Friday, June 27, 2014

This day of today

Hello again

The gentlemen that I mentioned that I thought was not going to make it, did pass away last night. I am glad I was able to pray for him. And give him to GOD

He will be missed, as will the others.

So mom is good today, happy, and full of energy. I had to leave a little early. OK the same time. Mom was not asleep yet and it did not look like she was going to fall asleep any time soon. But I needed to leave to get mom some things before it got to late.

But she ate allot this night. I baked her a squash with butter and brown sugar and lemon pepper sole. She ate this, a piece of pizza and some of the served dinner. And her fruit and chocolate. More than I eat in a day.

I only eat when I get home at night. Once a day. I live on tea the rest of the time. I can't afford to eat 3 meals a day. I should be skinny, but it is the time I eat. Sometimes 1 am.

Now mom was in a hurry to eat and then a hurry to get to bed. But it is Friday and I was her hair this day as well. It is not just washing her hair. It is massaging her scalp, Styling her hair. Pampering her.

And it was the normal spa treatment and conversation.

And off I went, I felt guilty about leaving before mom was asleep. Tomorrow I will stay until she is asleep for the night.

For me, my right arm is numb today, a serious headache, more so than the headaches I have everyday. And my back is killing me. I am dropping things like crazy with my right arm. And trying to use my left arm for everything is very difficult.

So as it is, I am in pain and I am going to bed as soon as I am finished with this tonight.

Not hungry. I'll eat something, no cooking though, don't want to spend the time.

My faith is still day by day

GOD bless and good night.

Kris Schmuland

Please pray that I find a place, whatever, so I can be out of this pig pen by August 1, 2014

It is for mom that I need to be living closer. To spend more time with her. As you can see, life is fleeting. It is that quick.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

What a title

Hello again

It has been one of those weeks when people pass on to a better place. So far this week two people that I speak with and know have passed away. And another gentleman is going to be passing very soon. I think he will be gone by tomorrow when I get their.

I have seen so much death over the years. People I know, speak with on a daily basis. The two that have passed on, I was speaking with them earlier this week. The gentleman, I helped him to his room just the other day.

I didn't get a chance to bless the two that have passed, but tonight I made sure I was in this man's room, praying for his soul and, I guess last rights. I have the bible on my phone, a few bible's and versions. And know what passages to read to my friend. This is what I call those who have passed and the one who is passing. A friend.

I prayed and said, what comes to me, which is "I give you peace my son, I welcome you home."

It is that quick. One day one is having conversations with these individuals and the next day they are gone. That quick.

I will miss each of these beautiful souls. I will miss their smiles and friendly demeanor.  I will miss the mans playing of the piano at times.

I not only am their getting to know and helping my mother. I am also speaking with, getting to know, all of the residents of the place mom is in.

It is that quick. this is why I need to be living in White Rock ASAP. So I am their, if anything should happen. So I am their, right away, rather than being 3 hours away and only able to get their during certain times.

Mom is more important to me than anything.

IT IS THAT QUICK

Well tonight I brought mom a burger and onion rings. I got their and we went to her room to do the usual things. Give her drinks, from the 8 different types I have for her, She only drinks a little bit at a time, so why not mix it up and let her taste all sorts of different drinks.

Get the plates, the chocolate, the fruit, the wet clothes etc...... I told mom what I brought and it was time to go and eat. Mom expressed this clearly.

Mom has different ways of letting me know what she wants. Different ways she opens her mouth, and this was time to eat.

We got down to our table, I set it up, mom was getting very impatient, so I hurried as fast as I could go.

Now mom ate the burger, the onions rings, most of the dinner served to her, the fruit, some smoothie, and her chocolates.

I asked if she ate today, she smiled and nodded yes.

It is difficult feeding mom with my right arm, it is in pain most of the time. But I can't feed mom with my left arm, not because I can't do it, because it startles mom to much. As mentioned, I think their is blind spot. Or she is not use to me doing this. So I have to feed her with my right arm. Very painful. Painkillers is what is helping me out. They are not very strong. I won't take anything to strong or addictive.

I get through it, get her ready for bed. The staff came in right away and we all laughed, As mom was leaning forward looking out of the corner of her eye to see if the women was coming.

Then it was just me, singing to her, I have a good voice, by the way. And holding her hand until it was time to leave. That alone is a big production. Have to set up the pads on each side of her bed, pack everything to go home with me, lower the bed to the floor. as low as it can go. Then I sing to her, our good night song, give her a kiss good night and off I go.

It is not a production, it just takes time. Excuse me.

My faith is still day by day. I must go now. Almost midnight. I really do need to eat. I am in so much pain when I get home. I just write this, my pain journal, answer a few emails, write some emails and I am ready to go to bed. I forget about eating. Or I eat crap.

