Date Night - Saturday Night

Saturday night has long been a traditional pizza and movie night.   Kind of a "date night" for me and Jim.  Ordering out at our favorite local establishment or making our own at home.  I got so I would buy a plain cheese pizza and dress it up different every week.  We have experimented with Greek pizza, chicken wing pizza, veggie pizza, Philly cheese steak pizza, polish kielbasa pizza, taco pizza - you name it and I will put it on a pizza shell.

Feeling that Jim needs an occasional change with his environment, I want to make the times we spend together a little more special, bringing dinner some nights to change up from the dining room with residents.

I told him Thursday that I was bringing pizza for dinner on Saturday and we would have one of our usual pizza and a movie night.  He said "Oooo can I have a beer too?"  I told him I would ask.  I think he's looking forward to it.

Today I called the nursing home to ask before bringing a beer into Jim.  They pretty much said what we don't know wont hurt us.

So I bought some chicken wings and cooked them up with my hot sauce, bought a traditional pizza with sausage and pepperoni and of course some Labatt's Blue.  We don't have a VCR in Jim's room but he will watch any movie that is on TV, so Saturday will be a date night for Jim & I.  We can munch our pizza, sip our beer and hold hands while watching our movie.

And like any good date, when the movie is over I will give him a kiss goodnight and go home like a good girl! 

Senior Dilemma's

My days lately have been filled with long hours consisting of work, visiting Jim at the nursing home and keeping up my house.  My days are long and hard on my poor little senior dog who needs to urinate more frequently than every 14 hours. 

I put "belly bands" on him to keep him from peeing all over the floor. 

Well, it's a good idea for a while but after 13-14 hours, still needing to pee, he was wet and laying in his bed that had to be washed also.  So my next idea was to put "potty pads" down.  Those are used to train puppies so I thought "what better idea! It will give him a place designated just for him and I can just pick them up and throw them away".  Again, great idea but my Archie liked the carpet in front of the bathroom better. 

So a gate!!! Well one big enough to stretch across the area I needed, whew, they were costly.  I didn't want something tall so I couldn't step over it.  I don't have to worry about Archie, he can't jump over anything.  So I beckoned to my "creative" self .  It took some thought but as I wandered through Walmart in the home section I saw it!  A small window screen!!!!!!!!!! 

Perfect height but now how do I make it long enough?

Buy 2 and hinge them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooooo my fathers daughter.  My daddy was the "jury-rig" expert!  My kids would always say "Give it to Grandpa, he can fix it".  

I definitely would have earned his praise with this project. 

Now remember, my senior poochie is a boy, and boys lift their leg and try to squirt as far as possible. Therefore after a couple of trial days with some misses, I learned to center the pads under the gate so when he lifts his leg the carpet is also covered.  

It's not the best solution but it saves his bladder from bursting and releases me from the guilt of leaving him for such long periods.

Trains, Planes & Automobiles

One of my ALL TIME favorite movies is Steve Martin and John Candy in "Trains Planes and Automobiles".  For any who have sadly missed out on seeing this hysterically funny movie, it is about a guy who is trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving with his family and attempts every form of transportation to get there.  Of course there is lots of humor thrown in with these wonderful comedians. 

My mention of this movie is because every time I make the "weekend" trip to Detroit, MI for some special occasion my daughter-in-laws family is having, I think of this movie.  This weekend is my new grand-daughters baptism.  They are having it in Michigan because it's in the church my daughter-in-law attended and the god-parents are from there. 

Anyway, I get the train out of Syracuse at 9:35pm Saturday getting to Toledo at 5am.  Changing to a bus arriving in Deerborn, MI 7:25am.  Someone (with their car) will pick me up at the bus station and I will go to their home and quickly change clothes, freshen up and head to the church for Emma's baptism.  I will attend a celebratory luncheon with family and friends following the baptism, then I will change clothes and have someone drive me to the bus station for my 6pm all night trip back to Syracuse. 

It's crazy I know, but traveling this way works when I have minimal time and money and want to attend a memorable event.  I would hate to miss my pretty little grand-daughter's baptism.  I have made the other 2 and wouldn't miss this one. 

Saddened my friends!

I started blogging because my very talented niece blogs and I enjoyed her work so much I thought "Hey, what the heck, maybe my friends would like to read the crap I have to say".  I have been told by some that I my writings are good but my "followers list" remains close to empty.  My niece, of course is a follower - she's loyal!  But my friends who I direct to my blog to read remain non-followers.  WHY?????????????????

I  know sometimes I'm sad and not so chipper.  I have some low moments because of my husbands health condition and the progression brings me to other thoughts that perhaps others may be sharing. 

I'd like to share about my work day.  I really love my job and there are times that something is said or a comment or jesture turns us into hysterical baboons.  My cohort-in-crinme is missing in action due to an illness that she is trying to recouperate from.  I have been loaned (as I have been told) one of the clinical assistants who has been fun.  I instructed her today that the end of the day is the "silly" time for us at the front.  She has to step up to be silly and laugh with me.  Today - we laughed - a lot!

Anyhow - lets get back to my FRIENDS.   Are you going to be "followers"?  Come on, please.

Decisions, Decisions

I was brought to reality this week when the physical therapist and nurse told me that Jim was targeted to end his therapy on 4/4, which in nursing home language means 'you need to decide what you are going to do about Jim's care because his insurance won't cover anymore'.    I was told that he had declined and his therapy couldn't continue without progress.  The therapist said that in his condition we would see good and bad times but she felt that it would not be in his best interest to go home for both of us. 

I guess there was always truth in back of my mind that he wouldn't come back home, but I hoped he would beat the odds.  Realistically, even though he has his good moments, there are many concerns and behavior that needs constant attention.

So I was faced with the BIG decision. I hate decisions, I hope I made the right one. 

Monday, Monday, I Hate That Day!

It's Monday folks and unlike many other Mondays it certainly wasn't a disappointment in the MONDAY catagory.

Most Mondays consist of computer issues, lack of staff, lost patients, telephone insanity, chaos and late hours.  Today qualified in 3 out of the 6 categories!

Today the loss of staff was the BOSS!  Sick, vomiting and not willing to face patients, she copped out on the day.  The loss of patients category was above average.  Not counting the cancellation of the BOSSES patients, we lost another 9 to illness, school schedules, work meetings, and I just forgot.  The telephone insanity was quite insane.  With the staff not as busy as usual they got to experience how insane Monday phone calls can be.  We lucked out on our usual computer issues unless you put my favorite copy machine "Lucy" into that category and SHE was acting out.  Not refusing to work but giving us some lines in our papers and unwilling to accept document feeder material.  Obviously since there was a significant lack of patients there was minimal chaos and we were able to walk out of the office about an hour earlier than our usual Monday hours.

Tuesdays on the other hand are another story, but since Monday was a disaster, it could make for an interesting Tuesday.

Happy Week --------------Nancy