1-28-2012

I didn't get to Mom's until 7 tonight.  I was ready for pretty much anything.  I guess I had this new hypothesis that she was normally better during the days.  As I got off the elevator, the nurse said "Your name is Kim, right?"

Yes.  "Oh, well she told me to let you know that she is in her room." Well, alrighty..I had hoped to get there earlier, and now was thinking she might have been worried.

She was actually in pretty good shape.  I knocked and then poked my head through the door.  "Come on in, this show is funny."  She was in her chair watching America's Funniest Home Videos.  I sat down, relaxed and asked about her day. 

"Oh, I've just been hanging with the girls.  When are we leaving?"  Leaving? Where are we going?

"I don't know, I thought we were going somewhere. I'll need my suitcases back when we do."

We aren't going anywhere Mom.  This is your home.     

"Yes, but no one knows where I am."

Sure they do, Mom.  everyone knows where you are.

"They do? I guess I just miss seeing them is all."  I asked about what she had eaten today...her answer is always turkey, although I've seen the menus that come with each meal laying around and I know they serve more than that, it seems to be what she remembers most clearly. 

Do you remember the names of any of the girls you've been hanging with?

"No, we just say 'hey you!' and start talking.  Then we ask each other if we're missing a girl or a boy.  The police will call sooner or later when they find them." I couldn't really grasp the rest of what she was saying.  She was wearing her good glasses.

Oh - you're wearing your good glasses! "Yes I put the other ones in the drawer."

Well those look good, better than those big ones you had on. "Hey! that was a compliment."

I wasn't really in a hurry tonight, so we watched back to back episodes of America's funniest, laughing the whole time.  At one point she told be should couldn't figure out how to turn that light on - pointing at the sprinkler.

That's because that's a sprinkler, Mom.  It would only come on if there's a fire.

Then out of the blue and sounding calm and clear as a bell, she said "I know you keep telling me that this is my home but I can't seem to get it into my head.  So I don't have to pack or anything?"  Nope, you live here.

She just paused for a minute.  "Well, I really like this place. It's bigger than the other one, and really comfortable. And every day they give me my medicine... 4 times!"

Yes, they're very good about remembering.

"Are you off tomorrow? ...I think I'd like tho go to a movie."  uh-oh... not tomorrow.

Sorry Mom, I can't tomorrow.  "Why not? What are you doing?"  

I'm going to Virginia Beach tomorrow, Mom, but I'm still going to come and see you.

"Oh... ok." She was definitely disappointed.  I felt bad too, because it was so positive to see her asking for what she needs/wants in a healthy rather than passive/aggressive way.  "Well if you do go out I'd like either a pepsi or a coke, diet I mean.  She checks my sugar 4 times a day. Last time it was 98, then 101."  That's great, Mom!  "Well I haven't had any candy, and I don't have any money to buy any. I just go down to where we eat and eat.   I don't even have anything to popcorn.  No candy in the house. Nothing."

All and all, it was great to hear her laughing.  Really laughing...tonight she seemed really clear and really healthy.  It feels like the longer they keep her sugar in check, the more aware she is.  Unfortunately, that also means that the more aware she is, the more she knows what she is missing.  I never did bring her that ice cream...will try to do that for her tomorrow, and maybe go to the movies next weekend.