Sunday, August 30, 2015

Bedside Manner(s)

My dear mom still has a five week stay in the hospital. Being on an IV of antibiotics for osteomyelitis is no fun thing, but she/we do the best we can. And in the meantime, I meet a few characters that give me food for a few blogposts.

Speaking of food, that is how the weekend doctor literally burst into Mom's hospital room yesterday afternoon. He didn't introduce himself to me, but he began asking my mom what her favorite meal would be. As Mom also has mouth thrush and finds fried tater tots and spicy red beans and rice quite disagreeable, she told him a nice plate of black-eyed peas with okra and a wedge of cornbread would be delicious. In fact, she said anything with veggies would be better than some of the fried crunchy morsels the cafeteria was serving.

As we had asked for a chicken noodle soup replacement for the tater tots at lunch, I initially thought this "clown" was the hospital chef/cook coming to get suggestions from Mom. Then I noticed the stethescope and realized this was the Dr. F. Mom had met on Friday. Nevertheless, he gave a whole spiel that restaurants in southern Louisiana traditionally do not serve too many country type meals with vegetables. Unless, of course, you go to the Piccadilly Cafeteria or Cracker Barrel restaurant. Blablablabla.....

Then Dr. F. recommended a probiotic that we could purchase at GNC that he was sure would cure most of my mom's ailments and gave his opinion of pain meds (narcotics) and was on his merry way.

As he said goodbye, he shouted, "Have a Blessed Day!"

And I said, "Sorry, but that is pronounced 'bless-id day.' Once an English teacher, always an English teacher." (smile)

This was his response: "If I go home and tell my wife who is a doctor that, she will hit me." 

Then he actually jumped out of the room.

Interesting bedside manner(s)!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

16C is 61F

I just can't wait to walk this morning with a light sweater. 

Is cooler weather really just around the corner? 
Or is this the big tease?

Who cares? 

I will enjoy every step and then rush to the hospital to be with my mom today.

She has moved to the "Honeymoon Suite" for a six week stay. 

She and Daddy went on my Honeymoon, so I'm sharing hers.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Hospital Visits Can Actually Be Amusing

Just use your imagination as you read the signs on these doors at our local hospital: 
Time for a good room cleaning?

I can only imagine the bumper/demolition cars stashed behind this door.

Lockdown!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

No Eating in the Disney Room

My mom is sick. 

Last evening my youngest brother brought her to the ER for fever, chills, and general disorientation. I came over to the hospital to sit with her and give him a break and a chance to get some sleep. 

As Mom tries to sleep, I crunch through the cereal and yoghurt  that I brought along from my home.

Then I notice Minnie Mouse on the bathroom door, with Mickey peeking above her.

Next I see Mickey and Goofy keeping watch on the monitor. 

And Pluto over my head checking out what I am eating for breakfast.

They have put our Mom in the Disney Room!!! For family members who knew my dad who passed away 17 years ago, he always called the room with the television the "Disney Room." 

And no one was allowed to eat in the "Disney Room"!

Somehow my granola and Greek yoghurt did not taste so great after I remembered his Disney room rule.

(Mom/Memaw is finally sleeping!)

Does this mean I have to watch Disney movies today?

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Let's Play Tagg!


Some of you have asked about the GPS device that our son bought for us to put on our Flip. 

All three of us were concerned that Flip and his girlfriend Cara were going a little bit too far. Away from home, that is! So we have been trying to keep track of where they "hang out."

Our TomTom GPS for our vehicles lets us know where we are driving and where to turn to get to our destination. 

Flip's Tagg gives him nothing but a pain in the neck attached to his collar, and he rarely knows where he is, where he is going, and how to get there the quickest. But we can monitor the general area where he is and where he has been in case he decides to camp out there or stay out too late for our comfort (or for his).

No need for a GPS at the moment. This dog is "dead" tired after only about one hour out in this heat and with a few extra pounds from taking meds (Prednisone) to reduce the ear hematoma. After two weeks of meds, the vet said he can stop taking the pills. 

It is time to get this guy back into his svelte shape! 


Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Floor Manager

The last two days I have been "managing" the floors in our house. 

Nismo the dog has gone to his "real" owner.
Flip is coping with meds for his ear hematoma (which has been cured by the Prednisone in less than two weeks!!) and the rainy weather.
And so I have attacked the hard floors downstairs.

Time for a foot soak.

Still a few more rooms tomorrow. 
Anyone interested in becoming my "floor manager"?

Today's step count inside the house:
3,000 (which is about 1.3 miles).

Amazing! 
I can sweat in my veggie garden for four hours and not walk that much!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Awwww! Dog Gone!

Left: Nismo at 2 months old.  Right: Nismo at 5 months old.

This last weekend we took Nismo home to live with his "real" boss in the Big City. 

On the left, you see a sweet boy. 
On the right, you see a bigggg sweet boy. 
Not all the good manners (he jumps on you to say hello!!!) I thought we would have been able to accomplish, but he "takes care of business" outside and sits on command. 
He knows the names and retrieves most of his toys on command. 
He is a big boy and has lost some important baby teeth. 

But his boss has lots more things to teach this guy while enjoying such a sweety that is excited and eager to get along in the Big City.

And as for our Flip, he was back in huntin' business today. With a GPS to keep us informed as to his whereabouts while huntin'. After 5 hours in the rain and mud, he was worn out, as well as filthy.

After his shower, he crashed on the clean kitchen floor, since he couldn't find where I had moved his bed. 

Silly boy! 
It is in the same place it was 3 months ago before Nismo came to visit!