Ye has done well

Hello again

Last evening I started off by telling the story of the night gowns. So today, on my way to mom's, I stopped by Pro stitch in Coquitlam Centre, Coquitlam, BC, Canada. I complained. I said that I mentioned many times that it was to be from the bottom up. Not the other way.

The girl that took that order was just silent. And then the owner came over and apologized and said they will fix it. Sew the top up and fix the bottom the way it should of been. I mentioned that it would now have a rig where mom would be laying on.

I said I would prefer if they were replaced. She said they would do a good job and mom would not feel the seem. And they would give me store credit for other sewing jobs that I would need in the future. So I agreed.  I also wanted it to have a top seam, instead of a serged seam. They agreed and said it would be ready in a hour. No no I said tomorrow will be just fine. I am on my way to White Rock now.

Off I went. About an hour latter I got a call from Pro Stitch, the owner told me that they went to Sears and replaced them, bought new one's. They weren't on sale anymore and they paid for them.

So I am saying that Pro Stitch went above an beyond what they said they were going to do. I think this is great. Yet I did say I would prefer them be replaced, but settled on what we agreed on and the store credit. I will be writing the news papers and letting them know how they handle the situation.

Well today is mom's bath day. So she was in bed, as usual, for a Saturday. Of course she was very hot and was taking the covers off of herself. I gave her drinks as quick as I could. I warmed her dinner up.

Mom was very hungry this evening . Good, not like this past week. She ate allot and all of her dessert as well.

I changed her sheets. As the staff forgot to do this. It hurt like hell. And it is very difficult doing it with one arm.

The care aid came in to change her pad. after it was the normal spa treatment and then I just stood there and held her hand while she fell asleep.

Oh yes, I gave her more to drink. Let us not forget mom has a new smoothie today. And she gets this everyday. Before and after her meals. Strawberry, mango and banana smoothie,her favorite.

When I left mom was asleep. OK, almost asleep. but after our good night song.Which mom sings along with me Yes clearly. She went back to sleep.

I am still in pain, I still have not found a place in White Rock yet. Getting worried. Have to be out by the end of October. Don't have the money to move and ICBC is not going to assist me with this, even thought they want me to go to three physiotherapy appointments each week. And the physiotherapist is in White Rock

Need to go now, hungry and tired.

GOD bless and good night.

Kristopher Schmuland

Really, I know I

Hello again

I thought I wrote on here last night, but I opened the page and it was at the new blog page. So here I go.

Now I will start this evening by letting y'all know about something that happened in the last week. Which makes me believe that people hear you, but don't listen. OK I know people don't listen. I repeat myself to often to believe otherwise.

I recently purchased 4 night gowns for mom. Since she is in a wheel chair, they needed to be altered. What I man by this, is they needed to be made into adaptive clothing by cutting the back from the bottom up, until half way down the back of the gown. Cut it from the middle of the back down and sew it, so it doesn't fray.

I take them to Pro Stitch in Coquitlam Centre, Coquitlam, BC, Canada. They give me a price and I bring them into be cut and sewed,. The girl tells me I can pick them up Wednesday afternoon. I dropped them off last Saturday.

I pick them up and take them to mom's home. Now they need to be labeled and washed. Off they go. Today I was happy that they should of been back from being labeled.

I arrived and there they were in mom's closet. I grabbed on of them to put aside for after dinner. Telling mom, there finished and tonight you get to wear a actual night gown.

Well, when I looked it over, I couldn't see the slit up the back. I held it up and they cut the gown from the top down.to the middle of the back. I grabbed the other 3 and all are the same. I wash livid!

First off Vancouver BC, Canada is an extremely multi cultural place. People from all over the world live here. And this is what I like about living here. I can have a conversation, if I want to, with someone from many countries.

This being said, because of this, in the average work place you have people who speak many different languages. So I have and do make sure I repeat myself over and over again. So we all understand what we are talking about. Which I did this when explaining what it is that I needed them to do to the gowns. ;

Now they are ruined. They can't be fixed. Sure they can sew up which they altered and then cut the back down to what it should of been originally. But it will look like crap. Not what I asked for.

I am out allot of money. First purchasing the night gowns, then having them altered.

I will be taking them in tomorrow to see what they have to say. But I am ready to bring it on. Have a plan.

OK now on to mom and her life, to which I write this this Blog.

This last week mom has been very tired. And when she is this tired, it makes it hard to feed her. She doesn't open her mouth wide enough to get food in. And it drops everywhere. And then she just chews and chews her food. I do my best to make sure she eats. I am coaching her to open her mouth wider. It takes a long time to feed her. A little bit at a time. But we get it done. Slowly.

They put her in bed on Wednesday, she had an accident and they changed her and decided to just leave her in bed.

She is wide awake when I arrive, but as soon as she grabs hold of my hand, her eye's close and she starts to fall asleep. I wasn't able to wash her hair Wednesday, nor last night. I barely got her to eat and then all she wanted to do was go to bed.

Mom has been a little off this week. I get her in bed, give her the nightly spa treatment,then hold her hand while she falls asleep. But right before I am ready to leave, she wakes up and is just looking around. I need to leave, but I feel guilty that she is still awake. I usually don't leave until mom is asleep and her grip on my hand is loosened.Yet I need to leave or it is midnight by the time I get home.

