,standing over him,they couldn't have saved him.
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Chuckle - I'm imagining you whistling, drumming your fingers and saying "la di dah, no rush, don't hurry yourselves" through gritted teeth there, Barb; but maybe this aneurysm was picked up through screening or other tests? The NHS not many years ago started routine AAA screening for men over - whatever age, can't remember - and are catching 'em much earlier on.

Still, let's not let the grass grow, eh..?
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They needed to get the infection under control first, the cardiologist apt is coming up next week I think. I only know what I've read on line (which is probably more than BIL knows or understands). but a thoracic aneurysm is often a consequence of the type of valve malformation that he has. The hospital itself is excellent and associated with the university but it feels as though they are just plugging holes in the dike without anybody coordinating his care - I had thought his GP would be a stronger advocate but that isn't happening. Meanwhile he has been feeling unwell and coughing a lot and the last time that was due to fluid around his lungs, but they were sent home with a lecture and no further examination.

Yes CM, the aneurysm was found when all the tests were run and the endocarditis was found back in Dec.
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Does he have a bicuspid aortic valve?
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Yes he does.
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Yup; it's what DH had. It's inherited; siblings and progeny need to be checked at some point. Good wishes to him!!!!
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Aneurysns are pretty serious stuff. They do have to get the infection under control, but this apparent disorganization must be pretty stressful for them -and for you.
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I guess it's the caregiver gene in me that makes me more feel concerned about this than they appear to be, I've been reading about reduced kidney function and everything about his cardiac problems and I've passed a lot of that on to sis, but I doubt BIL has really looked at any of it. I know sis will vent to me, have a nap and then have a go right back to her regular life, and BIL will spend most of his time in denial and the rest moaning about how unfair life is and expecting worst case scenarios without ever informing himself about any of it. All I can do is pass along information and advice, they (well mostly he) need to take ownership of it.
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This has been my most stressful mini vacay ever. I always take the week of Valentines off , to avoid bad weather and use my holiday time. The night before mom was to go to Aunts, she fell in the kitchen. no blood, seemed OK the next day and wanted to go.. Fine for the first week, tonight she asked me when I come to pick her up on Thursday to bring the walker! She has always refused the walker. She was good the first week, and then Thursday they went to the casino and her already bad back went out. She is using my cousins walker, and does not want to come home early,, and she had a Dr apt in 2 weeks for an injection, so Monday I will try to get it changed to Thurs so I can take her after I get her home. And I can't really get her home earlier because they are calling for bad weather where she is. I agreed to work tomorrow (back early) and they are taking me off Tues,, when the weather is supposed to turn. NO good dead as they say..
Then this week a friends relationship imploded, and she thought she could move in with hubs and I.. no that can't happen unless I kiss my marriage goodbye. She "understands" but is like a zombie She has parents she can go to,, she will not be homeless. Then another friend's mom passed away. We went to the viewing today, but of course I will miss the funeral because my work schedule got changed. She is in healthcare also, so she knows how is, but still I feel badly. Plus the stress of trying to figure out the overnight trip. I feel worse than if I had just kept mom home and went to work. Next year I am picking another week, this week has just been cursed
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((((Pam))) hugs to you.
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Hugs to all of you!  Cwillie how terribly frustrating for your sis and hubby. And Pam, my vacation turned sour also. I've been whining on FB, and got practical ideas, and hugs. I hate feeling so powerless.

Rose went to a rehab SNF, and liked it at first. It is More than an hour away, and I was too sick to drive or visit at first. 2calls to nurse sounded hopeful, but the Care-plan meeting was awful. After 2weeks, only 2 people at meeting, and neither one had worked with Rose. No PT person or his report, just Social Worker and head nurse. Both had differing opinions of PT progress. SW tried to scare me into signing Rose up for permanent wing, since she had stopped making progress and may soon be off Medicare PT, and couldn't go home with need for 24/7 supervision. Nurse told me she HAS made some progress already. She will never stay there for long. I've tried to reach PT when he was in, left messages to call. Nothing for a week.

Meanwhile, when I asked if they understood the limited DNR, the nurse cut me off with' We don't do them here. We call ambulance and someone else decides.' SW made a number of incorrect assumptions about us and Rose, and
I was yelling before the end. That was one of the times my friend and R's home caregiver interrupted saying, we need to discuss and decide later.

