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A visit with Mom
Yesterday afternoon, Abe went with me over to see Mom for about an hour or so. He had never been in to Brookhaven where the rehab is. We told her when we first got there it would be a short visit, since we had our daughter's dog Mack visiting while they are gone over the week-end, we weren't sure how he might be alone in a different house. So as we got up, I was sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed, I said, well Mom, I'll give you a kiss when I come back later for my visit. She smiled and said, yes, you must hand those out sparingly. Which got Abe and me chuckling, so then I walked around and gave her a kiss.

Then they called and said they thought she should be sent over to the hospital to have her leg checked for a blood clot. If they got her there before 5pm they could do it right away. I know how uncomfortable it is for her trying to get that leg in and out of the car, so they called a transport service, but they couldn't get there until after 5pm, which meant after 5pm she would have to set and wait and it could be up to three hours or longer. So my niece that works there took her over. I found out later, I passed her on the way in, that there was no one waiting for them when they got there, so she had to get a wheelchair and put Mom into it and have her set in the lobby, while she went and parked the car, and walked back to the hospital, then when they were done, she had to again, park Mom in the lobby and go get the car and come back to pick her up at the main entrance. I know this hospital has done a lot of remodeling so I don't know how I would have managed, that was the reason I told them to have the transport service take her. Her leg was fine, which Mom told me she was sure it was anyway. She thought the pain was from so much activity she had been having. Good grief, just the day before, Abe and I had driven her to the home from a different hospital, that is about 32 miles away, plus they had her up several times. Like I said, she's got spunk, and she very seldom complains. And they also have been giving her the shots in your stomach to thin the blood. So I don’t know why they thought she had a clot, except for the fact it was hurting her pretty bad. I figured it’s that muscle in the back of the leg that’s really getting a work out, but I guess the home wanted to keep it’s butt covered in case there was something seriously wrong.

Twice she has taken herself back to the bed after using the bathroom, we've all tried to tell her, you put on the light and let them help you. She said well she hates to make them walk that far down the hall to where she's at. We've told her, that's what they get paid for. I guess they've all told Debbie, your Grandmother sure isn't demanding is she. NO, she's very independent, and wants to do things for herself. I think, though we've finally made her realize, that when she's on pain medication, how easy she could get light headed and fall, even with the walker, and that won't be a good thing.

Went back to see her later, and she was just finishing up her supper. They seem to have pretty good meals. I guess if I let them know ahead, I can buy a meal and eat with her, so I will have to do that now and then. In fact, they greet you with a little box of items, and one of the things in the box is a free lunch pass for a guest, you just have to let the nurse know ahead so they can bring an extra tray.

But I still have to chuckle about the kiss. Mom has cable in her room, her own phone, that when you call it rings right direct to her, she even has a flat screen TV. I guess this only happens in the rehab section. If you're a guest in the regular rest home section, you have a big old TV, don’t know about cable, and your phone calls go through a switchboard.

Well that's about it. We don't have anything special planned for this long week-end. One daughter, her husband has to work at the hospital all week-end, another is having back problems, one is in NC gem mining, and I haven't really talked with the other daughter to see what they have planned.

I just wish we would get a little rain, it keeps clouding up, has for the past couple of days, but nothing. I was talking to a cousin that lives north of us about 75 miles, and while we were talking she mentioned how badly they need rain, and all at once she said, it's RAINING, really hard. so I thought perhaps it would make it down to us, but it didn't. The last few days around here they have told older people, and people with bad allergies and also breathing problems not to be out any longer then necessary. So we know the air is bad right now.

Well this is just a rambling type of post this morning. Hope everyone has a great week-end. Abe wants to go to some cemeteries and take some photos today, since they will be all decorated for the week-end. I told him we could take Mack over to his own house and let him there, since he knows how to stay alone there. I have to go check on the cats this morning anyway, so I better get myself dressed. More later,have a great week-end.

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