Everyday Is A Good Day

Mom, her "car" and her babies
January 14, 2012

"Okay, Dear."  Mom sang to me in her happy voice yesterday when I was leaving the home.  She was holding her babies; we had just gone for a long walk which always tires her out.

Mom's doing awesome.  I expect that she'll be discharged from Hospice soon.  Everyday is a good day for her; she feels safe and secure.  She has her babies, a car and her life is complete.  My dream for her has come true.

The scoot chair that mom sits in when she's not resting in bed, has become a car in mom's mind.  She "drives" it up and down the halls, self propelling herself as she patrols and makes sure everyone is safe.   I am grateful that the facility set mom up in the scoot chair, the Hospice chair was not as comfortable and seemed to trigger agitation.

I visited the home yesterday.  I had not been to the facility since Saturday.  Mom didn't miss me.  She barely stayed with me, she was on patrol.  I hung her cloths, cleaned up her closet and dresser drawers and talked to other residents who were happy to visit with me.

"Oh... it's you... Come here!"  One of my resident friends said as she smiled and waved to me.  "I need to use the bathroom!"  I rushed her down the hall to her Care Aide.  I ask my mom this question so much that all the residents associate me with the toilet.   Great.

At one point during my visit, I was chasing my mom down the hall.

"Jo!  Come here, I have a cup of coffee for you."  I called to her.  I had just made her a cup of coffee using her Keurig one cup coffee maker.  Mom ignored me and drove herself into the dinning room.

"Forget about Jo!  I want you to stay with me.  I need you over here!"  Mom's roommate answered back.

Difficult not to laugh out loud, I answered Mom's roommate.  "But you look so good!"  I attempted to change the subject,  It didn't work.

"I know it.... but that still doesn't do me any good."  Another answer that made me want to buckle over in a fit of laughter; I didn't.

I'm enjoying time with my mom and the folks at the home where she lives.  The nurses who care for my mom have become my friends.  I trust a few more than others; they've earned my trust.

I can't help but think about the day when mom dies.  My routine will change again.  Daily morning calls to West 2 will stop, only to be replaced by another family member calling them to check on the next new resident.

Over the last 8 months since mom's been living in a nursing home, I have made friends with some of the staff.  We've been through a lot, many of them even survived the "Wrath of Sue"; some of it documented in the pages of this blog while other stories remain locked up in my private writing for publishing at a much later date, long after my mom is dead.

Right now... life is good.  Mom's happy, so I'm happy.  I worry less, especially on days when my "A Team" are working.  This weekend, the "A Team" is on duty both day and night.  I have the weekend off.  No need for me to rush to the facility to keep an eye out for mom and enlighten staff who don't understand how to communicate with her.

Thank you Georgia, Stephen, Kathy and Cheryl, because of you, everyday is a good day!