positivity (with a hint of 'they still make me nuts), "let's fatten you up," & deja vous timing

Thanks

First off, thanks for the thoughtful messages for my mom. The family dynamics have almost driven me nuts, but this weekend has been calm and uneventful, so I'm going to focus on that. 

*sharing some of the nonsense later, because it helps lift the weight and it's entertaining, is it not? Stay tuned. 

GRATEFUL

We are all grateful that Mom's mini-stroke was indeed mini and that the whole thing resulted in her receiving long overdue, but vehemently refused, medical care. I'm happy to share that she is home and agreeing to take the few medications that the doctors really wanted her to take. She feels good and is perky. She even went with Ann and Dad to a follow up appointment at Dad's GP . . . as if she's accepted this wonderful doctor as her own. 

Pinch me. 

On the cooperative front:  she's using a walker as a precaution. She's going to Coach's clinic for outpatient PT due to weakness in her right arm and hand. 

She's also carrying a cell phone for the fist time in her life. It isn't a legit cell phone. It's part of a heart monitor thing. She must keep it within 5 feet for 30 days while  she wears this 'knob' type thing attached to her chest. The cell phone reads the attachment thing. My folks have never owned a cell phone. Have I mentioned Mom's stubbornness? They are adjusting to charging a device each night. Mom wears the cell phone in a passport holder around her neck. 

Coach and I both feel that since she's started taking meds (4x a baby aspirin dose, something for cholesterol, and Zoloft for anxiety which lead to her stroke, worrying about getting her license renewed - Zoloft also supposedly improves mobility) she seems mentally clearer, less spacey and confused. The lost memory thing is not undone, but she seems different . . . more like her formerly engaged and tuned-in self. 

thanks GIPHY

MEAN GIRLS COPYCAT

If you've seen the movie Mean Girls, then you might appreciate that I've convinced Mom to start eating 'Perfect' protein bars. She didn't want anything to do with Ensure or any other meal replacement shake when the hospital's dietician suggested it. My guess is that she associates Ensure with caring for her elderly mother and aunt. 

Perfect bar nutrition facts from the company website.

Her appetite has diminished, but we are trying to urge her to eat something to keep up her strength. I buy Perfect bars for my kids. Reg likes them after he works out or plays in a basketball game. They have a lot of protein, but they also have loads of carbs.

I told Mom that one of the cute little guys I sit for eats these (he does). I told her that they taste good and as a bonus they have the protein she needs. I told her to try to at least eat half of one a day, and she is doing that. 

What is even happening?

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

Mom and Curly
from a distance.

Dad is apparently reading: 
THE WAR THAT
 MADE THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
then he can watch
Better Off Dead when
he needs a breather from
such light reading.

Coach, Curly and I walked over Saturday night and Mom was glad we showed up because she wanted to go outside and walk a little. It was a beautiful night and she pushed her walker along for a bit enjoying some fresh air. I brought over our copy of Better Off Dead for Dad, since he was bummed he missed the beginning the other night. 

Sunday morning I went over and sat with Mom so Dad could go to mass. We are not leaving her alone just yet. I snapped a photo of Dad's typical reading selection along with the copy of our DVD. 

IN OTHER UNRELATED MEDICAL UPDATES

Note the computer and laptop watching him
 from my ancient end table. That end table
 stores so many tot toys in my daycare, but the
 day I end my daycare I will be ready to
 get rid of my two eye sore end tables. 

Reg had his extended 3 day EEG test Monday-Wednesday last week. The doc was trying to capture one of his deja vous episodes. They wonder if he has a seizure disorder which could explain the deja vous feeling and the difficulty attending in school, etc. 

He couldn't shower, go outside, workout, shoot hoops FOR THREE DAYS. It was a challenge, but in typical Reg fashion he complained minimally and went with the flow. 

Unfortunately he didn't have a SINGLE episode.

Maybe he always wanted
 to have a pony tail?

This is what it looked like
 when I took off the  gauze
and removed the
 electrodes at long last. 

Yesterday? After he caddied, he came home and told me that he'd woken up and felt off. Like a deja vous thing was about to happen. While he waited to caddy, he threw up. While he caddied he drank a little water and threw up again. He felt the deja vous presence all dang day. When he got home, he slept for 2.5 hours and woke up feeling much better. He said this was the worst it has been since the very first time when it all began early May of '21.

So frustrating and concerning. The test, by the way, will cost us around $2,000 AFTER insurance. I haven't heard any results yet, so maybe the equipment gathered helpful data despite the fact that he didn't feel the deja vous stuff. 

If I had hair to spare, I'd be tearing my it out. 

NOT YELLOWSTONE THAT PARK THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED, BUT HERE WE ARE

We took all 6 kids to dinner last night at a trendy Mexican place. So good. The idea: we aren't going to Yellowstone, let's carve out time for a family meal out. This is harder than it may sound, but it was more togetherness than we would've accomplished at that elusive national park that shall not be named, since Ed wasn't planning to go out west. 

Was your weekend full of funny 80s movies? Did you manage to avoid reading books about the building of the Roman Empire? 

Do you eat Perfect protein bars? Or drink ensure for that matter? Are there things that you swear you will never do when you are elderly, like my mom who insisted:  I WON'T TSEE A DOCTOR? For me? I swear I will continue to try to dress sharp. Ugly, sensible shoes are non-negotiable.