The Dementia Chronicles: Potties and Progress
It's been a bumpy week or two.
Friday September 26 was mom's neurologist visit. I learn before this that the court dropped a date on the calendar - one where no way no how can I make it to the hearing. Furthermore the guardian ad litem hadn't been appointed and the visit scheduled. My attorney tells me this happens all the time. It will get rescheduled. She gave me the guardian's information once she had it and I went into 'nag mode.'
Good thing I was in 'nag mode.' Guardian's office was waiting to hear the rescheduled date from the attorney before contacting me. My attorney knew I had time constraints this month and gave me their information. Then I could schedule Mom's visit to my time needs; tell her when it was so that she could then reschedule the court date based on a) the guardian visit and b) my time issues. All is well because both dates are now scheduled.
Sunday September 28, the neighbor emails me. Mom came over at 6:30 in the morning. Water was spraying in the bathroom. He turned it off for her and fixed the issue after work. This incident rather breaks my heart because Mom knows how to do this. Well - she used to. She taught me.
When TV's had tubes, Mom would remove the back of the TV; find the offending burnt out tube; remove it; take it to the store; buy a new one, and replace it. Voila, fixed TV. To know she is in a state where her mind doesn't 'get' to turn off the shut off under the sink or behind the toilet is painful, but one I must accept.
Then on October 1 I call her. Typical morning call. Only instead of getting chipper Mom who talks about the weather (same conversation each time more or less), I get NotMom who is in 'We' mode. "We had to use the toilet in the other room last night." I asked if she had contacted the neighbor. Mom started talking about the woman down the street. She knows about these things. She's going to help me. We're going to move the toilet seat (not the toilet mind you - the seat). So on my crazy day of month end close I contact the neighbor and have him check on her. He, thankfully, took care of the issue. (The we thing always freaks me out a bit and I wonder what is going on in her head or world that prompts use of we in these odd circumstances)
My day went downhill from there. It was just normal month end madness combined with having something (actually someone's problem) unexpectedly, a report that ran amok on the system and other glorious snafus that mad it a very stressful day.
Thursday was moderately improved. I sort of dreaded seeing Mom on Saturday but it was a good day and we had a chat about her upcoming guardian ad litem visit. I doubt she'll remember. I keep telling myself one step at a time, even though this is often painful.
Friday September 26 was mom's neurologist visit. I learn before this that the court dropped a date on the calendar - one where no way no how can I make it to the hearing. Furthermore the guardian ad litem hadn't been appointed and the visit scheduled. My attorney tells me this happens all the time. It will get rescheduled. She gave me the guardian's information once she had it and I went into 'nag mode.'
Good thing I was in 'nag mode.' Guardian's office was waiting to hear the rescheduled date from the attorney before contacting me. My attorney knew I had time constraints this month and gave me their information. Then I could schedule Mom's visit to my time needs; tell her when it was so that she could then reschedule the court date based on a) the guardian visit and b) my time issues. All is well because both dates are now scheduled.
Sunday September 28, the neighbor emails me. Mom came over at 6:30 in the morning. Water was spraying in the bathroom. He turned it off for her and fixed the issue after work. This incident rather breaks my heart because Mom knows how to do this. Well - she used to. She taught me.
When TV's had tubes, Mom would remove the back of the TV; find the offending burnt out tube; remove it; take it to the store; buy a new one, and replace it. Voila, fixed TV. To know she is in a state where her mind doesn't 'get' to turn off the shut off under the sink or behind the toilet is painful, but one I must accept.
Then on October 1 I call her. Typical morning call. Only instead of getting chipper Mom who talks about the weather (same conversation each time more or less), I get NotMom who is in 'We' mode. "We had to use the toilet in the other room last night." I asked if she had contacted the neighbor. Mom started talking about the woman down the street. She knows about these things. She's going to help me. We're going to move the toilet seat (not the toilet mind you - the seat). So on my crazy day of month end close I contact the neighbor and have him check on her. He, thankfully, took care of the issue. (The we thing always freaks me out a bit and I wonder what is going on in her head or world that prompts use of we in these odd circumstances)
My day went downhill from there. It was just normal month end madness combined with having something (actually someone's problem) unexpectedly, a report that ran amok on the system and other glorious snafus that mad it a very stressful day.
Thursday was moderately improved. I sort of dreaded seeing Mom on Saturday but it was a good day and we had a chat about her upcoming guardian ad litem visit. I doubt she'll remember. I keep telling myself one step at a time, even though this is often painful.