We were told Rose hated their cooking. She had gagged once (nerves?) so they switched her to purée food, which she pushed away. I told them she hated baby food and would refuse to eat, she's as stubborn as me. They said she wouldn't tell them. The nurses in the hospital could read non-verbal cues, but they can't?  They say they've worked with dementia, but I doubt it. The worst part was the cna helping Rose transfer back to bed from wheelchair. She was close to abusive. Too angry to deal with all of it yet.

My brother was to go today and let us know his impressions, but he and wife now have that horrid cold hitting everyone. Tues I'll see an SNF close to home. I already filled out application. No bed available yet. Will also have her doc order in-home PT for the next week. I have 2 caregivers lined up for more hours, and can get more. Wed. I have 2health apps, so I can stay sane and healthy. I'll keep trying for a PT report, and if I don't get it, I'll 'kidnap' her home, with my own  cna who can transfer her into car.

Well, it is midnight, and now I am a bit less stressed. Maybe I can get some sleep. Whine on, Caregiver Warriors!
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Grannie Annie....seems like you are on top of everything. I learn so much from you! Hope your bro and sil feel better quick.
My whine today is how the heck do folks get wheelchairs in and out of the car? And it also slides around when we are driving. If I put down some gripper material to stop the banging around then I can’t get the chair out unless I lift it. I am 5’3 and have short arms too ugh! The chair weighs about 25 lbs so not too terribly heavy just bulky.
Happy Monday everyone!
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OMG.... I am so tired of the boo-hoo, I'm getting old and I don't want to get old! Every single night, it's what day is this, is tomorrow Saturday? Well no, Mom, we just had Saturday and Sunday, so no, today is Monday and tomorrow is not Saturday.

Me: Well, it's understandable you don't know what day of the week it is because you don't work, don't look at the calendar, of course it's normal to lose track of the time.

Her: (totally ignoring what I just said) Well what day is today...

Me: well Mom I just said it's Monday and we just had the weekend and I just worked today.

Her: Oh you just don't understand...( yelling angrily now). I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET OLD!!!!

Me: Well, sorry that's the way it is... are we going to go through this every single day? I don't want to get older either, but I am... SO WHAT !

Edit to say: This always follows the pattern of her being complimentary and pityingly saying to me something along the line of..... you do so much to take care of me, you go out of the way.... and then 5-10" later, she's being her nasty self. But QUEEN that she is, oh no, poor her!
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Hubs and I changed our plans and got mom home today ahead of the snow storm that is called for. Thank God for 2 cousins who got ahold of me.. mom was taking 3 500mg Tylenol every 2 hours.. say goodbye to the kidneys! I called the Dr on the way home, and they squeezed us in. No eveidence of fracture or breaks, just severe pain when walking. He said only 4 Tylenol a day, and said at this point only PT will help. So we are getting home PT set up. She is not a happy camper.. wants that magic pill or shot to fix this.. not gonna happen Mom.. She can still take her regular pain meds.. but the "extras" are off the table. I do think she will do the PT,, extra attention is always good!
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Pamz....glad you got back before the snow and bad weather....and hope the PT goes well in the coming days.

Myownlife....we have a saying in our house for fun .....we have “6 Saturdays and one Sunday “ every week because FIL loves to go to church on sunday and out for lunch afterwards. It’s his big day out! But maybe on the helpful side - a big light up Digital thermometer which shows the day and date in her room or bathroom ? When FIL asks what day it is we would say did you check your thermometer or desk calendar and he began to look for himself before asking us.
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I am SO sick of boxes!!! They are piled up to the ceiling and are a rat maze through the house. The more I pack, the more I FIND to pack.

I’m also tired of being COLD!!
The house hasn’t warmed up to 59 degrees yet and my nose, toes and fingers are frozen.
I keep telling myself this will all be over in a couple weeks.

Mom is still recuperating from bronchitis so a change of plan on taking her to the new facility BEFORE we drive down. I guess I’ll fly back and get her after she’s better.

I know there’s a Margarita with my name on it sitting on the beach for me. 🌴🍸☀️
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DH joined his golf buddies for breakfast this morning. With his erratic sleeping, erratic bp, hoping the meds wake the neurotransmitters up quickly, morning outings are a bit of a challenge. But he made it. Only to find himself listening to how they're all going on a 21 day trek overseas with their spouses. And he's getting ready to go to exercise class to work on his mobility. I admit to a bit of hypersensitivity and shorter fuse these days, but geez, I wish they just had skipped asking him to breakfast today.
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