GOD bless and good night

Kris Schmuland

In order for me to use to hands to type, I have to have the keyboard right up against me. Other wise it is just my left hand that does all the work.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Together we are

Hello again

I have to keep explaining to these people to stop giving mom her medication so early before dinner. Then when I arrive, mom is tired and when she is tired, it is difficult for her to eat. To chew and swallow. She is to tired and mom will just chew and chew. Even the mush they serve her. And she is tired and she leans over to one side. This makes it difficult to feed her or give her something to drink.

I complain about this as I have seen what mom is like when she is given her medication at or while she is eating dinner. There is a huge difference. She will eat her food, chew and swallow without a problem. OK, it depends on what she is eating.

As mentioned, she is not into steak anymore. To tough. I will try a really good cut one of these days. This summer anyways. I know she can eat a hamburger without any problems.

Now I have been trying, for days, to get a hold of this person from the PGT but no luck. Won't return my emails or answer the phone or return my messages. REALLY I understand people are busy, but 3 days now.

So mom ate but not as much as she normally eats and I had to keep getting her to straighten up and having to assist with this. This is painful for me, as I need to use both arms for this. Well, we got it done and I always explain to her, that it is not her, it is getting her medication early.

Had to put her to bed myself this evening. It was 7 pm and I need to be out and on a bus by 8:10 pm I got her into bed and finished part of her spa treatment before the staff came into change her.

Another reason I need to live in White Rock. People tell me I spend allot of time with her. But I am busy from the moment I get their until I leave. I need to spend at least another 1/2 hour or more their to be able to get everything done, with time to hold her hand while she falls asleep.

I like to make sure mom is completely asleep before I leave.

Well need to go, lots to do tomorrow

All this extra things I have been doing with my right arm, has caused it to go numb

GOD bless and good night

My faith is still day to day

Kris Schmuland

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

It is another painful day

Hello again

So I went the doctors today, and he is sending me for x-rays. It seems that it is to long for me to have such restricted movement in my neck. And on top of that my elbow is killing me. The arm is getting numb. the back hurts etc.............................................................................................................................

Anyways, my doctor is in White Rock, so I went straight to mom's after this. And it is Tuesday, so we ate dinner in her room. The table we normally use is busy on Tuesdays and the family room is in use a 6 pm. If we were to use the family room, I would have to rush mom through dinner. And that I will not do. We take our time, that way mom can chew her food and swallow it. Have a nice relaxing dinner.

If I were not to feed her, the staff would rush her through dinner. Not giving her a chance to even digest her food before putting another spoon full in her mouth. This is why they serve her pureed food. They don't have the time to let mom actually enjoy her food.

No word from the doctor on giving mom the B Complex I purchased for her. This is what the nurse was telling me. Of course not, I said to her. I just gave the bottle to you yesterday. It will take the doctor a few days to get this done.

I am also going to get mom flax seed and grind it up, and put it on her food. This will give her extra vitamins plus the omega 3 she needs. Plus the added benefit of this, is it will help her with constipation. Keep her moving. As stated, Tylenol is very bad and constipates people. Any form of it. The keep trying to tell me it is only the one with codeine in it.

Now we finished and mom was in a hurry for me to change her and get her into bed. But we had a few minutes before the care aid came in to put her in bed. So I read some more of the book we are reading. The Life of Pi. Good story. Mom is liking it.

And the rest we all know. Spa treatment and then I just held her hand while she fell off to sleep.

Someone else said to me today, This is a womens job, why are you doing it. I replied, this is my job, this is what I do and mom has no problem with me doing this for her. I know she prefers it, over my mother's daughters. I also stated to this person, that this is obviously something you would not be able to do. Just by their reaction I knew it was true. They were alarmed.

Well I am done, I have other things I need to do before turning this computer off.

GOD bless and good night for today. My faith is day to day.

Kris Schmuland

Monday, June 23, 2014

Monday, Monday, Monday

Hello again

Mom is OK. There is nothing new to report on her health. Except that when I brushed her teeth, mom swallowed the tooth past down the wrong side and had a coughing fit for 15 minutes. Hard to breath. I just kept asking her to breath slowly and giving her little sips of water.

It was going on and on, for a while. I was ready to call for the nurse. I mentioned this on my way out so they can keep an eye out, if something happens.

I got mom some liquid B Complex to mix with the Vega Supplement she gets. Mom has a hard time taking the supplement. It is not very tasty. The liquid B is cherry flavored. I want them to mix this with the Vega powdered supplement. It should make it taste better, number one, and help it go down easier. This and a little juice.

