I do not know what is happening around here but time is kicking out my legs. I was going to continue writing the post that I began a few days ago and found that it was just so outdated because of all of the changes that have gone on around here.
I had begun talking about how I was having to go up against the physical therapy people at the convalescent hospital because they were insisting that we bring mom home and have the staff follow us up here to see how she was able to cope with the house and her facilities. This was their plan...of course this also meant that she had to go right back down there and go back to her bed. I just could not see this happening and told them that this would be too much for her, especially if she had a long van ride to the ENT doctor the next day. They finally relented and promised to come up themselves and evaluate the house and see what we needed to alter. It took a lot for me to stand up to do this but I just knew that it was a cruel and exhausting exercise for this 82 year old woman. Everything changed last Saturday when we went down for a visit because we got shooed out of her room, practically taken by the collars by her nurse. Didn't you see the sign on her door??? Uh NO, the door is open and we turn toward HER when we come to see her. The big red sign was promptly moved from the door to the wall outside of her room. Quarantine. Yeah, she was now off limits, as was the whole facility because of an outbreak of the intestinal flu. We left, wondering how this was going to impact everything.
Monday rolls around and after an overnight snow that turned to ice overnight, we were pretty much trapped up here for the day. The workers came but could not get up the hill, even with chains and so here we sat. We finally thawed out enough to get down the hill and to town on Tuesday and were barred from the door to the facility again. Mom still had the red sign on her door and that was that. Please tell her that we came to see her. Ok.
The next day I call to see how she was and while SHE tested negative for the virus, her roommate is now down with something and so the room is still off limits. No PT for either of them...just sitting in the bed.
Thursday morning I decided to try out my new Bog boots and headed out back with Tank and Sasha in tow. It was sunny but a lot of the land is fill and goopy because of the clay content. I decided that I would like to clamber down into the creek and so I am soon joined by the dogs and then Rod, who never wants to miss such fun. He and Tank went slogging through the creek, which is really stair-stepped, down about 100 yards or so. Sasha woofed at me, worrying about going in the water and I encouraged her to do it because if the Head Wuss (that would be ME) could do it, SHE could do it. Big mistake. Rod and Tank come back up the creek and Tank begins his usual horseplay, grabbing her ruff. This time, she freaks out, letting him have it with such force that it shocked me. Right after her admonishment I heard the whining begin. I looked at her and there was at 2 inch gash in her left foreleg. Rod got her up and out of the creek so fast and I was still trying to get my footing while he was inspecting her leg up on the porch. It was remarkably dry, although it had gone down to the muscle. I got on the phone and got to know our closest Vet clinic in a hurry. We took her down to the wonderful Smith Flat (just across 50 from us) Clinic and they got on it right away, getting her sedated and tucked into a holding pen. The doctor told us that it was remarkable that she had not severed the artery that runs up "right there" and so her surgery would be unremarkable.We were all going to be OK.
Not so fast...there was a message on the home phone from the Kaiser doctor who visits the Convalescent Hospital. Mom has pneumonia again and is going on antibiotics. Today, I am not putting it off any longer...I am going to insist that they gown and mask me and I am going in there. Not good, my friends.
Now then, there are lots and lots of pictures of the progress across the driveway. They would have been broken up in a couple of posts but because of all of the drama around here, that didn't happen. So, I give you the day that the trusses arrived and on to yesterday when the carpenters unplugged their cords, turned off the generators and went home for good.
This last picture is of my office and dye room. It just says that no matter what...the show must go on. At this point, we have no idea if mom will ever live in her little house.
Hang in there, Lisa!! You are such a good advocate for your mom.
Posted by: kim | February 09, 2008 at 12:37 PM
What a cool "little" house! You will have such a good time in there!
Sending good thoughts to your mom and hugs to you.
Posted by: Kerry Palm | February 09, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Go Lisa. You do a good job of a difficult situation. I'm hoping Stitches turns out to be a nice break for you.
Posted by: AlisonH | February 09, 2008 at 04:10 PM
I'm glad the building is going forward, it's something for you and Rod to look forward to in a difficult time. Hang in there Lisa, lots of love and hugs!
Posted by: kit | February 09, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Can *I* move in there? It looks wonderful! Big hugs and love to you.
Posted by: Faylene | February 09, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Wow! that is a plateful of things to deal with. Ihope you rmom gets better soon.
Posted by: Carol | February 09, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Ahh Lisa... You've had your share again lately. i'll be thinking of all of you.
Posted by: elizabeth | February 11, 2008 at 04:50 AM
YOU are in charge! Don't let anyone talk you out of it! You are doing a terrific job in a horribly difficult situation- As my husband says, "If it's not death, divorce or suicide, it's all good".
Posted by: Carrie Mc W | February 11, 2008 at 09:32 AM
porr sasha! give her a big hug (and one for you) from me!
Posted by: vanessa | February 11, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Oh my good gosh, Lisa! What a darn time you have had of it all lately. I sure do hope Sasha is A-ok and your Mom is on the mend too! Give everyone a big hug from me, and I surely hope this is the bottom now!
Posted by: June | February 17, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Oh my good gosh, Lisa! What a darn time you have had of it all lately. I sure do hope Sasha is A-ok and your Mom is on the mend too! Give everyone a big hug from me, and I surely hope this is the bottom now!
Posted by: June | February 17, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Oh my good gosh, Lisa! What a darn time you have had of it all lately. I sure do hope Sasha is A-ok and your Mom is on the mend too! Give everyone a big hug from me, and I surely hope this is the bottom now!
Posted by: June | February 17, 2008 at 04:45 PM