I was able to wash her hair tonight and mom loved it. This makes her feel great about herself. Clean. And we got her into bed. Tonight mom was completely asleep when I left.

So this week, doing the exercises the doctor wants me to do, my shoulder went out. And now I can't turn my neck either way,without it being very painful.

And ICBC is trying to get me to settle, they tried to offer me a low ball settlement They also don't think what I do for my mother is a job. They don't think taking care of mom important enough. First off, I don't think of it as a job, nor a duty. It is simple the right thing to do and this is what I am suppose to do, at this time in my life. A blessed opportunity that I have been given. And I accept it with all my heart, and I thank GOD everyday for this opportunity.

So I have a plan.

Need to go.

GOD bless and good night

Kristopher Schmuland

It is not right

Hello again

So today I arrived to find mom in bed. She went to the bathroom and they decided that they are just going to keep her in bed.

It is a day for me to wash her hair. This is a important part of her week. It makes her feel good. They just did not want to bother to put her back in her clothing. All they had to do was put her pants back on.

I said to the staff tonight I do not want mom to be in bed tomorrow and I will be speaking with the manager about this.

Now mom has seemed off the last few days. Staring out into nowhere, I guess it didn't help matters that they turned all the lights on, didn't put any music on for her or they didn't even turn the TV on for her.

But yesterday she was the same way. Just spaced out. She has been talking up a storm. Making jokes I guess, but laughing.

Though mom is space out, she has been eating. A good thing.

I am just worried about her, as I am always worried. I want mom to be happy and healthy. If they keep putting her in bed, mom is just going to want to stay in bed and then she goes down hill from there.

Not going to happen.

Now on top of the fact I am in pain all the time, I am feeling very depressed the last few days. OK maybe a week now. I mean extremely depressed. Not wanting to eat, can't sleep.

I am tried of living so far away. But with my injuries I can't do much.

I need to have the keyboard right up against me to type now. Right arm shakes all the time. My neck is killing me. Can't turn it to the left without extreme pain.

Please GOD help me, is all I am saying during the day. Help me to move to White Rock so I can spend more time taking care of mom. I don't need anything. Just to be closer to mom.

GOD bless and good night

Kristopher Schmuland

It is alright

Hello again

Two days and everything is all right in the world. At least with mom anyways.

She is eating well. Mom is healthy.

I walked in today and I saw mom at the back of the room. She didn't see me yet. As soon as she did, this huge smile came across her face. She lit up. Reaching out her hand for mine.

Knowing that all is well and that I am their for her. To look after her in the way she has become accustom too.

I got her drinks out of the fridge and we went to her room. Being Tuesday, where we normally sit is occupied. And the family room is used at 6 pm. And I never rush mom while she is eating. I let her take her time. This way she enjoys all she is eating.

It was a normal night. Spa treatment, holding her hand while she falls asleep. Reading to her. Just the usual.

I left early today so I could maybe put up several flyer's around White Rock. I am not sure if I mentioned this before or not. But I wrote an add for accommodations. And have been putting it up around White Rock.

Anyways, today I decided to leave early. Well there were two delays on the train. Then the bus broke down.  I left an hour early and got their latter than I usually do. Rushed to get mom something to eat and get down to her home.

Still in pain and my arm was shaking badly today.

GOD bless and good night

Kristopher Schmuland

Still beautiful out

Hello again

Oh to speak French again. Use to, now I don't, trying to re learn it.

Mom was bright eyed and happy today. When I arrived she heard my voice and immediately reached out for my hand. I could see her on the other side of the room.

I did her laundry and the towels for her spa treatment last night and brought them back today. Plus everything else. Then I needed to pick up fruit on the way their. And by the time I arrived in White Rock I was loaded down with things. My bags where really heavy.

I have to stop doing this or I will throw my back out for good. And won't be able to walk.

Anyways I made a taco bake for mom and she ate 4 taco's Plus everything else and drank allot. Mom was extremely full when we finished dinner. I don't even eat that much at one sitting.

But it is only once a day that mom gets a home cooked meal. With taste, not bland.

We did the dishes and went back to here room, put her clothing away. I really didn't think there was that much clothing, until I started to put it away. No wonder my bags were heavy.

And got mom changed and I sat down and read to her until the girl came in to change her and put her to bed. And of course mom was so relaxed that the spa treatment was quick and easy. No fussing today. She had already received her nightly medication, by the time I returned.

All mom wanted at this point was for me to hold her hand and let her fall asleep. Which I did.

Will have to get a lamp for her room. The over head lights are just to strong for her. And me as well. But it is getting dark much earlier now. So it is time for a lamp. I need to see. I haven't  been turning on the lights, I have just been opening up the blinds for natural light. And this is 7 Pm. It will be getting darker earlier from now on. So no more natural light when it is mom's bed time.

OK time for me to go. I haven't been eating much lately. Nothing has had any taste. So have just not been eating. I have tried all sorts of things and nope. Not wanting to eat it.

GOD bless and good night.

Kristopher Schmuland.