12/03/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 12TH MARCH 2007. MUM WAS BRIGHTER TODAY. AT 9.30AM I FOUND HER SITTING ON HER CHAIR, BUT WITH HER UNEATEN BREAKFAST IN FRONT OF HER. SHE HAD NO APPETITE, SO I GOT HER A GLASS OF MILK AND SHE SETTLED FOR THAT. SHE HAD, HOWEVER, HAD A GOOD NIGHT AND LOOKED FRESHER THAN YESTERDAY. AS WE CHATTED SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAS COME TO THE PLACE WHERE SHE REALISES THAT SHE NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO DO THINGS.  A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO SHE HAD DETERMINED THAT SHE WOULD DO MORE THINGS BY HERSELF, BUT HAD NOW DISCOVERED THAT THE THOUGHT IS EASIER THAN THE DEED. 

WE SPOKE TO JANET, THE MANAGERESS, AND HAVE ARRANGED THAT THE CARERS WILL GET MUM UP AT 7.30AM EACH MORNING AND HELP HER TO WASH AND DRESS BEFORE BREAKFAST. THEY WILL THEN SETTLE HER IN HER CHAIR. BECAUSE MUM HAS A RELUCTANCE TO RING HER BELL IN CASE IT INTERRUPTS THE CARERS’ ATTENTION TO OTHER PEOPLE JANET HAS INSTRUCTED ALL THE CARERS TO LOOK IN ON MUM WHENEVER THEY PASS HER DOOR TO SEE IF SHE WANTS ANYTHING.  SHE HAS ALSO RECEIVED, YET AGAIN, FIRM INSTRUCTIONS TO RING HER BELL WHENEVER SHE HAS A NEED. 

WE ALSO ARRANGED 6.30PM AS THE OFFICIAL TIME WHEN THE CARERS WILL UNDRESS MUM AND PUT HER INTO BED ON THE TWO EVENINGS WHEN I AM NOT THERE. THIS WILL GIVE HER TIME TO RELAX BEFORE THE EVENING MEDICATION ARRIVES FOLLOWED BY HORLICKS AND HER SLEEPING PILLS.

FINALLY MUM HAS TO RING HER BELL FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN SHE WANTS TO GO TO THE LOO.  SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS ON HER OWN AND IT HAS BEEN A RIGHT STRUGGLE FOR HER.

FOR SOME DAYS NOW SHE HAS BEEN SAYING THAT SHE CAN’T BE BOTHERED WITH FOOD. FOR LUNCH SHE HAD SOME SOUP WHICH WAS ALL SHE WANTED. TEA-TIME WAS A CORNISH PASTY WHICH SHE SAID WAS TOO MUCH OF A STRUGGLE TO EAT. IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE, DUE TO HER FAILED EYESIGHT SHE COULD NOT SEE IT TO CUT AND EAT WITH HER KNIFE AND FORK. WHEN I CUT IT UP AND FED IT TO HER SHE ENJOYED IT, AND I DID THE SAME WITH THE FRUIT AND CREAM WHICH FOLLOWED AND WHICH SHE ATE MOST OF.  I ASKED HER IF THAT WAS THE REASON SHE DID NOT EAT DINNER BUT JUST SOUP BUT SHE SAID THAT AT LUNCHTIME SHE HAD HAD NO APPETITE. 

PETER, BARBARA AND I ALREADY HELP MUM WITH HER FOOD WHEN WE ARE THERE AT MEAL-TIMES BUT IT APPEARS THAT HER EYESIGHT IS NOW MAKING THIS MORE OF A NECESSITY WHICH HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

AT 6.30 THIS EVENING MUM WAS STILL QUITE FRESH AND HAD A HEALTHY COLOUR TO HER CHEEKS, SO MUCH SO THAT SHE DIDN’T GO TO BED UNTIL 7PM.  I FINALLY LEFT HER AT EIGHT OCLOCK REGALED WITH HORLICKS, MEDICATION AND SLEEPING PILLS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO  TUESDAY MORNING WHICH IS BATH MORNING AND WHICH SHE ENJOYS IMMENSELY - WASHED ALL OVER AND POWDERED TOGETHER WITH A CLEAN NIGHTIE.

……… AND THE DAY AFTER, THE 14TH, SHE IS DUE TO HAVE HER NEW PHONE LINE INSTALLED.

SHE ESPECIALLY ASKED ME TO SEND HER LOVE TO YOU ALL VIA THE BLOG.

MORE TOMORROW,

LOVE TO ALL,

TED.

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12/03/2007 by Ted.

13TH MARCH 2007 IS THE 26TH BIRTHDAY OF MATTHEW. MATT, THE FAMILY JOIN TO WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY.

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