A regular nurse was on tonight and this nurse gives mom her medicine early, So by the time I get their and start to feed her, mom is already tired. Where as the nurse yesterday, gave mom her medicine, while I was feeding her and mom ate allot more than today.

I will be asking and mentioning my observations and asking that they give mom these medications later, so mom is hungry at dinner time.

Got her ready for bed and the care aid and I changed her. With this care aid, I stay and help out. It is better for mom. She is more relaxed.

Of course the spa treatment followed. Which, as I have mentioned before, completely relaxes mom. So when I am done, mom is almost asleep. But tonight and for the past few nights, I have been doing some exercises for her legs. Moving them about, up and down. And putting my hand under her knee and getting them to bend. Opening up her left hand as far as it can go, without her hurting to much. Slowly and over time I see mom being able to bend her knee's again and to straighten out and open her left hand.

It hurts her a little bit and I stop when it gets to that point. But we have to keep doing it for the therapy to work. I have been through enough physiotherapy to know what I am doing.

Finished everything early, and I decided to stay latter. So mom was comfortable and asleep when I left.

For me, I am in serious pain. I have called two lawyers already and neither has returned my calls. They could at least call me and let me know they are not interested. It is not the huge money maker they want, but I am hurt and it was not my fault. The insurance company is not doing anything for me. I lost a place because of this accident. And some money making opportunities. As I can use my right arm correctly anymore. My neck is stiff as, well, you know. Have to have the keyboard right next to me to use both arms.

Haven't been able to write with my arm. I can't feed mom with my left arm. She is not use to it and is jumpy and twitches when I am trying to feed her with the left arm. Not use to the cutlery coming that way.

Mom must have a blind spot or depth perception problem on the left side. Maybe it is that she can only see so far on either side. I will have to check this out tomorrow.

So in pain, can't write with my right arm, to much pain, my neck is killing me., I am loosing my hearing, to hard to continue to carry everything. Barely use my right arm. I have had a headache for two months now. The painkillers I am taking aren't doing much for me. My back is hurting me. Bending over is painful. Etc.... etc......

That is the rant for myself.

I am going now. Have lots to write about. I still have allot to do tonight. Some research to do. I also need to take a break before I continue with my work. Allot of pain to deal with

I am taking my faith day by day.

GOD bless and good night

Kris Schmuland

Sunday, June 22, 2014

I am still upset and will be

Hello again

A Sunday, a beautiful Sunday at that. Warm, not to hot. A little breeze. Whats not to like. The fact that I am still living in Coquitlam and can't seem to find a place that I can afford. I raised what I would be comfortable paying. Decided what I will cut out from my life to pay the extra. But nothing. Damn it anyways.

Mom was very happy to see me today, as usual. A big smile on her face when she saw me walk towards her.

When I arrive we go to her room to get her things, and while their I give mom something to drink. And off we go to our table by the balcony. It was so hot in this place today, I was sweating. They had mom in a shirt plus a sweater over it. But she was not sweating. I don't understand why not.

So I opened the balcony door a little bit, to get a breeze coming. Mom did complain at first about the breeze but that didn't last very long and she was enjoying it. I think, anyways. Not sure. Remember she doesn't speak. I just read her expressions and body language.

It took time tonight to feed her. She had allot to choose from. Some left over salads from last night and the new things tonight. Baked beans with pulled pork. Mom really likes this dish I get for her. Me, I don't eat pork at all, never and haven't for many, many years. I promise I made.

So I need to use a separate fork, knife and spoon. Because I sometimes sample her meal and I don't want to be eating with anything that had pork on it. Just my thing.

Just because I don't eat something, doesn't mean I won't make it for mom. I can't eat eggs, but I make great omelets for mom all the time.

Mom became very tired afterwards. Full I guess. So she was falling asleep while I was changing her for bed. After the staff put mom in bed, and when I got back. Mom was almost asleep.

I got her spa treatment done as quick as possible. I started to move mom's legs around, bend her knees a little. Try to open her left hand. I have been doing this for a few days now, and there is a little movement with mom bending her legs. And I got her left hand to open up, about half way.

The home has done nothing to improve this stiffness for mom. Even though, from the start, I asked them to make sure mom gets physiotherapy, because she will stiffen up.

Yes it took me this long to do something about it. Yes I should of started doing this the moment mom started to stiffen up. Lets hope it is not to late. I see movement at least. Slow and steady is the way to go. It took time to stiffen up and it will take time to bend and move again.

Now I have been trying to use my right arm, but my arm is getting extremely sore and numb. My back is still killing me. I still can only move my neck a little. The painkillers are not doing anything for me. It has been over two months and I still have a headache. It just won't go away.

Done for the night. Please pray for mom.

Got to go

Kris Schmuland