Friday, November 4, 2011

Friday is our day to be the caregivers...we are there just as much for Bill as we are for Elsa...and his eyes light up when he sees us in the morning.  Such a welcome sight, he says!  He trusts the caregivers, but I think he feels so much better when we are the ones to be there all day.  It was really an uneventful day...Elsa slept most of the time...she only used the bathroom twice and we moved from the couch to the bed and back to the couch...and during those times, her eyes are mostly closed....they are closed when I feed her (I ask her to open her mouth like a baby bird and I will know to put more food into her mouth)  and the eyes are closed when we talk...but we are not talking much these days...and her voice is quieter and sometimes it is hard to understand what she says.  Today as she lay in bed with the comforter all tucked around her, she looked so small...she tried to say something to me and I couldn't understand her...I tried to give her some water with a straw, but it seemed she didn't know what to do with the straw...it just sat in her mouth....So I ran to get a wash cloth and dipped the corner into water and put it into her mouth for some moisture, she did suck on it.  Then I remembered the hospice kit that was delivered...surely there would be some sponges in there (I remember having some for my mom)...the kit had not been opened yet and it was sealed...the box had a sign that said:  Call Hospice before opening.  Well, I didn't think a little sponge would be a big deal, and I felt Elsa needed some moisture, now...so I opened it and dipped it into water and put it in Elsa's mouth...she soaked it up and then I moved it all around her teeth and gums and inside her mouth...She said it felt good (well, I actually asked her if  that felt good and I got a little nod).... then she went back to sleep.  Then I called the hospice number and they said I did the right thing and that they would bring out more of the sponges for me later that day.

I brought my waffle iron with me to Bill and Elsa's house and made waffles for breakfast...and I enticed Elsa to eat maybe 8 tiny pieces of waffle with syrup...she said it was good.  For lunch she had about 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes and I told her I loaded on the butter...she and I are big fans of butter...real butter always makes things taste so much better.  And she ate it all...with her eyes closed!  I don't see that as a problem...I am the one who needs to see where to put the spoon!   She just opens her mouth for me!

And later for dinner she had a bit of potato salad (do you think we are loading her up on carbs?) and she said yummy...I was happy to get the thumbs up from her, because I made it and she taught me how to make the best potato salad ever!  She had to teach me by example...I once tried to follow her recipe and it was awful...there are little tricks and once I saw her make the whole thing...e.v.e.r.y little step of the way...then I got it and ever since I do good!!  (except for the few times that my potatoes are either a little too mushy or a little too hard in the center which makes the salad a little crunchy!!...BUT, good news, I have totally solved that problem.  I use my steam oven!!  yes, it was a light bulb moment I told Elsa.  I peeled and cubed my potatoes into my bite size pieces and put them into the steam oven...9 minutes later they are all perfect!!  I never have to go back to boiling the potatoes again!!).  And for Bill, I made some deviled eggs and Elsa said she would like to eat one, so I cut up one half of the egg and fed it to her...and she liked it and she got her protein (I know, along with some fat...but who cares!)

After dinner, Bill went and sat by Elsa and as you can see, they are holding hands....I think if you click on the picture, you may get a bigger view...you will see some moisture around Bill's eyes.  I was sitting at the table and gave him a "thumbs up" and he knew what I was thinking...he gave me a "thumbs up" back...he stayed there for almost an hour...not talking, just holding hands.  We kind of have Elsa propped up...she tends to start being like the leaning tower of Pisa ...so Scott put the brown body pillow down her side and over the top of the couch, he tucked it into her neck so her head could rest on it and then she has the comforter tucked all around her and the fireplace is going and the heat is up to 72...we are wearing short sleeves, but she asks for the heat to be turned up!  We figure we can always step outside...

We love this lady...she is so gracious, thanking us for everything we do for her...and she is not complaining and when we make adjustments we ask if that is okay and it is always "fine"...she really doesn't like to be a bother...and of course she is NOT...

Edited to add:  I went back and looked at the other pictures...from Monday (Halloween) to Friday (today) there is a big change in her appearance and her ability to move...she does not assist with getting up any more and she can not adjust herself in bed...so where you put her is where she stays.  Her mouth is drying out more frequently and it seems as if talking is harder to do...although there is nothing wrong with her hearing!  We may be sitting at the table talking quietly and she appears to be sleeping (the eyes closed, you know) and all of a sudden she makes a comment about what we are talking about...so I don't think a whole lot gets by this  lady...maybe she really isn't sleeping as much as I think she is!!